Biting Bad (Chicagoland Vampires 8)

"They're going to strike again," Catcher predicted. "The rioters, I mean. There was no event here. No trigger. They weren't reacting to a Super Bowl win or the beating of a civilian. And if there's no trigger, there's a groundswell of rage. That's not the kind of thing that just disappears."

Unfortunately, I couldn't disagree with him. "So how do we stop it? Get a handle on it?"

He shrugged. "By doing the stuff we've discussed. We'll follow up with the CPD, check the security videos. The key here may not be the riot itself, but why this particular place was targeted. This isn't exactly a public hot spot for vampire activity. It's not flashy. Not like Cadogan House, which would have been the obvious, big-name target. There's something to that - to picking this place. I just don't know what it is yet."

I nodded, and we sat quietly for a few minutes, sipping our beverages. "While we're here, can I talk to you about something?"

"What?"

"Our little blue-haired friend? She asked me for a job at Cadogan House."

Catcher looked surprised, which wasn't a common expression for him. "A job?"

"She's contingency planning. Looking for something to do when her time with the shifters is up. She hoped we might have something for her."

"I can't imagine Sullivan took that well."

"He's not thrilled at the idea. She violated the sanctity of his House. And his mind. But I think he also knows we need a plan for when she's better. What do you think?"

He looked away; whether it was in thought or fear, I wasn't sure.

"I don't know," he finally said. "I think she's making progress. I think we're making progress. I don't want to interrupt it." He paused. "We started dating so fast. Jumped right into it, and into living together. To be honest, when she used the Maleficium, I thought I'd made a horrible decision. That I'd totally misjudged her."

I hadn't known how close Catcher had come to breaking up with Mallory, and I wondered if she did.

"And then I saw her with the shifters."

Confused, I looked at him. "You mean washing dishes?"

Catcher made a sarcastic sound. "She's doing more than just washing dishes, Merit."

That was news to me. Everything I'd seen and heard indicated Mallory was doing manual labor while she learned to live with her magic. Neither Mallory nor Gabe had mentioned anything else, even last night.

"So what's she doing?" And why hadn't either one of them told me there was more to it?

"I don't know all the details." Catcher swirled the coffee left in his cup, and I waited him out. "Shifters have a connection to magic that we don't," he finally said. "I think they're helping her learn to channel her magic productively."

"I'm surprised Gabe hasn't told us that."

"He's been playing it off," Catcher said. "Shifters don't involve themselves in the affairs of others; at least, that's what they keep telling themselves. That rep's taken a hit lately, considering his friendships with you and Ethan. And if word got out he was actively helping Mallory, a sorceress, a lot more people would come asking."

I nodded. I understood the reasoning, even though the information probably would have gone a long way toward soothing Ethan - and everyone else who'd had an unfortunate run-in with Mallory.

"And how do you feel about it?" Catcher had been jealous of Simon, Mallory's former tutor. I wondered how he felt about Mallory working with Gabriel and the other brutally attractive shape-shifters.

"It's not my choice," he said. "But it's our obligation."

He offered few words, but they packed a punch. Catcher was letting her work outside his comfort zone in order to prevent the chaos he'd helped facilitate by being inattentive the first time around.

My phone rang, so I pulled it out and checked the screen.

"It's the House," I told Catcher, holding it up to my ear. "Merit."

"Merit." Ethan's voice rang through the phone. "You're on speakerphone."

His tone was serious, and my stomach turned with nerves. "What's wrong?"

"Clean Chicago has fired back up," Luc said. "They're in Wrigleyville. And they're attacking Grey House."

The breath stuttered out of me in shock - then fear. Had we done this? Had we caused this riot by visiting Robin Pope, cluing her in to the direction of our investigation, and letting her get away?

And what about Jonah? As captain of the Grey House guards, he'd be right in the middle of the violence, right in the line of fire. I knew he was capable of handling himself, but that didn't mean I wished him into combat.

"Scott's called the CPD," Luc said. "But they don't have control yet. They're estimating three hundred rioters. He also sent out an SOS for help from other Chicago vampires."

"The GP blacklisted us," I pointed out. "Are we even allowed to help?"

"Blacklisting is between Cadogan and the GP," Ethan said. "Not Cadogan and Grey. That Grey House has not come to our aid does not mean we won't come to theirs. We set the example; we set our own bar. Besides, you've already heard from one Grey House vampire, who risked the blacklist to tell us about it. The barrier's already been breached. They need help, and we'll provide it."

"But that doesn't mean we can be careless," Luc put in. "This is the kind of situation the GP will likely stay out of - too much bad press, too many ways for their hands to get dirty, which they don't care for. But keep an eye out anyway. Just because action by the GP is unlikely doesn't mean it's impossible."

"Luc and Juliet are about to leave for Grey House," Ethan said. "Malik will stay at the House, in the event the rioters are looking for other targets. Lindsey is not to leave his side under any circumstances. Kelley's got command of the guards in our absence. Notify the humans at the gate. I want them on full-alert status. The tunnels are prepared?"

"Cleaned, stocked, and ready," Luc answered. "I'm going to say good-bye to Lindsey; then I'm heading to the car."

My heart clenched. Luc was saying good-bye - not just because he was leaving the House, but because he was leaving the House for possible battle.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked.

"Wait for me," Ethan said. "I'm already en route, and I'll meet you there."

The last place I wanted my boyfriend - and the Master I'd taken an oath to protect - was in the middle of a war zone.

"I suppose there's no point in arguing with you about this?"