The other reason was that, in larger human cities, his kind didn’t often deal directly with terra indigene like the Elders.
“If you cannot accept Simon as leader, perhaps you would rather be living in Talulah Falls,” Erebus continued. “It is under Stavros’s rule now.”
“No.” Leetha’s tone made it clear that she didn’t want to answer to Stavros.
Interesting. Vlad knew Stavros had agreed to rule Talulah Falls so that he would be close enough to present himself as a potential mate the next time Nyx came into season. Had he turned away from Leetha’s invitation the last time she was in season, unwilling to become the mate of a female who wasn’t his first choice? Or perhaps Stavros, who could poke fun at his own kind, had sensed on some level that he and Leetha would not suit each other once the physical mating concluded.
And, in truth, Talulah Falls was even smaller than Lakeside and in far more turmoil, as terra indigene and even some Intuits moved into the town to join the remaining humans in keeping the power plant and other necessary businesses running.
It suddenly occurred to him that both Stavros and Tolya had seen the possibility of working in a mixed community because of their visits here.
<Vlad?> Simon called. <I’m at the fence. If I need to be in human form for this meeting, I’ll have to find some clothes.>
<Not necessary.> Vlad smiled, almost feeling that amber stare despite being out of sight. <Being in human form, I mean. Should I open the gate?>
<Not necessary.>
He looked at Grandfather Erebus. “Simon is here.”
“Open the gate for him, Vladimir.”
“Not necessary.”
The fence that defined the Chambers wasn’t tall, wasn’t trying to keep anyone out. Anyone who entered uninvited didn’t leave. But maybe leaping over the fence to join them was Simon’s way of telling Leetha, and any other Sanguinati who might be in doubt, that he was, in fact, the leader of the Courtyard and he respected their boundaries by choice.
<Grandfather Erebus,> Simon said politely once he joined them.
“Wolfgard.” Erebus tipped his head in the slightest bow.
<Meg wanted me to tell you she received a catalog today that lists a lot of movies for sale. She’ll bring it tomorrow when she makes her deliveries.>
Erebus smiled. “The sweet blood knows how much I enjoy watching my old movies.”
Leetha looked at Grandfather, then at Simon.
Yes, Vlad thought. The sweet blood is the link between our kind and Simon’s. We would not have come this far this fast if she hadn’t stumbled into the Courtyard. Some of us would not have survived the recent conflicts with humans. Even with her warnings, some of us didn’t survive.
“Tell the Wolfgard what you heard,” Erebus said, waving a hand toward Leetha.
“A couple of us followed Cyrus Montgomery earlier this evening,” Leetha said. “The bus station and downtown bus stops are good hunting grounds, especially after dark. And businesses that stay open later than the police recommend are also prime hunting grounds. Lights are lowered and the door is locked, but the patrons who come in before the official closing aren’t asked to leave.” She smiled, showing a hint of fang. “The owners tend to live above the business and don’t really care what happens to the customers when they make their way home.”
<Why did you follow him?> Simon asked.
“I don’t like him.”
<You followed him to one of these locked businesses?>
“Yes. He met with four men. He’s going to case the Market Square tomorrow to confirm the earth native trucks are making a meat delivery. When the stores close for the evening, he’ll call the men. They’ll slip into the Courtyard, break into the butcher shop, and steal all the meat. You Wolves will howl about the loss, but all you’ll do is hunt a couple extra deer to make up for it.”
<Is that what they think of us or what you think of us?> Simon asked.
Challenge, plain and simple. A Wolf couldn’t win a fight with a Sanguinati who was in smoke form, but Simon must have heard something in Leetha’s voice that he wouldn’t allow to go unchallenged.
“Leetha?” Grandfather Erebus’s voice was quiet—and more threatening because of that. “The Wolfgard asked you a question.”
A hesitation, but they all knew her answer would determine if she was allowed to remain in Lakeside.
“Cyrus Montgomery said those words,” she finally replied. “The words were said sneeringly, as if you deserved no respect.”
Simon didn’t move, didn’t reply.
“Simon?” Vlad said. “What do you want to do? How do you want to stop them?”
Simon stared at him as if Henry had given him a brain-rattling swat and that’s why he would ask such a silly question. <We’re not going to stop them. We’re going to give them more incentive to steal from us tomorrow night.>
Vlad suddenly realized why Leetha was having trouble accepting a Wolf as the Courtyard’s leader. She’d observed Simon dealing with the female and police packs. She’d seen him with Meg, who brought out his playful side. But she didn’t take into account that there was a reason he was dominant over strong Wolves like Blair and Nathan, didn’t take into account what it meant to have a Harvester like Tess living among them. She hadn’t really seen Simon yet.
“What reason?” he asked.
<We’re going to make sure that Cyrus hears about a delivery of special meat.>
CHAPTER 18
Sunsday, Messis 21
Jimmy waited until the lunch crowd thinned out before he meandered over to the Market Square. Wouldn’t do to run into Mama or CJ. Wouldn’t do to run into any of the bitches who spied on other people for the freaks. But three of them were sitting at one of those umbrella tables, eating salads like that crap was real food. He recognized the two women living in the apartments with the cops—Ruth and Merri-something—but he didn’t recognize the third one, a black-haired girl who was wearing a big gauzy shirt despite the heat.
She looked vaguely familiar, like he’d seen her in passing. Didn’t matter. Couldn’t be much of anything interesting about her if she was hanging around with the other two.
He wanted to take a look at what had arrived at the butcher shop that morning, needed to tell his crew what they could expect. He resented having to buy fresh meat. Sandee would cook it to the point of being inedible—the bitch could mess up spreading peanut butter and jelly on bread—but he needed a reason to be there instead of buying prepared food at Meat-n-Greens or A Little Bite.
Going into the butcher shop, he confirmed there was no bell on the door to be making noise that might carry late at night. Nothing fancy about the lock either. Shit, even Clarence could pick that lock inside a minute.
He waited near the door, but the shopkeeper seemed intent on talking to one of the male bloodsuckers who were squatting in the apartment above his.
“Delivery of special meat will be arriving tonight,” the shopkeeper said. “Rarely get it anymore. That’s why I’m not posting a sign, just passing the word.”