~ Anabella and Philippe stood by the glass wall, looking out into the city. They were on the uppermost floor of Pentalum, Vescovi’s headquarters. From there, they could see the towers of the other four buildings, each at the point of their pentagram. Anax, NexTeq, Vancor, Pentalum, and Salcom International marked the five corners of Pentorium. The door opened to the office, and Vescovi rushed in with his assistant following him. He looked surprised to see Philippe and Anabella waiting for him. “Was there a meeting?” He glanced at the woman who came in with him, and she shook her head, adjusting her glasses on her nose. “Not officially,” Anabella said. Vescovi creased his eyebrows, looking from one friend to the next. He dismissed his assistant, who closed the door behind her.

~ Marx followed Roan away from the rest of the group. The noise of the festivities grew distant as they moved to the western edge of the village. The initial wariness of the people shifted to curiosity as they followed the example of their leader and gave the vampires and the werewolves the benefit of a doubt. War and death marred their past, but their future, though on the verge of another war, would see them standing as allies, come what may. “Where are we going?” “To our Shaman,” Roan answered. “For what purpose?” Roan stopped to face him. “Do you know how werewolves and vampires came to be?” Marx shook his head. Celeste had imparted much knowledge about her world, but mostly she pretended that side of her life n

~ Garrick changed back to human form, the process painful. He had never felt pain while turning before. Since his mother turned him, changing was as simple and as natural as breathing. Now, as his body mass adjusted, his skeletal structure snapping back in place, he was in agony.  Ava was the one who heard him and came running. When she knelt beside him, he held onto her for support. They were both shocked at their ability to make physical contact, but at that moment, with Garrick writhing in pain, it did not matter. She stayed with him until the change ended and the pain ebbed away. Sweat had his clothes clinging to his skin. “You changed.” Ava helped him to sit up. “Never thought I would say this, but I’d prefer not to do that again.” As the pain cleared from his mind, Garrick looked at Ava. “How am I

~ Shea held her side as her wound healed. She stood between her past and her present, confused about how it could be possible. Barabbas was supposed to be dead. She had watched him die. His life had drained from his eyes, leaving them lifeless glass windows to a vacant soul. She knew it was him by scent, tainted by the smell of death.  Though he fought the others, his primary focus was on her and Ichiro. Shea bit back a sound of distress. The foolish man had come to her aid. Barabbas scored his pound of flesh. Zigor was with Ichiro trying to stop the bleeding. There was so much blood. Barabbas was proving to be too much for the inexperienced members of her pack and the natives that came to join them. She threw her head back, howling, calling for Daniel and Helick. Bryan came running in with Yuri. “Get t

~ Penny had to be smart about moving through the city. She stuck to roofs, staying out of sight in the morning, picking up her hunt at night, sticking to the shadows. In her pursuit for Sven, Penny followed the tiny residues of shadow magic to the source. Though faint, the trace was the newest lead she had in finding Sven. She followed it to the heart of the city. To the heart of Pentorium. Whomever Penny found would have had contact with the man recently. She stayed in the shadows and waited. A man came out of the building, rushing down the steps to the sidewalk as he spoke on his phone. He wore a sensible black business suit and carried a silver briefcase in his free hand. There was a town car parked at the curb and waiting by the open passenger door was the driver. Penny turned her head to the side, her ear in the man’s direction as she listened. “Tes