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case."
     
    My face dropped, and for the first time in my knowledge, I believe Marcus was speechless. Oh, shit. I'd just broken the nose of a VC rep. This was not good, not good at all.
     
     
     

CHAPTER TWO
     
     
     
    Ever since I was a child, my quick temper has gotten me in trouble. Once when I was eight, I broke my older brother Tamerlane's nose because he tore the head off my favorite porcelain doll. My father rarely raised a hand to us, but I got the belt that night. Later on, he told me how proud he was that I could already defend myself; just don't make my brothers my punching bags.
     
    Right now, all I could do was straighten up in my seat and see what kind of mess it had gotten me into this time. I was almost positive it wouldn’t end in a pep talk.
     
    Priest squared his shoulders and puffed up his chest, reminding me of a rooster on steroids. I guess he was ready to get the ball rolling. "I'm sure you all know the reason we've gathered here today," he said. A quick glance in my direction gave him reason to chuckle, "Well, most of us anyway."
     
    I stuck my tongue out at him and folded my arms over my chest. Ha, ha yourself, freakazoid. I'm not in the dark as you think I am. Blood has its advantages.
     
    Chief Watkins, the only full Human in the room, took a nervous look at the rest of us before he found his resolve to speak. "We're here because your precious leach prince has gone off the fucking deep end," he said, in a thick southern drawl.
     
    Mayor Aldridge shot the chief a look of pure rage obviously fueled by fear. "Watch your tone, Chief Watkins. We don't want to offend anyone here."
     
    Watkins laughed and stood up pointing a shaky finger at Priest. "I don't give a good goddamn about offending a parasite. My grandfather always said that allowing you freaks total access to our city was a mistake."
     
    “ How far we've come,” Priest growled at the diss.
     
    Yes indeed, how far we’ve come , I thought as I leaned forward in my chair. "I'm sorry you feel the way that you do, but I can assure you the Vampire community in no way condones Tristan Meriwether's actions," I expressed. It was almost too easy to step into the role of mediator for the Vampire Council. My father had trained me for this.
     
    Aldridge nodded as he spoke, "We have every confidence in that fact, Ms. Trumaine. I'd like to add how honored I am by your presence today. I wasn't expecting a representative from one of The Five."
     
    Upstaged once again, Priest bristled and was quick to set the record straight. "Actually, mayor, Valeria is a Sentinel here within the CMS. She’s here in a working capacity only. I'm the only sanctioned representative present.”
     
    Now it was Marcus' turn to growl. "We're well aware of that Priest. If you'll excuse the interruption, mayor, I'm ready to get down to business. We're not here to discuss vamp politics. People are dying while Tristan's running loose.”
     
    Priest squared his shoulders and tried to get rid of the annoyed look plastered to his face. "Fine then, Marcus, let’s do that. I've got a statement here from Master Meriwether that discusses his feelings and position on the matter."
     
    I almost choked on my own tongue. As far as I knew, I was the only Sentinel with the balls, not to mention the standing, to call Marcus by his first name. This assignment was obviously going to Priest's head.
     
    Marcus stood and sent a wave of Alpha power over the room so intense that it made me shiver. "I'm only going to say this once. I don't care on whose authority you're here, you are still my subordinate, and you will never address me by my first name again, is that clear?"
     
    I swear to god you could see Priest’s spine shrink as he stood there and tried to remember how to talk. It took everything I had not to bust out laughing and piss my pants.
     
    Priest nodded and went into a painful recital of an obviously rehearsed dialog. "The Vampire Council will aid the CMS in every way