“As it stands, all the major cities except Cincinnati are in lockdown. The Cincy vamps rebelled the same time Detroit did, but the city had a larger population of Weres and witches, and with a little creative encouragement, the master vampires quickly directed the fear into keeping the city running. The vampires still own the streets, but their incredible need to protect the weak was somehow clicked on instead of their incredible need to dominate, and the city is under control. From what I understand, they even have shops open.”
“Thank God,” she said, thinking about her dad. “It’s all about the balance,” she added, and Pelhan looked at her as if she’d said man would someday walk on the moon. “Don’t you see?” she asked. “When there’s a good balance of Inderland species and humanity, the fear is contained. When humans or witches and Weres are low in numbers in comparison to the vampires, the vampires try to take control and cause their own destruction. We need a moderate population of witch and Were to balance out the more aggressive vampire, and we need humans in sufficient numbers to keep the vampires’ fears, irrational or otherwise, under control.”
His eyes held a heavy doubt and she added, “We can’t wait for the elven council to approve of the announcement. We have to start telling people before more, human and Inderland alike, get sick from eating ketchup on their hot dog and send the vampires into a freak-out.”
Pelhan shuddered. “Why would anyone put ketchup on their hot dog?” Eyes lifting from her untouched coffee, he pushed back. “Dr. Cambri, there’s nothing more I’d like to do than give you access to our public TV station so you can tell the world about your theory, but the witches’ coven of moral and ethical standards and a member of the elven enclave just eradicated Detroit, taking Inderlanders, humans, and little brown dogs with it. I’m not risking they do the same here to shut you up. I’m sorry, but you are stuck here until I hear different. I don’t want to put you in a cell, but I need some kind of promise that you won’t try to leave.”
Her lip curled. The cuff was more than confining, it was insulting. “I won’t be any trouble,” she said, and Pelhan twisted to reach his keys in his pocket.
“I’m glad to hear that,” he said as he opened the cuffs and she rubbed the cold feel of metal off her wrist. “I don’t have a lot of places to put you anymore.” His gaze lingered on her red and slightly swollen palm as he stood. “Is that a sensory burn from the fire you set?”
She followed his attention to her hand, curling her fingers to try to hide it. “No. I was trying to stop Kal from leaving,” she lied, determined not to feel guilty about coating him in smut. He’d caused the plague, and for what? Because he was jealous and stupid enough to think he could control her science? “It’s just a focal burn.”
“You should be more careful,” he said as he stood over her with his cup of coffee. “They still don’t know how large amounts of energy affect a developing baby.”
Wha-a-a-at . . . ? she thought in shock, her hand instinctively going to her middle. “How?” she asked, and his gaze went to her untouched coffee.
“My sister went off coffee when she was pregnant. Seeing your face, I just guessed.” Smiling, he put a finger conspiratorially to his nose. “And your aura tends to shift when you’re carrying. Kind of condenses in certain areas.”
“I didn’t know that,” she said, worried. Crap, how was she going to keep this a secret if people could just look at her and see?
“Don’t worry about it,” he said as he went to top off his mug. “I only knew about it because my sister is a midwife. I hope everything goes well for you.”
“Thank you,” she said softly. “Captain, about Daniel. Is there anyway you can get him out of containment?”
He turned, head cocked. “Is he the father?”
She felt her face warm. “If he is, will it get him out?”
Pelhan chuckled. “No.”
Trisk slumped, determined that Daniel wouldn’t stay there long. “He’s just going to tell everyone there not to eat tomatoes,” she muttered.
“Which is exactly why I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.” Pelhan looked at his watch. “I’ll have something sent over from the deli across the street. Any diet restrictions? I don’t know a lot about elves. We seldom bring any in, and when we do, they’re usually released in an hour on some technicality no one has ever heard of.”
She drew herself up, hope a faint ribbon pulling through her. He wanted the word to get out, but his hands were tied by the elven and witch councils. “No tomatoes,” she said, giving him a grateful smile. “And thank you, Captain Pelhan.”
He nodded, pleased she understood. “I want you to stay here,” he said. “I mean it. My ass is on the line. You’re welcome to nap in one of the empty offices. Some have couches. I’ll try to get you a cot tonight. If we’re lucky, Ulbrine will be here tomorrow.”