Page 64 of Wolves Always Bite

Iwould definitely be asking more questions about that.

Well, assumingIgot out of this okay.Becausewhat the hell had possessed me to follow a crazy green monkey creature in here?Outof all the people participating inOperation:AlwaysRescueClawie,Iwas the weak link.Imight have the talisman, butIdidn’t have any cool superhero powers or even a weapon.

Babettehad both.

ShouldIbe more scared of the freaky goblin or the gun the freaky goblin was pointing at me?Icouldn’t decide.WouldTeague’samulet protect against a bullet?Myguess was no.

“You’renot the brightest guyI’veever hired,”Babettesaid with a grin.Thatgrin made me want to throw up again.

“It’sover,Babette,”Isaid.Myvoice wobbled.Damnit.Iwanted to sound all authoritative and shit. “Giveme my cat.”Okay, given everything that was going on, my cat probably shouldn’t have been my first thought, butIhad priorities.Still,Ishould be clear about a few other things. “Andwe’re taking these people with us today.Sojust put down the gun and surrender.”

“Fuckthat.”Shespat the words at me as she pushed the chair out of her way.Itrolled into the wall byClawie, who swiped at it through a slot in his carrier and let out a menacing growl.

“Jeremy!”Adrian’sshout came from somewhere behind me.Hesounded frantic. “Gage, get over here.Itsmells like a demon over here.Jeremy,I’mcoming!”

Iturned slightly and glanced toward the door to see him and the others coming for me.Aheavy weight landed on me.Ittook me a second to realizeBabettehad taken the opportunity to somehow leap across the room and attach herself to my back.Ouch, that hurt.Iswatted at her and spun around, but she dug her long claws into me and wouldn’t let go.

“Quitmoving or you’ll die,”Babettewarned.Herrancid breath billowed into my ear.Thehard unmistakable shape of a gun muzzle pressed into my cheek.Thenshe wrapped a finger around the necklaceTeaguehad given me and severed it. “Youdon’t need that.”

Theprotective talisman slipped to the floor and landed with a plink on the concrete.

Ifroze becauseIwasn’t an idiot andIrather liked living.

Icouldn’t die now;I’djust found out about supernatural beings.Ihad so much to learn and a werewolf to sex up and a vampire to bribe into biting me and making me immortal.Whyhadn’tIdone that already?IfIhad…

Adrianshouted something garbled and pained andIknew he’d seen my predicament.

“Ifyou want the human alive, you’re going to let me leave.”Babetteprojected her voice, althoughIfigured everyone would have heard her just fine.Asfar asIcould tell, most supes had the equivalent of bionic hearing.Soshe was being dramatic.Great.Ihoped her drama didn’t include actually shooting me.

Noone said anything.AlthoughIwas pretty sureAdrianwas whining like a wounded dog.God,Ihoped he wasn’t actually injured.Mr.Dimples’ eyes were all red and swirly.Hischest was heaving, like he was struggling for control.Ididn’t know what that meant, butIhoped whatever he was doing would help me.Icouldn’t see the others yet from whereIwas standing, butIsuspected they were all there too.

Butno one said anything.Noone begged for my life.Thatwas a little disheartening, but, okay,Iguess that was fair.Mostgovernments had rules about not negotiating with terrorists.It’sjust that whenAdrianhad saidMr.Dimplesliked making deals,IguessIkind of thoughtI’dgrown on the guy enough that he’d try making a deal for me.Maybethey were just stunned likeIwas and trying to come up with a plan.

ButMr.Dimplesreally didn’t look so good.

Wait.Whatwas that conversationI’doverheard betweenDavinaandAdrian?Somethingabout howno oneshould lose control.And, given whatIknew aboutMr.Dimples,Isuspected it was really justhimwho no one wanted to lose it.

Okay.Maybethat was what was wrong.

Itried to shoot the demon whatIhoped was a reassuring look.See?Look,Mr.Dimples, everything is going to be fine.Noneed to go supernova.AlthoughIwouldn’t say no to a teensy bit of help if you can swing it.

“Walkforward.”AsBabettespoke, her lips moved against my neck.

Gross.Ishuddered in disgust.Shechuckled, probably thinking it was fear.

Whatcould only be her terrifying mouth, full of its millions of teeth, grazed the skin of my neck.Ifshe decided to clamp down,I’dbe dead.Fromthe corner of my left eye,Isaw her waving the gun at the others.Well, at least the gun pointed away from my head now.

Everysituation had a silver lining, right?

AsIinched toward the office door, the others came into view.Thankfullythey all appeared okay other than a few scrapes and bruises.IfIcould figure out how to getBabetteoff my back, literally, we’d call this a rousing success.Unfortunately,Babetteseemed to have other ideas.

Ashgasped asIemerged from the room.Hishand flew up to cover his mouth.Dillonsqueezed his shoulder, perhaps holding him in place so he didn’t charge us.Gagewas still in his demon form, andIdidn’t seeNelson, so hopefully that meant he was still in his high-test supe form too.Theothers had all shifted to their human form.Myeyes foundAdrian, andIcouldn’t look away.

Hewas pale.Hisarms trembled slightly where they hung at his sides.

“Hey, guys,”Isaid, forcing myself to smile. “GuesswhoIfound.”

“Shutup,”Babettesaid against my throat.Therevolting sensation of her tongue rolling over my skin as she spoke made my stomach turn.