Page 40 of Silver Claw

I called Lucy as I strode to my car, though she was lodged in the Inn. I could have gone to see her—and my plump little dog—but now that I’d gotten my day started, I didn’t want to delay.

“Kait,” she exclaimed. “How are you feeling?”

“Good,” I told her, smiling. “I’m heading to the city to talk to Rick, then—”

“What? Rightnow?”

“Lucy, I—”

“I’m nearly finished with your breakfast. Wait. Hang on. I’ll meet you at your car in five minutes. Ten, tops.”

I sighed. “Fine, Luce. Bring Ash so I can kiss him before I go.”

“Ash,” she agreed. “And food.”

I called Rick as I climbed into my car to wait for Lucy. The detective was nearly always busy, but just like Remy, he’d always take my call.

“Kait,” he answered. “You’re good?”

“I’m good,” I said. “My mother said you wanted to talk to me.”

“Yeah.” He sighed. “Look. I saw your fight with that…that wolf. I could’ve solved the whole thing by hauling my shotgun out of my car. Jared was being a bastard about it, though, and thought you needed to get the shit kicked out of you.”

“I needed to prove to myself and to the packs that I could still be powerful,” I said gently, “even without my magic.”

“It’s fucking stupid,” he said. “You don’t have anything to prove. If they don’t know you by now, it won’t matter how many times you go after a piece of worthless garbage.”

I drew back and frowned at the phone. He was angry.Raging.Which surprised me, because Rick was no stranger to the supernatural world and our savagery. God knew he’d seen it enough.

When I hesitated, he took a deep breath. “I know, Kait. I just needed to get that off my chest. If I’d been Jared when you were…fighting, I wouldn’t have cared what you said or what you wanted. I’d have waded in and yanked Voss away from you. I’d have pistol-whipped him until he couldn’t move, and then I’d have blown out his brains.”

“Rick,” I murmured, finally.

“Fuck,” he said, his voice so low and quiet I almost couldn’t hear him. “Fuck.”

I swallowed hard, then took a deep breath. “Where are you?” He needed to see me. He needed to know I was okay. For some reason, he’d been hurt by what he’d seen, more so than any of my other battles. I didn’t know why, and it didn’t matter. I just needed to hug him and let him feel my warmth. Let him know I was still me, and that I was okay.

“On my way to a house on Stone Street. There’s a murder victim inside. There may or may not be signs of supernatural activity, so the DSA was called in to check it out before the humans start arriving.”

“Give me the address. I’ll meet you there.”

He didn’t argue or ask if I was sure I was healed enough to come in. He just gave me the address. “I’ll wait outside for you,” he said.

I leaned over and shoved open the passenger door when I saw Lucy hurrying toward the car. She carried a huge brown bag in one hand and held Ash’s leash in her other.

Ash jumped into the car and began immediately wiggling his little butt as he covered my face with his tongue. Lucy stood in the doorway with the bag of food, and even more than Ash’s kisses, I wanted that food.

The smell of juicy meat woke up my appetite in a hurry.

“What in the…did Ash justgrowl?”Lucy asked.

“That was my belly,” I said dryly, wrapping my arms around the energetic dog. “I’m heading to the city to meet Rick. I’ll eat on the way.”

Lucy laughed, then called Ash to her. “I’ll tell you about my dream tonight. I have some new information.”

“Okay,” I said. I gave Ash a kiss. “Go with Lucy, buddy. I’ll see you both tonight in Silverwood.”

I waited until I was on the highway before I pulled the bag to me. Lucy had wrapped meat-and-egg-filled biscuits in foil, and if Joe or Zach had been with me, I’d have let them drive so I could enjoy breakfast.