Page 24 of Only Human in Strangeville

I clutched at my mug and prepared to use it as a weapon.

“What brings you to Beechworth, Drake?” Katsuro stood, putting himself between me and the newcomer.

A low rumble thrummed through Davin’s chest, matching Nimbus’s growl.

“You have something of ours.”

Though Katsuro was blocking the view, I could tell this Drake guy was staring through him, speaking directly to me. I didn’t answer.

“That nimbus is spoken for.”

Okay, I wasn’t about to ignore that. I surged to my feet, dislodging Nimbus and storming up to Katsuro’s side. I wasn’t dumb, I stayed well within the vampire’s reach.

“Oh, are you the one trying to enslave supernatural creatures?” I demanded.

“The nimbus—”

“Listen right here, asshole. This nimbus chose me after I rescued him from whatever evil plans you had for him. You can go fuck off if you think I’m handing him over.”

Drake seemed taken aback.

Whatever Drake was, and I had no doubt he was supernatural too, I was not nearly as scared of him as I was of the people I’d helped put behind bars.

Katsuro put a hand on my arm when I took a step forward.

“The nimbus is mine as long as he chooses to stay with me. I’ll protect him, with my life if I have to, and I’m sure as hell going to make it so people know that if something happens to me, they should connect it to you.” I pulled out my phone, snapped his picture, and showed him—after a quick glance to make sure the picture actually took. “Just say a threatening word and I’ll send this to my BFF in D.C.” BFF was a stretch, but my contact in witness protection was in D.C., and I’d been instructed to maintain a bit of contact.

Drake cleared his throat, and his gaze flicked to Katsuro before returning to me.

“I suppose we shall see if you are that brave when you don’t have a vampire and a werewolf standing at your back.”

I showed him my teeth. “Fuck off.”

Drake smiled, the unfriendly expression twisting his features and showing a hint of the evil I’d learned to look for over the last couple of years. “Good day, Hannah.” He nodded ever so slightly to Katsuro and ignored Davin as he turned abruptly and left.

Jaz’s eyes were wide as she bowed and followed Drake out.

“Are you sure she needs our protection?” Davin said softly once Drake was gone.

Katsuro burst out laughing. “That was unwise, my dear spitfire, but entertaining.”

Nimbus rubbed against my leg and rooed, his fluffy tail curled over his back and wagging.

“Shit, I’m going to have to start carrying a gun, aren’t I?” I pulled my glasses off and cleaned the lenses before shoving them back on my face.

“Do you know how to use a gun?” Katsuro asked, not unkindly.

“Yeah, I do.” I crossed my arms and rubbed my hands on my biceps. Fuck, I’d never wanted to have to carry one again.

I could see the questions in the vampire’s eyes, but he left me alone for now. Lots of people used guns, but I was sure the tone in my voice had clued him in that I hadn’t learned for sport.

Davin touched the small of my back. I took a deep breath and let him ground me with the contact.

“So, what do we do?”

“Tonight, we get you home safely. Davin and I will get our people to keep an eye on you. And, we will come up with a plan for when you go to Mayday Hills.”

“I don’t want bodyguards following me everywhere.” I was so done with that, too.

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