Biting Cold: A Chicagoland Vampires Novel (CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES SERIES)

freaking out?”
    “Because your grandfather was the source.”
    I could only blink. “What? Why in God’s name would he do that?”
    “Because they told him to. It makes strategic sense. One, it makes Kowalcyzk look as incompetent as she really is. That’s a fun bonus. Two, we’re fighting a losing battle. The information has spilled out, a bit at a time, since Celina announced our existence, and not usually on our terms.”
    He was right about that. Celina outed vampires, and Gabriel had to out the shifters after his brother launched a full-out attack on Cadogan House.
    “You said he had permission?” That was as big a surprise as any. There were all sorts of supernatural creatures the general public didn’t know about, and I hadn’t heard any of them express any strong desire to mingle with humans.
    “In light of Tate’s— Dominic’s —behavior, your grandfather thought it best to revisit the issue with the city’s supernatural communities. Chicagoans have already seen two supernatural reveals. You add yet another reveal—Dominic’s wings—and the public starts to believe there’s more out there than they’ve seen, assuming they don’t believe that already. If they were going to be outed, they wanted to do it on their terms.
    “And frankly,” he added, “I think your grandfather stressed the fact that vampires have been taking the supernatural heat in this town for a while now, and it was time to share the burden. He says it helped considerably that you’ve been meeting the groups and conducting yourself honorably. Attempting to solve problems that weren’t yours in order to keep the peace for everyone.”
    I blushed at the praise. It meant a lot that they’d said those things to my grandfather. He’d all but raised me, and I was glad to have done good by him.
    “This could change a lot of things in Chicago,” I said.
    “It could.”
    He had a little smile on his face, and I figured out the reason for that fast enough. “And with that much change, Darius would be hard-pressed to dump one of his Chicago Houses.”
    “That is an unintended side effect.”
    It might not, of course, have any bearing on what the GP ultimately did. After all, they tended to ignore the cold, hard realities of what went on in Chicago. But it would certainly make them think twice before disbanding us.
    “How’s the public reacting?” I asked.
    “The usual mix. Some are celebrating; some are afraid. Some are convinced we are the harbingers of the apocalypse.”
    “Dominic’s wings can’t be much help with that.” They looked exactly like something you’d have seen at the end of the world as the four horsemen rode down upon you . . .
    “I don’t imagine they did. On the upside, with so many other options, the protestors have completely abandoned us.”
    “No kidding?” That I had to see. I climbed out of bed and joined Ethan at the window. I could see only a corner of the front yard, but no signs bobbed above the Cadogan House gate.
    On the other hand . . . “There’s a hatred vacuum,” I said, crossing my arms and turning back to him. “If humans aren’t out there protesting vampires because there are so many other things to protest, it leaves a gap for McKetrick to fill. Kowalcyzk’s still in office, and as far as we know, he’ll still have her ear. He’s going to be pissed if folks are lovey-dovey in our direction. And he’ll fire things up again.”
    “That does seem possible. Likely, even. He is motivated.”
    We were quiet for a moment, probably both considering the likelihood of another enemy raising the stakes around the House.
    But when I looked back at him, his gaze was on the silk slip that barely covered me. Magic rose around us, swirling as desire deepened.
    Ethan caressed my bare shoulder with a fingertip, and I shivered. I closed my eyes, my body warming as his hand splayed across my bare back.
    “Ethan,” I said, the word an invitation, but instead of bringing him closer, it broke the spell.
    Frustration poured through me.
    “There are plenty of things in the world to be afraid of,” I said. “But you are not one of them. Nothing but fear is holding us back from each other,” I quietly said, then walked toward the shower.
    “Where are you going?”
    “To take a shower and get dressed.”
    “You are sun drunk if you think you’re going anywhere,” Ethan said. “You need to recuperate.”
    My hand on the doorjamb, I looked back at him, my gaze as flat as his