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The young woman was coming out of it fast because she frowned at Tetiana. “Haven’t you ever heard of solving your problems with words and conflict resolution?”

“That doesn’t work for supernaturals,” Brody told her. “You gotta use force or power to get it through our thick heads.”

“Brody, stop it,” Tetiana said. “You’re making it worse.”

“Fine, Blood, you talk to her.” Brody stepped away from the young woman holding his hands up.

The young woman took one look at me in my admittedly creepy mask and nervously side stepped towards the pub. “That’s okay,” she nervously said. “I’m probably late for my shift, I’ll just go.”

“The vamp—er, men who tried to talk to you,” Tetiana started.

“Thanks for your help, goodbye!” The woman slipped past Tetiana yanking open the Lucky Clover’s front door.

Celtic music—fiddles, flutes, and drums mostly—blasted out of the open door into the night air.

The music abruptly cut off when the door shut behind the young woman, and Tetiana sighed as she ran a hand through her blond frizz-free hair. “Well, that works, I guess.” She turned and scowled at Brody. “Did you have to openlytellher that we were supernaturals?”

The Curia Cloisters generally encouraged supernaturals to hide the darker side of our society whenever possible. We didn’t want humans knowing vampires drooled over their blood or that the beautiful fae they so admired were more cruel than they were benevolent.

“It’s not like she’s going to remember this,” Brody said. “If we’re lucky, she’ll remember to be wary of weirdly clothed people in the future.”

“As you say,” Tetiana grumbled. “Shall we continue with our patrol?”

Our radios crackled and April’s voice echoed from the speakers. “This is Team Lightning on Goldstein Street. We’ve got fae magic present. No monsters detected yet.”

Sarge’s voice barked next, “All teams, report to Goldstein Street.”

“Oohh, sounds like we might get some fun tonight after all!” Brody bounded towards the corner taking the exact path we’d walked coming from Goldstein to Main Street. He disappeared around the corner, then gave a muffled shout.

“Brody?” I hurried after him, drawing a dagger before I checked the corner.

Brody was sprawled on the sidewalk. He waved me off as he peeled himself off the cement. “I’m fine. I just tripped on…”

I followed his gaze looking at what appeared at first glance to be a pile of clothes. It wasn’t until I saw the beaver hat that I realized the tangled heap was the green coat and blue coat vampires—both knocked unconscious.

I blinked trying to make sense of it. “…what?”

“Looks like Ruin’s work.” Tetiana peered around me. “Nice to learn his micromanaging ways can sometimes work to our advantage.”

“Maybe, but they didn’t turn down this block so he must have dragged them over here after beating them unconscious.” Brody nudged the unconscious vampires with the toe of his boot. “From a wolf’s perspective, this looks an awful lot like an apology gift.”

I stiffened when he glanced my way. “Apologizing isn’t a thing in vampire culture,” I said. “If he did it, it was for the same reason he’s beaten everyone else up that displeases him—he’s ruling over his territory.”

Brody looked over at Tetiana, who shrugged. “She’s right.”

The two eyed the heap.

“Goldstein Street?” I asked.

“Ah, yes! Goldstein.” Tetiana smiled, flashing her elongated fang teeth. “Let’s be off!”

* * *

We arrivedat the same time as Team Magic—comprised of Sarge, Grove, and Binx—who was in her cougar form. Most surprising, however, was Captain Reese, who rolled up in her personal car, parking on the street.

“Captain!” Tetiana trotted up to the captain’s car pausing to bow to her, Brody mimicking her. “Is the situation so dangerous you were called in?”

I wistfully studied Tetiana’s back.I wish I could talk so casually to our teammates. Everyone gets along with Tetiana, and I can only imagine how hard she’s worked to hone that skill.