Hear No Evil (Alpha Guardians Book 2) by Vivian Wood

deserves some privacy,” Ciprian said, waving his flock away.
    They slunk off, shooting Cassie nasty looks, and Ciprian led her around the dance floor to what appeared to be his private booth. Ciprian directed her into one side of the high-walled leather booth, waiting until she’d slid around the table to the far side before joining her from the other side.
    When Ciprian settled beside her, he was so close that his knee brushed Cassie’s. She summoned all her strength and kept her face blank, giving him nothing more than an expectant expression. She’d be damned if she was going to let some strange Vampire ruffle her feathers, especially if he was just testing her mettle.
    “You want something, Oracle. I can smell it,” Ciprian said, leaning in to inhale her scent.
    “Everyone wants something,” Cassie said, twining her fingers together in her lap and squeezing until her knuckles went white.
    “Mmm,” Ciprian murmured, reaching out and brushing a lock of Cassie’s hair back from her temple, tucking it behind her ear in a tender gesture. He grazed her neck with the back of two fingers, making her jump. “I suppose they do. Tell me, Oracle, what would happen if I were to taste you? Do you think I would be able to glimpse my future?”
    Cassie acted on reflex, bringing her hand up to knock his away. Ciprian favored her with a frown, but he pulled back a few inches.
    “You’d better learn manners, little seer,” he informed her.
    “Look over at the bar,” Cassie said, flying on blind hope. “The three big, brooding guys that are staring at us. You know who they are, I presume.”
    Ciprian’s smile dimmed.
    “I did wonder at the Guardians’ interest,” he said with a sigh. “Not to mention the fact that you reek of bear.”
    Cassie started to argue with him, then shook her head. It was better not to play along with him.
    “I want to know where Pere Mal is keeping his assets now,” Cassie said, going straight to the heart of the matter.
    Ciprian’s eyebrows shot up and he gave a bark of laughter.
    “Do you, now? What is the saying? I think people in hell want ice water,” he told her with an amused smile. “You’re a fool if you think I’ll give you information for free.”
    Cassie narrowed her eyes, but she knew Ciprian was right.
    “A trade, then,” she suggested.
    Ciprian gave her another devilish grin.
    “A taste of the Oracle?” he asked, wiggling his brows.
    Cassie snorted.
    “Not a chance,” she said. “I was thinking something along the lines of a prophecy. A single prophecy, something I can draw on without a blood sacrifice.”
    To her surprise, Ciprian sobered. He gave her a considering glance, then slowly nodded.
    “I am looking for someone, too,” he said, his tone confidential. He grasped her wrist and pulled her close, whispering into her ear, “ Kieran the Grey ”.
    A prickle of foreboding spread out across Cassie’s skin at the sound of the name. She tugged her wrist from Ciprian’s grasp, frowning. She didn’t know why, but when she closed her eyes and focused on the strange name, she felt uneasy, tense.
    She saw a pair of green and gold eyes. A figure wrapped in shadow and mist… A busy street at night, filled with revelers and a brass band…
    Her eyes flew open and she gasped.
    “He’s in the city!” she said.
    “Do you know where?” Ciprian said, licking his lips as he leaned in.
    “Give me an address first,” Cassie said, shaking her head.
    “He’s got a bunch of properties,” Ciprian said, holding up a hand when Cassie started to complain. “Look, I don’t know which one he’s keeping girls in, but if I had to guess, he’s moved them to someplace heavily protected. I can’t tell you which one, but I can get you a list of some of his more valued holdings. I’ll have one of the girls write down the addresses and deliver them to the handsome blond Guardian lurking in the corner over there.”
    Ciprian nodded, drawing Cassie’s attention to Aeric, who