Which they were not happy about.
“This is a bad move when too much is going on,” Zack complained as we came out of the portal.
“Noted,” I grumbled. “Again.” I nodded to the security and let them check my purse, even going so far as offering to have the private dinner on their turf, which shocked them.
“We need to pat you down, Ms. Vale,” the guy said.
“No,” Ray growled.
“Wand?” I tried, gesturing to the cocktail dress I was wearing. “You guys can smell a ton.”
“Female?” a woman’s voice offered.
“Yes,” I agreed before Ray could argue. I went over to her and moved my arms apart.
She made quick work of it and nodded to the guy in charge as others checked Ray and Zack. “Councilman Brooks did make the exception that you’re allowed to keep your charms and magic on you. That’s not normally allowed, so please understand you are being treated as a friend.”
“I know,” I forgave. “Everything is crazy right now, and I’m still too new to know what I could inadvertently be doing. It’s fine.”
“Glad you’re being so reasonable, as I’m going to ask why you’re bringing in USB drives,” the guy hedged, holding up the two from my purse.
“They’re gifts,” I told him. “I’m fine if you hold onto them for now, but you are not allowed to look at them before Councilman Brooks and I reach an understanding.”
“I’ll hand them directly to him in your presence,” he agreed before handing me my purse.
Fair enough.
I followed after the guy as he led the way to the house of the head of the wolf shifter council. I sent up another silent prayer that I was doing the right thing and this wouldn’t blow up in my face, given I really didn’t know this guy and if I could trust him.
Liking his mate wasn’t really enough of a reason to risk this, but I was afraid of Mel flying off the handle when she found out what I knew. Even after reconciling with her family, she would lose her shit over this.
And I knew that as clearly as I knew my name, and why. I couldn’t even blame her.
But I would try and stop it.
“Ms. Vale, it’s lovely to see you again,” Mrs. Nicole Brooks greeted as we stepped into the foyer.
“The pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Brooks,” I replied as I walked towards her. “And please, Tamsin.”
“Of course, of course.” She frowned as she looked past me. “I assumed your lovely boyfriend would be joining us?”
“Not tonight,” I answered, trying to keep calm.
Clearly, I’d missed the mark when she raised an eyebrow. She leaned in and gave me a half hug as she kissed my cheek. “I thought you sounded a bit off. What are you up to now?” She leaned back and glanced from Zack to Ray. “Oh dear, they’re worried too. This should be interesting then. Darling, hurry up.”
“Yes, my mate,” Councilman Brooks called from deeper in the house, briskly walking towards us moments later. He instantly frowned when he saw I was alone. “I assumed Mr. Moore was joining us.”
“No, I’m solo tonight.”
“She’s up to something I assume he wouldn’t approve of,” she muttered.
“Hmmm.” Councilman Brooks took my hand when I offered it and kissed it.
“Ms. Vale had these in her purse and said it was a gift you could see once an agreement was reached,” the security guard informed him, handing over the two USB drives.
“Even with your charms and magic, worry and fear is pouring off of you,” Mrs. Brooks whispered. “Whatever did you find out?”
“I’ll explain with less ears,” I hedged, waiting until they both nodded. I glanced at Zack and Ray. “You guys hang back. I’m fine with them.”
“No, you’re not, and you’re about to do something stupid,” Zack warned. “Don’t. Don’t do this.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “You don’t know—”
“Yeah, we do,” Ray snapped. “You’ve touched the charm three times since we’ve arrived, and you smell of guilt too. Do not tell them.”
Shit, they did know. I sighed. “I have to. They need to know they’re picking the right horse on this. Trust me.”
“We do but—what did Marisol find out that has you so worried? She’s uncovered all kinds of dirt. What could possibly be so bad that you’re willing to risk everything?”
I swallowed loudly. “The one thing that could make Mel go off the rails.” I turned away and headed in the direction Councilman Brooks had gestured towards.
He led us towards his study, waiting for his mate and I to sit before he did himself. “I have to say, I’m bursting with curiosity now.”
I put up a barrier and let out a slow breath. “About five years ago, there was a supe fighting ring run by humans that knew of us. I assume—”
“We know of it,” Councilman Brooks bit out, pushing to his feet. He suppressed a growl, but I saw his wolf move behind is eyes. “One of my most trusted advisors—his daughter was never the same. She suffered—I’ve always wanted to thank the girl who saved them.”
Well, I had not seen this turn of events. I cleared my throat and adjusted how I sat. “She’s very welcome.” I nodded when they both shot me surprised and disbelieving looks. “I didn’t know about supes, and there were humans there too so—it was—Melody Rothchild had saved me from an attempted rape earlier that day and I’d run off. I went back to thank her and found out she had been taken.
“It was how we met and she took me in, but we were always around humans, so she thought I knew, but I had no clue. It’s very complicated. But I was the girl who rescued them. I was the one who knocked out those human
