"What if he's making a play to add the Tri-Cities to his territory," I asked.
"Say he read about the attack on me--and saw that I was Adam's girlfriend.
Maybe he has connections and got to see the video of Adam tearing into Tim's body, so he knows our relationship isn't casual.
Maybe Corban sees him read the article and mentions that his wife knew me, and the vampire sees an opportunity to make the Tri- Cities werewolves cooperate with him in preparation to move in on Marsilia.
Maybe he doesn't know he can't use me to take over the pack.
Maybe he would have used me as a hostage.
The ghost is happenstance.
Just a convenient reason to convince Amber to invite me over." "Marsilia's just lost her two right-hand men," said Samuel.
"Andre and Stefan.
She's vulnerable now." "She has three other powerful vampires," I told him.
"But Bernard and Estelle don't seem pleased with Marsilia lately." I told them about the confrontation the night before.
"There's Wulfe, I guess, but he's ..." I shrugged.
"I wouldn't want to have to depend upon Wulfe for loyalty--he's not the type." "Vampires are predators," Adam said.
"Same as us.
If Blackwood smells weakness, I suppose it makes sense that he'd try for more territory." "I like it," Samuel said.
"Blackwood isn't a team player.
This fits.
It doesn't mean it's right, but it fits." Adam stretched the tension out of his neck, and I heard vertebrae pop.
He gave me a little smile.
"Tonight I call Marsilia and tell her what we just talked about.
It's not set in stone, but it's plausible.
I bet we'll find Marsilia more cooperative." He looked at Samuel.
"If you're home, I'd better go to work.
I'll have Jesse come here when school's out, too--if you don't mind.
Aurielle's booked, Honey has work to do, and Mary Jo is ...
not up to snuff." After Adam left, Samuel went to bed.
If anything started happening, he'd be up fast enough--but it told me that Samuel, at least, didn't think there'd be an attack in the daytime.
Neither of them even so much as mentioned the cranberry juice I'd thrown on them.
A FEW HOURS LATER, A CAR DROVE UP AND JESSE GOT out.
She waved at the receding car, then bounced into the house in a wave of optimism, black-and-blue-striped hair, and-- I put a hand over my nose.