He was quiet as he turned toward the door. Then he stopped. “You know, if I could become one of them, I would. It would make everything so much easier.”

The words startled her, because she’d begun to wonder the same thing. “You would?”

“Absolutely. They’re faster than us, stronger than us, they outlive us. Why would anyone not?”

“A varcolai killed my daughter.”

“Because your daughter was human. If she’d been othernatural, she’d have at least had a fighting chance.” He shook his head. “Face it. They’re superior. I’d rather join them than become a slave to them.” He held his hands up. “Mark my words. The tide will turn. Humans will become vampires as much as they can because that’s the only choice. Fae and varcolai will side against them. War will come if peace isn’t found first. Being in a haven city seems more and more like the only way a mortal like me will survive.”

She said nothing, just stayed at the windows after he shut the door behind him. His words slowly soaked into her. She turned and stared into her city. The fall of twilight meant the city looked almost normal, but during daylight it was impossible not to notice the damage left behind by Samhain night. The broken buildings and scorched streets were being repaired, but life would never be the same for any of them after that night. Would people desert her city if she couldn’t protect them?

She leaned her head against the glass. How could she protect her citizens when she was as vulnerable and human as they were?

Maybe Alden was on to something about humans becoming vampires. It was like he’d somehow sensed the small thoughts creeping into her mind. Her excursion this evening might help her make sense of it all. Maybe show her the right decision. Or present her with an opportunity. She already knew what her abuela would say.

“Mayor?”

At Police Chief Vernadetto’s voice, she turned. “What can I do for you?”

He gestured toward her desk with the hand that held his hat. “Did you read my report?”

“No, not yet. I’ve spent the day wading through e-mails and taking phone calls from concerned citizens. My apologies. Can you sum it up?” She went back to her desk, sat and began to dig out the paperwork.

He nodded. “Long story short, several of my night patrol teams have been repeatedly harassed—hunted, you might say—in the bayside area. To the point that they’ve all requested reassignment unless they’re allowed to use deadly force. Problem is, I can’t get any human officers to go down there.”

“And the teams that are being hunted? What are they? Varcolai?”

“Varcolai are the ones doing the harassing. My teams are all fringe.”

“Vampires? Being harassed?”

“Most nights the odds are twenty to two. Not even a vampire can deal with that many shifters.”

She shook her head. Her city was in deep. “What’s your solution?”

“Deadly force. Make an example.”

“And cause a riot.” She tapped her fingers on the desktop. “Pull whatever varcolai patrolmen you have and put them down there. Let them deal with their own kind.”

He nodded. “Will do.”

She was about to ask why he hadn’t done that already when Valerie buzzed the intercom. “John and Luke Havoc are here, ma’am.”

“Send them in.” She stood. “Chief, if you’ll excuse me, I have another matter to attend to.”

He nodded and left as John and Luke entered.

John dipped his head in greeting. “You sure you want to do this?”

“Positive.” A frisson of emotion zipped up Lola’s spine. “This child is my flesh and blood, my familia. There is no question about what I’m willing to do to get her back. None. And I owe it to Julia.”

“I get that. Family is important to us, too,” John answered. “You ready, then?”

“Yes. Let’s go.” She would have gone on her own if she didn’t recognize the foolishness in that.

“Wait,” Luke said. “I know I’m new to your employ, but I still have to tell you this is one of the dumbest things you could do.” John started to say something, but Luke held his hand out to silence him. “But if it were my kin, I’d do the exact same thing. I just don’t want you getting hurt. You have a city to run, after all.”

“A city in which both human and othernatural citizens are looking to me for guidance. If I show fear in this situation, what will they think? How will they take it if their mayor is too cowardly to face a vampire even if it means rescuing her grandchild? I must do this.”

Luke nodded. “I understand.”

She straightened a little, buoyed by his words. “He has no reason to hurt me. We are joined by blood now. We share a common interest.”

“He may see you as a threat,” John said. “And not to belabor the point, but he’s a vampire unlike any other. He can daywalk. He lives in a freaking abandoned church, a place no other vampire can comfortably set foot. He’s not predictable in any way.”

“Then we are alike in that manner, because I doubt he expects me to come to his door.”

“No one expects that,” Luke muttered.

“That’s the point,” she responded. “Now take me to Preacher’s.”

“Welcome, sir.” The butler bowed and moved to the side to let Doc enter his new home. Leaving the freighter behind wasn’t something Doc was completely ready to do, but since he’d killed Sinjin and become the Paradise City pride leader by default, moving into Sinjin’s old crib was kind of a requirement.