over the centuries, he'd either accept her, or force her to prove her strength. Anca would deal with his choice when it came. And if his decision was to fight, well, she'd yet been the one to lose.
MacDougal waved her to the chairs in front of the fireplace, wordlessly offering her a seat. Tipping her head politely, she settled lightly in the one beside his.
After a long moment, he reclaimed his seat. "May I ask how you got in?" The too-casual question hung in the air.
Anca raised a brow. "I'm a Judge. I have been for quite some time. Though I may look young, my power isn't to be trifled with." She continued, gently but without the slightest waver. "The Magic Council has heard disturbing rumors from Arizona. Out of control problems, both here in Moss Creek, and down in Phoenix. I'm here to solve what the Council considers the larger, and more immediate threat. That would be your town. I've read the reports from the last year or so, but I'd prefer first hand details if you'd fill me in?"
He spoke of an unraveling truce and growing problems with the local pack of wolf shifters. An endless influx of dark Rogues. "A master vampire who utilized black magics came to Moss Creek a while back." MacDougal's fists clenched. The wooden arms of his chair creaked threateningly. "Best I can figure, Thomas Montgomery thought to overthrow me and take control here. While he and many of his creatures were quickly dealt with, a few remaining followers have managed to stay stubbornly hidden while continuing his work." His expression flushed with shadows of regret and self-castigation.
Once he'd brought her up to date on the most recent murders, MacDougal fell silent, staring at the banked fireplace. Long moments passed before he met her gaze. "All the recent problems have thrown the local Arcaine into a chaos we're still climbing out of."
Anca calculated a few things. "So you've been battling on two fronts, the pack and this dark vampire's leftovers?"
"Aye. And something tells me that there are more secrets waiting to surprise us. You know most of mine after reading the council reports." He studied her. "I do wonder what your exact orders are?"
She hesitated, but everything so far said she could trust this man. MacDougal was a Master, true. But he didn't seem to be one of those who'd become corrupted by power.
Instead of answering, she said, "Connor Gregory has spoken much of you and your clan. He told me you are trustworthy." A fellow Judge, Connor was also related to the king. A cousin or something.
"Why didn't you tell me you came with a recommendation from that old bastard?" MacDougal barked a laugh as he sat back, this time truly relaxing. He waved a hand. "Go on."
"The Council ordered me to eliminate the remaining members of Montgomery's clan. Connor added a secondary request."
MacDougal stiffened.
Anca pushed on. "He spoke of your sister's betrayal, and how, even after she was turned over to the Council, the security here is not what it should be."
His face could have been etched from the same granite as his home. "Does the Council know about the traitor within my clan?"
Having done as Connor asked and kept it quiet, she replied, "No."
MacDougal breathed a sigh of relief.
Searching for additional answers, she said, "Tell me of Leo and his sister."
"I won't bother to ask how long you were eavesdropping." He pinned her with a powerful look.
Though she didn't blush easily, for some reason, heat crawled up her cheeks. She'd only been doing her job. So why did his stern stare make her feel like she had long ago, caught by her tată while trying to be sneaky?
The King replied, "Leo and Luci are rare blood relations. They've been with me nearly a hundred and fifty years. The Rogues took Luci late last fall, while Montgomery was still alive. She's one of the few captured back then that we weren't able to find, to rescue." His shoulders slumped, the heaviness of responsibility he felt suddenly tripling in weight.
"How many of
MacDougal waved her to the chairs in front of the fireplace, wordlessly offering her a seat. Tipping her head politely, she settled lightly in the one beside his.
After a long moment, he reclaimed his seat. "May I ask how you got in?" The too-casual question hung in the air.
Anca raised a brow. "I'm a Judge. I have been for quite some time. Though I may look young, my power isn't to be trifled with." She continued, gently but without the slightest waver. "The Magic Council has heard disturbing rumors from Arizona. Out of control problems, both here in Moss Creek, and down in Phoenix. I'm here to solve what the Council considers the larger, and more immediate threat. That would be your town. I've read the reports from the last year or so, but I'd prefer first hand details if you'd fill me in?"
He spoke of an unraveling truce and growing problems with the local pack of wolf shifters. An endless influx of dark Rogues. "A master vampire who utilized black magics came to Moss Creek a while back." MacDougal's fists clenched. The wooden arms of his chair creaked threateningly. "Best I can figure, Thomas Montgomery thought to overthrow me and take control here. While he and many of his creatures were quickly dealt with, a few remaining followers have managed to stay stubbornly hidden while continuing his work." His expression flushed with shadows of regret and self-castigation.
Once he'd brought her up to date on the most recent murders, MacDougal fell silent, staring at the banked fireplace. Long moments passed before he met her gaze. "All the recent problems have thrown the local Arcaine into a chaos we're still climbing out of."
Anca calculated a few things. "So you've been battling on two fronts, the pack and this dark vampire's leftovers?"
"Aye. And something tells me that there are more secrets waiting to surprise us. You know most of mine after reading the council reports." He studied her. "I do wonder what your exact orders are?"
She hesitated, but everything so far said she could trust this man. MacDougal was a Master, true. But he didn't seem to be one of those who'd become corrupted by power.
Instead of answering, she said, "Connor Gregory has spoken much of you and your clan. He told me you are trustworthy." A fellow Judge, Connor was also related to the king. A cousin or something.
"Why didn't you tell me you came with a recommendation from that old bastard?" MacDougal barked a laugh as he sat back, this time truly relaxing. He waved a hand. "Go on."
"The Council ordered me to eliminate the remaining members of Montgomery's clan. Connor added a secondary request."
MacDougal stiffened.
Anca pushed on. "He spoke of your sister's betrayal, and how, even after she was turned over to the Council, the security here is not what it should be."
His face could have been etched from the same granite as his home. "Does the Council know about the traitor within my clan?"
Having done as Connor asked and kept it quiet, she replied, "No."
MacDougal breathed a sigh of relief.
Searching for additional answers, she said, "Tell me of Leo and his sister."
"I won't bother to ask how long you were eavesdropping." He pinned her with a powerful look.
Though she didn't blush easily, for some reason, heat crawled up her cheeks. She'd only been doing her job. So why did his stern stare make her feel like she had long ago, caught by her tată while trying to be sneaky?
The King replied, "Leo and Luci are rare blood relations. They've been with me nearly a hundred and fifty years. The Rogues took Luci late last fall, while Montgomery was still alive. She's one of the few captured back then that we weren't able to find, to rescue." His shoulders slumped, the heaviness of responsibility he felt suddenly tripling in weight.
"How many of
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