Page 137 of Fangs and Fudge

I gave his arm a grateful squeeze as I claimed a chair from a neighboring table so Miles could join us at ours.

While Master was dead and Miles was free, things weren’t all cakes and cookies. Pet, and who knew how many other vampires, were still out there. But I was willing to pretend everything was fine for a while. We’d earned the respite.

We waited until the line dwindled to get food. Shepard and Anchor heaped their plates full until I could no longer see the plate underneath.

Vena grabbed a stack of bacon and balanced it with fresh fruit. I went with fruit and a chocolate almond croissant. Whoever made it had mastered the croissant layers, and I itched to give my own recipe I’d been playing with another go.

As we ate, Shepard’s attention was pulled away as the delegates left for home. He stood to say goodbye to each one, taking longer to return each time.

“I think it’s time we went home, too,” I said to Vena.

Vena glanced at Anchor, and I knew she was dying for alone time with him.

“Any problems with us leaving?” I asked Shepard when he stopped at the table.

He shook his head. “Anchor, would you mind camping on their couch for the next few days? You’ve earned some time off, but with the pack out hunting in full force, I don’t have the wolf-power to spare.”

“Gladly,” Anchor said then glanced at me. “Are you okay with that?”

“Yep. As long as you don’t mind if Cross shows up unannounced.”

“I think I can handle it,” he said.

“We’ll need you to drop us off at Blur,” I added. “My car is there. We hitched a ride with Doc last night.”

“No problem. Let me pack a few things first.”

“Then we’re all set. Thanks for your hospitality, Shepard,” I said, standing.

“Anytime.”

I could see Gunther waiting by the door.

“We’ll get our things from the room and go. See you tonight.”

Shepard nodded, and we started out as Gunther approached him.

“I think it’s my fault, Boss,” Gunther said as we left.

Part of me wanted to linger, but we didn’t. Anchor sighed and shook his head before we reached the end of the hall.

“What?” I asked.

“Gunther’s blaming himself. The vamps took his phone when they had him. He thinks that’s how they got on the app.”

“That’s not his fault.”

“Exactly,” Anchor said.

We collected our freshly laundered clothes from Shepard’s suite. They were free of any lingering reminder of the blood bath yesterday. We left the pack house with Miles and Anchor a few minutes later. Shepard wasn’t there to see us off.

“Want us to drop you at your place?” Vena asked Miles.

“Actually, I was hoping to talk to you. And maybe Anchor. I think Shepard will want to know this too, but I didn’t want to bring it up in front of everyone.”

“What is it?” Vena asked, looking worried. “Don’t tell me you’re still–”

“No, no. Nothing like that. I’m fully me again. Free thinking and everything. Which is a good thing. I think I pieced together why the master wanted those rings. And for the record, I’m not calling him Master. That's the only name he gave.”

---