"I'll do my best." He had an instant vision of Vanda's armor falling off to reveal soft naked skin underneath, but he quickly squelched that image. He couldn't afford the bulge in his pants to get any larger.

"I believe her anger is hiding a great deal of emotional pain," the priest continued. "The poor girl is in dire need of our kindness and compassion."

Now he felt like a dog. Which was fairly close to the truth.

"I'd like to know more about you, if you don't mind." Father Andrew regarded him curiously. "How long have you worked for MacKay Security and Investigation?"

"Eight years. I joined my sophomore year at NYU. I was stationed at Roman's townhouse."

"What was your degree in?"

"Psychology. Animal psychology."

"Ah. You were seeking insight into your own kind?"

Phil glanced at priest sharply. "You know about me?"

"That you're a wolfman? Yes."

Phil winced. "'Werewolf' is the correct term. Or 'Lycan. "

"Excuse me. I find your kind fascinating, of course."

"Of course," Phil said wryly. Which was precisely why his kind wished to remain secret. The curious ones like Father Andrew would pester him with questions. The angry ones would want to kill him. The scientists would study and dissect him, and the government would seek to use him as a weapon. The cost of being fascinating was far too high.

Father Andrew removed a pair of reading glasses from his coat pocket and put them on. "I believe your special dual nature puts you in a unique position to help Vanda learn to control her violent emotions."

"Because I'm an animal?" Phil was beginning to find this conversation annoying.

"Exactly. I believe we all have…baser qualities that we struggle with. And since your struggle must be more tangible, you've probably developed a more practical approach of gaining control—"

"You mean I've learned to tame the beast."