"I've never been jealous of you in my life."

"I think you were."

Thrix had a brief urge to list the many reasons she didn't feel jealous of her poor, deluded sister but instead simply shook her head. "I didn't kill him. If Agrivex was any good at interpreting auras, she'd tell you that. But she isn't. She can't interpret anything properly."

"It was her who found out you were sleeping with Gawain," growled Kalix.

It was true. Thrix's affair with Gawain had come to light because of Vex's correct interpretation of their auras. Thrix dismissed this as irrelevant.

"I did visit Gawain, but it was weeks before he was killed."

"Why did you visit?"

"That's none of your business."

Kalix snarled. It was an ugly sound. She glanced out of the window again, clearly anticipating making the change.

"If you're thinking of attacking me, I'll blast you out of my office with a spell. I repeat, I didn't kill Gawain. Now I've got Mother and Markus in my office, and a guest about to arrive, so it's time for you to go."

Thrix made to leave. Kalix stepped in front of her.

Before they could come into contact, the door opened.

"Another visitor," said Ann, hustling Decembrius into the office.

"Don't we have any security at all?" demanded Thrix. "What do I pay these people for? What are you doing here?"

Decembrius seemed unwilling to explain. "I wanted to talk to you in private."

Thrix glared at him. "You picked the wrong day for a werewolf gathering. I'm busy. Talk to Kalix."

With that, Thrix hurried back to her own office where she found Malveria in the middle of a long anecdote about the last time she'd made Princess Kabachetka look foolish. Her mother was looking bored, though Markus, who'd always rather liked Malveria, seemed interested.

"Busy?" inquired Verasa, politely.

"A few unexpected callers. Fashion reps, that sort of thing."

Verasa nodded sympathetically. Though she didn't like the way her daughter separated herself from the family, she was pleased when her business went well.

"I am so looking forward to hearing Mr. Felicori sing again," declared Malveria.

Verasa looked sour. Before Thrix could smooth things over, Ann appeared at the door, gesturing frantically.

Thrix went over to her so she could whisper in her ear again.

"Your boyfriend phoned. He'll be here soon. And Kalix and Decembrius have started to fight."

Thrix excused herself and rushed from the room, passing several of her employees before arriving in Ann's office to find Kalix and Decembrius struggling with each other. At that moment, night fell. They turned into werewolves and kept struggling.

"Are you trying to ruin me?" yelled Thrix. "I've got fifteen human employees out there who don't know I'm a werewolf. What's the idea of transforming here? What are you fighting about anyway?"

"She started it," said Decembrius.

"He keeps following me around," said Kalix.

"I wasn't following you around. I came here to see Thrix."

"I was here first. Go away."

"You go away."

They started pushing each other again and growling.

"Stop this immediately!" cried Thrix, and she dragged them apart.

The door opened, and Ann appeared. "It's a while since we've seen Dominil," she said.

"What? Is she here as well?"

"Waiting downstairs at the desk."

Thrix clutched her brow and swept back a few strands of golden hair. "Send her up." She glared at Kalix and Decembrius. "Stop fighting. Change back to human. And then leave."

She hurried back towards her office just in time to see Dominil stride from the elevator, rather regally, her long white hair hanging down in sharp contrast to her black leather coat. Several designers observed her with admiration, assuming she must be a new model hired by their employer.

"Dominil. What do you want? Malveria's here, and so are my mother and Markus. And Easterly is on his way."

"Easterly?"

"My, eh...new boyfriend."

"I have some serious problems with hunters that I wished to discuss in private," explained Dominil.

"Can't it wait?"

The door to Thrix's office opened. Verasa looked out. "Dominil! How nice to see you." The Mistress of the Werewolves held Dominil in high regard these days.

Dominil greeted her politely in return, and Markus, as she entered the office. Queen Malveria, always rather interested in Dominil's unusual nature, looked at the newcomer with interest. "Her coat hangs on her so well," she mused. "Is it just because she is rather tall?"

"Could we talk before Easterly arrives?" asked Dominil.

"Easterly?" asked Markus.

"The new man in her life," explained Malveria, helpfully.

"A human?" asked Verasa with disapproval.

Malveria looked surprised. "Were you not aware of this? But you must know that Thrix has had great trouble in finding a suitable werewolf. One cannot expect her to remain loveless and disappointed forever. She has done that for long enough."

"Thank you, Malveria," said Thrix. "Perhaps you could discuss my failures another time."

"What does this Easterly do?" asked Verasa.

"He's the fashion editor for a men's lifestyle magazine," said Thrix, which didn't seem to meet with her mother's approval.

"It's not like there aren't plenty of werewolves in Scotland," Verasa pointed out. "Only last month, I offered to introduce you to that nice George MacRinnalch. He has his own law firm in Edinburgh now."

"George MacRinnalch is the most boring werewolf in the whole clan!" exclaimed Thrix, now very irritated.

"Well, he doesn't dye his hair, wear strange piercings, or desert his clan. In that way, he may be boring. But he's very respectable, and he works hard."

"But would he suit a werewolf of Thrix's creative temperament?" said Malveria.

"Could you stop discussing me like I'm not here? I'm doing just fine with Easterly."

"You certainly are," agreed Malveria, supportively. "He is a splendid man. And there is no need to concern yourself that he's late."

"Why would I concern myself? He was held up at the office."

"Not by the makeup artist from Cosmopolitan, we hope," murmured Malveria.

"What?" asked Markus, immediately interested.

"Some magazine floozy who's been flinging herself all over him. I have been urging Thrix to take action, but of course, she holds back. A great mistake in my opinion. At this very moment, Mr. Easterly may be engaged in lustful encounters with this trollop."

"There are no lustful encounters going on!" yelled Thrix, mortified to be having this conversation with her mother in the room.

The intercom buzzed.

"That'd be Easterly now," muttered Thrix, flicking the switch.

"There's a girl called Moonglow here to see you," came Ann's voice.

"Moonglow!" cried Malveria. "Now that is entertaining!" She looked towards Markus. "Have you seen young Moonglow since you broke her heart with great cruelty?"

"What?" demanded Verasa.

"Moonglow, who lives with Kalix, as you know," explained Malveria, cheerfully. "But perhaps you did not know about the breaking of her heart by Markus? I'm sorry if I have inadvertently raised a delicate subject."

Malveria didn't look at all sorry as Markus shifted uncomfortably under his mother's gaze.

"Send Moonglow up," said Thrix with some relish, thinking that there was no reason for her to be the only one suffering embarrassment.

"What's that terrible crashing noise next door?" asked Verasa.

"My designers," said Thrix. "Energetic meeting."

She hurried back to Ann's office where she found Decembrius and Kalix still pushing each other. Ann's desk had been overturned, and papers were spilled on the floor.

"What's the meaning of this?"

"He keeps stalking me."

"Your sister is insane," said Decembrius.

"I've had enough of this," growled Thrix. "Change back to human right this minute."

Boosting her strength by use of a discreet little spell, the enchantress grabbed hold of the pair of them and hauled them into her office to deposit them in front of her mother. "Perhaps you can control them. Maybe ask Decembrius why he hasn't attended any council meetings."

It was Decembrius's turn to squirm uncomfortably under the stony gaze of the Mistress of the Werewolves.

"I've been busy," he muttered.

"Busy stalking me," said Kalix.

"Are you stalking my daughter?"

"Of course not! Who'd stalk that scrawny little wretch?"

"Hey!" roared Kalix, and she immediately transformed into a werewolf again, baring her teeth. Decembrius did likewise, and they began pushing each other. Several others changed as well. It was difficult for any werewolf to remain as human while in the presence of other werewolves, particularly ones who were brawling. Making everything worse, there was the smell of blood in the room from the cut on Kalix's arm. Though concealed from sight by her coat, the smell of blood was obvious to all the werewolves.

"Will you all change back to human!" yelled Thrix. "My boyfriend is due here any moment!" She spun around in alarm as the door opened again and was relieved when Moonglow appeared. Not that Moonglow was a welcome visitor, but at least she already knew about werewolves.

"Moonglow!" cried Malveria, enthusiastically. "How splendid to see you."

Moonglow rocked in surprise at the sight that greeted her. "Eh...hello, Kalix, Decembrius, Dominil, Mistress of the Werewolves, Queen Malveria, Thrix...and Markus. Is this some sort of meeting?"

"Kalix wouldn't be here if it was," said Decembrius, smugly. "She's still banished."

"You never attend anyway," said the Mistress of the Werewolves.

"I'm too busy," said Decembrius.

"Too busy to support the new Thane?" Verasa looked to Markus for support, but on Moonglow's arrival Markus had edged away, and he now seemed to be concentrating on the carpet.

Malveria regarded him with great interest and was entertained by his discomfort, which he surely deserved for breaking Moonglow's heart. But she also noticed how perfect his complexion was and felt slightly jealous.

"What do you want?" demanded Thrix.

"I need to speak to you about something," said Moonglow.

"Obviously. What is it?"

"It's private," said Moonglow, and refused to look cowed, even in the face of so many werewolves. Meeting Markus was a blow, but she tried not to show it.

"Then it will have to wait," said Thrix, "as will everyone else. What's the matter with you all? Have I failed to make it clear I'm trying to get on with my own life? Did someone mistake that for 'Thrix would like to see as many werewolves as possible, all the time'? I want you all out of here before Easterly gets here."

"Who's Easterly?" asked Moonglow.