Page 25 of Tin God

Lev nodded. “Probably some of that and some humans our kind gathered over time. Extended families in a way.”

Brigid knew exactly the type of compound Lev was describing. She’d been raised among humans who were descended from her sire. Deirdre’s human family lived on even after she was turned, leaving generations of humans who knew about their immortal ancestors and were alternately protectors and the protected.

It was a symbiotic relationship that more than one immortal had used to survive for centuries without losing their humanity. The fact that someone had violated that pact offended both Brigid’s human and vampire sides. It was out of order in the immortal world where humans who “belonged” to other vampires were generally left in peace.

But Zasha was known for breaking immortal norms. They seemed to delight in it.

“Why do you think Zasha was involved?” Tenzin asked. “It’s unfortunate, but there are immortal grudges, greed, any number of?—”

“One of Oleg’s informants spotted Zasha in Sitka,” Lev said. “Deep in Katya’s territory. It was some months ago, during tourist season. Then a few months later, there were reports of strange boats in the area, and then finally these two villages are destroyed.”

“Destroyed is a strong word,” Tenzin said.

“Destroyed how?” Brigid asked.

Lev threw some pictures down on the table. The photos showed exactly why Lev had used the word destroyed.

Houses were torn up like a giant storm had blown through. The ground was ripped as if an earthquake had hit. More than a little bit of the rubble was burned, tickling a purr of interest in Brigid’s neck.

Fire was her element, but it wasn’t always her friend. Just because she couldn’t get high anymore didn’t mean she didn’t have an addictive personality, and her brain and amnis were wired for excess.

She needed fire, but she also knew it could destroy her. In the scorched earth of the destroyed villages, she saw something more than destruction.

She sawdelight.

Tenzin picked up a picture. “It looks like a newborn had a tantrum. Or a lot of them had tantrums all at once.”

Lev frowned. “What sire would let a newborn do something like this?”

“It’s not a newborn.” Brigid slowly looked through a stack of pictures. “If it was a newborn, there would be blood.”

Newborn vampires weren’t exactly known for delicate kills.

She tossed the photos to Tenzin. “There’s no blood.”

Tenzin picked up the pictures and looked through them, her head cocked at a curious angle. “I revise my previous statement. This was no newborn. There is no blood because they didn’t want to waste it.”

“What are you saying?” Lev asked. “This was some kind of attack, of course. Oleg suspects that Katya hired Zasha to clear out older vampire compounds who might be loyal to him.”

“Katya?” Brigid blinked. “Absolutely not.”

Lev shrugged. “She’s no angel, and she hates that Oleg is here. On the surface, she may put up with us, but don’t you think?—”

“Katya would never work with Zasha Sokholov,” Brigid said. “I know her.”

“Do you?” Tenzin asked.

Brigid looked at Tenzin, who only shrugged, mimicking Lev.

“I’m only saying you don’t amass a territory from the Bering Sea to San Francisco Bay by being a sweet little girl,” Tenzin said. “No matter what she looks like.”

Brigid found it impossible to imagine, but her main purpose was finding Zasha, not getting between Oleg and Katya.

“Maybe Zasha is movin’ to create their own territory,” she offered. “Maybe they’re challenging Oleg for dominance or trying to rebuild your sire’s empire.”

“Doubtful,” Lev said. “Zasha had no love or loyalty for our sire, and they have never wanted power the way other vampires do. They love…”

“What?” Brigid pressed him.

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