"How many?" Dean's voice was rough with suppressed tears.

"How many what?" The headmaster gave him a curious look.

"How many other people were killed like this?

Shouldn't we have known? Shouldn't someone have warned us to travel in pairs? If I'd known a psycho life-stealer prowled the streets, I'd never have let her meet me at the theater. I would've picked her up after class."

Kevin could hear the guilt in Dean's voice. Dan wrapped an arm around his brother and gave him a gentle hug, concern obvious on his face.

"Only one other person was found with the same signs as Lisa. The police announced it a random event, a crime of opportunity. If I'd known, I certainly would've informed my students." His eyes swept the group. "I can't tell you how sorry I am about this. We will find out who committed these crimes, and we will make sure they are punished."

Dean's expression hardened. The carefree man Kevin had known for years lost some of his innocence beneath the weight of life's harsh realities. "If you don't, I certainly will."

Without another word, he stood up and walked out, his brothers at his heels.

66.

Kevin looked at the others. What could they really do? They knew even less than the headmaster.

James stepped forward. "We are available if you need help from us."

"Thank you. Some high level wizards are arriving next week to help me investigate the matter. I will send a gnome to fetch you if we need further help," the headmaster said, effectively dismissing them.

Kevin didn't know what to do next until a familiar hand clamped onto his shoulder.

"Come back to the pack house with me. You shouldn't be alone tonight."

He didn't know what it said about him that he hadn't even thought of returning to the dorms with the triplets.

Although he worried about Dean, the other man had his two brothers to help him through this tough time. Images of Lisa flashed in his mind.

"Yeah, I'll come back with you."

Numbly he let James lead him across campus and back into the limo. Glancing over at Jay, he could tell his friend wanted to talk to him.

Tomorrow he mouthed.

Jay nodded.

They could talk tomorrow. Little would change overnight. Lisa would still be dead. Whoever did this 67 *

needed to be hunted down and brought to justice. Dear, sweet Lisa hadn't deserved this type of ending to her life.

"We'll catch the bastard who did this," James promised.

Against his better judgment, Kevin believed him. If the wolf said they would catch the criminal who drained Lisa, they would. Closing his eyes, he leaned against his lover, taking comfort from the strong man beside him.

They made the trip in silence, exiting the limo, and climbing the stairs to James's room without a word exchanged between them. Normally the silence would worry Kevin, but frankly, he was too tired to care. He flopped down on the mattress and let sleep carry him away.

He vaguely noticed James taking off his shoes and pants and sliding off his shirt while he remained as responsive as a zonked out three-year-old.

"Thanks," he mumbled.

"You're welcome." James's sympathetic voice warmed him.

When the shifter crawled into bed, Kevin instinctively snuggled up to the larger man. After only a couple of weeks, he'd come to depend on the toasty warmth of the big wolf.

"'Night," he mumbled against the bare, muscled chest.

68.

"'Night, love," James said, wrapping his arm around Kevin and pulling him closer.

Too tired to argue about the love comment, Kevin let sleep pull him under. With his mind consumed with Lisa, he had little energy left to argue about the status of their relationship.

69.

Chapter Four.

Kevin went to class the next day still numb, but when he looked over at Lisa's usual spot, his heart clenched in his chest. He finished the class after taking his test, unaware of a single word the professor said.

As soon as he picked a spot in his potions class, Edward slid onto the stool beside him. Kevin contemplated using one of the handfuls of prank spells he'd learned as a child, maybe the eternal ass-itching spell.

"Did you hear?" he whispered. For the first time Edward appeared scared, instead of smug.

"About Lisa?"

Edward paled. "What happened to Lisa?"

"She was killed last night."

Edward looked like he was going to throw up. "I was talking about the Senate coming to campus. They want to investigate Jaynell in person. What happened to Lisa?"

"Someone sucked her dry of magic and left her in an alley." Kevin shuddered as he remembered her pale, husk-like skin. He didn't worry about Jaynell. If the wolves didn't take care of the Senate, Jaynell would. That didn't mean he shouldn't call his friend and check on his status.

The senior members of the faculty might not want to inform Jay of the surprise visit. Of course they were fools if 70 *

they thought it would stay a surprise.

Edward swallowed convulsively. "I-I've got to go."

Kevin watched as Edward darted out of the room.

Suspicious of the other man's motives, he silently vowed to check up on him when he got a moment. After all, the man rushed out on test day.

After finishing his exam, Kevin decided to ditch the rest of his classes. He had only gone to his first two classes because of exams. He found it strange the professor didn't mention Lisa missing, but then he might not be aware of her absence yet. The older wizard wasn't the brightest star in the sky.

Because of his promise to James, he dialed the limo driver. It still astounded him that not only did the pack have a fleet of limos, but they had full-time drivers to stand around until they called.

Kevin felt decadent calling for a car, but memories of Lisa's body made him a lot less reluctant than before. If she could be overtaken, he'd be a much easier catch. He vaguely wondered if her strong magical ability made her a target.

"Oh, shit."

When the limo pulled up, Kevin ran for it. Not bothering to wait for the chauffeur to get his door, he ripped it open and shouted to the driver. "Get me to the 71 *

pack house quickly."

As he got into the limo, his phone fell, shattering against the cobblestones.

"Damn it."

Collecting as much of the phone as he could in five seconds, he shoved the pieces into the backpack. He'd deal with his cell later.

Kevin desperately wanted to call James on the way over, to warn him to check on Jaynell, but the bits of his phone weren't up to the task.

Tapping his feet, he watched as the limo pulled out into traffic. Luckily, the small distance between pack house and university wouldn't take long to cover. Looking out the window, he spotted Edward running through campus.

Kevin leaned forward and rapped on the driver's window.

The window rolled down. "You can use the intercom, sir."

"That kid, the one in blue, follow him," Kevin said, ignoring the other man's words.

"I thought you needed to get to the pack house."

The reproof in the driver's voice almost had him changing his mind, but Edward's suspicious behavior had him curious.

"No, I need to see where he's going."

72.

"Alpha James will not approve."

"Listen, a friend of mine died recently. I think that guy knows something, follow him." He put as much command in his voice as he could.

"Yes sir."

The window rolled back up, relieving Kevin of the other man's disapproval, even though he could almost feel it in the air. He didn't care if the driver liked him or not.

Lisa's death wouldn't go unpunished.

Kevin pressed the intercom button. "Call the pack house and have them keep an eye on Jay; I think he's in danger."

By the time they rounded the corner and got through traffic, Edward had vanished.

Kevin gave a soft curse, disappointment swamping him. His eyes scanned the area, but this part of campus only contained a row of the blossoming cherry trees, the arts building, and the church. None of which he thought Edward would be found inside, alive or dead.

"Go back to the pack house; we've lost him."

Heart sinking, Kevin threw himself against the cushions.

He'd have to pin Edward down later and find out what he was up to. However, curiosity made him wonder why the other man feared a Senate visit. He hadn't missed 73 *

the fear in Edward's eyes when he said they'd arrived in town. Strange, since not a few weeks before, he'd wanted them to investigate Jaynell's behavior.