“ ‘Driven by the need to produce an heir, the upir will mate with women of power, for only a woman of power can carry a true upir to term . . .’ ” Doolittle looked at me. “You cannot stay here, Kate. You must come to the keep.”

I opened my mouth but he silenced me with a wave of his hand. “There are seven of us and one of you. We’ll carry you if we have to.”

THE PACK COUNCIL SAT IN PADDED CHAIRS around a table. In the middle of the table sat the head of Jennifer Ying brought in as evidence by Doolittle and placed under a glass hood laced with preserving spells. She bore silent witness to all that was said. Next to her a speaker phone relayed Saiman’s cool voice.

“All upiri are male. The history of their breed is quite old: it’s likely they were an integral part of the fertility cults in early agrarian societies of the Bronze Age. During the rites young women, embodying the Goddess, were brought to the upir so he could play out his role of her son-consort by copulating with them. Of course, often the copulation resulted in the woman’s death, in which case, the upir would complete the rite full circle, devouring her body.

“The arrival of the Iron Age with its patriarchal gods-heroes signaled the end of the Goddess cult and the upiri gradually migrated to the remote regions, finding the vast Russian forests particularly suitable. Although they are driven by the urge to procreate, the upiri are interested only in producing a powerful male, another upir. All female children are born dead. Once a son is produced, the upir feeds the mother to the child and casts him out, driving him out of his territory. It must be noted that only a woman of significant magic power is able to sustain enough magic to produce a baby upir.”

“What about the animal children?” Curran demanded.

“The upir will mate with any animal he can anatomically penetrate. The resulting offspring, although viable, is usually sterile. A single upir may have scores of these servant-creatures. Also, since an agrarian cult of fertility centers on regeneration, the upir is likely to have vast recuperative powers. My source lists him as immune to metal, wood, tooth, and claw. He is virtually impossible to kill.”

Curran nodded at Mahon. The Bear spoke, “The Pack thanks you for your information.”

“I appreciate the gratitude of the Pack. You will receive my bill within three days.”

Mahon turned off the phone.

“It has to be Crest,” Curran said.

Startled, I asked, “How do you know his name?”

“I know more about you than you do. Do you really think I would deal with you without following your every step?”

“You had Derek spy on me. You promised me he would do no such thing.”

“Actually I put a scout in the apartment above you,” Jim said. “Greg’s place isn’t soundproof.”