Electric Moon Read Online Free Page B

their spells and used them as
familiars. Our animals can withstand the abuse if too much magic is cast and
the spell slingers can’t control the backlash.
    “Let’s not forget the vampires. They claimed they created
shifters as their daytime protection. Shifters swear they were enslaved. Vampires
maintain a presence to show they are keeping with their part of the pact. The
conclave is also the only place where all paranormals meet in peace. It’s where
they can keep abreast of issues with their fellow predators. A few shifters
even hire themselves out to each group as mercenaries.”
    “Why are you being so helpful?” She studied his dark head, a
devilish smile tipped his lips. She’d amused him.
    “Payment for protecting us.”
    He lied.
    After he’d made himself at home in her house, she’d swear
that he had no intention of helping her, so why the spill of information? She’d
love to be able to read him with her gift, but with his wolf so closely
connected, she had no doubt he’d know what she was doing.
    As the silence stretched, his smile faded. “You going in
front of the council will be like blood spilled in a shark tank. You say what’s
on your mind. You have secrets in your eyes. What will they get by helping
you?” He peered out the window, stricken, almost haunted as if he knew from
experience what her fate would be. “You’ll do anything to keep your pack.
They’ll use that against you.”
    His brutal honesty stung. She’d had no problems hiding
herself until her friends had decided to make their stay in her life permanent.
In the past, she only had to keep her distance from others to keep them safe. To
become alpha and preserve the lifestyle of her people, she didn’t have the same
recourse.
    She just needed to make the consequences of those who
thought to take advantage of her known, so others wouldn’t make the same
mistake.
    “So it’s majority votes? I just have to sway three of the
five to my cause?” Too bad it sounded a lot simpler than it was.
    “Don’t mistake them for puppets.” Griffin sounded grim.
“They twist the laws to suit themselves, changing things, tweaking petitions to
maneuver people around like soldiers in war. They each have their own agendas.
They work against each other to further themselves.”
    “But it can be done.” She didn’t ask the question. She’d
find a way.
    She parked the car, doing her best not to fidget under Griffin’s
steady stare. Then he gave a tiny nod. “Maybe for you.”
    A knock on her window startled her. She yipped and whirled.
“Damn it, Scotts.” She rolled down the window for the big black man standing on
the sidewalk. “Don’t do that.”
    He stooped and scrutinized the car, scanning the interior.
She wasn’t even sure he was aware of it, his actions done more out of habit.
There was nothing to find, the car was new. Her last one had been totaled in an
attempt to kill her and almost succeeding.
    “You’re late.”
    Without a word, she handed over the folder. Her fingers tightened
on the envelope before she let go. “Here.”
    Scotts grunted, curled it up and shoved it in his pocket.
“Let’s go before they clean up the scene.”
    He walked away without giving her a chance to say anything.
    “Friendly guy.” Griffin cracked a small smile as they watched
Scotts head toward his unmarked cruiser. Even his stride was no nonsense.
    “A regular barrel of laughs.” The tense set of Scotts’
shoulders revealed his combative attitude, but Raven was sure she hadn’t done
anything to set him off this time. Pulling out in traffic, she followed the cruiser,
stopping at the edge of town at a remote diner.
    “Stay here.” Raven got out, the hot air instantly mugging
her. Only to find Griffin mimicking her. She eyed the branded rogue who stood
so calmly before her, a wolf kicked out of his pack, all but dead except for
the deed. “You being out in the open is not a wise move.”
    In response or defiance, Griffin put his hands