Lupi 06 - Blood Magic

still - "
    "You know my plans."
    "But if you could alter some small part of them... " He came to her then and clasped one of her hands in both of his. "My beauty, my beloved, you will do as you must, but if you could hasten that one aspect of your revenge... ?"
    She gave a little sigh, a very human-sounding sigh, and wrapped her long, thin arms around him. She was taller by several inches, so she rested her cheek on top of his head. He began stroking her back, and her eyes slitted, almost closing, like a cat's when it purrs.
    "I worry," he murmured, his voice soft. "I worry for you."
    "How can they harm me? You will kill the sorcerer when it is safe to do so, and I will consider some slight alteration in my plans, to please you. But nothing major, not unless you can give me some reason other than these vague fears. This is a rich place, so much to feed on, and the kine so unwary. I will eat my enemy's fear, and not rush my meal. And you, beloved... " She smiled down at him, both hands moving to cup his face. "You will have your city. Just as I promised."

 
    EIGHT

    By the time the deputies arrived, Lily had checked out the trampled grass near the spot where Cullen had fallen. She'd also done preliminary interviews with seven witnesses and was about to start on number eight.
    Working with Isen was different from working with Rule. Efficient as hell, but different. For one thing, Lily had never seen Isen in wolf form until today - an omission that surprised her once she noticed it. Was that a courtesy on his part, to always meet her in the form she best understood? Or did he just not Change all that often? If so, was that a matter of age or personal inclination, or connected to his position as Rho?
    She banked those questions for now.
    Isen made a gorgeous wolf. Smaller than Rule, though still larger than a normal wolf, and very strong through the chest and shoulders. His coat was a reddish brown, almost foxy, which struck her as appropriate. But he was very much a wolf.
    When Rule was wolf, Lily was so conscious of who he was that what he was seemed secondary. With Isen, she was aware every second that a large, strong wolf stood beside her. She wasn't frightened. Just really aware.
    The witnesses were uniformly courteous and responsive. And - as Isen had said they would - they told the truth.
    The truth as they knew it.
    Lily had two witnesses - Mike Hemmings and Sandra Metlock - who had seen Rule stab his best friend with a poisoned blade. She had a witness who'd seen Cynna do it. Three others had seen three different attackers - Mike Hemmings, Piers, and "some stranger. Never saw the guy before." And yet another wit was convinced the knife had been thrown because no one had been standing behind Cullen when he collapsed. He was sure of that.
    No one had seen an Asian man anywhere near Cullen.
    The knife itself was still missing.
    The grass and ground where the perp must have stood gave off the kind of furry tingles she associated with lupi. Normally lupi didn't leave traces of magic on objects, not unless they Changed, but strong emotion sometimes made them leak a bit, maybe because they pushed the lupus toward Change. There was a very faint trace of the dancing tickle she associated with sorcery, but that wasn't surprising. Cullen was a sorcerer.
    Shannon brought the next witness to her. This one didn't come solo, but hand in hand with another wit. Lily sighed. "Jason, I'll speak with you separately."
    "I'd like him to stay with me," Beth said. Her chin had a defiant tilt.
    "Sorry, that's not possible - not unless he has a law degree and you're wanting a lawyer present."
    "Maybe I do want a lawyer."
    Lily looked at her sister for a long moment, then gestured at Jason. "Go back and wait. Shannon, escort him, please."
    Jason started to protest. The big, reddish wolf standing beside Lily gave him a single glance. He left, Shannon trailing him.
    Lily moved close to Beth and spoke quietly, though Isen would hear every word anyway. "All right. What's going on?"
    "I just... I don't want to say, that's all."
    "Did you see what happened?"
    Beth didn't answer out loud, but the wincing around her eyes said "yes" pretty clearly.
    Lily took her arm, running her hand up and down in a light, soothing way. "Beth. You know you have to tell me."
    Beth swallowed and looked away. "It was Freddie," she whispered. "I told you he was here. F-Freddie stabbed Cullen. I saw him. I know it doesn't make sense, because why... But he