Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews Page A

showed me the edge of his teeth. “Are you implying my people can’t be circumspect?”
    I looked at Jim. “Please relay my congratulations to His Majesty on learning such a big word all by himself.”

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    If Jim had been in his feline form, his whiskers and his fur would’ve stood on end.
    I kept going. “Also please explain to him that either he has a traitor in the ranks, which means that his people aren’t circumspect, or Solomon’s murder was a coincidence and the Pack has no reason to bully its way into the Order’s investigation.”
    “Why aren’t you talking to me?” Curran took a step from the mats.
    “I’m following your orders to the letter. I was told to address all queries to your chief of security. But if you wish to speak to me directly, I’ll be happy to oblige.”
    Curran’s eyes narrowed. “When did I say that?”
    “Don’t be coy. It doesn’t suit you.” Stay cool, stay cool.
    He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. You have a tiny bit of power and you used it. Run with it while you can. In the end, the Order will let us in. I’ll go over your head.”
    Jim took a small step forward. His teeth were clenched and the muscles on his jaw stood out. I actually felt sorry for him.
    Stay calm. Don’t give him the satisfaction of seeing you lose it. I unclenched my teeth. “Right now you have nothing to justify your involvement. If I accept your offer of cooperation, I’ll have to clear it with Ted, who’ll block it, because he distrusts you on principle. It’s in your best interests to wait, until you can give me irrefutable proof that the Pack is being targeted, forcing Ted into a corner. If you want direct access to the knight-protector, you’re, of course, welcome to it. But please keep in mind that expecting understanding from Ted Moynohan is like waiting for wine from a stone. I, on other hand, am sympathetic to the Pack’s needs as a whole, no matter how much I might dislike interacting with you personally.” Because of Jim, and Derek, and Raphael, and Andrea, who wasn’t yet part of the Pack but who might end up there one day.
    “So now you dislike me? Ironic, considering you pulled the plug on us.”
    “I pulled the plug? You stood me up, you arrogant asshole!”
    “You ran away!” He moved toward me. “I deserve an explanation.”

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    Slayer left its sheath almost on its own. It was the fastest draw of my life. One moment empty space lay between us and the next my saber jumped into my hand. “You deserve nothing.”
    Gold rolled over Curran’s eyes, so briefly that had I blinked, I would’ve missed it. His face gained a slightly bored expression. “Do you honestly think your toothpick can hurt me?”
    “Let’s find out.”
    “Let’s not.” Jim stepped between us.
    Curran looked at him. His voice rasped with the beginning of a snarl. “What are you doing?”
    “My job.”
    He had lost his mind. Curran was hovering on the verge of violence and Jim had just made himself into a target.
    “Jim, you want to step back.”
    Jim remained rooted to the floor.
    Curran’s gaze fastened on me, the gold burning scalding hot. Like looking into the eyes of a hungry lion and realizing I was food. My body locked, tiny hairs on the back of my neck rose on their ends, and inside me a tiny voice whispered in desperation, “Don’t breathe and he might forget you’re there.”
    I flicked my saber, warming up my wrist. “Your headlights don’t scare me.”
    Jim squared his shoulders. “You can’t do this. Not here and not now.”
    Curran’s voice slid into icy calm. “Be very careful, or I might start thinking you’re telling me what to do.”
    If Curran ordered him to move, and Jim refused, it would be a challenge. Curran would have to fight his own chief of security and his best friend. They both knew it. That was