Page 2 (2/2)

"Copy," my second in command replied He switched channels and relayed my orders

We had two communication channels, a coeneral channel that went to all the security staff Moving to the front, I listened as the B-twins and Shaddock’s Chen led the way to the hotel’s restaurant, which we’d taken over for the first night of the parley I felt immensely better as the doors to the restaurant closed with a firotiators to chitchat and take one another’s ave a final tweak to the rules the vamps would operate under, and shuffled and finalized the talk schedule

I had never been a bodyguard, and I wasn’t looking forward to the whi my securityby the seat ofto keep everyone out of trouble Playing in the vamp sandbox was an exercise in creative use and placement of assets

While they did what vamps and their bloodsure none of my ht hide I also triple-checked the coear and walked the entire external perie, and every hallway, stairwell, wine bar, nook and cranny of the joint Again It was obsessive but it also was keepingunexpected happened I was checking out the ear "Legs, so ape-shit," Derek said

Wrassler, oons talked over the chatter All I made out was, "--in here nowLeo"

I hotfooted it out of the john, Beast-fast "What?" I asked as I entered the Black Bear Grill They were all watching a TV ency lights: police, ambulance, even an antiquated fire truck with Cocke County Rescue Squad painted on the side In the background I couldlights on still water On-screen was a wild-haired, heavily bearded s and lots of body art "Dude, it was bad Iit had to be fangheads, ith the injuries Like one a’ theoes psycho and eats people and shi--uh, stuff Like, sorry, dude I cuss a lot"

"Oh crap," IIt was Leo "Yellowrock"

"You will take any necessary personnel and deal with this If it is a rogue, dispatch it If it is soo away"

"Sure, Leo But--" The line clicked off I was just an underling, the paid help Unlike the va and Werewolf-Bite Scars

Eyes gritty fro the wet from the river-slick rock Just upstreae where a couple had been attacked before dawn, the screa the air So My Beast flinched deep inside, but I didn’t react I was too busy studying the scratches on the rock in the early ht

There were three parallel lines, the one in the center longer than the ones to either side I put es of the slashes Using the excuse of a better view, I bent lower, getting my nose to the rock I sniffed The water se, cherooves smelled different Still fishy, but with a particular, sour, dead-fish stench I recognized