I stared at the red tag on the folder and then looked to the street. A shifter…a rogue one, at that. It was going to be messy…fur and blood and shit. These ones always were. “You ready for this?”

Titus moved on the seat beside me, pulled his Sig from his shoulder holster for the third time and checked the round chamber. “I’m ready, you just tell me where you want me.”

“You know that won’t even scratch an itch, right? I mean, it’s pretty and all.”

I caught the muscles of this throat working as he swallowed. He nodded and licked his lips. “Yeah, I knew that. Yeah…”

I had to give the man credit. He was trying, paddling his little human legs in this sea of a supernatural world. But there were sharks in these waters—and they were fucking hungry.

He looked at his gun, and then at a smudge of dirt across the front of his trousers. “Should’ve taken a shower. They’ll smell me for miles.”

I reached for the door handle and threw the folder onto the back seat. “I wouldn’t bother. I’ve realized there are two types of jobs in my line. One that you shower before…and one you shower after,” I met his gaze. “And this is one of those you shower after.”

His face paled into a perfect tone of baby-puke white. “So, what’s this job? You never said.”

Now he was starting to worry. Now he was starting to be smart. “A shifter gone rogue. Bitten three humans, the First Touch Coven are doing their best. Looks like one won’t make it….a girl, seventeen.”

“Jesus, she’s going to die?”

I stilled halfway out of the damn car and turned to him. How in the hell can someone work the damn streets and not understand us at all? “No, she’s not going to die. She’s going to shift…come the next full moon.”

“Oh,” he muttered and shoved the door closed. “Shift, okay. Right.”

I leaned on the roof. “You understand how the laws work, right? Wolves aren’t allowed to bite humans. Vampires have to apply to The Circle to turn a human, and witches are only allowed to spell certain elements of a human’s life.”

“Yeah, sure,” his mouth moved, but there was absolutely zero fucking conviction.

This was going to be one long-ass day. “You get yourself bitten, spelled, or shot on my watch, Inspector, and I’m going to be pissed as hell.”

He mumbled something, and then shook his head.

“What?” I threw my hand in the air. “What did you say?”

“Nothing,” he replied. “Not a damn thing.”

A howl cut through the trees, long and mournful, sending a spear of desperation through me. They were hunting in there, running, playing, being who they were born to be. “You ever been here before?”

“Once,” the word was a whisper.

I lifted my gaze to the fear in his eyes and then turned to the towering trees that consumed the middle of the city. Harbor was more for the supernatural than it was for the humans. Everyone knew it, banners were splashed with the words across every supernatural protest.

If Harbor was a safe haven for every creature that walked the night, then Ruba was the heartbeat.

Trees towered from the center, reaching up with spindled fingers toward the sky. We were surrounded by silver and glass; skyscrapers and roads that closed around us like a fist, and yet, one step inside Ruba’s treeline, and it all melted away.

Spelled by the green witches that lived amongst the towering pine and ash trees, this place was a tiny micro-world. You’d find all kinds of creatures here, hedge witches, fae, ghouls, but, most of all, you’d find the shifters.

This place was created for the creatures of the night, bigger than twenty city blocks, it was a damn nightmare to navigate if you didn’t know where you were going.

“I’ll protect you.” I hated saying the words, men with all their damn hang-ups and all. “I mean, just stick close to me and you should be good.”

He winced with the words, and then nodded.

“First thing, though, don’t shoot anyone. I mean, you’ll only piss them off, so, if anyone asks, just say you’re working for The Circle.”

“Working for The Circle, okay, got it.”

He locked the car, straightened his holster and waited for me to make the first move. Ruba’s towering gates waited, cracked open, as though to say not all who enter are welcome. And that was the truth.

Gravel crunched under my boots as I made for the gates, and I was taken back to the first time I came here. I was five, I think, shitting-myself scared. But Alma never flinched, only walked straight up to the cracked gate and placed her hand on the metal.

The spell guarding Ruba hummed with recognition. She was a born witch, made powerful by the many years she'd honed her craft. She was seen as an elder, a powerful shaman, and one who walked between worlds.

Until me; I didn’t take after her in the slightest.

I reached out for the metal and felt the hum all the way into my bones. An ache flared through my third eye and speared all the way down my spine.

The ground pulsed. The air throbbed…I tried to wrench my hand away, tried to sever the connection with this place. But I couldn’t move.

Power held me, clamping flesh to metal, syphoning something I held inside, and darkness surged, spilling and overflowing like a sink brimming with water, until a boom cracked through the air, throwing me free.

“Jesus….Jesus…did you feel that?” Titus roared, hands clamped over his ears.

I stumbled, sucked in a breath. This wasn’t right…shouldn’t happen. Not like that. My palm throbbed, stinging like voltage gnawed into nerve and bone. I lifted my hand and stared at the scratches.

“Let’s go.” I clenched my fist and shoved the gate aside.

Metal howled, tearing through the air. I winced at the sound and looked to the dark. Stay in the light, Lorn…promise me. Gabriel’s warning resounded like a damn drum. Staying in the light didn’t solve cases. Staying in the light didn’t do a damn thing but make me feel weak and helpless. And those two things I didn’t do very well at all.

The cobblestone path led through the large bank of trees and seemed to melt into the shadows. I turned, glanced over my shoulder, and kept on moving.

Titus was quiet. Too damn quiet. Heavy steps behind were the only sound that he’d not turned tail and run. The snap of a twig echoed to my right. Still I kept on moving, heading deeper into the forest. Shadows bent and swirled, molding shape after shape. If the wolf was rogue, he’d be here somewhere, hiding on his own, or being hidden by a pack. That was the thing to watch out for, one wolf on his own was bad enough. Twenty was a damn nightmare.

A dangerous snarl echoed from my left, a warning snarl. I kept moving, stepping around a fallen tree, and felt the snare of a spell.

“Just keep moving,” I whispered. “Don’t pay them any mind at all.”

“I’m working for The Circle,” Titus murmured behind me. “I’m working for The Circle.”

The sharp tones of a violin cut through the gloom. Green witches singing to the trees. A breeze whipped up, lukewarm air filled my lungs, bringing with it the scent of rocky moss and dangerous things.

I headed for the sound, moving slowly enough to keep Titus at my back.

“Can’t see a damn thing,” he muttered and slipped against the silky leaves rotting on the ground.

I held out my hand, and let that power inside me breathe, and faint trails of light spilled from between the leaves overhead. It was the middle of the day, and yet down here it was perpetual night.

Tendrils of sunshine spooled together like a shining ball of yarn; I balanced the light and let it go. The illumination hovered behind me. “Better?”

“Yeah…thanks.”

It was the first magic I’d done in front of him, and, of all the things I could do, this was the best icebreaker.

“So you can manipulate light?”

I glanced around, taking a second before answering. “Yeah.”

“What else can you do? Glamor? Make yourself into something else?”

I swallowed a bark of laugher, and it came out like a mmfffpt. “No, I can’t create glamor. Nothing like that.”

“But you’re a witch, right?”

What’s with the twenty-fucking questions? “Yeah, something like that.”

“So are you a day walker, or a night walker?”

I stilled, wrenched my gaze over my shoulder. “Man, you aren’t shy, are you? Don’t you know there are things you just don’t ask a witch, and that’s one of them.”

He shook his head. He really had no idea. “Sorry, just trying to make conversation.”

I had to remind myself he wasn’t built for the streets, he was the clean-up crew, the clean-shaven, perfectly groomed face on the six o’clock news talking about how crime rate in the city has declined and the Harbor Metropolitan Police Force is doing everything in their power to ensure the residents of the city are safe; supernatural and human alike.

He wasn’t made for the grit and the grime. He wasn’t made for the cold dark embrace of Ruba’s pulse. “Okay, here’s the low down. Witches don’t like discussing their craft, or which side of the light they walk on. They’re secretive creatures, they’ll talk amongst themselves, share spells and sigils, but it’s very rare for a witch to discuss the makings with anyone outside their coven… and all humans are outside their coven, comprende?”

“Okay, no asking about the spells.”

“You’re lucky that I don’t mind. I mean, I don’t really fit into either day or night walkers. And that,” I nodded to the hovering ball of light “is probably the nicest thing I can do. The rest…well, let’s just say you never want to see the rest.”

I caught the lonely howl, it was deep, too deep for a coyote, too rough for a wolf. It sounded like a man screaming, like a man in pain, soul-tearing pain, heart-breaking pain.

“That’s what you sounded like,” Titus murmured behind me. “When you thought you were on fire, when you screamed. You screamed like that.”

My hand ached, a hard-throbbing ache. I tried to swallow, tried to speak, but the darkness was swirling inside, calling something through the thick, humid air. Don’t do this…don’t lose your shit, not here, not now.

“Lorn? You okay?”

His deep voice was an anchor, weighing me down to this moment. Shadows danced and moved, surrounding us on all sides. “Do not move,” I whispered and took a step forward, “whatever you do.”

“You aren’t wanted here,” came a voice at my right.

The hulking outline of a shifter was birthed from between the giant palms. He moved forward, shoulders curled, hands hanging at his sides, as though his natural state was more wolf than human.

“We’re working for The Circle,” I met his stare, moving with him as he glanced to Titus.

Right here, buddy. He gave the Inspector one quick glance and then focused on me. Others moved in around him. A pack of…ten…twelve, maybe. I drew in the scent of wet dog and felt the old hatred rise. It was on a day like this Alma faced off with another hound…one that would take everything she’d worked for and turn it into a goddamn farce.

“The law has been broken,” I growled. “Three humans have been bitten.”

“And you want to what? Put Jeremy down like a damn dog?”

They closed in, forming tighter. Power tingled along my arms and the nape of my neck. I didn’t have to turn my head to know what else stood in the dark. “Neon, you going to just stand in the dark?”

A tiny spark of light cut through the dark like a minute shooting star, and, as the light carried through the space, it grew, consuming the dark until the luminescent glow filled the space.

“We don’t want any trouble, Lorn,” she whispered, and stepped from behind me.

This wasn’t right. This wasn’t them. I’ve never felt like an outsider with them before, so why now? I met the white witch’s perfect gaze. She was half fae, and half human, forced to walk the mortal realms after being left to die by her mother. I’d known her for as long as I could breathe, and she knew me. “Want to tell me what’s going on here?”

She searched my gaze and took a step further. “Yes, I would. But I can’t.”

“Can’t, or won’t?”

There was a twinge at the corner of her mouth. “Is there a difference?”

The ground seemed to sigh under her steps, and that buzzing grew at the back of my head.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” she whispered.

I took a step backwards, wrenched my gaze to the others. “I know that, Neon. Why are you acting strange?”

“Do you feel it?” she murmured and closed her eyes. Her fists unfurled, leaving her palms for the sky. “Creatures are stirring. Dark beginnings, dangerous beginnings. These are turbulent times, Lorn. Very turbulent.”

“I want the wolf, Neon. I have to take him in, you know the rules.”

“It wasn’t his fault,” the Alpha growled. “You should know that.”

I should, should I? I reached behind me to the silver chain in my pocket. “He either comes quietly, or I use the snare. Don’t make me trap him,” I moved forward. “I don’t want to hurt him.”

“He’s gone, Lorn, running with a new pack,” Neon murmured.

I felt the truth in her words. “Where?”

“Not here,” she answered and turned to glance at the pack. “We don’t want their kind here.”

“The drug, Sigil. What do you know?”

She flinched with the words. The bright glow of her skin dulled, golden eyes darkened to amber, and then to brown. The wind whipped up, turning colder. The shirt stuck to my back and turned cold. I’d never seen a fae turn cold. “He wants to come back, Lorn. Don’t let him. You have the power...only you.”

“Who…who wants to come back?”

That bitter wind howled, like a thousand wolves all hungry, all savage…all hunting, as she answered. “Your father.”

Shadows slunk back into the forest. The Alpha watched me and followed, stepping over the thick, mossy rocks as he slipped backwards through the palms. You watched a beast like that, eyes front, never turning around. You watched a beast you feared.

It was me…both of them were afraid. I took a step toward the woman I’d known my entire life. “I don’t understand, Neon. Help me understand. My father is dead.”

But there was no more talk from the fae, no more secrets spilled.

“I want the wolf…I want Jeremy.”

She shook her head, the vibrant orb now fading…as did the woman.

Heavy breaths filled the space, and they weren’t mine.

“What the fuck just happened?” Titus muttered. “What the fuck was that?”

I stared at the spot where she'd disappeared. “That was Neon; a half mortal, half fae, and Queen of Ruba.”

“The Queen…that was The Queen?”

I nodded, unable to share in his excitement. Your father…your father…your father… “Lying sonofabitch.”

I spun on my heel and lunged. The ground slipped away beneath me, I left it all behind; the light, the human…but I brought all my anger, every fucking lash of fire.

“Hey! Lorn!”

Titus called me, still, I couldn’t stop, couldn’t slow as I lunged over the fallen log and raced for the cobblestone path.

“Gabriel!” I screamed as I raced for the gate. “I know you can hear me. Get down here!”

There was no answer from the sky, no flap of wings, no thunder of his arrival. “If you don’t get here now, I’ll hunt you down, and pluck you like a damn chicken!”

“Pluck me like a chicken?” The deep growl came from behind me. “Pluck me like a chicken?”

I spun at the sound. The thunder of boots echoed in the distance as Titus raced to catch up. But I couldn’t focus on that. “You lied! You lied to me! I want the truth, you sniveling toad!”

“Sniveling toad? Man, you are full of compliments today, aren’t you, Lorn? What’s got you all twisted up, hmm?” He leaned closer, spearing me with his eyes.

He was a bad liar. A really bad liar. He shook his head, hiding the damn flinch like a rookie. “I have zero clue what you’re talking about.”

My gaze drifted up, and up, as I closed in. Massive wings engulfed me…blue eyes. God, those blue eyes brought me undone. “My father, tell me again…and this time, make it the goddamn truth.”

“Is gone, and has been for a long time,” he murmured. “I’ve told you the truth, Lorn. I’ve always told you the truth. I promised him—”

“Hey!” Titus gasped. “Did you not hear me back there?”

Gabriel yanked his gaze high, crystal clear blue eyes hardened to steel. “And you are?”

“Titus…Titus Banks. Inspector at Harbor Met.”

I glanced at Titus and found the same star-struck gaze that every other human had when meeting the archangel.

“A human…really, Lorn? I leave you alone for a few hours and you bring home…this?”

“This? Now…listen here, buddy…” Titus growled.

A damn pissing match, right when I needed…what did I need? This hole inside to not ache so damn much? Yeah, that’d be a good start. No mother. No father. You know how much that hurt growing up?

I had Alma. That’s what I clung to, on those nights when I craved for a voice, or a touch…or just something. I had Alma.

She told me stories, stories of a naive human woman who'd fallen in love. But my father was always missing. There was barely any information, and sure as hell no stories about him. By the time Alma found out my mother had fallen in love with a supe, he was already gone.

Wasn’t made to be a dad, I was told. Didn’t deserve either of us. So I guess that’s when they started running, and that’s when Mom became sick.

I was too young; snatches of memories were all I had, of a woman with blazing red hair and a perfect smile. And sometimes when I’m lying in bed, drifting off to sleep, I can hear her voice. I wake, trying to hold onto that sound, to embed it all the way down to my soul, so I can remember—but it’s always gone, slipping through my fingers as my eyes open.

He left us…those were the words that Alma used. He left, and now he’s dead. But only two people know the truth. Him and the Man upstairs, and this overpriced, unplucked, walking peacock was the closest thing I had to the truth.

“Tell me, Gabriel. I want to know everything this time. Neon wouldn’t lie, and she wouldn’t hurt me.”

“And you think I would?”

His voice deepened in that husky, gravel-wearing, sex-filled tone. I wanted to dive into that voice, I wanted to wrap it around my body like silk. He took a step closer, until the long feathers of his wings brushed my arms. So white, so pure…that means he always tells the truth, right?

That means he’s my friend…my confidant. My everything…

I wrenched from the thought and shook the fog from my head. “Stop it, Gabriel. Get out of my damn head. I don’t need your mind games, not now.”

“Has she told you she kissed me?” he snarled toward Titus, and lifted those piercing eyes.

Oh no…no…no…no.

There was a silence, until a cold, curt reply. “That’s really none of my—”

“He’s right, it is none of his business. And none of yours.” I stabbed him in the chest with a finger. “You’re the one who shut me down, remember? So you don’t get to do this…you don’t get to do a damn thing. You call yourself my friend and, yet, clearly you aren’t. You lie, you manipulate, and then you act like some jealous fucking jock when I’m working. Stay out of my business, Gabriel.” I dropped my hand and held his gaze. “Actually, do one better and stay out of my life.”

“You don’t mean that,” he whispered.

But I was already turning, already finding Titus’ stony stare, and making for the car. “Mean what I say, say what I mean. It’s my motto, right? I’m a cold-hearted bitch, Gabriel. It’s about time you got with the program.”

“You don’t mean that!”

Gravel crunched under my boots. I went in there looking for answers, and I ended up with a knife in my damn heart. How the fuck did that even happen?

My damn hands shook as I reached the car. Actually, not just my hands, my entire fucking body.

“You okay?” Titus called over the roof of his ride.

The locks snapped open, and I fumbled, fighting like hell to not turn my head and look for him. The hinges squealed as I yanked the door open and climbed inside. My teeth chattered, filling the damn space with the clicking sound. What the hell just happened? What the hell just happened?

The engine started with a growl. I leaned toward the vents as the gust of warm air came, fists clenched so hard my knuckles popped under the strain.

“Here,” Titus fumbled with the damn lever, trying to point the air my way.

Still my teeth gnashed and ground. “I-Is the b-bastard g-gone?”

There was a second where I thought my heart would falter until he answered. “Yeah, he’s gone.”

Only then was I strong enough to lift my gaze and find the open gates to Ruba. The trees blurred, blending green and brown into one goddamn mess. Bastard. Damn bastard. Was I overreacting? Was I wrong?

“If you want, I can…”

His hand brushed my shoulders. I almost leaned into him, almost felt myself need. Until I straightened, cleared my throat, and answered. “I’m good, just got a bit of a chill is all. Damn forest, always hits me.”

“Yeah, sure. It was a little cool in here. But if you want to talk…”

I turned and yanked my seatbelt. I didn’t even wear the damn thing…still, the buckle snapped into place. “So we know what? That our biter is Jeremy, was running with the Ruba pack wolves, and is now running with God knows which pack.”

“If he’s on the run, I might know someone who can help. A CI I had in the day. If he’s still out here, he’ll know the word on the street.”

A supernatural confidential informant? Seemed crazy they’d snitch on another of their kind. But if there was anything I'd learned in this gig, it was always to expect the unexpected. “He might have some news about your dealer.”

I rubbed my hands together and motioned toward the folder lying on the back seat. He glanced down, jaw locked and clenching, before he muttered. “Yeah, he just might.”

Something twinged in my gut as Titus shoved the car into gear and pulled away. There was something he wasn’t telling me…I lifted my gaze to the damn sky; him and everyone else, so it seemed.