Hunter's Blood Special Edition (Cursed by Blood Saga) (14 page)

“Would you look at how cute that kid
is,” Sean said with an expression as soft as butter.

Lily met Rissa’s frustrated plea as
Mitch caught Stephanie by the arm, swinging her up onto his hip. “I’m not so
sure Rissa would agree with you at the moment.”

“I bet that kid would do headers off
the Council table if we hadn’t moved it earlier,” he replied with a chuckle.

The immense Council table had been
cleared from the center of the hall, and its crested chairs moved to the wall,
each resting under its matching banner.

“I can’t believe you moved that
massive slab. I’d have sworn it was a permanent part of the décor based on its sheer
size alone. I know you’re strong, but
jeez
...”

Sean grinned. “Though I’d love to take
all the credit, I did have some help. Weres have been hefting that table for
years, so we’ve got it down to a science.

Lily grabbed a glass of champagne from
a passing tray and took a sip. “Wouldn’t it just be easier to leave it and use
it as a high table or maybe decorate it?”

Sean glanced at Rissa, and groaned playfully.
“Your new best friend over there would never let me hear the end of it. She
claims it gets in the way of dancing.”

“Dancing?” Lily coughed, nearly
choking on the word.

“Yup, and that means you and me. I’m
the Alpha of the Brethren, and we open the Ball with the first dance.”

Lily swallowed, not wanting to seem
like a baby. “I thought that was just at weddings?”

“Nope,” he shook his head, enjoying
her discomfort a little too much. “The unflappable Lily Saburi, afraid of a
little waltz around the dance floor. Who would have thought?”

“That’s not fair, Sean. You never said
a word about being the opening act,” she huffed.

He laughed. “Why else would I be
wearing a monkey suit? Have another glass of champagne and relax. It’ll be
fine.”

Rissa was right when she compared the
Ball to Oscar night. Everyone was dressed to the nines. Sean was gorgeous in a
classic black tux. The athletic cut tailored perfectly to highlight his broad
shoulders and narrow waist. As always, he was clean-shaven, yet his standard
military hairstyle was slightly longer on top, giving him a sexy mussed
appearance.

Butterflies winged around Lily’s
stomach as he kissed her hand and excused himself to speak with a few of the
guests. He was stunning, and he was all hers, even if it meant she had to do an
impression of
Dancing with the Stars
to prove it.

“What’s the matter, opening night
jitters or just leftover indigestion from Mitch forcing you to taste everything
at the game dinner?” Jack Cochran asked as he came up to stand beside Lily.

She shot him a look. “Does everyone
know I’m the entertainment tonight?” she said, feeling herself blush at the
lieutenant’s put-on.

“Nah, I just wanted a chance to talk
to you. Besides, Sean’s never been able to do the first dance before. By law,
it’s got to be with his mate, or at least someone in the running. Be happy. It
says a lot about your relationship. Speaking of which, how have you been
holding up? I’ve missed hanging out.”

“Pretty good, I guess, but I’d have
thought you’d be tired of me by now.”

He shrugged. “Not entirely, although I
was getting pretty good at babysitting the alpha’s lady, even if it isn’t my
dream job,” he stopped and looked at her thoughtfully. “But then again, I’ve
never met anyone so game for anything.”

Lily’s stomach churned at the word
game. “Again with that word. That game dinner was an experience I never want to
repeat. I know Sean wanted me to get up close and personal with everyone and
everything, but that was pushing it.”

Jack snorted, giving her a lopsided
smirk. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it, but come on, you didn’t enjoy
the Elk Parmesan? What about Mitch’s Bear Fricassee?”

“Quit it, Jack.” Lily said, smacking
him on the shoulder. “You’re going to make me lose my lunch, and velvet isn’t
exactly easy to clean!”

His eyes swept her face and her dark
curls, his gaze appreciative as he trailed her cranberry colored gown and every
curve, lingering on the deep v-cut of her off-the-shoulder bodice in a smooth
once over.

“I guess I wouldn’t want to do that,
now would I?” he murmured.

“Ha! Nice try, but you can sell the
smolder to someone else tonight. I’m taken, and you know it. You wolves are all
the same. Horn-dogs at heart!”

He sniggered. “I know, but you can’t
blame a guy for trying.” He paused, a genuine smile replacing his trademark
smirk. “Don’t be a stranger…okay?”

She went up on her tip toes and gave
his check a peck. “Not a chance.”

“Not a chance at what?” Sean asked,
stepping to her side as Jack walked away in route to a statuesque blonde by the
bar.

“Nothing,” Lily said, smiling up at
him.

“Is he behaving himself, or do I need
to remind him who’s boss?” Sean said with a smirk, and Lily knew he had seen
Jack flirting with her.

“Jack certainly likes the ladies,
huh?” she added, gesturing with her drink in the young wolf’s direction. “But
he’s harmless enough. At least with me. All bark, if you know what I mean.”

Sean followed her line of sight, a
deep chuckle rumbling in his throat. “The blonde is one of Volkmann’s nurses.
If you believe the chatter around the Hunter’s barracks, this one’s got him
wrapped around her finger.”

“Really?” she replied, impressed
anyone could tame the irreverent wolf.

“Really. He and a few of his bunkmates
weren’t too happy about being assigned to help out at the clinic, but with Parr
stirring animosity every chance he gets; I need people on the inside to protect
Volkmann’s research. With the vaccine proving itself to be a success, the last
thing we want is sabotage.”

She glanced at Jack and then back at
Sean. “Parr trying to discredit us is one thing, but he wouldn’t stoop so low
as to endanger everyone’s lives? Would he?”

Sean sighed. “I certainly hope not.”

From the corner of her eye, she caught
Edward standing off to the left of the bar, and staring at Jack with his eyes
narrowed.

“What’s the matter?” Sean asked,
concerned.

She shook her head. “Nothing. But it
looks like putting Jack in Volkmann’s backyard was a smart move after all,” she
added, gesturing toward the man’s dagger-eyed stare.

As if Parr knew he was being
discussed, he turned his scowl on Lily, her skin prickling from the weight of
his gaze. “He gives me the creeps,” she muttered, making a face as she broke
eye contact.

With a smile and a nod, Sean raised
his hand giving Parr a little wave. “That’s okay. If he wants to play political
dodge ball, then bring it on.”

“Sean…”

But before Lily could say another
word, the conductor stepped in front of the orchestra and tapped his baton.
Sean licked his lips, obviously changing focus. “That’s our cue, love,” he
said, grinning at the look of panic on Lily’s face.

As the overture to Gershwin’s,
Our
Love is here to Stay,
poured from the bandstand, Sean tucked her arm in
his. Wide-eyed, she walked with him to the center of the floor, mumbling, “This
is going to be a disaster,” under her breath, but loud enough for him to hear.

He led her around in a circle to the
sound of the crowd’s applause, showcasing his beautiful partner.

“I don’t like this, Sean, I feel like
a show dog.” she protested through a forced smile.

Flashing a predatory grin, he slid one
hand around her waist and pulled her just close enough to kiss her cheek. Trust
me,” he murmured, and with his fingers splayed across her back, guided her
around the floor.

Cheers echoed through the room as Sean
twirled her around the floor, her gown swirling in a rush of velvet. Rissa’s
faced beamed, and Mitch shot her two thumbs up. The music swelled, and Lily
relaxed into Sean’s arms, letting the beautiful strains take her, when in a
sudden disharmony of instruments, the music stopped.

Edward approached the podium, and all
eyes followed as he took center stage.

“What’s the meaning of this, Edward?
Explain yourself.” The alpha demanded.

“Oh, it’ not me who has to explain
themselves…it her,” he said with his finger pointed emphatically at Lily.

Sean took a step forward, his displeasure
with Edward’s effrontery seething beneath his surface calm. “Edward, this is
neither the time nor the place. Any debate involving Lily has been adjourned
until after the holidays. Look around, does it look like our festivities are
over with?”

Edward sneered. “Yes, yes…the council
is in recess. I know. But this is a matter for everyone, something each and
every Were should be made aware of about the woman you’ve paraded around for
the past month. She is a murderer.”

Sean inhaled, letting his breath out
slowly. “Everyone knows Lily’s the one who ended Jerard’s misery. That’s no
secret, Edward. So, why are you rehashing this?” The room was quiet enough to
hear a pin drop, while everyone waited for Parr’s next move.

The politician shook his head, his expression
the perfect affectation of both saddened and hard, but Lily could see the smug
satisfaction lurking beneath his faux concern.

“This has nothing to do with your
brother’s unfortunate end, and everything to do with the vigilante you brought
into our midst.” Parr swung his hand out, gesturing for someone in the crowd to
step forward.

An unkempt man burst onto the stage,
his face red and blotchy, and his movements awkward. He pushed past Edward,
nearly knocking him over. “That’s right. She killed my boy in cold blood,” he
cried, pointing at Lily. “Murderer! You murdered my boy!”

The room erupted in shock, and Lily
looked at Sean in just as much confusion. “I’ve never met this man before in my
life,” she responded, clearly taken aback.

The man was undeniably drunk as he
stumbled across the stage, belching into the microphone. “You never met me, but
you met my son in Central Park, didn’tcha? And you shot him dead in the head,
just because he was a Were, you murdering bitch!”

The man collapsed in a flood of boozy
tears, and Parr slide his hand around his trembling shoulders in a perfect show
of compassion.

Lily’s eyes flew open as the memory of
that night flooded back. Every eye was on her, watching her closely, including
Sean. She shook her head, taking a step back.

“He was attacking a jogger, and had
the poor woman backed up against an outcrop of rocks. She was trapped and
screaming, so I shot him just as he lunged for her throat. She ran away before
he even reverted back to human. It was done in defense of an innocent.”

Sean nodded once, putting his hand out
in a show of solidarity. Lily clasped it, stepping to his side, but her eyes
never left Parr.

Sean raised his other hand for
silence. “Edward, this poor man is drunk. It’s apparent he’s chosen to drown
his grief in a bottle, and while our hearts go out to him for his loss, he is
not from our Compound. We know nothing about him, his situation or his pack.”
Sean turned his attention to the man, keeping his tone even and calm. “Sir, can
you tell us who you are and where you’re from?”

The man belched again, causing Parr to
jerk his face away, earning a few nervous chuckles from the crowd and a scowl
from him. “This is no laughing matter, you Cretans!” Parr hissed.

Sean held his hand up once more.
“Please, sir, I ask you again, who are you and where do you come from?”

Marcus stepped forward. “I know who he
is, boss.” Stunned, all eyes turned toward the burly computer-tech assigned to
the Hunters.

“His name is Angus Flanders. He’s from
a pack near Indiantown, Florida. A swamp Were,” Marcus continued.

The room buzzed, and Lily glanced
around at the frowns and stares, not sure if they were aimed at her, or at Parr’s
unfortunate pawn.

“You’re a long way from home, Mr.
Flanders,” Sean said, addressing the man directly.

He nodded, brushing his greasy hair
back with his palm. “Yesssir. I am. But I need to set things to right. She
killed my boy, and where I come from it’s an eye for an eye. I want my due.”

“And what is that, exactly?”

Parr opened his mouth to speak, but
Sean interrupted him. “Let the man say his piece, Edward. That’s why you
brought him here, isn’t it?”

Angus Flanders nodded, wiping spittle
from the corner of his mouth before taking the microphone from Edward. “I want
my due, that’s all. My boy’s dead by her hand, and his mamma died of a broken
heart because of it. That girl owes me for the loss of my loved ones. You just
give her to me, and we’ll call it even.”

The room exploded. And Sean raised his
hand for the third time, quieting the crowd to a hush.

“While I’m sorry for your loss, Mr.
Flanders, Ms. Saburi is no more a vigilante than you or I. She acted in defense
of another.” Sean glanced over at Marcus, and the young man nodded his beefy
head, stepping forward. “That’s right. I hacked into the NYPD record archives
when I compiled her dossier. Defense of an innocent, definitely. She’s telling
the truth,” Marcus confirmed.