Aimee Peltier jumped away from them and started screaming for help while Vane pulled Stefan up from the floor and slugged him hard and furiously.
Instead of attacking, Stefan changed to wolf form and ran for the stairs.
Vane started after him. But before Stefan could head down them, Wren, who was bounding up them in human form, caught the wolf by the neck and hauled him back into the hallway.
Stefan snarled, trying to bite Wren. The leopard held him with an ease of strength that gave Vane pause. He'd had no idea the young, quiet Katagari was so strong.
Vane stood back, breathing raggedly, as Nicolette came out of her room at the end of the hallway.
Aimee ran to her mother while Wren maintained his grip on the snarling wolf.
"What is going on here?" Nicolette asked.
Vane gestured toward the wolf. "He was in Fang's room."
Stefan switched to human form, flashed into his clothes, then pushed Wren away from him.
Wren barely moved a step away and the look on his face promised Armageddon if Stefan touched him again.
That harsh look succeeded in calming Stefan a degree as he took a step away from the leopard. "I wasn't doing anything. I was only checking on them to see if they were really here." Stefan curled his lip at Vane. "Vane attacked me."
Stefan turned back toward Nicolette with an expression that was almost respectful. "I thought it was against the rules of Sanctuary for anyone to attack without provocation."
Vane narrowed his eyes as understanding dawned. He realized only too late that this had been a set-up.
Stefan was smarter than Vane had given him credit for.
"Vane?" Nicolette looked at him. "Is what he says true? Did you attack him?"
"He was coming to kill Fang. You know he was."
"But did he attack him?"
Vane stiffened as he glared at Stefan. "He would have had I not stopped him."
"Did he attack first, or did you?" Nicolette insisted.
Vane's anger snapped out of control. "What are you? A fucking lawyer?"
"Watch your tone, Vane," Nicolette warned harshly. "I am the supreme law here and you know it."
Vane apologized even though it stuck tight in his craw to do so.
Wren gave him a sympathetic look that said he too would like to rip into Stefan.
His whole body was coiled for it, but he stayed put.
Nicolette lifted her chin in acceptance of Vane's apology. "Now tell me the truth. Who attacked first?"
Vane wanted to lie, but Nicolette would sense it and that would only make matters worse. "I did."
She closed her eyes as if that pained her. When she opened them, her expression told him how much she regretted what she was about to say. "Then I have no choice except to banish you, Vane. I'm sorry."
Stefan's eyes gleamed.
At that moment, Vane hated all of them equally. So this was what it came down to. He was punished for protecting his brother.
So be it. It wasn't the first time this had happened. At least Nicolette didn't take a whip to him as punishment.