Kalix immediately became agitated. "Would you really report me?"

"Well..." began Moonglow, but she struggled to make a satisfactory reply. "Perhaps we could help you with the book report?" she said to lighten the tension.

"I don't want to do it. I hate it."

"I'm sure it's not really so bad. Vex is doing the same report, and she seemed quite happy."

Kalix clenched her fists. "That's because she just makes everything up! She puts her own gold stars on her papers and tells everyone she's doing well! She's not doing well at all!"

"I'm sure Vex is doing her best." Moonglow was pleased to have at least one person in the house who didn't complain all the time about education. There was the distant sound of the attic door opening followed by heavy boots descending a ladder.

Vex appeared a few seconds later, her expression very cheerful. "I like this book!" she said. "Look, I already got a gold star!" She opened the book to reveal a gold star that seemed to have been recently painted on the title page with nail polish. "Now I'm going to get started on my assignment. It's going to be great. Kalix, are you ready to start your assignment?"

Kalix growled in frustration and headed back upstairs.

Daniel groaned. "All this talk about book reports. It's given me a relapse."

Moonglow mopped his brow and worried desperately. Was Daniel about to die? Should she take him to a hospital? Or would it be better to contact the Fire Queen? Perhaps Thrix might be able to help?

In her office in Soho, Thrix was looking through a very large book, a compendium of fashion contacts around the world.

"I'll find out who's getting these Abukenti shoes if it's the last thing I do," she muttered, and she applied herself to the task very diligently.

CHAPTER 101.

Thrix and Captain Easterly's relationship had reached the stage where a minor upset in their plans no longer felt like a disaster. When he called to tell her he was running late due to a computer problem at his office, the enchantress took it in stride. "Just pick me up when you're ready."

"I shouldn't be too long. But I probably won't have time to go to the warehouse."

Thrix smiled. Easterly had a large collection of fine wines, much of which was stored in a warehouse in East London. When he couldn't find anything he wanted in his own cellar, he'd visit the warehouse and pick up one of his bottles. "Never mind. I have wine at home."

"Fine," he said. "That'll do just as well."

"You're being gallant," Thrix told him, still smiling. "I know you despise all my wine."

Easterly laughed and said he'd see her as soon as he could. Thrix allowed herself a brief pause to marvel at having a successful relationship then reapplied herself to the list on her computer screen, a directory of Abukenti's most important clients.

"Just tell me where you're sending the shoes," muttered Thrix, "and I'll summon them right out of the box and into my office."

So intent on her task was the enchantress that she failed to notice the aroma of jasmine that suddenly pervaded her office and was startled by the sudden appearance of the Fire Queen.

"Enchantress! I simply cannot concentrate on anything! I am so worried about the shoes! Are you making any progress?"

"I've got a list of Abukenti's most important clients. Easterly found it for me."

"Splendid! What a fine man Captain Easterly is! I trust your relationship is moving along well?"

"We're taking it slowly," said Thrix.

Malveria raised an eyebrow, not liking the sound of this. "Then you must speed things up. Grab hold of him, even if it means trampling over your opponents without mercy."

"I don't think there are any opponents."

"At the fashion show last week, did not that makeup artist from Cosmopolitan magazine grapple lustfully with him?"

"I think she was just trying to get to her seat."

"You are too trusting, Enchantress. And too hesitant. It's time to advance strongly."

"We're thinking of going to the movies for our next date. Is that strong enough?"

"It may be. But when he takes you home, I shall be disappointed if you once again dismiss him from your doorstep, claiming you need to rise early for work."

Thrix glared at her friend. "Were you spying on me?"

"A scandalous accusation, Enchantress! One is hurt and wounded. Though if I had been spying, I may have suggested that rather than send him away, you should have invited him upstairs for a night of passion."

Thrix shook her head. "Malveria, the relationship is fine. I'm just taking it slowly."

The door opened, and Thrix's assistant Ann appeared and smiled. "I thought I heard company. Coffee?"

"Yes, please, most valued assistant. I am in need of fortifying. Thrix's chaste refusal to sleep with Captain Easterly is leading us into chaos. We will not obtain the new Abukenti shoes for my visit to the fundraising event, and my life will be utterly ruined."

Thrix turned her head sharply. "What fundraising event?"

"Your mother's, of course."

"But you're not going to that."

"But I am, dearest Enchantress. Some ancient wealth from the Hiyasta treasury smoothed the matter out."

"You mean you bribed my mother?"

"I believe it's called a charitable donation," said the Fire Queen. "Distikka brokered the deal with Markus."

Thrix shook her head. "Mother will have a fit."

"But is not Markus head of the clan?"

"In name he is. But Mother's the boss. I'm glad I won't be around when she finds out."

Ann reappeared with a tray of coffee. "Your mother and brother are on the way up."

"What? They're not due till tomorrow."

Ann shrugged. The Mistress of the Werewolves and Markus were currently ascending in the elevator.

"It's not long till dusk. Is this one of the nights you all have to change?"

The enchantress shook her head. "Fortunately not."

The Mistress of the Werewolves swept in, elegant as always. She had a warm smile on her face that faded sharply at the sight of Queen Malveria. "Markus tells me he invited you to my event."

"Is it not splendid?" asked the Fire Queen, brightly.

Verasa didn't share her good humor. She'd been extremely displeased to learn that Markus had invited the Fire Queen and had spent much of the plane journey to London letting him know it. Markus himself was very elegantly attired, with a beautiful, long black coat draped over his suit, but he wore the expression of a werewolf who'd suffered.

Verasa faced Malveria squarely. "Many MacRinnalchs won't be pleased to see the Queen of the Hiyasta. If you insist on coming, you'll have to promise not to offend them."

Malveria seemed to take this in good humor, to Thrix's relief.

"The Queen of the Hiyasta is famed for her civilized manner. I am quite sure I will not offend. Besides, was I not responsible for securing the services of Mr. Felicori for you?"

"I understood my daughter took care of that," said Verasa.

Malveria seemed on the point of correcting her but, determined not to start an argument, said nothing.

The door opened a few inches, and Ann's face appeared. "Thrix, can I see you a minute please?"

"What is it?"

Ann hurried over to Thrix, put her mouth to her ear, and whispered, "Kalix is here."

Thrix excused herself and slipped out of the office. "What sort of state is she in?"

"Agitated."

"She's always agitated. How bad? Slightly moody? Insane?"

"Not too bad, I think. I put her in my office."

Thrix frowned very deeply. "Ann, Easterly is on his way over. And right now there are three werewolves here."

"Four."

"What?"

"Four werewolves, including you."

Thrix tapped her foot on the floor. "Yes, I know I'm a werewolf. I meant other werewolves."

"Oh, right."

"Now that we've got that sorted out, could we concentrate on my problems? I've got an office full of angry werewolves and a Fire Elemental who's liable to burst into flames when she gets upset. Plus my crazy young sister in your room. And my boyfriend is on the way."

"Are you calling him your boyfriend now?" asked Ann.

There was a brief pause while Thrix considered this. "I hadn't really thought about it. Am I too old to have a boyfriend? Should I call him something else?"

"I think boyfriend is still all right," said Ann.

The enchantress felt quite pleased to have a boyfriend. She knew she wouldn't have one for long if he discovered the truth about her family. "If he arrives before I'm finished with Kalix, try to keep him occupied. Don't let anyone turn into a werewolf. Or burst into flames. It will destroy the relationship."

CHAPTER 102.

Thrix was scowling as she headed for Ann's office. She wasn't keen to have Easterly arrive in the middle of some violent confrontation, which with Kalix, was always possible. As she hurried through the door, she noted that Kalix wasn't looking too bad by her standards. She was at least clean, if still dressed in hand-me-downs. There did seem to be a mysterious smell of blood, however, though the enchantress couldn't see where it was coming from.

"You know Mother and Markus are here?" asked Thrix, hoping that it might make Kalix leave.

Kalix made a disgusted face but wasn't put off. She didn't intend to leave till she'd questioned her sister thoroughly. "I went to Gawain's place with Vex. She read the auras. She says you were there before he was killed."

"Agrivex? The imbecilic Fire Elemental?"

"Yes." Kalix stared at Thrix. "So were you there?"

There was a long pause.

Kalix straightened up and glanced out of the window, measuring how long it would be before night fell and she could make the change.

"I did visit him."

"What for?"

"That's none of your business," said Thrix, meeting her sister's eyes.

"Did you kill him?"

"Of course I didn't kill him."

"That's what everyone says," said Kalix, "but I think maybe you did. He liked me better, and you were jealous."