Page 15 of Maneater

I think I need a fermented elixir.

Edgel starts to remove Darien’s clothes, and I leap forward. “Hey! What are you doing?”

Edgel pauses, then glances back and forth between us. “Awfully territorial over this ‘un, ain’t ya?”

“No.” I clear my throat. “I’m only saying, you know how humans are. So modest and everything.”

Edgel purses his lips and gestures to Darien. “I don’t think he cares right now.”

I frown. “Yeah? Well, I do. Don’t take off more than what you absolutely have to.”

Edgel rolls his eyes. “You modern Howlers. So concerned about bein’ appropriate.”

I want to get into a big argument with him, but I want him to make sure Darien is okay more.

After almost thirty minutes of placing healing oils on Darien’s pulse points, repeating the healing rune mantra over and over, and opening his mouth to place drops from a blessed tincture on Darien’s tongue, Edgel steps back.

“That’ll do ‘er. He should rest for a couple days, then he’ll be fine. He’ll probably wake up in an hour, maybe sooner.” Edgel gathers his potions and runes and lets out a cackle. “Hee hee. Maybe he got some learnin’ zapped into him. Never met a human who couldn’t use an extra dose of common sense.”

Edgel is officially getting on my last good nerve.

“Is there anything else I should know to help his healing process?”

Edgel grabs the handle of his cracked leather satchel that’s hanging on by a few threads and grunts. “Don’t put those wet clothes back on him. Those boxers are purt near enough to maintain his precious modesty.”

“But… how do I explain—”

“Not my problem, Rex. Gotta go. My datin’ reality shows are starting in a few.”

Now it’s my turn to roll my eyes.

As soon as he leaves and I re-seal the wards, I’m left alone with a half-naked, unconscious Darien.

Who’ll be waking up soon and demanding answers.

I only have one recourse. Contact Boone. He isn’t a fan of humans finding out about us, but the more they encroach into the wilderness, the tougher it gets to be discreet. There are days I’m so distracted by all the tasks I need to handle at the inn that I forget to seal the runes surrounding the cave.

But Boone has several cryptid friends who have fallen in love with human partners, so he’ll know what to do.

I almost choke on my own spit. Not that I’m in danger of falling in love with a human. How ridiculous. I crack my knuckles as I tear my gaze from Darien’s form. This is merely an inquiry in the interest of protecting our kind from human interference.

I cover Darien with the blanket, then grab my phone.

“Boone. I have a situation.”

Boone sighs. “Of course you do.”

I press my lips together. Everyone seems to be irritating me today, but I need to keep it together.

“There’s a human in my bed.”

“And you’re telling me this because…?”

“Well…” I scratch my head. Now that I think about it, why am I? “I guess because I’ve never found myself in this situation before.”

“There’s a first time for everything. Look, I’m not sure how I can help you. Can you give me a hint at what has you so worked up?”

I clutch the phone to my ear so hard, I’m in danger of cracking it open. After another quick glance at the man who’s made me rethink my stance on cryptid-on-human action, I steel myself to bare my soul to Boone.