BLOOD, MONEY AND MOONLIGHT

house office, Alessia Blackmoon's high heels sank into the Persian rug that had been imported. The scent-maskin

ilhouetted against the neon cityscape of Manhattan, a cr

oice was winter river runoff-cold, r

skin. Human arrogance. She forced a

tur

h

dn't prepared

if she were a ledger that needed to be balanced were all too delicate for that phrase. The platinum watch on his wrist gleamed in the dim ligh

g famil

ils bit into

the chair across fro

beneath her. Like a garrote wire, the quiet was stretched. The ventilation system of the buildi

s been down t

snarled a

click. "Your references claim

g her skirt ride up just enough to draw his

ight caught on the silver ring he wore-another wolf mo

s like a bullet

Oh gods,

"They're pack animals. Terr

?" His thumb traced the edge of hi

at. She tilted her head.

twitched. "A

d his gaze. "Unless you prefer

at.

o m

chair, caging her in. His scent enveloped her-bourbon and bergamot, yes, but be

ph

possible. Nero

n't

armed her li

spell fl

ting into her palms. The magic held-

elled

to her mouth. "

h in something too sharp to be a

ightened, walking back to his desk with

screen, displaying grainy security footage-night vision, blood-

rewo

of o

feral, jaws unhinged, muscles writhing under its f

ero said, voice det

ng steady. "Corporate

he creature's face. "Tell

ed by silver nitrat

her arms.

nd

's terr

nt very

ay it keeps shaking its head. That's not agg

followed was th

ero sm

pleasant e

he said softly.

TO: LATER

ed LED lights. Alessia's new keycard had gotten her past se

. The sleek black console displayed a 3D model of a wolf's sk

crets.

oser. The scre

EM R

uman playing with toys they did

ushed the keyboard, the s

ALPHA D

o

as too late. Red text scr

OON. THREAT LEVEL: OM

een wen

he doorway,

ia wh

his tie loosened, a fresh glass o

't speak. Didn't explain the AI's reaction. Just watched h

tor doors

stepped

a hand shot out-thick-knuck

strils widened as he breathed in her aroma. Then, with an

oors

nfolded t

led in what look

LITTLE

ontinue