Page 48 of Magic and Muffins

The floor director started the countdown. My stomach churned with nerves when they went silent at two.

Denise looked at the camera and smiled.

“Good morning, and welcome to News for You. Today’s guests might surprise you. We have Shepard Ulv and Brodier Cross with us. Gentlemen, thank you for joining us today.

“Now, just so viewers understand who you are, Shepard, you’re the head of the werewolf organization in D.C.”

Cross immediately hid a smile behind his hand. Shepard ignored him.

“Head of an organization sounds like some kind of mafia or crime boss,” Shepard said bluntly. “That’s not who I am. I lead the pack in D.C.”

Her eyes narrowed on him. “How exactly is your job different from a crime boss? You make hits on the people you’re paid to kill, don’t you?”

My mouth dropped open. If I’d stood any closer, I would have succumbed to the temptation to slap her. Hugh appeared beside me, and he shook his head when I glanced at him. How was this woman not cutthroat? Where was her casual approach?

“Make hits?” Shepard echoed. He laughed. “No. There’s no organized killing. There are no payments—nothing like that. The videos released have grossly misrepresented what my pack actually does. And what vampires do, for that matter.”

“How so?” she asked.

“Vampires feed on humans, plain and simple. In centuries past, they would kill indiscriminately. My kind was meant to stop them from killing the entire human race.

“However, as humans and technology evolved, vampires could no longer kill everything in sight and leave a trail of bodies without persecution. They’ve learned how to hide what they do. Now, they feed on the weak and the unwanted, those alone in the world who would never be missed.

“Look around the city. Where are the homeless? Four weeks ago, you would have seen them in doorways, parks, or the subway. Today? They’re gone.”

She pressed her lips together and nodded as if contemplating the case. “Where are they?”

“The unlucky ones have already been converted. The lucky ones didn’t survive and were dumped in mass graves we discovered a few days ago.”

Hugh muttered something under his breath, and I knew he wasn’t happy with Shepard for revealing that.

“The surge in the vampire population and the rising number of people they’re killing forced us to increase our efforts to remove them from our city to protect its people.”

Her eyes lit up as if she had snagged him on a hook. “Isn’t it bold of you to take this task on yourself? What gives you the right to be judge and jury and take a life?”

“This isn’t about being judge and jury. This is about protecting humans the way we have been for centuries. We’ve always taken care of humans. It’s at the forefront of everything we do. We have seen firsthand towns wiped out by vampires when their numbers grow too big.”

“But is it your right to regulate it?”

“Is it their right to feed on humans? To kill them? Is it their right to convert unwilling victims, causing either vampirism or death?”

“We’re not talking about their rights but yours. By what right are you taking this role?”

I could see Shepard’s face getting redder. If Denise had any sense at all, she would realize she was poking the bear…or, in this case, a wolf.

Shepard locked gazes with her. “Can you run faster than any car you own? Hear your rapid breathing and smell fear? See at night to hunt those who can’t?

“If not, you’re not qualified to protect your fellow humans from creatures who can do those things. Creatures who don’t need an invitation to enter your home. Creatures who are only holding themselves back until they can amass the numbers they need to take control and make you their living feeding bags…make you their slaves.”

Her eyes widened for a moment before she leaned in. “This seems to be an emotional topic for you. Is killing vampires perhaps personal? Do you hold a grudge?”

Shepard looked ready to explode, and Cross didn’t look so amused anymore.

“Will you tell the people who witness a vampire suck their loved ones dry within seconds that they’re being too emotional?” Shepard reached for his mic, but Cross caught his hand.

“I thought we were here to share the truth,” Cross said to Denise. “Is this reporting or pandering for more views?”

Denise carefully composed her expression. “Just because one person says something is true, doesn’t make it true. I’m asking the questions our viewers have asked. And the truth is that Mr. Ulv doesn’t have therightto kill anyone. He is not the authority. We have a government body for a reason.”

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