Tainted Blood: A Generation V Novel by M.L. Brennan

week,” Midori added. “She thinks that Keiko has the right idea—she’s considering staying two-legged for her pregnancy. Thinks it’ll be easier in the long run, even with the cost of maternity clothes. Or maybe spending just two days a week on four feet—cut the pregnancy down a month or two, maybe just end up with a set of twins, max.”
    “Hell, yeah,” her sister agreed. “Have you seen those stupid booster seats Yuzumi has to use? They wouldn’t all fit in my car when I was watching the girls, so I had to drive them in fox. Riko peed in a cup holder.”
    Their mother now looked defensive. “Staying fox doesn’t always mean triplets.”
    “Except for Yuzumi. And you. And twice forKanon-
obasan
.” From Midori’s expression, these were some rather significant exceptions.
    “Do you see what your sister has started?” Chiyo demanded of Suzume, apparently tired and aggravated enough to miss the slight gleam of satisfaction in her niece’s eyes at how well she’d distracted her aunt from the original topic. “I expect this kind of thing from you, not Keiko.”
    “What kind of thing? Kits? Is that what you expect from me?” Suze sounded amused.
    Her aunt shuddered dramatically. “Don’t even say such a thing, Suzu-chan. I don’t want to imagine the kind of demon-spawn you would produce.” She focused on me, and said, “My poor sister had to call the fire department three times before Suzume was six.”
    I had no difficulty at all imagining that. The conversation lagged after that—Chiyo and Midori were both tired after hiding the body, and after a few minutes they were clearly struggling to keep up with a basic conversation about whether we could expect any snow this year before Thanksgiving. Takara was apparently given more slack as the youngest, because she simply shifted back to her fox form and took a snooze on the floor.
    After forty-five minutes, Gil appeared in the doorway, his wide face bearing an expression of semi-appeasement. “You were right—they’re convinced,” he said bluntly. “One of the officers is staying around until the body is taken away, but it just looks like a courtesy thing. I called the ghouls, and they said they’ll be here in a few minutes.”
    “Excellent,” Chiyo said, collecting her purse. “My daughters and I will meet them at the funeral home. No reason to continue cluttering up your kitchen.” Midori reached down and scooped her four-footed sister off the floor. Takara didn’t even wake up, but simply made a small whuffle in her sleep.
    Gil focused on me. “And you?” There was a distinctchallenge in the way he was looking at me, and I could feel my temper rising. For just a moment I pictured myself grabbing the other man by the throat and tossing him against the wall a few times, but even as my fist clenched in anticipation, I realized that this wasn’t normal. I bit the inside of my cheek hard enough to hurt, and my temper receded. Gil’s uncle was dead, I reminded myself, and I was the person he had to trust to find out who had done it. I probably wouldn’t be happy in his shoes either.
    I should’ve fed from my mother yesterday, I realized grimly. Transition was bringing my heritage closer to the surface.
    I pulled myself back together. “I have everything I need here for now. I’ll consult with my family this evening, and then I’ll begin investigating.” I also planned to feed while I was home.
    Clearly reluctant, but having no other options, Gil nodded. “You will keep us informed, though, right?” Temper made his face flush darkly. “If it were up to us, we’d be finding the killer ourselves—”
    “Gil.” Dahlia’s voice cracked from the doorway, interrupting her brother. He clenched his jaw, shot me one last searing look, and walked stiffly out of the room. Dahlia watched him leave, then turned her head just slightly to meet my eyes. “Please pass our thanks along to your mother, Fort. We appreciate your time.” Then she