Todor followed Cassandra and the two Anadori back to the car. His mind flashed to the events of the past hour and a half and suppressed the urge to slap his forehead. What was I thinking of, jumping on her like that? His mind stopped, almost blacking out for a second. What was she thinking of jumping me like that? Thoughts swirled in his mind as the car drove on its way to the Governor's house.

He glanced toward Cassandra but she showed no signs of what she was thinking. She hadn't said a word since they left the shower. They dressed in silence and joined two governor's men who looked at them strangely. After fifteen minutes of sitting without making any noise, he sighed and turned to Cassandra.

"Have you met the Governor?" he asked her awkwardly.

"I don't know her. A few days back some agent of hers came and asked around about my roommate. Don't know why they are interested in her but I am starting to get worried., She never told me she met her though," she said.

"You think your friend is in danger?" Todor asked at which Cassandra just shrugged.

After an awkward pause, Todor continued. "I met the Governor at the party last Sunday. Miss Bloodbeak looked and sounded courteous. Or as courteous as I can expect from an Anadori official," he said remembering the brief meeting.

"Figures, those knife-ears always sound like they are looking down on you. Even their servants," she said loudly with the word servants given more force. "Although that little sprout with whom you walked into my store with was alright. He reminded me of myself when I was little."

Todor nodded, worry starting to creep into his thoughts. At the party, she looked mildly interested in me and she said something about me being a curiosity since I spent so much time in a Knitting Fog. Hope there isn't something she wants from me. Like vampires or folks who attacked us last night.

"Why so gloomy all of a sudden? I know normal life doesn't compare to wrestling with me in bed but cheer up. It could happen again," she said with a tinge of joviality that Todor didn't feel. He smiled and rolled his eyes playfully as a response. Cassandra looked at him and grabbed his head pulling it close to her so their foreheads touched.

"Don't worry. This big eared bimbo can't hurt you publicly even she really wants it. If she did this entire peace she built in this city would crumble," Cassandra said reassuringly, her breath tickling Todor's nose.

"We know each other just few days, how did we get to be so close?" Todor asked seriously.

Cassandra laughed letting go of his head.

"We faced death together. It's a hell of a bonding experience," she said before she turned and shrugged. "But I bet we will learn a lot about each other that we will not like or have a harder time accepting."

"Are you speaking from experience?" Todor prodded. She peered at him with one eye through her hair.

"Is that some sneaky way of yours to learn about my exes, Mister Golem Slayer?" she said mockingly.

"Well yeah," he said honestly with a goofy grin.

She sighed and laid back into the sit.

"I had few flings here and there. What about you?" she said trying to switch the focus on him.

"My last girlfriend probably died three centuries ago," he said gravely without thinking.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't think... my mouth just ... sorry," she stammered.

He just nodded glad for the silence that followed. Todor was happy he had Cassandra by his side. Even though he wasn't sure what kind of feelings he had for her. There is physical attraction, that was without a doubt, he thought remembering the hunger and forcefulness of Cassandra displayed in bed. We knew each other for such a short time, let see how it plays out. And great job killing the mood, Teddy boy. Classy. Bringing dead exes and sob story, he admonished himself even though he knew he couldn't help it. It came out of his mouth before he could stop it.

The car turned towards the quite regular looking estate. A stark contrast from the exotic foliage and outwardly architecture he saw at Sunhawk's place. Well cared for and healthy looking lawn stretched from the iron fence to the cozy looking medium sized house. It was almost anti-climatic if you didn't know better. Bloodbeak had entire hundred story skyscraper in the center of Moriganhold. Behind the house loomed the thick forest of the preserve. The driver parked the car and exited the vehicle as he motioned them to follow him.

Todor grabbed his railgun and slang it over his shoulder before he walked out of the car. Cassandra followed behind him grabbing him under the arm. He glanced at her but she just grinned at him when he showed surprise. Todor smiled back suddenly having an urge to kiss her, but before he could move a muscle someone run out of the door and dashed towards them. Todor turned to regard the newcomer.

Irry held her skirt up as she run towards them. Both of Todors eyebrows rose in surprise. I thought she called the Governor, not went to her house to inform her directly, thought came to him. She came to a stop in front of them, bent over and breathing heavily.

"What's the rush?" Cassandra asked casually.

"What's the rush, you big red strumpet? I was worried since I got the message! Have you two thought of maybe sending me another text to tell me you were ok?" Irry said angrily. Todor never saw her angry, even when she stared down her boss at the jam factory she only had this calm fury. Now she was visibly angry, her cheeks flushed from her run and distress.

"I, err was preoccupied," Todor said glancing at Cassandra who flashed him a grin.

"And you!" Irry said pointing a finger at Todor. "Could you stay out of trouble for one single day?! You are too ..." she went silent for a second before she whispered so only they could hear, "important to be killed now. This city needs you."

"What's she talking about?" Cassandra asked, her forehead wrinkling in confusion.

"I'll tell you later," Todor promised as he squeezed her hand.

"You better," she said coldly retort softening the tone with a smile and quick peck on the cheek.

"And when did that happened? After only one date?" Irry asked, her finger moving from Cassandra to Todor and back again.

"Last night. Or maybe today? I lost track of time. We had a nice late night snack, destroyed some fancy old cars, smashed some golems and murdered some people. And we accidentally started dating in the process," Cassandra said happily then her face went serious and looked at Todor. " We are dating now? Are we?"

"I have no objection. After all, I need a strong woman like you by my side to protect me," he said in a deadpan voice.

"Damn right you do," Cassandra said clutching his arm and pulling him closer.

Irry looked at them incredulously, her eyes narrowing.

"It's good you two are having fun after giving me a heart attack," she said but then composed herself in a blink of an eye. Once again there stood jovial and sharp-eyed girl Todor new from work. "Hope you keep your spirits up when Governor chews you out. She is not happy, never seen her so thunderous."

They walked into the house, followed by two Anadori who accompanied them on their drive. From what Todor saw of Bloodbeak household it was pretty spartan in its furniture. No fancy glass when old sturdy wood will do. No tapestries or oil paintings, just white walls with occasional plant here and there. Todor was impressed with the minimalism shown. They were brought to a large room that had entire wall be cover by glass panes that looked over a small waterfall and bubbling lake below. I guess she likes to preserve nature and show its beauty instead of showing her might with trinkets. I can respect that, Todor thought but it didn't help with foreboding he felt building up inside of him.

The two Anadori left leaving three of them with instructions to wait for their master to show up. As soon the door was shut Cassandra turned to Irry and Todor piercing them with her magenta eyes.

"Alright, before this Bloodbeak broad shows up, can you two tell me why is my brand new boyfriend, who doesn't know why he would get attacked, so important for this city that they can't afford to lose him?" Cassandra asked crossing her arms beneath her breasts.

"Well, I bet it's because of this," Todor said raising his arm to summon Ezezu when Irry grabbed his wrist.

"Don't," she exclaimed looking around. "There are cameras here, I think," she added right away letting go of his wrist and sheepishly shrugging. "Sorry. Usually, I would tell you to come clean with Governor as well but I never saw her so angry. Those guys that attacked you are apparently a big deal."

"Can you at least tell me?" Cassandra said losing her patience. "Come whisper it to my ear so the knife-ears can't listen in."

Todor shrugged and put an arm around her shoulder as his lips came close to her ear. He explained in short that he managed to find the maharoon and open it. That this might signal the return of human magic and that is one of the possible reasons why vampires might have tried to take him since he could be a solution to their declining numbers. Cassandra listened without moving a muscle and once he was finished she turned to grab him by the head and smacking a long kiss on the mouth. Todor saw Irry in a corner of his eyes smirking and rolling her eyes.

"What was that for?" he asked, not really complaining.

"You should whisper into my ear more often," she said with a grin. "And for telling me all that."

"By the way, back in the car, you told me that those suits wanted you too?" Todor asked remembering her mention that. Why didn't I asked her about that right way? Oh, right I was distracted by that memory trinket in her cleavage.

"Yeah, that guy we surprised in the park and tied up? He told Felixsos men that they were ordered to kill both of us. But they have no idea why," Cassandra elaborated.

I understand why me but why her as well? And who were those guys? Questions kept piling up in his mind and not a single answer. Anger started bubbling inside of him slowly rising. Surprisingly Ezezu sent a wave of calming emotions which Todor gladly embraced. Before any more could have been said the door opened and Holanador Muffonrox Belleroha Bloodbeak came in. Agent Hillard trailed her, a protest dying on his mouth when he noticed the room was not empty.

"Leave me be with my guests, agent," Governor said sternly. Hillard glanced at Todor with a sour grimace but he nodded and left the room closing the door shut behind him.

Governor wore some strange clothing that resembled Greco-roman mix of armor made out of stiff fabric. Nothing like fancy things he saw at Sunhawks ball. It looked professional and it complimented her figure in sharp militaristic kind of way which at the moment came off as a sinister sign to Todor. She strolled to the wall with a view over nature and held her arms on small of her back, her legs slightly apart.

"Can anyone of you tell me what in a name of Saint Trinoxia's cunt happened last night?" she asked as she observed the nature outside, her back turned to the three of them.

"We know as much as you do," Todor said after realizing no one was going to speak up. Something about this woman scared him now. He couldn't point what but it did.

"That is bullshit," Holanador said calmly turning for the first time to look at them. "I lived for ninety-seven thousand years, long ago I lost patience for petty games such as this. You have strong suspicion why a cult of death suddenly showed up hungry for your blood. I can see it in your eyes."

Todor's eyes went wide. Cult of death? What is she talking about?

"So you know who those idiots that attacked us were? Some kind of freaky cult? Spit it out," Cassandra demanded coldly, her eyes flashing murder at the Holanador.

Corner of governors mouth slightly quirked at that.

"Seems I have some information that you don't, miss Kvalshgog Martiztghoh. That is your real name, isn't it? From the Clan Dothroth?"

Cassandra growled at that, her fists clenching and her entire body tensing.

"I am just Cassandra now," she spat out.

"Alright, as you wish. What about you Mister Corpus? I had to intervene when Midnight Breeze kidnapped you. Do you have any idea why he was after you? And why are these newcomers going right for your life as soon as they showed up in my town?" Holanador moved her attention to Todor.

"Why are you asking me that? How should I know why they do what they do?" Todor retorted with a question of his own.

Suddenly the light dimmed in the entire room and temperature dropped to freezing. Their breaths started to produce fog while an entire glass window behind her froze over with an ominous sound of cracking. The view of nature hidden by the sudden formation of ice flowers. Governor leaned on her desk gazing upon them.

"I guess I must show you the seriousness of the situation you are in. Give me one valid reason, any moral high ground to defend you from this intrusions. You are citizens of the free city of Moriganhold but if your presence becomes too disruptive, too dangerous to the larger population I will turn you over or in best case scenario banish you from the city proper. Is that clear?" Holanador Muffonrox Belleroha Bloodbeak declared in a grave voice that did not suffer any insolence.