Page 15 of Haunted By the Shadow of Death

“Did my evil eye give it away?” Evangeline asked. “Now what did she say? I need to know if I should go back and punch her or just trip her next time she’s not looking.” She didn’t seem to care who heard her as we walked past a few shifters who giggled at her words.

“She was just rambling on about how happy the pack is to have a guide.”

“Ha!” Evangeline said loudly. “I knew she was being a bitch.”

“She really didn’t say anything bad.” Not outright, anyway. She’d spoken the truth, mostly. That truth, unfortunately, wasn’t so flattering.

“Lousy is a passive-aggressive slug. She won’t flat-out hit you with anything. She’ll pretend she’s being nice and then stick it to you. She probably insinuated that your being a guide was the only reason Kicks mated with you. Tell me I’m wrong?” She was giving me an expression I’d seen on Charlie more than once. The I dare you look.

“She didn’t say that exactly.”

“No. Just implied it. She’s been hot for Kicks for a decade, so I’m sure she’s about as sour as my pickles that you showed up with him.” She opened the door to a small cabin. I didn’t have to ask if this place was hers. The kitchen dominated the open floor plan of the cabin, with every type of pot and pan hooked to a rack hanging in the center of the room. Interspersed were drying plants, which I could only assume were spices of some sort, not that I could identify anything beyond some basil and parsley.

She motioned me to a table that took up another large chunk of space. “Sit. I’ve got some stuff for you to try.” She began filling up a tray.

“Did they ever get together?”

“They?” Evangeline flew around the kitchen as she worked on her tray, clearly having moved on to more important topics.

“Lousy? Did she and Kicks ever date?” After Bri, the question felt necessary. Although if Bri was the standard, Lousy would’ve been slumming it a bit for Kicks. Then again, by the Bri standard, I was as well.

But I couldn’t forget, I was also a guide. Talk about a sour taste.

“Oh,” Evangeline said, and then let out a good laugh. “Could there have been a late night hookup I don’t know about? Maybe. I’d never know. Date? Never. She’s not his type.”

“Why is that?” I asked, hoping I could hold her attention on the topic long enough to get some clarity. It seemed like once she shifted gears to cooking, it was going to be a battle to drag her back to the Kicks subject.

She straightened from where she’d been bent over her tray. “You mean other than the whole passive-aggressive slug thing? She’s cute and all, but he doesn’t like sneaky people. Or maybe that’s only my feelings? I really don’t know, but it seems like he’s never gone out of his way to be around her. He’s nothing like how he is with you. When you walk in a room, he goes deaf to everyone else.”

“Really?” I leaned back, feeling like I must have misheard her.

“I’m surprised you haven’t noticed. It’s almost ridiculous.” She put a tray filled with tasting bites in front of me. “Now I need you to try each of these.”

“Why do I get to do this?” The array of bite-sized morsels had my mouth watering.

“Because I’d have to lock up my kitchen if I let anyone else in. They’re all pigs.” She pointed to a couple different cake pieces. “Start with these. I’m working on a new recipe for the feast.”

The flavor was so bright and full that my taste buds almost felt painful, as if they couldn’t take this level of excitement.

“They’re amazing. Can I ask you for a huge favor?”

“Sure. What?”

“Could you help me make a birthday cake?” If it wasn’t for Charlie, I’d never have asked.

“You want to make it?” The caution in her question was leaning toward insulting.

It appeared word hadn’t just spread about my killing abilities. Or maybe my cooking had been a part of the discussions as the cherry on top when they talked about my killing abilities. I could imagine them whispering, “Wow, did you here that not only is she a killer but”—insert gasp—”she can’t cook?”

“I mean, yes?” I said.

“How about I make it? Who’s it for?”

“Charlie’s birthday is coming up.”

“Really? That’s great! I needed a better theme for the feast coming up than ‘Hey, stare at the new guide, and the alpha is back.’” She rolled her eyes as if that was old news.

“I was thinking a small affair at the cabin so no one feels stressed about coming and—”

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