Seven Days by Shari Richardson Page B

have hurt you."
    Mairin nodded. "I understand how hard it can be for you, any of you, to control your beast when you're angry. What I don't understand is what is it about knowing the panther's name that has you so far out on the edge. You were angry over the attacks before Kerry. But this is more...worse."
    I tried to stand, but the pain in my chest caused me to cry out before I could get my feet under me. Xavier glanced over his shoulder at me and I held out my hand. He took it and came to stand beside me. His energy was still running high beneath the surface, but by the feel of it, he had regained some measure of control over it.
    “The man who attacked Kerry, who has apparently been killing girls in East Hampton and Highland Home, is Lane Cordero. He’s my biological father,” Xavier said. “I only found out about Lane when Kerry and I went to Florida before school started. I just...I just can’t believe my own father...” Xavier shook himself. “It doesn’t matter who he is to me. What matters is what he is and what he’s done. We have to stop him.”
    “Xavier, perhaps you would prefer if we took care of this issue,” Mathias said.
    My heart thudded in my chest and I realized, for the first time with certainty, what a deeply good and perceptive man Mathias was. He knew what kind of damage a hunt for his father would do to Xavier and he wanted to save the man I loved from that kind of pain.
    “Hell no, leech,” Xavier snarled, slipping into his old habit of address for all vampires with Mathias. “I told you at the hospital, this is pride business.”
    “This man is your blood, Xavier. Think of the damage to your soul,” Mathias said.
    “Blood or not, it is the pride’s responsibility to take care of Lane,” Xavier said. “I’ll worry about my own soul, thank you.”
    “I told you the cats would not want our help,” Alfred said. He started to turn toward the door, but Xavier's voice stopped him.
    “I didn’t say that, leech,” Xavier snapped. “I said I wouldn’t let the blood suckers take on this problem without the pride.”
    “Mathias, I would prefer to stay out of this.” Alfred glanced at Mairin as though he expected my sister to stop him. I knew she wouldn't, but Alfred seemed determined to believe the worst of my sister when it came to the control she had over him. “The cats do not truly want our help and I am not comfortable involving myself in their political struggles.”
    “Let him go, Mathias,” Mairin said. “You know he’ll make more trouble than it’s worth if we make him stay.”
    “Of course, my heart,” Mathias said. “Please see that the others are cared for this evening Alfred. I will see you in the morning.”
    Alfred nodded to Mathias and bowed slightly to Mairin before slipping into the night. Mairin sighed heavily. I knew that whatever was going on at Mathias' house with the European vampires was taking its toll on her. She wouldn't tell me what was going on, but I knew it had something to do with a connection that had come about after Serina's death. That connection had saved the lives of every panther, as well as Elise, Mairin and me, during the battle with Azael at the end of the summer. I was grateful for the help which had come when we needed it, but the more strain it put on my sister, the more I wanted the European vampires out of Highland Home and away from my family.
    “I can offer the pride the assistance of ten to fifteen vampires who would be willing to help patrol East Hampton and Highland Home in search of this man,” Mathias said. “I would trust these men to patrol without causing further problems. You may even wish to pair them with a member of the pride in order to combine the talents specific to each race.”
    Xavier nodded. “That sounds like a good plan. Get the vamps over here tomorrow and we’ll work on pairing them with some of the boys who are okay with working alongside them. For tonight, I want to keep Kerry here. I don’t