Chrysabelle shook her head and dropped her hands with a sigh. “If you’ll keep an open mind and understand that we’re not here to hurt you, I will answer whatever questions you have within reason. I have other matters I must attend to this evening.”

The mayor hesitated, studying the group before her with an expression Creek couldn’t fully read. She seemed torn between wanting to know more and tossing them out. Finally, she pointed to the couches. “Sit.”

Chrysabelle took a spot on the couch nearest the mayor, Mal beside her. Creek sat opposite on the other couch. Havoc stayed standing, arms loose at his sides. The mayor went back to her seat, her fingers disappearing beneath the pillow at her side. “Chrysabelle—may I call you that?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you. You may call me Lola. Tell me what you think I should know.”

Chrysabelle rubbed a hand over her mouth, her sleeve slipping back enough to reveal the sheaths of her wrist blades. “There was a covenant in place that kept a level of peace between humans and othernaturals. Humans weren’t able to sense the othernaturals that lived among them, and after a while, humans forgot the othernaturals had ever been real. They became fairy tales and nightmares and fantasies. In that way, the othernaturals were protected from being hunted and killed by the mortals whose world they inhabited. It became an unwritten rule among most othernaturals that humans were to be left alone in all aspects. For almost a thousand years, this covenant held fast.”

“But that has changed?”

“Yes. The covenant was broken.”

The mayor uncrossed her legs only to recross them in the opposite direction. “When?”

“About a month ago.”

“About the time your mother passed?”

Creek ached for Chrysabelle in a way he hadn’t expected. This had to be hard for her.

She nodded slowly. “My mother was comarré like me, only she kept her signum hidden. Her death was… instrumental in the breaking of the covenant.”

The mayor’s brow wrinkled. “Was she some kind of keeper of this covenant?”

“No. She was the human sacrifice that broke it.”

“Ay yi yi,” the mayor whispered. “How awful. Your mother was a good woman. She did not deserve such an end.”

“I couldn’t agree with you more.” Liquid edged the lower rims of Chrysabelle’s eyes, but sparks of anger lit them from within. “You should also know the vampire who killed her might be here in Paradise City.”

Fear bent the mayor’s mouth. “Why?”

“She wants something I have.”

The mayor’s mouth opened and a small, strangled sound came out. She rose from the chair, her hands trembling as they clasped before her. “My daughter. She looked just like you when she died.”

Chrysabelle glanced at Mal, then Creek before making eye contact with the mayor again and giving the barest of nods. “I know what you’re thinking. Because I’ve been thinking it, too.”

Doc lounged on the sofa in the living room, a beer in one hand and the remote for Chrysabelle’s holovision TV in the other. It was a mighty big change from the freighter, despite the crowd in the house.

Not that any of them were around. The visiting comarré had retreated to their guest suite right after Velimai had introduced them to Doc. Then she and Fi had headed off to the kitchen to whip up some dinner. Fi was picking up the fae’s sign language fast. Her laughter and favorite radio station drifted out from the kitchen. She was probably dancing to the music. He turned the volume up on the TV a little. Life hadn’t been this easy in forever. If only it could be this way all the time. His gut told him it wouldn’t last so he’d best enjoy it while he could.

Maybe later he’d get Fi into the hot tub. With a wicked grin, he channel surfed until he found a football game. Fi came in as he set the remote down.

He smiled. “What’s up, baby? Dinner ready? Smells great.”

“No, not ready yet.” She put her hands on her hips and shook her head at the beer. “Aren’t you supposed to be protecting us?”

“Relax. Chrysabelle’s place is wired up like Fort Knox. No one’s getting on the grounds, and even if someone did, there’s a wysper in that kitchen who could open her mouth and turn them into bloody pulp in a few seconds. And now that I can fully shift, I’m no slouch in the hard-core dangerous department either.” He patted the cushion next to him. “Sit down and chill, baby girl. Let’s enjoy a quiet evening in the kind of luxury we’d normally have to pay for.”

She crossed her arms. Damn. Not going for it one bit. “The last time Tatiana crossed the woman in the kitchen, Velimai ended up bloody and broken. And do I need to remind you what Tatiana did to me?”

Point taken. “All right. I’ll do a little patrol outside. Maybe send the comar out after dinner to do the same. Cool?”

“Cool.” She smiled as she leaned down to kiss him. “Love you.” With a wink she scampered back to the kitchen.

“Dinner had better be tight,” he called after her. With a sigh, he set his beer down and headed for the front door, leaving the TV on. The things he did…

He shut the door behind him and paused to let his senses work their magic. Everything sounded right, smelled right. Then the compulsion hit him. It wasn’t as subtle as the time he’d woken up from the nightmare and felt the urge to run and investigate Preacher and the old church. No, this was like a hand forcing him forward. Like another mind inside his head.