Jim moved. His hand closed on Brandon’s wrist and twisted. Brandon dropped to his knees into the snow, his arm wrenched out of its socket.

The whole world had gone nuts on me. I couldn’t even get angry anymore. I’d run out of rage.

“It’s done,” the blond man squeezed out. “I did it for her.”

What the hell? I would kill Jennifer. I would do it myself and save Desandra the trouble.

Jim twisted his arm, bending him into a pretzel. “I’ll just be a minute.”

He grabbed Brandon by his collar and dragged him out of the circle toward the Keep. The gates opened just enough to let a person pass, and Derek and another shapeshifter shot out. Jim shoved Brandon in their direction, turned around, and came back into the circle.

Ghastek finally regained his ability to speak. “How dare you? Is this an insult?”

“Yes,” I told him. “But to me, not to you. My deepest apologies.”

Hugh chuckled.

Derek and the other shapeshifter muscled Brandon back behind the doors.

Ghastek opened his mouth. No words came out. He was obviously struggling to get himself under control.

“I’m very sorry,” I repeated. Now I was apologizing to the man who was threatening to kill me. Here’s hoping my arteries didn’t explode from the pressure.

“This is outrageous.”

“So is dropping loose vampires into the middle of a Conclave meeting.”

Ghastek clamped his mouth shut.

“We will take the accused now,” Rowena said.

The three riders drew closer. Sheriff hats. It had to be Beau.

“And if we give her to you? What then? A lynching? Maybe you’ll burn her at the stake? Last time I checked we at least pretended we were civilized people.”

Ghastek locked his teeth. He kept a pair of chains used in witch trials on the wall of his office. The reminder of witch burnings had hit home.

“She will be given every opportunity to prove her innocence,” Rowena said.

“Yes, she will,” Jim said. “We’re turning her over to human law enforcement.”

Hugh’s face lost its half-smile. Oh no. Did you find half a worm in the apple you just bit?

“That would be extremely unwise,” Ghastek said.

“Why?”

“For one, it exposes both of our factions to public scrutiny,” Rowena said.

“I thought you were all about avoiding bloodshed,” Jim said.

I gave Ghastek my best psycho smile. “I think we could all benefit from a little transparency.”

“You’re fucking up,” Hugh said from his horse.

“Shut the hell up,” I told him. “Nobody’s talking to you.”

“You’re bluffing,” Hugh said. “You won’t find anyone to take her.”

I pointed to the approaching riders.

Ghastek turned to glance over his shoulder. Beau and two deputies, a short compact man with red hair and a Hispanic woman in her forties, were closing in.