Page 100 of Fangs and Fudge

She nodded, and we headed out to Vena’s car.

Between Vena’s worry for Miles and my fear that the fairy would escape and I’d be trapped in the car with it, neither of us was fit to drive. I handed the keys to Shepard. At least, if the fairy escaped, he’d be less likely to run into a light pole.

Vena sat in the backseat. I placed the jar beside her and buckled the seatbelt around it. It opened its eyes briefly, and I hurried to the front.

No one spoke during the ride.

When we arrived, I didn’t see Cross. But by the time I had the jar unbuckled and turned around, I found myself face-to-face with him.

His gaze swept over my face, and I saw his inhale.

“Thank you for coming. We think Miles might be thralled and after the thing you mentioned at lunch.”

“Ah,” Cross said, glancing at Shepard.

Shepard glowered at him. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Not until I get assurances that your wolves will behave,” Cross said.

“Tank won’t make any move against you unless I say so.”

“What about the other one?”

“Other one?” Shepard asked.

“The one that has been following you.”

Shepard’s gaze scanned the area.

“He’s parked a few blocks away,” Cross said.

Shepard muttered something I couldn’t hear, but it made Cross’ grin spread into a smile.

“Having a problem controlling your litter?” Cross asked.

“Let’s get this over with.” When Shepard plucked the jar from my hold and took my hand to escort me to the apartment, I didn’t miss the way Cross’ eyes went dark.

Vena knocked on the door.

It swung open, and Tank looked from Shepard to Cross. Without asking anything, he backed up and let us inside. Cross hesitated on the threshold.

Tank backed farther into the apartment, allowing Cross more room to enter. Cross closed the door behind himself.

Miles was at the kitchen table, rifling through papers.

“Hey, Miles,” Vena said. “Are you missing something?”

He glanced up. His gaze caught on the jar with the fairy.

The fairy was now wide awake and banging his little fists on the glass.

“What did you do?” Miles demanded, his face turning red.

His gaze–filled with anger and accusation–shifted from the jar to me. Why me? Yet, I saw in his eyes that he wasn’t the Miles I knew.

It hadn’t been a coincidence that the fairy tried to steal the ring from Shepard.

Cross was in front of me an instant later, a shield between me and Miles.

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