Mike stepped in to lie for me. “Didn’t you find this in the souk?” he asked.
“The last few days have been such a whirlwind, I don’t remember exactly where I picked it up,” I said. “Pretty, though, isn’t it?” I twirled the bottle, sending flashes of crimson magic around the room.
I set the bottle back on the table, within Lady Birdsong’s reach. “But I’m afraid it will clash with my décor. Perhaps you’d accept it as a gift?”
“That’s quite gracious of you,” she said as she reached out and stroked the bottle.
I kept a firm grip on it. Ten men couldn’t have wrenched it from my grasp.
“So,” I said, “this diplomatic pouch. How long would it take to reach my assistant in Nevada?”
“We can assure you of delivery within twenty-four hours.”
I released my grip and she pulled the bottle in closer with a smile. “Ambassador, if you would call the shipping office?”
“As you wish, milady.”
“Luna, could you put that letter you wrote for my son in the pouch?” asked Manny. “I might not get a chance to deliver it in person.”
“Of course, Manny.”
While we waited, I prepared my letter. The high-linen-content paper was smooth under my fingers, carrying the scent of Lady Birdsong and the clerk who had brought it to her.
“Lady Birdsong, if you’re squeamish, you might not want to watch.”
I popped the claw on my forefinger, narrowed the tip down to twin points, and stabbed it into my left forearm. Blood rushed out and up the nail, filling it like a fountain pen.
Dear Kuga-san,
Greetings and happy hunting. Please give the enclosed tie to Christopher, my beta. Tell him that the owner of this tie is anathema to our pack, having injured one of our own. His life is forfeit.
Christopher is to show the tie to our pack and any pack we have relations with. Luna Pack will give one BITCHCoin to the werewolf who brings me the head of this prey.
Luna, alpha of Luna Pack
My arm had healed before the letter was finished. I used my magic cloth to wipe up all traces of blood. Lady Birdsong had looked at my blood with the same greedy look in her eyes that she’d had for the genie bottle. No sense leaving temptation around.
Mike read over my shoulder as I addressed an envelope, this time with a standard ballpoint pen, and murmured, “I might be able to save his host.”
“That would be like trying to cure a rabid dog. This isn’t a low-level demon that can be pushed out. He’s got his claws in that poor man’s soul.”
26
Mike, Manny, and I reconvened in our suite where Logan and Alisha had been waiting.
We sat at our table to go over our plans. All except Logan, who paced around the room like a caged lion. Even Alisha leaned away from him as he passed her. No smart-ass comments when she knew her father was this pissed.
“Alpha, you shoulda let me attend that meeting. I woulda taken care of that kidnapping bastard.”
“That’s exactly why I ordered you to stay here to guard our den, runt. The demon-ridden bastard tried to get me to attack. That would have resulted in our expulsion from the embassy.”
Mike added, “And we needed someone with your talents to stay and guard our rooms. No telling what they might do behind our backs.”
“You’re all paranoid,” said Alisha. “Nobody’s out to get us. If I just get a minute to talk to Prince Abdul, I can convince him to leave you alone. Then you can go on about your business.”
“You’re still a minor,” I said. “I’m not turning you over to some random bastard.”
She might have argued with Logan, and she would have ignored anyone else, but I gave her the stare of an alpha. The look that let her know the restraints and hood were still available.
Alisha sniffed in derision, stood quickly, and walked to the door. “I’m going to the gym,” she announced as she left, slamming the door in frustration.
“Mike, could we have some privacy, please? Logan, hold your nose.”
“Hocus silentium!” intoned Mike as I erected a soundproof bubble.
Logan snorted out of both nostrils to clear his nose of the stench of magic.
“Wow,” said Manny, “she slammed that door so hard my ears are ringing. Teenagers!”
Safe within our bubble, I brought Logan up to date on our meeting with Prince Abdul and Mr. Jonathan.
“You put a bounty out on the demon, but not the kidnapper?” asked Logan. “That doesn’t make any sense. They should both die for what they did.”
“I had to choose to take down the most dangerous enemy,” I said. At Logan’s glare, I added, “first. The prince will get what he deserves.”
Logan nodded and sat, his only confirmation that he agreed with me.
We talked for over an hour, discussing tactics and plans. A pounding at the door interrupted our meeting.
A nervous-looking Royal Marine announced, “The embassy is on lockdown. Saudi troops have surrounded the compound. Please stay here for your own safety.”
“Damn, they worked fast,” said Mike.
“Any other messages?” I asked.
“Lady Birdsong asked me to tell you that your pouch has been dispatched. The courier left just before the troops gathered.”
“Please tell Lady Birdsong that we thank her for her assistance and that we will be of service in any way possible.”
What the hell should we do? What the hell could we do?
When in doubt, make coffee. I prepared a pot of smooth-brew coffee, following the recipe Mason had taught me years ago.
“Luna, please let me do that,” said Mike.
“Your coffee is terrible,” I replied with a shudder as the water dripped.
I laid out cups and saucers while Mike, Manny, and Logan whispered.
When I started to pour the coffee, Mike and Manny accepted, but Logan pushed his cup back.
“Sorry, Luna, I need to take a nap. I pulled the midnight shift.”
Frustration rose, but he was right. Even werewolves need sleep, and he couldn’t do my ‘sleep between the ticks of the clock’ trick. He had also recently recovered from grievous
