CHAPTER TWELVE
Subsequently, I felt fairly grouchy when I awoke a couple hours after sunset. This fact wasn’t lessened when I walked into the living room to find a bunch of shapeshifters, including a particular panther.
“Uh, hi,” I said groggily. “Make yourselves at home.”
“Riley and Dan let us in,” Donovan retorted cheerfully.
I looked across the room to see Riley and Dan sitting together on the couch. Dan had been here last night, too, after I got back from my little visit with Alexander. And come to think of it, he’d also been here before, when half the city was guarding my apartment after I’d gotten jumped in the alley. I hid a smile and headed to the kitchen for some Fruit Loops. “Anybody want anything?”
“I’m kinda hungry,” Donovan called as I walked off.
Next thing I knew the stovetop was covered in skillets and about half a meat market worth of bacon, sausage and ham was sizzling away. “Why are you here anyways?” I asked, leaving Riley and Dan to attend to the cooking.
Donovan pointed to the papers spread out on my coffee table. “Me and the crew are just making lists of possible hiding places for Alexander, dividing the city into search quadrants, and figuring out which informants we’re going to call.”
I eyed the half dozen other shifters sprawled out over the living room. Huh. They hadn’t really struck me as the plan-ahead types. “Alright. Well, it wouldn’t kill you to call ahead next time.”
He smiled. “I left you a message.”
I narrowed my eyes and went to grab my cell phone. Sure enough, its sleek black exterior had turned to red, and when I picked it up a little hologram of Donovan popped up, telling me he was on his way with a couple friends. Man, I must have been dead asleep.
When I walked back out, Quinn had emerged from her room and was complaining about the smell. “There’s plenty to go around,” Donovan joked.
“Oh, yes, because frying meat is a vegetarian’s dream.” She glared and went to make her usual breakfast granola.
I took a seat next to Donovan. “Well, I’ve got another couple hours before I’m meeting up with Eli. What’s your plan?”
Donovan turned and gave me an appraising look. “I never thought I’d see the day when Zyan Star was working for God. And the government.”
“Well, for once we’re trying to accomplish the same thing—stop Alexander.”
“Stop? Or kill? Somehow I don’t think the HR has given you permission to off your ex.” His voice held a tone of amusement.
I shrugged. “Okay, so we’re trying to accomplish almost the same thing.”
“What’s your plan, then? Are you going to go rogue at the last second and somehow get away with murder?”
His line of questioning was starting to give me a headache. I raised my hands in exasperation. “I don’t know, okay? Maybe I’ll “accidentally” kill him. It’s not like he’s going to just come quietly. It’ll pretty much be self defense.” When Donovan tossed me an infuriating smirk, I resisted the urge to throw all his papers in the air. “I’m not into this whole planning thing. I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.”
“Your boyfriend’s not going to be too happy about that.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Quinn pause on her way back from the kitchen, gauging my reaction. “My what? Who are you referring to?”
Donovan just smiled. “That angel. Eli or whatever his name is.”
“You’re joking, right? Me and him?” I sighed dramatically to emphasize the absurdity of the statement.
“You two seemed awfully cozy the other night.”
Some of the other shifters hid grins. “I already told you, he was healing my wounds from the demon attack. Why do you care anyways?”
“I don’t. Just curious who you’re shacking up with these days.” He leaned back and laced his fingers behind his head in a gesture of nonchalance.
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. Because a girl couldn’t possibly be perfectly content on her own. Without a man. What a crazy concept.”
“Are you two done with your banter?” Riley swept into the room with platters of meat. “It’s exhausting just listening to you.”
Everyone but me and Quinn clustered around the coffee table, and for a couple minutes only the sound of chewing and contented sighs filled the air. Even Riley the health nut was wolfing it down. Pun totally intended.
“So, Dan,” I said. His brown eyes popped up to meet mine. “You run in a pack, or are you a loner like Riley?”
“I’ve got a pack,” he answered.
“They must think we’ve abducted you or something these last few days.” I smiled as he blushed in response.
“Riley’s not a loner. He’s an honorary member of my pack,” Donovan said.
“That’s sweet. But these two bitches are plenty of pack for me,” Riley said with a nod in me and Quinn’s direction.
Donovan busted out laughing. I grinned and looked over at Quinn, who had already sidled up next to one of the cute shifter boys named Patrick, pretending to help him with his quadrant. “Takes one to know one,” she retorted.
“Touché.” He dipped his head towards her.
“Not to change the subject to a shitty one,” I began, “But something’s come up that you need to know about Alexander.” I filled Donovan and his pack members in on the appearance of my sister.
“Man, that’s tough, Zy.” Donovan laid his hand on mine. His warmth rushed up my arm and for a second I wondered what his life force would taste like. My hunger was putting me on edge again. Big time. With all the injuries I’d sustained the last couple days, I was going to need to feed again soon.
“Yeah. I’m hoping I can get her to work with us so she won’t get locked up by the NHTF. Until then though, keep an eye out for her when you’re out looking for Alexander.”
We went over various plans for the next few minutes, then Donovan announced they were going to hit the town and start looking. “I guess we’ll meet up with you later?” he asked.
“Probably. Not sure what Eli’s plans are, so I’ll let you know.”
Donovan and his crew filed out of the apartment. “He was always my favorite one of your boyfriends,” Quinn said wistfully. “I wish you two could work it out.”
“There’s just that pesky cheating habit of his,” I said, propping my feet up on the coffee table.
“He seems a lot more together than he used to be, though,” Riley added.
“Quit ganging up on me,” I groaned. And for once they actually let it go.
Dan announced he had to leave for a pack thing, which left me, Riley and Quinn to talk about the bar schedule for the week. After a few more minutes of lounging around, I got up to get dressed. A bit later as I walked back out into the living room, I heard Riley announce, “I smell smoke.”
Me and Quinn stared at him. “I don’t smell anything,” I said.
“I’m telling you, something is burning.”
“In here?” Quinn asked, glancing around.
“No. Somewhere out in the city.”
“I’m sure your sense of smell is good and all, but how could you possibly—” I cut off as he whipped open the blinds in the living room to reveal the glow of a large fire off to the northeast. He gave me a smug smile. “Impressive. I stand corrected.”
“That’s pretty major,” Quinn said, peering anxiously through the glass.
Riley flipped on the TV. An anchorwoman from one of the local channels appeared, looking rather panicked. “I’ve just appeared at the scene of a large fire south of the Needle, around the area of 5th and Wall Street. It seems that some sort of protest is going on, led by factions of the supernatural community.”
“Oh, shit,” I said, my jaw dropping open.
“The fire, initially thought to be caused by a gas leak, is now believed to have been caused by some of the witches marching in the protest.” Beside me, Quinn stiffened as the camera zoomed in on a man and woman strolling down the street, hurling blue fireballs at th
e surrounding buildings. “However, other supernatural races have joined in the riot. Members of the vampire and werewolf community have also been seen.”
“What the hell are they doing?” Riley gasped. “They’re going to get us all thrown into prison. The government’s not going to put up with this.”
“And since when have witches, vamps and weres all hung out together?” I added, narrowing my eyes. “This can’t be a coincidence.”
“A coincidence with what?” asked Quinn, though she didn’t unglue her eyes from the TV.
“With the attempts on the HR’s life. With Alexander coming to town. With the portal openings. Everything. He’s trying to create total societal upheaval.” I clenched my fingers into fists.
“But why would he do that?” Riley asked. “It seems he’d have nothing to gain. In fact, it’s a huge risk, when everything has been going fine since the Evolution.”
“You may think so. But many of the supes are not at all happy with the DNA sensors and such,” Quinn said.
“And Alexander thinks he’s vastly superior to humans, so I’ll bet he wants any semblance of government control crushed,” I added.
Screams came from the TV as the camera did another close up of a group of werewolves chasing a couple humans down the street. “The Holy Representative’s angelic warriors are on site,” the anchorwoman said, her hands trembling on the microphone. “God help us all.” The video feed cut off ominously.
I walked into my room and emerged with my sword. “Where are you going?” Quinn asked, wide-eyed.
“You heard the report. The HR’s team is down there. That means Eli. He could use my help.” I pulled on my leather jacket and headed for the door.
“Are you joking?” she screeched.
“Hardly.”
“I’m coming with you.” Riley said.
Quinn looked like her head would explode. “What’s your reason?”
Riley’s eyes flashed. “Because someone needs to know that not all the supes are trying to overturn society. I’ll have to represent the sane majority of the community.”
Quinn bit her lip. “You two are nuts,” she said, following us out the door.
I turned back to her with a grin. “And that’s why you love us.”