Harlequin Nocturne May 2016 Box Set by Susan Krinard

bloodsucker? They don’t care what goes on here.”
    â€œThen how can they enforce the law?”
    The young woman rolled her eyes. “They just won’t enforce it on our behalf.”
    â€œMaybe I should report the incident myself,” Daniel said.
    â€œDon’t be stupid,” Hugh said. “You’re a newcomer, and they aren’t likely to listen to you.” He leaned toward Daniel. “ We don’t want or need the attention.”
    â€œYou were ready to fight them yourselves.”
    Hugh scowled. “It was a mistake. If those Opiri complain, the Council may—”
    â€œCareful, Hugh,” the woman said.
    â€œI don’t think he’ll report us,” Hugh said grimly.
    â€œI’m still trying to understand,” Daniel said. “Why did they come here to harass you?”
    â€œWhy shouldn’t they? We’re insects to them.”
    â€œAnd all the Opiri here feel the same way?”
    â€œEnough of them do.”
    But Isis didn’t seem to know it, Daniel thought. Or she pretended not to.
    â€œYou don’t like the Games,” he said. “You said they were to keep humans distracted from the advantages Opiri citizens have over humans.”
    Hugh folded his arms across his chest and stared at the ground.
    â€œAll right,” Daniel said. “I heard nothing here today. I just happened to be near the tavern when the Opiri showed up.”
    Gruff gratitude crossed the big man’s face. “It might be a good idea for you to leave Tanis, but somehow I don’t think you’re going to do that.”
    â€œI see no reason to.”
    â€œI hope you’re right. We’ll do what we can to put them off your scent, but that doesn’t mean the Opiri you beat won’t talk.”
    â€œAdmit they were defeated by a human?”
    â€œJust take my advice. Lie low for a while. If they bring you in, tell them only what you have to.” He hesitated. “Once this blows over, there are others you might want to meet. I’ll see what I can arrange.” He gripped Daniel’s hand again, slipping something long into Daniel’s palm.
    It was a knife in a leather sheath. “Weapons are illegal in Tanis, unless they’re carried by Lawkeepers,” Hugh whispered. “Keep it hidden. Good luck.”
    Very much aware of the weapon, Daniel tucked it under his shirt and turned toward the border again. He knew he’d done something very dangerous, not only in attacking the Opiri but also by displaying his strength and speed. Along with his training, it made him the equal of almost any full Nightsider.
    It was the anger , he thought. It usually manifested itself in wariness and suspicion, as he’d so often shown with Isis, but he’d let it out this time. He could tell himself it was for the people at the tavern, but in his heart he’d been happy to put the Opiri in their places. If they felt so secure in attacking humans in a human neighborhood, they could have done worse than scratch Hugh’s wrist.
    He’d guessed that the Opiri wouldn’t be quick to admit they’d lost a fight to a human. They might not even remember his face from among all the other humans. But rumors would spread, and if Hugh was correct, the authorities would see no reason to give the benefit of the doubt to a newcomer.
    But one good thing had come out of this. Now he had solid evidence that the “peace” in Tanis was troubled, and—unless this incident had been a freakish exception—that the supposed cooperation between Opiri and humans might only be a patch over a festering wound.
    Had Ares discovered the problem? If he had, it seemed even more peculiar that he hadn’t reported back to Avalon.
    As for Isis...
    Daniel refused to believe she’d been deliberately lying to him about the state of the city. She genuinely believed what she said about Tanis, about the second chance it gave to