Page 64 of Brimstone Bound
I sucked on my bottom lip. ‘How?’ I wanted to understand as much as I could. ‘How do they achieve a rank?’
‘It only happens during the full moon. Non-ranked werewolves may challenge ranked werewolves during the lunar change. If they win the fight, they take their opponent’s rank.’ Lady Sullivan regarded me coolly. ‘You may think it’s a barbaric process, but we need to ensure we have the strongest wolves in the best positions. Clan Sullivan is not a place for weaklings.’
‘All the clans work like this?’
‘Yes.’ She raised an eyebrow. ‘It’s a far better system than written examinations and letters of reference and approval that you use for promotion.’
I wasn’t in a position to argue with that. ‘Fair enough. I want to see Anna and Becca’s house as well.’
‘We have already searched it, but very well. Do as you will. I can assure you, Ms Bellamy, that there is no evidence of foul play in either of their cases. And there is nothing to tie DC Brown to them. Equally, whether he’s a convenient suspect or not, Gregory is not involved.’
‘On that last part we are agreed,’ I said equably. I smiled. ‘Thank you for your time. I’m finished for now, but I may return with more questions later.’
She looked at Lukas. ‘How about you, Lord Horvath? Do you wish to interrogate me further?’
‘I do believe,’ he said, with a tiny grin, ‘that everything has been covered.’
‘Good.’ Her gaze hardened. ‘Now the two of you can fuck off out of my house.’ She raised a long finger and pointed it at my chest. ‘But you should know that I’ve got my eye on you, Emma Bellamy. You are not normal.’
That was hardly news. I gave her an ambivalent shrug and turned away.
Chapter Twenty-Two
‘As I’m certain Lord Horvath is already aware,’ Robert intoned, ‘all werewolves, regardless of their clan and whether they are dead or alive, are cared for within these walls.’
I gazed round the stark clinical décor of the building he’d led us into. It contrasted strongly to the other places in Lisson Grove that I’d visited so far. It had obviously been purpose built and was far more utilitarian than the grand buildings with their elegant stone facades and high-ceilinged interiors. I preferred it; somehow it seemed more honest. ‘So this is a hospital for wolves, then?’
‘Essentially,’ he sniffed.
He could have said that at the beginning. ‘Why don’t you have your own separate clan facilities?’
‘Whether there are ongoing clan animosities or not, at the end of the day we are all werewolves. Pooling medical resources makes fiscal sense. Besides, we all bleed the same and, deep down, we want the best for all of our species.’ He allowed a flash of humour to light his pale eyes. ‘We are not animals.’
‘One for all and all for one,’ I said drily.
Lukas flicked me a sideways look. ‘Indeed, D’Artagnan. Although I should point out that vampires are not usually welcome within this facility.’
Robert tossed his head. ‘Vampires are not werewolves.’
‘And vice-versa,’ he returned.
Okaaay. ‘Well,’ I said aloud, ‘now we’ve cleared up that biological confusion, where is Becca?’
The wolf’s expression shuttered. ‘This way,’ he muttered.
We followed him along the striplight-illuminated corridor and down a set of stairs. I was starting to realise that all morgues, regardless of who they were designed for, were located in basements. I supposed the dead didn’t need a view and weren’t claustrophobic, but it seemed a shame, especially given my recent experiences. I liked to imagine that any lingering souls would enjoy a few beams of sunlight through open windows before they finally faded away. I knew that I would.
The morgue staff had clearly been alerted to our visit: three white-coated figures were waiting for us by the entrance. My eyes automatically went to their arms, noting the yellow tags that indicated their zeta profile, although their bowed heads in front of Robert had already indicated their subservient status. The lupine hierarchy was embedded everywhere.
The werewolf on the left stepped forward. She was an older woman with the same russet-coloured hair as whoever had left the single strand Laura had found on Tony’s body. ‘Good afternoon, sir,’ she said to Robert. Then she inclined her head respectfully to Lukas. ‘Lord Horvath.’
He nodded. She glanced at me, but apparently my human status didn’t deserve a formal greeting.
I smiled brilliantly. ‘Hello!’
She didn’t smile back. ‘If you’d like to follow me.’
Lukas nudged me. ‘Don’t take it personally.’
