Lupi 06 - Blood Magic

of Rule's. Those eyes blazed now in a face gone still.
    He was furious. In complete control, but beneath that, the beast raged. Startled, she spoke formally. "Thank you. I need possible witnesses separated from the rest. Also from each other, as much as possible. I don't want them discussing what they saw or thought they saw. I need to be sure no one leaves, too."
    "They won't leave. They won't discuss it if I tell them not to."
    She wondered at his cooperation. Lupi were not known for welcoming the authorities into their affairs, and Isen would see this as a Nokolai matter. "You're accepting my authority in this?"
    "I accept necessity. You're Nokolai. You will handle this."
    "Uh... for now. The dispatcher will have notified the sheriff's department."
    "So Benedict told me. He's notified the guards at the gate to admit whoever they send, but you'll be in charge."
    "I don't know if this falls within my jurisdiction. By law, magical crimes are those - "
    He made a chopping motion with one hand. "You'll find a way to work it. I don't care how. I haven't asked for obedience from you because you weren't raised to understand the need, but you are Nokolai. You'll find a way."
    Prickles traveled up her arms. She wanted to agree. She was immune to whatever pull his mantle gave him, yet she wanted to agree. "And if I don't?"
    A glint of humor passed through his eyes. "Oh, I'm not fool enough to threaten you. No, you'll find a way to make this your case because that's best for Nokolai - as you'll understand when you've thought on it. And you are Nokolai."
    He turned abruptly and raised his voice to that full-throated bellow. "Nokolai! This is an offense against the clan." He paused, letting them absorb that. Calling a clan-offense was serious. "Our Chosen will act for me in this, along with my Lu Nuncio. Anyone with information that might help, come forward. Anyone who was close to Seabourne just before the attack - even if you don't think you can help - come forward. You will not speak of it to each other. Come forward and wait. Children and tenders, go to the Center. Everyone else, go to the south end of the field. Quickly. We need room for the helicopter."
    He turned to Benedict, who'd come up as he was speaking. "Make sure our elders are comfortable."
    Benedict gave a single nod and moved away.
    "Does he magically know when you need him?" Lily shook her head. "Never mind. Did you see what happened?"
    "No. I was at least twenty yards away, talking with Sybil and Toby."
    Toby. God, she hadn't thought - "Where is he?"
    "With Sybil, of course. She was a tender for thirty years. She'll take him to the Center with the other kids."
    Guilt washed through her. She shoved it back. No time for that now - but it was just as well she had plenty of help with this parenting business. She wasn't very good at it yet.
    The crowd was moving, most heading for the south end of the field, as instructed, while a few swam against the current to come forward, also as instructed. Isen directed them to wait about twenty feet away.
    They were all so orderly - no panic, no one complaining or assuming that Isen couldn't possibly have meant him. Or her. They scarcely spoke. She felt Rule move up beside her. "It's kind of eerie."
    "What?"
    "Them." She gestured. "Everyone's just... They're so calm. Earlier one of them got so excited from watching a dance that he Changed. No one's Changing now."
    "Isen is drawing heavily on the mantle." He paused, then added, "They don't smell calm. They trust him to deal with the situation, but they aren't calm."
    "Hmm." Scent-blind, lupi called humans. They had a point. She turned to Rule. "I need to talk to the wits. You can help with that."
    As Lu Nuncio, he'd smell it if they lied - the lupus ones, anyway. According to Rule, lupi couldn't lie to someone carrying a portion of their clan's mantle without reeking of guilt.
    Rule didn't respond. He was looking at Cullen, his face blank. Shut down.
    Lily realized she was staring, too, watching Cullen's chest as if her eyes could keep it lifting, ever so slightly, with his breath. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and touched Rule's arm once. Then moved away.
    Keeping Cullen alive wasn't her job. Nettie and the Rhej were in charge there, and thank God for that. She'd do what she knew. She moved closer and crouched down beside Cynna. "Can you answer a couple questions?"
    Cynna nodded without taking her eyes off Cullen.
    "You were with Cullen when it happened."
    "Yeah,