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and we’re born with an innate sense for anything to do with metals and precious gems. The pendant glittered like that only when worn by the person it rightfully belongs to.
    The chain Leticia wore had to have been a gift because the metal is beyond special and Dark Elves hate to part with anything so precious. It was made from the same material as my collar, a metal normally only worn by Drow royalty.
    Leticia crossed her legs at her knees and leaned forward, her hands clasped on her lap. “I am so glad to see you, Nyx. I contacted Rodán and he told me when you would be at his nightclub tonight so that I could call on you personally.”
    I tried to smile but had a hard time. What did the council want with me now?
    “It is my desire to express my sincere gratitude and that of the council as well.” Leticia’s statement caught me off guard. They were thanking me?
    I did my best to hide my surprise as she continued. “Why council members understated that kind of horror I’ll never understand. It wasn’t just a ‘situation’ but a series of devastating tragedies and near tragedies.”
    Heat began to burn beneath my skin and I felt a flush rising to my face.
    “What you did for all paranormkind almost cost you your life.” She placed her hand on my knee as she continued. “All members of the Paranorm Council shall never forget your sacrifices. No one should.”
    My face felt even hotter now and I wished I was off fighting a Demon instead of receiving praise I didn’t deserve.
    “I was doing my job.” I tried not to squirm in my seat. “I’m a Night Tracker and I was only doing what I’ve been trained to do.”
    Leticia gave me what amounted to a patient look, as if I was a child and she was trying to make me understand something. “The council plans to honor your heroics with a special award. We are requesting your presence in one week’s time when we have our last meeting before the New Year begins.”
    “No.” I straightened in my seat and there must have been an expression of shock on my face, because that’s exactly what I felt.
    The council chief looked surprised at my immediate refusal.
    “I mean, thank you.” I tried my best to sound appreciative. “But I can’t accept any kind of award. All of the Trackers deserve recognition, not just me.”
    Leticia removed her hand from my knee. “You are far too modest, Nyx Ciar.”
    She stood in such a graceful movement I knew at that moment her Doppler animal form was some kind of large cat.
    A lioness. With her regal bearing and commanding presence it became obvious to me. I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t realized it earlier.
    I stood, too. “It’s not right that I should be given recognition and not the rest of the team.”
    “Accept the award on behalf of your brethren, if you wish.” The expression in Leticia’s eyes was both warm and firm, which I wasn’t sure many could pull off. “But accept it you will.”
    I groaned out loud as the council chief walked away from me, toward the exit. Not that my groan could be heard over the laughter that erupted in the room. I looked at the stage in time to see a ventriloquist’s dummy walking across the stage taking bows—while the Doppler ventriloquist remained seated on his stool.
    I wondered if the audience even knew that the Doppler’s dummy was actually a Brownie. An exceptionally ugly one at that.
    My thoughts turned immediately back to my little meeting with Leticia. How embarrassing. And how very wrong. I almost died because of my own stupidity. My team members were the real heroes. Especially the Sprite named Negel.
    Rodán had to get me out of this one.
    The crowd seemed even thicker now and I shoved my way through the hoard of paranorms and toward the Tracker corner. I was just in time to see everyone leaving and heading into the meeting room. Good, I wasn’t late.
    I followed Tracey, the Romanian Sânzian˘a Fae, and Hades, a Shifter, into the conference room. When I entered I did a quick