Pure Blood_ A Nocturne City Novel - Caitlin Kittredge [24]
Victor’s head snapped up and he fixated on Shelby like an angry predator. “What? What in seven hells is that supposed to mean?”
I grabbed Shelby by the arm and led her to the corner of the room, our backs to the Blackburns. “What the Hex are you doing?”
“Getting statements from the victim’s associates,” she said, shrugging me off.
“Shelby, this is his family. They just found out their son and brother is dead. Give them a gods-damned break.”
“Why, so they can get their stories straight?” she asked. My jaw-dropped expression obviously didn’t telegraph that this was a bad idea, because she went back to Vincent and Valerie and asked, “Was Mr. Blackburn’s lifestyle one that would put him at high risk for this sort of incident?”
“You’ve got some nerve, you bitch,” Valerie said, twin tears working down her face. “Just because we don’t use shiny little circles like you, you think you’re better than us? Or is it that you’re afraid?” She left her father and came close to Shelby, jabbing her finger into Shelby’s chest. “Afraid of what the big, bad blood witches might do to you? By your reasoning, my brother deserved to die. Am I right so far, circle-scribbler?”
“Back off me, Ms. Blackburn,” said Shelby, her hand dropping to her gun.
“Burn yourself!” Valerie shot back. Shelby drew.
I crossed the fifteen feet of space in under a second, using my were speed without even thinking. I grabbed the barrel of Shelby’s department-issue Glock and twisted it sideways, bending her wrist and trigger finger along with it. I disarmed her with a quick shake and pinned one arm behind her back while she thrashed, body heaving with rage.
“Settle the hell down!” I snarled, and felt my eyes phase and my teeth fang out when she didn’t obey.
“Hex me,” Victor murmured, staring. “I’d do as she says, Ms. O’Halloran.”
Shelby twisted to look at me and immediately went limp. “Oh, shit.”
Oh, shit, indeed. The were raked its claws at the back of my mind, demanding release and reign of my body for the fight it had not started, but ached to finish.
“Luna, let me go,” said Shelby.
“Do us both a favor and don’t move,” I growled, heart pounding. I could feel my fingers tensing and the claws stabbing just beneath the surface. It was still two weeks to the phase, but some of the were’s less lovely traits came out whenever they felt like it.
“Luna…” Shelby said again. The were snarled and I released her, stepping back with my hands raised as she stumbled away from me. She didn’t cower, like prey, just stood on the opposite side of the room disheveled and angry.
I breathed in, out, and finally felt my hands relax and my eyes phase to their normal color.
“Well, that’s something different,” said Valerie Blackburn finally. “Never seen two cops go at it before.”
Victor stood and pointed toward the door. “Get out, both of you.”
I picked up Shelby’s gun and put it in my waistband. “I’m very sorry, Mr. Blackburn.”
“I believe you are.” He nodded to me. “You are an honorable creature. However, if you don’t get that thin-blooded little bitch out of my home…” He flicked a curved silver knife from somewhere hidden and held it loosely at his side.
“We’re leaving,” I promised, dragging Shelby by the wrist when she started to open her mouth. Blackburn and Valerie watched us go, and the doorman glowered as he followed us to the entrance to make sure we were really gone.
CHAPTER 8
“What the Hex were you doing in there?” I exploded at Shelby as soon as we were on the sidewalk. “You do not draw your weapon on unarmed suspects!”
“Her blood is her weapon!” Shelby screamed. “Those people would have bled me dry without a second thought, Luna! And you too! Do you have any idea how much were blood goes for on the black-magick market?”
“The Blackburns are not enemies in your holy war!” I shouted at her, hitting the side of the Fairlane for emphasis. “I don’t have time to keep a handle on your issues, Shelby! Either get