Page 29 of Brandt's Rule

“Wasn’t planning on it. If the job pans out, I might be here longer than I’d planned.”

“And how long was that?” Maverik asked.

Tempest laughed. “Honestly, I had no plan. Just see if I could find the mysterious Maverik, and see what happened.”

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was feeling fatherly toward you. You were just a little, bitty thing! I’m here, me and Valerie, if you need anything at all, or nothing at all.”

“Thank you, Maverik.”

“Drive safe back to the coffee shop.”

“Always. If there’s a problem, I’ll just mist away.”

Maverik’s brows creased. “Mist, like purply mist?”

Tempest just slightly canted her head. “How would you know that?”

“I knew it! I knew you just disappeared and nothing but purple fog was left there.”

Tempest laughed again.

“You going to tell me what kind of beast you have inside you that does that?”

“I’ve got Dragon blood, a healthy dose.”

“And?”

“Do you believe in any of the old tales of the beginnings of civilizations and the coming together of people as a group?”

Maverik smirked. “Girl, I’m a werewolf. How could I not?”

Tempest looked imploring at him. “Ever hear tell of the ancients? The four who began all things?”

“Yeah, yeah I have. Water, air, earth, and fire.”

“Exactly.”

“You telling me you’re an ancient?”

“Not exactly. But their blood runs through my mother, and by default me. It’s what you feel when I drop my guard.”

“I’d like to hear that story one day,” Maverik said, not the least bit intimidated.

“Maybe one day I’ll tell you.” Her demeanor was a little more relaxed, not feeling so much like she had to hide who she was at all times from Maverik.

“I’ll take you up on it whenever you’re ready.”

“I look forward to it,” Tempest said.

Maverik watched as she shook out her hair, pulled it back in a ponytail holder, and slid her helmet over it. “So, descendants of ancients have silver hair?” he called out as she cranked her bike and it rumbled to life.

Tempest lifted her face shield to show her amused expression. Then she winked at him, used the toe of her boot to put her bike in gear and answered as she slowly pulled away. “No, but gargoyles do.” She laughed to herself at the shocked look on Maverik’s face while she flipped down her face shield and followed the drive toward the highway.

“Valerie!” Maverik called out as he turned and hurried into the house, “what do you know about Gargoyles?”

“The stone ones that stand on top of the old European churches?” she asked.

“No, the real ones!”