Dinner was served by the small man and his equally small wife, both of whom bowed and scraped to the Dumonts and their werewolf security, but who were treated in turn like trash. I had to clench my teeth and my hands to keep from reacting, knowing Mom would be disappointed if I acted too soon.

The woman set a bowl of soup in front of me. "Thank you," I said.

The brothers snickered while one of them tripped her casually on the way by. She actually stammered an ...