When Wicked Craves Read Online Free PDF Page B

on the Alliance that are in danger, Tiberius. It is the Alliance itself.”
    “Do not speak to me as if I were ignorant of these matters, Dirque. I was standing at your side when the Oracle spoke.”
    “I apologize,” Dirque said, the words thick and unpleasant on his tongue. “You are right, of course.” Of all the Alliance members, all but two had been present when the Oracle had made the disturbing announcement. And those two had been fully briefed by the five elder members.
    Dirque slammed his fist down hard on the hospital tray. “Dammit, we should have simply sent a team in to destroy the girl the moment we learned of her existence. Going through the motions of this damned Tribunal was not only a waste of time, it has now proven to be unreasonably dangerous.”
    “This matter was voted on by all seven current members of the Alliance,” Tiberius said. He aimed that hard stare right at Dirque. “All but one voted in favor of convening a Tribunal and executing the girl following the proper procedures.”
    “I’m sure the girl appreciated our efforts on her behalf.” Dirque could not keep the sarcasm from his voice.
    “Petra Lang is not like the others. She deserved more than to die in a dark alley with an assassin’s bullet in her back,” Tiberius said. “At least with an official conviction she could face death with some knowledge of why it was coming.”
    Dirque let out a long, harsh laugh. “You are a fool, Tiberius, to harbor any soft feelings for the human simply because of the role she played in saving your ass.”
    “The girl was a key player in proving that it was not shadowers who were murdering the humans in my jurisdiction,” Tiberius said. “Were it not for her, I would no longer be a member of the Alliance and we would not be having this conversation.” This time, he did incline his head. “I know, Chairman, how much that outcome would have disturbed you.”
    A slow burn rose up Dirque’s back, and he wanted to lash out at the vampire for mocking him. He pushed it down, though. Now was not the time, and there were bigger things to worry about. “What’s done is done. You are correct that the full Alliance convened the Tribunal, and a judgment has been entered. We can at least agree that the death order was accurate? The girl poses an unacceptable risk to the shadow world and the Alliance?”
    “We can agree to that, yes.”
    “I’m relieved to hear it.” He sat up straighter, blinking, and realized that his vision had almost completely returned. A knock sounded at the door, and both he and Tiberius turned to look that direction. “Enter.”
    The door opened, and a tall, lean man stepped inside, clad in a black T-shirt and camouflage pants. He looked like a soldier returning from a human war, rough and dangerous, and he approached Dirque’s bedside with a confidence that made Dirque proud.
    “Uncle,” the man said.
    “Tariq.” Dirque gestured toward Tiberius. “You know Governor Tiberius?”
    Tariq inclined his head. “Sir.”
    Tiberius acknowledged the younger jinn, then turned his attention back to Dirque. He said nothing, but stood as if waiting for an explanation.
    Dirque complied. “My nephew serves as a RAC team leader within Division 6,” he said, referring to the Recon and Capture team. “As of today, he is on temporary loan to the Alliance as head of Search and Recovery.”
    “Sir?” Tariq said, and his diamond-shaped pupils constricted with surprise. And with ambition. Good.
    “Perform your function well, and you may find yourself permanently assigned to the Alliance.”
    “Yes, sir. Of course, sir.”
    Tiberius stepped forward. “You have already begun investigating the escape?”
    “Yes. All available Division personnel have been put to the task.”
    “And what have you learned?”
    “The prisoner was aided in her escape by a vampire.” Tariq straightened his shoulders and looked Tiberius directly in the eye. “The poison that was released in the air