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Yasmine tilts her head thoughtfully. “I must admit, your bid is more impressive than I was expecting. What your pack lacks in local knowledge, you more than make up for with other qualifications.”

“We’re not a pack, ma’am, just a team. And we’re used to dropping into new places and hitting the ground running.

We’ve also just recruited a local liaison to fill that gap you’ve highlighted.

” Despite being irritated at Raj and Jet for hiring someone we might not be able to trust, no matter what their senses told them, I’m more than willing to exploit having an employee in the position for the sake of the bid.

The bear shifter makes a note on her laptop. She’s been taking the minutes of the meeting the entire time.

Yasmine taps her manicured nails on a folder in front of her. “That will certainly prove useful. Who did you hire?”

Raj straightens. “Ayo Muroyi, a member of the local coven.”

For the first time in the last forty-five minutes, Yasmine smiles. “Excellent choice. Ayo knows everyone, and he’s welcome everywhere.”

Raj and I exchange a look. I take the risk of asking the obvious question. “You know him personally?”

Yasmine’s smile turns a little sad. “His mother was a close friend back when she was coven leader.”

It’s common for coven leadership to run in families because the strongest magically is usually in charge, so it’s not entirely a surprise to learn Nyoka’s aunt was the previous leader.

While Ayo will undoubtedly be loyal to his coven first and foremost—something we’ll have to be extremely wary of given that they’re our rivals for this bid—the fact that even the mayor knows him well enough to smile at the mention of his name is a good indication of his ability to do the job we’ve recruited him for.

Yasmine slides the folder she’s been tapping across the table to us.

“Anyway, gentlemen, pack or not, you’ve impressed me enough to consider you viable candidates.

Inside this file is a triple homicide case we’d like you to investigate.

The coven have a head start on you since they’ve been at this for over two months already, but the first to solve the case and make an arrest based on admissible evidence wins the contract. ”

Nothing like a little friendly competition to decide the next five years of our lives.

Raj pulls the folder closer and we flip through it, scanning the details of three victims, all coven members and all women, each killed a month apart.

We reach the crime scene photos and I hold back a grimace.

These poor women were ripped apart. We’ve both seen worse, but not often.

Most countries have militaries made up of mostly human soldiers.

We didn’t come up against other supes often, and although it was brutal when we did, the use of guns by humans was much more common.

“Is there a working theory on motive?” Raj asks when we reach the end.

Yasmine shakes her head, her glossy lips pulled into a tight line.

“No, which is why I’m using this case to aid in the bid decision.

If the killer continues their pattern, we have just under a month before they kill again.

As you’ll have seen, the most recent victim was just two days ago.

She was found in the neutral zone. That’s been the safest part of Birchester for decades.

I won’t tolerate a serial killer in my city, gentlemen.

“This is beyond what the coven have ever dealt with before. While they have a lot of advantages, it’s becoming clear those might not be enough.

Find the killer. We’ll send you the files, a contract to pay your stated rates as per the bid documents, and grant you the temporary authority to both investigate and make an arrest, should you find the culprit.

Any abuse of that authority will result in immediate rejection of your bid.

Your reach extends to this investigation only and any work your company is hired for by the public. Nothing more.”

“Understood.” I scan the documents again, noting an annoying lack of crime scene evidence. “Is the most recent crime scene still roped off?”

Yasmine gives a sharp nod. “Yes. Unfortunately, a human found the body and it’s taking a while to work through the process to get the human police to hand the case over to us.

We have a couple of supes in positions that matter, so it’s not a major problem, but it does cause a delay.

The crime scene should be available sometime tomorrow.

One of my staff will be in touch as soon as that happens. ”

Fuck, that’s frustrating. We all understand the necessity of keeping the supernatural world secret from humans but I thought leaving the SAS, a branch of Britain’s Special Forces, would put an end to administrative delays. I should have known better.

“How did it go?” Kit asks as soon as we walk into the office. Cal and Skye look up from where they’re huddled around a single screen, arms pressed together.

“We’re in the running.” I drop the folder Yasmine gave us onto my desk. “There’s a serial killer loose in the city. Whoever finds them and arrests them first wins the contract.”

Three pairs of eyes spark with a familiar competitiveness. Kit scoots forward, their purple nail polish glinting as they flip through the pages rapidly.

“Where’s Jet?” Raj asks, voice ringing with false innocence.

Skye grins and pushes his blonde hair out of his hazel eyes, revealing the wicked pale pink scar down the left side of his face. “Went to see the Carsons about what support they might need going forward.”

“So you have time to plan your revenge,” Cal says, leaning back in his chair and looking for all the world like he doesn’t care whether Raj does or doesn’t.

Cal is our long, lean, and deadly close quarters combat specialist. With mahogany skin, chiselled features, and an inexpressive nature, you’d be forgiven for thinking the vampire doesn’t care about anything or anyone.

However, I’ve known him long enough to know he finds the constant rivalry between Raj and Jet amusing.

“Holy shit on a pogo stick, this is brutal,” Kit murmurs.

The others sober. Skye glances at the file then looks away quickly. As an eagle shifter, he doesn’t have to be close to see every detail, which makes him an excellent pilot and sniper. Unfortunately, he doesn’t handle gore well. “You need us to work on that, boss?”

“Not at the moment. I can handle this one initially, with help from the newbie when I need to talk to others, but I’ll bring each of you on board as and when I need your skills. From the state of the victims, it’ll be safest to arrest the killer as a team.”

“Safest for us or for them?” Cal asks, mouth twitching in the closest he ever gets to a smirk.

Raj sits at his desk and wakes his computer before typing in his password. “The mayor wants the killer arrested.”

We all wrinkle our noses. Shitheads who kill innocent people deserve worse than a supe prison, but we have to adjust to not being in the SAS anymore. Killing isn’t a normal way to get justice in civilian life, for humans or supes.

“I’ll keep you all updated in our evening meetings. Raj, let me know as soon as those contracts are reviewed and ready to sign.”

“Sure.”

“Kit, I may need your assistance with some deeper searches. I also want you to get the newbie set up tomorrow morning.”

“No probs. Will you be around?”

I shake my head and sit, typing in my password. “Not until later. We don’t have access to the latest crime scene yet, but I want to visit the other locations.”

“What about the pathologist?” Cal asks.

“Might as well wait until they’ve finished with the latest victim and ask all my questions at once.”

Raj stops clicking his mouse and eyes me. “You want to see how the newbie handles body parts. A bit harsh, don’t you think? Those victims might have been friends.”

Four pairs of judging eyes focus on me. I let out a low warning growl. We’ve been a team a long time, and been through a lot together, but my wolf and I are in agreement that they need to remember who’s in charge here.

“I’m not going to make him view the bodies if it’s too much, but the pathologist might tell us more if this kid does his job properly. As will the families of the victims. Keep in mind that if he can’t handle a murder investigation, he’s not who we need working with us on the task force.”

I’m not going to go easy on someone who might be spying on us for his coven. Testing the newbie’s loyalty and reasons for being with us is going to be one of my top priorities. Right alongside this murder investigation.

Because one way or another, I’m determined we’ll win this bid. Our future in this city depends on it.