Tethers by Claire Farrell

meant the numbers were stacked against me.
    Daimhín turned up next, joined by Eloise, Jules, and the two shifters who served as Senate guards. Eloise sat in the bench across from us, giving me one of her enigmatic smiles. I hadn’t seen the child-like vampire in a long time, and I wasn’t exactly keen on seeing the green-eyed Jules more frequently. He was a biter.
    The memory of him biting me shocked me into a second look at him. Jules’s eyes were pure green, which meant he hadn’t been feeding regularly. A glance at Eloise confirmed that her eyes were not a pure red, either, although she had been feeding more often than Jules had. He pressed his body against her side as though he were seeking comfort. What was going on in the vampire queen’s coven? She had boasted of being well-fed, but that apparently didn’t extend to the rest of her coven.
    “Did you forget to feed your pet?” I asked Daimhín before she took her seat.
    She gave me a sharp, surprised look. “Sometimes, even the lowest of pets require re-training. The most obvious punishment tends to work best.”
    “I’m more into positive reinforcement myself.” I tried to look relaxed as the vampire queen focused all of her hatred on me. A giggle from Eloise creeped me out all the more.
    Callista arrived then, interrupting what was becoming an increasingly awkward face-off. “I’m so sorry I’m late,” she gushed. “I had to take some pictures outside.”
    She really meant her fans had been waiting, as always. The curvaceous blond siren had become quite the rising star since first appearing on the Senate. Her sessions in Finn’s bar were legendary.
    Callista looked up at the waiting Senate. “Is this all who’s coming tonight?”
    “We’re waiting for Mac,” James said gruffly. “This is all down to him, apparently.”
    “We don’t know that for certain,” Layla said.
    “You don’t know that he trashed our properties?” Peter asked. “Or if he has somebody else pulling his strings?”
    It was an empty taunt, Peter and I both knew, but half the Senate froze in their seats. I exchanged a bemused glance with Peter, and when I looked at Breslin, his expression was smug. He knew exactly what angle he was taking.
    “Well,” Willow said hesitantly, “I suppose we should wait for Mac.”
    Thirty minutes later, the shifter alpha still hadn’t shown.
    “I’ll call my contacts,” Daimhín said impatiently. “See what’s taking him so long.” Glaring at the shifter bodyguards, she had a brief, angry conversation on the phone before turning to the rest of the Senate. “Apparently, his second in command can’t find him. Useless shifters.”
    One of her bodyguards growled, but the vampire queen caught his eye, cutting him off abruptly. I exchanged a grin with Peter, only to notice Eloise’s intense gaze. I really hoped she wasn’t having a premonition of my death.
    “Are you serious?” James demanded. “What is he thinking lately?”
    “That he’s guilty, and he doesn’t want to face the music,” Breslin said, getting to his feet. “I am Ms. Delaney’s legal representation, and as the accused is obviously in hiding—”
    “Nobody said that he’s in hiding,” Layla said.
    Breslin nodded. “Then he must not take his Senate duties very seriously.”
    “It’s true,” Willow said. “We can’t wait around all night in case he turns up. It’s late. Let’s get this over and done with.”
    “This isn’t a courtroom,” James began.
    A short, sharp bark of laughter erupted from Peter. “That’s exactly what this is.”
    “Not officially then,” James retorted. “There’s no accused and no need for legal representation.”
    “There’s no law against having a solicitor handy in times of need. And we’re aware that we are not attending court. If we were, a barrister would be speaking in my stead.” Breslin smiled. “As I’m sure you’re aware.”
    James’s face flushed as though Breslin’s words had hidden a dig.