What do you mean, I have to have the tests re-done?" I stood in front of the director’s desk, my body vibrating with anger. We'd made it back to HQ in record time. I'd successfully managed to avoid any conversation with Carter, even though he was itching to talk about what had just transpired between us. I, however, was not. Oh no. It was a mistake. A big, fat, colossal, totally hot, totally blew-my-mind mistake.

I'd been at my desk for all of two seconds when the summons from the director arrived. I was needed. Urgently.

"There was a malfunction with the cooling units," she explained calmly, steepling her fingers in front of her chin and looking at me with her cold green eyes.

"So you've lost the samples you've already taken? That's what you're saying?" I couldn't believe it. The blood, the swabs, the spinal tap —all gone?

"Correct. We've lost the samples. I'm sorry, I know it's not the best outcome, but..." She shrugged, and again I sensed her apology was not sincere, not heartfelt in the slightest.

"Remind me again why I need these tests." Folding my arms across my chest, I eyeballed her. I still didn't buy that the Council was demanding I be classified. With everything else that was going on, this stank, right up there with dog shit and fish guts.

"We've been over this, Black. Report to medical. Immediately." Her voice was ice-cold, ruthless. I glared back at her for a moment before swiveling on my heel and stalking out, with a grim sense of satisfaction when her door slammed shut behind me.

Back at my desk I noisily flung my firearm and badge into my top drawer, securing them with a swipe of my pass.

"What's going on?" Carter asked. We had another three hours before our shift ended.

"Gotta go back to medical." I was seething, furious over the need to have the painful procedures repeated. On top of my regret for giving in to my base instincts and shagging my best friend was the niggling feeling that something was up. Something other than the massive complication I'd just created in my life. A gut instinct that I couldn't ignore.

"What? Why?" Carter stopped what he was doing, his brows drawn together. He looked cute and adorable and my anger crept up a notch.

"Apparently there was a malfunction with the cooling units and my previous samples were destroyed." I clenched my teeth so hard my jaw ached. I didn't want to do this. The blood I didn't mind so much, but the spinal tap? That hurt like a bitch and gave me a wicked headache. "I'll see you tomorrow. Can you follow up with Ethan about the footage from the club before you clock out?" I'd left a message for Ethan asking for his help, and I was working on the assumption that he'd help us if only to clear Nate's name. And I was trying to deflect Carter's attention away from me and back onto our case.

"Raven, wait." Carter pushed to his feet when I headed toward the elevator. "We need to talk."

"Not now." Seriously. My emotions were bouncing around inside me like a pinball machine on steroids. I needed time alone to process what we'd done, what it meant, how I felt. And on top of that, this bullshit medical testing was weighing on me. He must have heard something in my voice because he didn't push me, just called "good luck" to my retreating back.

Pushing my now very complicated relationship with Carter to the back of my mind, I focused on the Council's sudden urgency in determining my species. As I rode the elevator up to the car park I knew there were two choices: submit to the testing and do what I was told or go visit the Council and demand to know what was going on. By the time I reached my car my decision was made. Peeling out of the parking lot, I headed away from the medical lab and toward the city center. The Paranormal Council was located beneath the humans’ City Council Chambers and consisted of twelve Council members, each representing a different species, who governed over the paranormals. And pretty much like every paranormal service in the city, they operated in twelve-hour shifts to accommodate nocturnal and day walkers needs as required.

"Do you have an appointment?" the fairy receptionist asked, one pencil-thin brow arched as she eyed me up and down.

"No. But I need to talk to the Council and I'm not leaving here until I do." My anger bubbled just beneath the surface and if I needed to unleash some whoop ass on this fairy to get an audience with the Council, then I would.

"You do understand the Council isn't in session right now? They come together twice a week." Her tone was so patronizing I wanted to lean over the counter and pinch her gossamer thin wings.

"I do know that, thank you." Because I was technically off duty I'd had to leave my gun and badge at the office, but I was still in uniform and that should have been enough to let the prissy fairy know that I meant business. "I also know that several Council members work here on a day-to-day basis. I don't necessarily need the entire Council, just one member will do. I have a question that needs answering."

"Maybe I can help you?" She blocked again and my energy swirled with irritation. As tempting as it was to freeze her and stroll on past, I resisted.

"Above your pay grade, I'm afraid. Please, call whoever is here and let them know I request an urgent audience. I'm sure they know who I am and why I'm here." Folding my arms across my chest and planting my feet firmly on the floor, I let her see that I had no intention of moving from this spot until I got what I wanted.

"Fine." She huffed, typing into her screen and then speaking to the hologram that appeared in front of her.

"Sorry to bother you, sir," she breathed, her demeanor totally different to the one she showed me, "but I have an Enforcer Black here requesting to speak to a Council member. She says you'll know what it's about."

"I've no clue what she wants, but by all means, show her through," a male voice answered. I couldn't see his image from where I was standing, but it didn't matter. I just needed answers from the Council and this man had them.

"This way." I followed the receptionist through the security doors and into a passageway with offices branching off both sides. About halfway down she stopped, knocked on the half-open door, then ushered me inside.

The office was decorated remarkably similar to Director Ridgeway’s, all modern glass and sleek lines. Behind the desk sat a huge middle-aged man, his finger idly swirling in a bowl of water. I assumed he was a Water Sprite, not only by the bowl of water but by the multiple water features throughout the room. He got to his feet when I entered and held out his hand.

"Enforcer Black. Please, have a seat. I'm George Kane. What can I do for you today?" I shook his hand but couldn't bring myself to sit down. I was way too agitated. Instead, I stood in front of his desk, hands clasped behind my back.

"I want to know why the Council is insisting my species be classified."

George frowned. "Um. I'm not sure what you mean. Are you unclassified?"

"You know I am. Enforcer Raven Black, paranormal of undetermined species. The Council has informed Director Ridgeway that all SIA agents have to be species classified to continue working for the agency." My words ran together. I was nervous, as well as angry, and I could feel my power spiraling up inside me, felt a sizzle at my fingertip as a small spark escaped. I hadn't been this wound up in a long time. I just hoped I could hold myself together and not start levitating things in George's office.

"Who told you this?" George leaned back in his chair, studying me intently.

"Director Ridgeway, sir. I've already undergone a round of painful, invasive, tests. And am about to do it all over again, thanks to some malfunction. I want to know why. Why now? Why is it so important the Council knows what species I am?"

"We don't."

"What do you mean?" It was my turn to frown.

"I mean, the Council hasn't issued any such order. If you passed all the testing requirements to enter the SIA that's good enough for us. We have no interest beyond you doing your job."

I was silent for a minute. "So...you didn't tell the director I need to be classified?"

"No."

My mind whirled and I plopped down into the chair in front of his desk, at a loss for words. Even though I’d suspected something was up, to have it confirmed rattled me. The Council wasn't behind the sudden interest in my species. Was it the director? Or was someone else pulling her strings?

"I can see you're confused, Enforcer Black, and I concur. If someone is passing on false orders to the SIA, it needs to be investigated. Especially if it's supposedly coming from the Council."

"You think a Council member has taken it upon themselves to do this?" I was surprised. Council members were heavily vetted and had to be voted in by their respective species. It wasn't easy to get elected.

"It wouldn't be the first time a Council member has overstepped. Probably won't be the last. But rest assured, Enforcer, while your situation is rare, it is of no consequence to us. If and when you find out what you are, by all means, please inform us so your records can be updated, but that is the extent of our interest. And please be assured I'll be investigating this further."

I rose, wiping my palms on my thighs and holding out my hand to shake his. "Thank you so much." I appreciated his honesty and candor.

"Before you go"—George rose to his feet again and walked with me to the door—"please don't mention any of this to Director Ridgeway. If the perpetrator of these actions is not this end—it could be someone in the SIA. I'd prefer not to tip them off that we're investigating."

"Right. Of course. I won't say anything."

I left the Council rooms in a daze. Someone, somewhere, had lied. They'd made up the story about the Council changing the rules on classification. But it also meant they knew about me, and for some reason, my species was important to them. My next question was…why? Why would it matter to anyone else what I was?

Arriving home, agitated and confused, I couldn't stop my mind from going around and around in circles. The medical lab called, but I ignored them. They were expecting me to turn up for testing. That wouldn't be happening. Instead, I changed into my workout gear and went for a run. I needed to burn off some of the energy that was building to powder keg proportions.