“And last but not at all least, the resplendent Mrs. Ray,” Piscary said, graciously inviting her to sit. “One of Cincy’s own successful businesswomen.”
Beaming, the woman gracefully sat in the chair at the head of the low table. “Let’s be honest, Piscary. I’m Cincy’s only successful businesswoman,” she said as she coyly played with her pearls, the white orbs seeming to flow like bubbles around the tattoo of a koi on her neck. “But that’s going to change. My daughter will soon give the men in the boardroom something to chase.” Her head tilted as she accepted the glass that Colonel Wolfe handed her. “Thank you,” she said as he settled in to stand behind her, not in protection as much as . . . unity.
“You’re Weres,” Daniel whispered, then flushed as everyone in the room looked at him, shocked that he’d named them, calling out the truth of their heritage. It was probably the first time they’d heard it spoken aloud so brazenly.
“And you are . . . a human,” Mrs. Ray said, a lifetime of hiding making her reluctant to say the words aloud. Expression cross, she turned to Piscary. “You brought us together to witness a minor breaking of the silence? Piscary, we all have full plates right now.”
Daniel leaned across the bar to Trisk. “I thought Weres were rough. You know, like bikers and hippies,” he whispered, and Trisk cringed.
Mrs. Ray made a delicate snort. “And we have excellent hearing,” she said, then added, “The higher your pack status, the more refined you tend to be.”
Red-faced at having been overheard, Daniel pulled himself straighter. “Then you both must be alphas,” he said, and Mrs. Ray beamed, clearly liking him.
Wolfe strode forward with a military precision. “I’ll do it,” he said shortly.
“No!” Trisk slid from the stool, her hand outstretched.
Orchid was suddenly in the air, a dangerous red dust spilling from her. “You go through me, puppy,” she said, and the Were stopped short, the threat well taken. Daniel had backed to the shelves of bottles, his face ashen as he stared at the military man’s hands, clenched into fists. What was he going to do? Choke Daniel to death? Trisk thought. Professor Thole eyed them both, two full shot glasses in hand.
“You are all my guests,” Piscary said, voice low but demanding. “Wolfe, Dr. Plank is exempt for the moment. If he’s to die for having witnessed a breaking of the silence, I claim him as a blood slave. God knows I’m going to need them if this plague continues.”
Daniel edged closer. “He’s kidding, right?” he asked, and Trisk gave him a sick smile.
Wolfe frowned when Orchid landed on Daniel’s shoulder like a tiny lioness protecting her territory. “Why am I here if it is not to maintain the silence?” the colonel asked, sullenly sitting on the end of the couch beside Mrs. Ray when she patted the cushion in invitation.
Piscary sat as well, leaving Rynn Cormel to loom over Kal and Ulbrine on the opposite couch. Professor Thole remained behind the bar with Daniel, arms crossed as he leaned back against the shelves. “I want Inderland to know the truth of where this plague began,” Piscary said, and all eyes went to Ulbrine. “Seeing as it landed on my doorstep, I asked you in.”
Ulbrine’s expression became a study in controlled anger. “You shouldn’t have run, Trisk,” he said coldly. “Only the guilty run.”
“I wasn’t running away,” she said, voice even. “I was running toward something.”
Kal sat deep in the cushions, his arms defiantly over his chest. “Am I being detained?”
“I prefer to think of you as my guest,” Piscary said. “But you will remain until I hear the truth.”
Ulbrine pushed himself to the edge of the couch. “I told you what happened,” he said irately. “Dr. Kalamack was to check that Dr. Cambri’s work made Dr. Plank’s tactical virus safe for Inderlanders. Before Kal could tell me his disastrous findings, the virus escaped and spontaneously attached to the tomato she was working on.”
“And that’s why he signed off on it the day before it went rogue?” Trisk said. “Why he cleared the PTV going to live trials? There was no connection point between Daniel’s virus and the T4 Angel until he made it,” she said, looking at Kal. Damn it, is that a smirk?
“Clearly she gave Dr. Plank’s virus the same attachment points as her tomato,” Ulbrine continued, ignoring her. “Cutting corners and resulting in the plague we’re now forced to deal with. It was an error, but an innocent one.”
“Bull pucky!” Trisk exploded. “Kal intentionally made a bridge between our two products. I could tell you how if he hadn’t destroyed my lab and all the evidence.”
Ulbrine spread his hands to the assembled Inderland representatives. “Clearly she shouldn’t have been allowed to work without supervision. But she’s a good researcher and I’m sure she’ll work to see an end to the plague. I apologize for her lack of experience. It was my fault. I put her in that position.”