Page 17 of Brody
“And completing our council”—Quinn nodded toward a pale man whose stillness was so complete he seemed more like a statue than a being—“King Atticus.Leads the local vampire coven.Traditional but fair.Doesn’t speak much, but when he does, townsfolk listen.”
The vampire’s eyes swept over me, cold and assessing.For a heartbeat, I felt like prey being evaluated by a predator far older and more dangerous than anything I’d encountered in my career.Then his gaze moved on, leaving me with the unsettling certainty that he’d seen far more than I’d wanted to reveal.
“And me, of course.”The simple statement carried the weight of centuries of pack hierarchy, of blood oaths and moon-sworn fealty.Quinn leaned forward, his intensity practically a physical force.“The town council is symbolic more than anything.I have the final say, but in order to stamp out any uprisings, we need a majority vote from the council to allow you to work here safely.”
His emphasis on the last word sent a chill down my spine.Safety wasn’t guaranteed, only possible with political backing.
“One more thing,” Quinn said, his expression growing serious again.“I’m assigning Brody to work with you during your time here.He created a tonic that helps with pre-feral progression.”
A flutter of unease rippled through me.“He told me on the ride over here.But what you might not know is that Brody and I have history… and it’s not good.”
“What type of history?”he asked.
I had nothing to hide.Besides, the truth would come out eventually.“I’m his rejected mate.”
Quinn’s eyes widened.“Holy shit.You’re her.”
“Yes.So you understand why I refuse to work with him.”
“Even if his tonic might be the key to a breakthrough that could save lots of lives?”he asked.
I shut my eyes briefly.He was right.I needed a win.I was so close to finding a solution that could be the key to saving the lives of many pre-feral unmated males, not only in the Ridge.“Fine, but if he starts getting weird and clingy with me, the deal is off,” I said.
“Agreed,” Quinn said.“Let’s go.Residents are waiting for you inside.”
I followed him, pushing through the throng.“Is that her?”someone asked when we strode inside the room that buzzed with nervous energy.
Every eye in the packed room tracked my movement.The collective assessment made my skin prickle.
“Damn, she has a great ass,” a male said.
Someone chuckled at the comment, then said, “And damn, she’s a looker.Too bad she’s a Dhahabu.”
“Dr.Dhahabu,” Quinn said, his voice cutting through the loud chatter like a blade.“The floor is yours.”He gestured to the podium.
The town council members were seated in a semicircle behind the podium.Two seats remained conspicuously empty.Someone had placed a stuffed wolf toy wearing sunglasses in one chair and balanced a coffee mug on it that readMeetings Are for Losers.The other empty chair had a sticky note attached.“Gone fishing—literally, not metaphorically this time.”
At the far end of the room, an enormous male dozed lightly beside a table stacked with pamphlets, his rumbling snores keeping perfect rhythm with the overhead fan.Each time he exhaled, the papers on the table in front of him fluttered like autumn leaves.No one seemed to find this unusual.
I activated my presentation screen, the familiar ritual of academic protocol serving as professional armor.This wasn’t my first hostile audience, from my father walking out to pharmaceutical boards trying to discredit me because of my last name.I was well accustomed to proving myself to people determined not to believe in me.
“Some unmated males are losing themselves to feral sickness,” I began, my voice carrying across the packed room.“Current pharmaceutical treatments stop the progression but at a devastating cost—they can never shift again.”
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
“My research offers a different path,” I continued, clicking to my first slide.“Natural compounds that prevent feral episodes while preserving what makes us who we are.Others.The question is, do we choose freedom or safety?”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Brody settle against the side wall.Close enough that his scent wrapped around me like silk.Far enough that I could pretend his presence didn’t affect my breathing.
“And why should we trust a Dhahabu to fix what Dhahabu Pharmaceuticals caused?”Shane asked.
“It’s a fair question,” I replied coolly.“My research is conducted independently, specifically to provide alternatives to current corporate treatments.My grandmother and I have… philosophical differences about medical ethics.And about a lot more.”
“Philosophical differences,” Shane snorted.“Is that what you call it when you steal research from your family company?”
“That’s rich,” I replied, unable to contain a bitter laugh.“For years, my grandmother has been sending spies to infiltrate my lab and steal my research.The truth is exactly the opposite of what you’re suggesting.I’ve spent half my career protecting my work from Tabia’s corporate espionage.”
I didn’t elaborate on the painful history there, how my own grandmother had tried to destroy my career when I refused to work for her.How I’d had to implement extreme security protocols in my lab after discovering a postdoc was on Tabia’s payroll.
