Page 44 of Moody as a Minotaur

I stared into his eyes. I knew he meant what he said, but he didn’t understand the risks. Not really. He hadn’t seen what hunters could do. They acted outside the law. They got away with things. Sure, the Supernatural Council worked to contain them, but they weren’t always successful.

“You don’t understand. They hunt supes, but if theythink you’re a supe sympathizer they won’t hesitate to hurt you too.” I clenched and unclenched my fists, wishing I could grab him and shake some sense into him. My gaze darted around the room, searching for anything I could use to make him understand. I came up empty. Every curse word I’d ever learned in my very long life clogged my mind until I felt light-headed.

“I understand you’re worried.” Parker’s soft tone nearly undid me.

I wanted to rail against him because he was underestimating the danger.

“I know this is a difficult situation, made worse by your past,” he continued.

I grunted in surprise. How could he know that?

“I don’t know what happened to you,” he answered. Shit. Had I said that out loud? “But I can tell it wasn’t good, based on how worried you are. But I’m in a unique position to help. Let me. We can do this together.”

I needed a maze. A really, really big one. And I was going to take Parker into the heart of it and never let him leave.

“They could kill you, Parker.” I damn near choked on the words. “Don’t you understand?”

“And how do you think I’d feel if they killed you and I hadn’t done anything to stop them?”

I shook my head. “I can’t let you risk yourself like that. Please. Don’t do this…”

“I’m doing this, Levi.” Parker narrowed his eyes. “If you don’t go with me, I’ll do it myself. I won’t let anything happen to you or anyone else in Willow Lake. I may just be the guy who owns the local café, but I’m not useless.”

Ice-cold fear slashed through me. “Parker, no…”

He crossed his arms again as he skewered me with an assessing gaze. “So, are you with me or not?”

FUCK!

The word detonated in my head like an atomic bomb.

Parker wasn’t the type to give up or shy away from difficult things. Before he’d ever set foot in Willow Lake, he’d purchased a business here. He moved here on his own without knowing a single soul, and somehow, he’d thrived. When he was losing at a game of pool, which admittedly was rare, he had a knack for rallying and coming back to win.

If he really was set on getting involved, nothing I could do would deter him. If I was going to keep him safe, I had to be with him. And Parkerhadto be kept safe. I couldn’t let anything happen to him. I would sacrifice myself a hundred times before I let someone harm him.

“Well, I can’t let you do it alone,” I muttered.

A pleased grin broke over his face. “That’s the spirit! So how should we do this? I’ve been thinking about our cover story…”

I shook my head, but he just plowed on.

“I think we should pretend to date. That way they won’t be surprised when we show up to things together.”

“I…” I gaped at him. “Um… What?”

His plan echoed what I’d been thinking in the middle of the night, but to have him suggest it…

“It isn’t like anyone would be surprised. Nana already thinks…” His words tapered off and his cheeks darkened. “Well, um, you know what? Never mind what my grandmother thinks. Anyway, what do you think? It’s a good plan, right?”

Magic help me, but I couldn’t think of a better one.

“Uh… I…” I swallowed hard. “I guess.”

“Excellent.” Parker rubbed his hands together. “Now, what should we do first? Go tell Nana we’re together? Find Fin? Invite everyone to my place for supper so we can get them in a social setting and see what they spill? Oh… Or should we practice the whole dating thing? You know. To be convincing.”

“Practice the whole what?” My eyebrows shot up.

“We could kiss.” Parker nodded, like that made perfect sense.