Page 99 of Fangs and Fudge

“The jar is big enough for a few hours of air,” he said.

I snatched it from his hands and headed to the kitchen. I didn’t like fairies, but I also didn’t want it to suffocate.

Vena followed me and leaned close to peek at it when I set the jar on the counter.

“Do you think he killed it?” she asked, tapping the jar.

“No. It looks like it’s breathing. Wait…I think this is Miles’ fairy,” I said. “It looks the same. Why did it come over here?”

“Do you see that? Around its neck?” Vena asked. “It looks like a string necklace. Maybe it just wanted a bigger version of its own necklace.”

“And you think I’m the stubborn one?” Shepard said with some disbelief. “It didn’t see my necklace, Vena. It shouldn’t have known I was wearing a ring on the chain at all. It wasn’t there when I was standing in nothing but the ring at your parents’ house.”

Understanding what Shepard wasn’t saying, I winced at Vena. “We should talk to Miles and figure out what's going on.”

“Miles wouldn’t send a fairy to steal anything,” she said firmly, proving she’d understood Shepard’s implication that Miles had sent the fairy to steal the ring. “You know him better than that.”

“Exactly. He wouldn’t steal or have someone steal for him. That would be something out of character. Something someone else would have to make him do.”

Vena frowned. “I’ll call him.”

“No,” Shepard said. “It’s better to go to his house. If he’s expecting the fairy to return, we’ll catch him off guard.”

Vena looked close to tears, and Shepard gave her a compassionate look.

“You knew it was possible that he might be under a vampire’s control, Vena. It’s why we’ve been watching him.”

“But we were just with him. Sierra turned into a mindless puppet. Miles wasn’t like that.”

“Hey,” I said, wrapping an arm around Vena. “If Miles is thralled, it’s not his fault. Let’s just go return his fairy and have Cross meet us. He can tell if Miles is under a vampire’s control.”

She gave a hesitant nod.

“It will be okay,” I said. “Even if he’s linked with a vampire, we’ll deal with it. Can you find something to make some holes in that lid?”

Pulling out my phone, I sent a quick group text as Vena took out her knife.

Me: Cross, can you meet us at Miles’ apartment in 15?

Cross: Yes.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Vena poked little holes in the lid for the fairy and handed me the jar. The fairy’s chest moved with each breath, affirming Shepard hadn’t killed it.

“Tank,” Shepard said into the phone. “You’re with Miles, right?” Shepard paused to listen. “Good. Stay there with him.”

I watched Shepard run his hand through his hair as he turned away.

“Things are worse than we knew. I can’t explain over the phone but am going to ask for your trust over the next hour. Whatever happens, don’t make a move unless I say.” He paused again, thanked Tank, then hung up.

“Showing up with Cross is going to cause you problems, isn’t it?” I asked.

“I trust Tank to stay quiet once I explain things to him.”

“Just Tank?” Vena asked.

“Any of my pack.”

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