Taken by Moonlight

“The e-mail is succinct. It doesn’t say who’s calling the meeting, but I don’t think it’s any of the weres. I spoke to Dominic and Drako before I called you. They’re as confused as we are. I couldn’t get in touch with Santiago.”

Dominic and Drako were brothers who happened to hold two of the were seats on the New York Council.

Strange, Conall thought. The Council usually met once or twice, at max three times a year, and that was only when there was a problem among the races. They’d already met twice for the year. The last time someone called a third meeting had been almost thirty years ago when there had been a miniature war between the vampire and werewolf communities. The last twenty years had been relatively tame, discounting the usual territorial spats and brawls.

The most recent Council meeting had been because a fight had broken out between the vampires and witches in Conall’s bar during the summer. Of course, his pack members had tried to separate them, only to be goaded into the mess. It was sheer luck that the humans gathered were either too drunk or too confused to focus on the happenings. They dismissed it as another club fight. It had warranted a meeting, as one of the members in the fight had been the son of a vampire council member. A third meeting, so soon on the heels of the last, screamed problems.

“Did you call Hastings?” Arnold Hastings was one of his business partners, but he was also one of the more prominent members of the vampire clans in New York City. Although he didn’t have a seat on the council, he was one of the first to know about problems in the clans.

“No. I’m calling him next.”

“Keep me updated and have Raoul set up a patrol in Cedar Creek.”

“He’s already working on that, and then he’s heading down to Fangs, just in case.” Sloan paused. “Where are you?”

Conall thought about the answer to that question. He had to discuss the attack on his mates with his betas soon, but that wasn’t something he wanted to do over the phone, especially as he believed there was more to what Max had told him.

“I’m heading to Scarsdale.” Conall paused, giving his beta ample time to ask the questions he knew were running through the wolf’s head. For whichever reason, Sloan decided not to press the topic. “I’ll be back at Cedar Creek soon. If I’m not back before dusk, set curfew. Only pack comes in; no one leaves.”

***

Vivienne couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so frustrated. This was much worse than the Logic Games section of the LSAT, worse than waiting on pins and needles at Arnold Hastings’ beck and call, worse than anything she’d ever experienced. This just took the proverbial cake.

It’s not working. Shit.

She let out a slight whine and opened her eyes. She couldn’t do it. Her mother had told her to “channel her energy” and “feel for Cassandre.” Vivienne had absolutely no idea what that meant, but Evelyn had insisted she close her eyes, and focus on Cassandre. Although her body felt different, almost like she was defying the pull of gravity, and her senses were clearer, that was about it. She couldn’t “feel” anyone. All she felt was the weird temperature of the room, which ran scalding hot and freezing cold.

“I can’t. I don’t know—this is a lot to take in…”

Her mother released her hand and opened her eyes. Vivienne immediately saw the concern written on her face.

“It’s all right, Vivienne. I shouldn’t have…. This is all new to you and there is much for you to learn.” Her voice lowered and she added, “Much that I have to teach you both.”

Vivienne pushed away from the bed. She felt guilty about not being able to find Cassandre, but she also felt slightly psychotic for even trying to do it. Everything was so—confusing.

“I have to use the bathroom.” It popped out of her mouth. She wasn’t completely lying but what she really wanted was out of the room.

Evelyn’s smile was warm as she asked with motherly reproach, “Do you remember where it is?”

At any other time, Vivienne would have laughed and given a retort to the jab but she simply nodded.

She was at the door when Evelyn said, “Vivienne, this house is safe. I’ve spent years making it so. They will not be able to find you here, but if you leave….”

“I wasn’t going to leave,” she responded immediately. Despite learning about the not-so-human creatures, she’d never thought of leaving the house. Instinctively, she knew that she was safe here.

“Good. If you’re hungry, there’s food downstairs.”