{"id":3767,"date":"2013-11-11T08:00:39","date_gmt":"2013-11-11T14:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.chloeneill.com\/?page_id=3767"},"modified":"2017-05-23T22:17:30","modified_gmt":"2017-05-24T03:17:30","slug":"wild-things-the-first-chapter","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.chloeneill.com\/?page_id=3767","title":{"rendered":"Wild Things – The First Chapter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter One<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mid-February<\/em>
\nChicago, Illinois<\/em><\/p>\n

\"WildWithin the last ten months, I\u2019d become a vampire, joined Chicago\u2019s Cadogan House, and become its Sentinel. I\u2019d learned how to wield a sword, how to bluff a monster, how to fall, and how to get back up.<\/p>\n

Perhaps most of all, I\u2019d learned about loyalty. And based on the magic that was pouring through the House\u2019s first-floor hallway, I hadn\u2019t been the only one who\u2019d taken that particular quality to heart.<\/p>\n

Dozens of Cadogan\u2019s vampires stood in the hallway outside the office of our Master, Ethan Sullivan, waiting for a call, for a word, for a plan. We stood in our requisite Cadogan black with our katanas at our sides because Ethan\u2014our Liege and my lover\u2014was preparing to run.<\/p>\n

\u201cOut of one fire and right into another,\u201d said the attractive blond vampire beside me. Lindsey was a member of Cadogan\u2019s guard corps and a skilled and capable fighter, but tonight she looked, as usual, more like a fashionista than a century-old vampire guard. She\u2019d left her suit jacket downstairs and had matched her satin-striped black tuxedo pants with a white button-down and four-inch stiletto heels.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo they actually think we\u2019d just let them take him?\u201d she asked. \u201cThat we\u2019d let them arrest him\u2014our Master\u2014right there in front of the House?\u201d<\/p>\n

An hour ago, a Chicago Police Department detective\u2014fortunately, one of our allies\u2014had come calling, advising us the city\u2019s prosecutor had obtained a warrant for Ethan\u2019s arrest.<\/p>\n

Ethan had killed Harold Monmonth, a powerful vampire from Europe who\u2019d murdered two human guards before turning his sword on us. Ethan had acted in obvious self-defense, but violence had recently rocked the Windy City. Its citizens were afraid, and its mayor, Diane Kowalcyzk, was looking for someone to blame. She\u2019d apparently managed to bring the prosecutor to her side.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why Ethan was sequestered in his office with Luc, the captain of Cadogan\u2019s guards, and Malik, the House\u2019s second in command, making a plan.<\/p>\n

Detective Jacobs suggested Ethan seek refuge with the Breckenridges, a family of shape-shifters who lived in Loring Park, a suburb outside Chicago. That meant he\u2019d also be outside the mayor\u2019s jurisdiction. The Brecks were \u00fcber-wealthy, well connected, and politically powerful. That was a powerful combination and enough, we hoped, to keep the mayor from using him as a sacrificial lamb.<\/p>\n

Papa Breck, the family patriarch, was a friend of my father, Chicago real estate mogul Joshua Merit. I\u2019d gone to school with some of the Breckenridge boys and had even dated one of them. But the Brecks had no love of vampires, which was part of the reason for the closed-door negotiations.<\/p>\n

Ethan was the other reason. He was nearly four centuries old, and he had the stubbornness to match. Going gently into that good night wasn\u2019t his style, but Luc and Malik wanted him safely away. It had been a long winter for the House\u2014including Ethan\u2019s premature demise and resurrection\u2014and we didn\u2019t need any more drama. We certainly didn\u2019t trust Kowalcyzk and feared turning him over to a justice system that seemed to be rigged against us.<\/p>\n

The door had been closed for an hour. Voices had been raised, and the disagreement between Ethan and his soldiers spilled tense magic into the hallway. That was my particular point of contention. I was Cadogan\u2019s Sentinel, but I hadn\u2019t been allowed in the office. The words \u201cplausible deniability\u201d had been thrown around\u2014right before the door had been shut in my face.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe mayor knew there\u2019d be trouble,\u201d I said. \u201cThe CPD already said Ethan acted in self-defense. And we just handed McKetrick to them on a silver platter. The city has absolutely nothing to complain about where we\u2019re concerned.\u201d<\/p>\n

The detective\u2019s warning had come only hours after we\u2019d managed to prove McKetrick, the city\u2019s now former supernatural liaison, was the source of the riots that had spread violence, destruction, and fire around the city. You\u2019d think that would have put us in the mayor\u2019s good graces. Alas, no.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey won\u2019t stay away forever,\u201d I said. \u201cJacobs wouldn\u2019t have warned us if he didn\u2019t think they were serious. And that doesn\u2019t give us many options. Ethan flees, or we have to fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever their next move, the House will be ready,\u201d Lindsey said. \u201cWe just have to scoot Ethan out of here.\u201d She checked a delicate gold watch. \u201cNot much time before sunrise. This is going to be close.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPapa Breck could still say no,\u201d I pointed out, wrapping my arms around my knees. He and Ethan were different sups, but equally stubborn.<\/p>\n

But Lindsey shook her head. \u201cNot if he\u2019s smart. Arresting a vampire for a bullshit reason isn\u2019t far from arresting a shifter for a bullshit reason. If Papa Breck doesn\u2019t take a stand now, he\u2019ll put the Pack at risk. But if he does take a stand?\u201d She clucked her tongue. \u201cThen he wins, double or nothing. We\u2019ll owe him a favor, and he\u2019ll have stood up to Kowalcyzk. That reinforces his power, and it\u2019s just\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Before she could finish, the office door opened.<\/p>\n

Luc and Malik emerged, Ethan behind them. All three were tall and bore the toughened shoulders of men in charge, but the physical similarities ended there.<\/p>\n

Luc had tousled blond-brown hair and preferred snug jeans and well-worn boots to Ethan\u2019s and Malik\u2019s exquisite suits. Since Ethan\u2019s welfare fell under his jurisdiction, his ruggedly handsome features were tight with concern.<\/p>\n

Malik had cocoa skin, closely cropped hair, and pale green eyes that thoughtfully took in the hallway of vampires. Malik was reserved, careful, and unquestionably respected by the House. But like Luc, he also didn\u2019t look thrilled with the circumstances.<\/p>\n

And then there was Ethan.<\/p>\n

He was built like an athlete\u2014long and lean, with taut muscles and a body that fit perfectly into his trim black suit. His hair was straight, shoulder length, and golden, framing a face so gorgeous it might have been sculpted by a master artist. Straight nose, honed cheekbones, lush mouth, and eyes as sharp and green as flawless emeralds. Ethan was as alpha as they came, protective and pretentious, intelligent and strategic, and stubborn enough to match me well.<\/p>\n

We\u2019d had our own false starts, but we\u2019d finally found a clear path to each other. That might have been the biggest miracle of all.<\/p>\n

Ethan\u2019s forehead was pinched in concern, but his eyes gave away nothing. He was the Master of our House; he didn\u2019t have the luxury of self-doubt.<\/p>\n

A dozen vampires jumped to their feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be traveling to the Breckenridge estate,\u201d Ethan announced. \u201cCadogan vampires do not run. We do not hide. We do not scurry into the dark. We face our problems\u2014head on. But this House has been through much of late. I have been asked, for the sake of the House, to consider making myself scarce. I have agreed to do so\u2014as a temporary measure.\u201d<\/p>\n

The tension in my chest eased, but not by much. He clearly wasn\u2019t thrilled with the plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the meantime, we\u2019ll try to put this ugly business to bed. The House\u2019s lawyers will address the warrant. Malik has a friend in the governor\u2019s office, and he\u2019ll reach out to determine if the governor can encourage Mayor Kowalcyzk to act reasonably.\u201d<\/p>\n

That was news to me, but then again, Malik was the quiet sort. And I didn\u2019t think he was the type to call in a political favor unless absolutely necessary.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll take Merit to the Brecks\u2019?\u201d Lindsey asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cAssuming she can fit it into her schedule,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Drama or not, there was always time for snark in Cadogan House.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll manage,\u201d I assured him, \u201calthough I hate to leave my grandfather here.\u201d<\/p>\n

My grandfather was Chicago\u2019s former supernatural liaison\u2014emphasis on the \u201cformer\u201d\u2014but he and his employees, Catcher Bell and Jeff Christopher, still helped the CPD with supernatural issues. Because he\u2019d helped us investigate the riots, McKetrick had targeted him. Grandpa\u2019s house had been firebombed, and he\u2019d been caught in the explosion. He was recovering, but he was still in the hospital. He\u2019d been more of a father to me than my actual father, and although he had people to protect him, I felt guilty leaving while he was out of service.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll check in on him,\u201d Luc promised. \u201cGive you updates.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn that case,\u201d Ethan said, \u201cwe\u2019ll leave shortly. Malik has the House. And as you know, he makes a very capable Master when I\u2019m\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0. indisposed.\u201d<\/p>\n

There were appreciative chuckles in the crowd. It wasn\u2019t Malik\u2019s first rodeo as Master; he\u2019d held the job when Ethan hadn\u2019t been among the living.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will be honest. This may not work. We are betting that Diane Kowalcyzk is politically ambitious enough to not cross the Breckenridge family. That gambit could prove incorrect. Either way, our relationship with the city of Chicago could get worse before it gets better. But we are, and we will remain, Cadogan vampires.\u201d<\/p>\n

He arched an eyebrow, a habit he used frequently and usually with good effect. \u201cOf course, those Cadogan vampires should be at work right now, not eavesdropping outside their Master\u2019s office.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smiling and appropriately chastised, the vampires dispersed, offering good-byes to their Liege as they passed. Margot, the House\u2019s brilliant chef, squeezed my hand, then headed down the hallway toward the kitchen.<\/p>\n

Malik, Luc, Lindsey, and I stepped inside Ethan\u2019s office. He looked over his staff.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a brief reprieve,\u201d Ethan said, \u201cbut the city may come knocking again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe House is ready,\u201d Luc said. \u201cLakshmi, however, is still on her way. We couldn\u2019t convince her to delay.\u201d<\/p>\n

That was another sticky situation. Cadogan was no longer a member of the Greenwich Presidium, the organization that ruled North American and Western European vampire houses. Monmonth had been one of its members. The GP was no friend of Cadogan House, and they apparently weren\u2019t willing to ignore the fact that we were now responsible for the deaths of two of their members. While we were no longer concerned about their opinion of us, they made powerful and dangerous enemies.<\/p>\n

Lakshmi, one of the remaining GP members, was traveling to Chicago to render its verdict. It probably helped that she was one of the more commonsensical members of the GP, but it was odd that she was traveling while Darius West, the GP head, stayed under the radar in London. He\u2019d been a political nonentity since an attack by a vampire assassin relieved him of his confidence, or so we surmised.<\/p>\n

As it turned out, Lakshmi also was a friend to the Red Guard, the secret organization that kept watch on the Houses and their Masters. I was a new member, partnered with the guard captain from Grey House, Jonah. Lakshmi had provided insider information about GP shenanigans; in return for her help, I\u2019d offered an unspecified favor. It was inevitable she\u2019d attempt to collect; vampires were particular that way.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep her out of the House,\u201d Ethan said. \u201cWe aren\u2019t members of the GP, and she has no business in our domain. She may have a legitimate claim to reparations, but that can be dealt with when we\u2019ve dealt with the city.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI spoke with Lakshmi\u2019s majordomo,\u201d Luc said, \u201ctried to winnow information out of her. She wouldn\u2019t budge.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll deal with it when we deal with it,\u201d Ethan said. \u201cThis entire situation is fraught with hazard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Malik nodded. \u201cIt all comes down to who blinks first.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ethan\u2019s eyes flattened. \u201cWhatever happens, Cadogan House will not blink first.\u201d<\/p>\n

We lived in Chicago, which meant off-street parking spots were hard to come by and the objects of envy. The House\u2019s coveted underground parking lot was accessible through the basement, so we headed downstairs. Ethan keyed the security pad at the door and stepped inside the basement but, when the heavy door closed behind us, dropped his duffel and grabbed my hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome here,\u201d he said, voice heavy with desire. He didn\u2019t wait for my response, but caught me by surprise, his mouth on mine, his hands at my waist, suddenly insistent.<\/p>\n

I was nearly out of breath when he finally released me.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was that?\u201d I barely managed to ask.<\/p>\n

Ethan brushed a lock of hair behind my ear. \u201cI had need of you, Sentinel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got me,\u201d I assured him with a smile. \u201cBut at the moment, we have need of speed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot your best work,\u201d he cannily said, but he put a hand on my cheek and gazed into my eyes as if he might discover the world\u2019s secrets there. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m nervous about leaving,\u201d I admitted.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re worried about your grandfather.\u201d<\/p>\n

I nodded. \u201cHe was asleep when I called. He\u2019ll understand\u2014he always does. I just wish I didn\u2019t have to ask him to be understanding.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ethan kissed my brow. \u201cYou are a good granddaughter, Caroline Evelyn Merit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure about that. But I\u2019m trying.\u201d Sometimes, that was the best a girl could do.<\/p>\n

I gestured toward the gleaming silver bullet that sat in the House\u2019s visitor spot, the antique Mercedes roadster Ethan had bought for me from the Pack leader himself. She was sweet and perfectly restored, and I called her Moneypenny. She was also still registered in Gabriel\u2019s name, which seemed a better transportation option than taking Ethan\u2019s car. But since he had decades\u2019 more driving experience than me\u2014and we were in a hurry\u2014I held out the keys.<\/p>\n

\u201cShall we?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ethan\u2019s eyes widened with delight. He\u2019d been attempting to buy Moneypenny for years and had probably wanted to slide behind the wheel for even longer.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we\u2019re going to run,\u201d he said, taking the keys from me, a spark jumping across our fingertips as they brushed, \u201cwe might as well escape in style.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sometimes that was the best a vampire could do . . .<\/p>\n

\"flourish\"<\/p>\n

Order WILD THINGS at:\u00a0Amazon<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Barnes & Noble<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Books-A-Million<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0iBooks<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0IndieBound<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Kobo<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Audible<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Note: \u00a0I am an Amazon affiliate and may earn a commission if you\u00a0buy goods\u00a0at\u00a0Amazon through\u00a0one of my links.<\/em><\/h6>\n
<\/div>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter One Mid-February Chicago, Illinois Within the last ten months, I\u2019d become a vampire, joined Chicago\u2019s Cadogan House, and become its Sentinel. I\u2019d learned how to wield a sword, how to bluff a monster, how to fall, and how to get back up. Perhaps most of all, I\u2019d learned about loyalty. And based on the[…]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":2915,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3767","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.chloeneill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3767","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.chloeneill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.chloeneill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.chloeneill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.chloeneill.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3767"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"http:\/\/www.chloeneill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3767\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7562,"href":"http:\/\/www.chloeneill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3767\/revisions\/7562"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.chloeneill.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2915"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.chloeneill.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3767"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}