Page 32 of Teeth To Rip & Tear

Kaleb let out a groan, slung across the backseat of the buggy. He squinted—the image of a hungover grump—beforewaving a dismissive hand toward me in greeting and closing his eyes again.

“Is Kaleb okay?” I craned my neck to look at the back seats.

Wyatt rolled his eyes. “The witch's potions come with a killer headache.”

I nodded in understanding.

“Fancy a ride?” Wyatt jabbed a thumb over his shoulder.

“Sure.” I shrugged, sliding into the passenger seat.

“The coven is already in attendance,” Wyatt informed me. “The local demon Lord has sent a representative. They don’t often encounter Sídhe, and their curiosity was piqued.”

“And the wolves?” I wondered.

“Already at the bar. We tend to get antsy when there are outsiders on our land.” Wyatt nudged me with his shoulder. “Present company excepted, of course.”

“Of course.” I echoed before glancing over my shoulder. “Is Kaleb okay?”

“He was shot.” Wyatt gave me a long look that made me feel very stupid. “Healing is a bitch.”

“Kaleb can hear you,” Kaleb grumbled. “And I’m fine, thanks for asking.”

“Don’t thank the Fae,” I told him, unable to stop the words before they came out. My cheeks heated, and though he hadn’t meant to, I felt the weight of a bargain slide into place between us. Chaffing like a metal cuff around my wrist. I pulled my collar away from my neck, taking a breath, but my skin felt too warm from the Fae magic.

Kaleb’s eyes flicked open, and he sat up, eying my pink cheeks. He cursed under his breath.

“What’s up?” Wyatt asked, glancing between both of us, noting the awkward silence.

I shook my head, unable to answer.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” Kaleb muttered. At least it wasn’t an apology; those also tended to spark impromptu bargains.

I wasn’t as powerful as my Grandmother Eva—but that didn’t mean I was without magic. Thanking the Fae implied a debt, and the magic had a mind of its own. Often, unpaid debts would seek a way to appease themselves, with disastrous effects.

“Get me a cup of coffee, and we’ll call it even.” I flashed Kaleb an apologetic smile.

Kaleb nodded, relaxing.

“I didn’t realize that Melly worked with the wolf pack,” I said, changing the subject.

Kaleb rubbed his chin with his knuckles. “It helps to have a witch on call.”

“For sure.” I agreed. “I can’t believe Joel shot you.”

Kaleb bared his teeth in a sharklike smile. “To be fair, he wasn’t sure what he was shooting at.”

“What do you mean?” Wyatt asked, pulling the buggy to a stop when we reached the other end of the tunnel.

“Mallory braided her hair and cast some kind of glamour over us both.” Kaleb almost soundedproudof me. I was certain I was hearing things.

Wyatt eyed me appraisingly. “Maybe you could braid my hair when it’s time to pay my bar tab.” Flicking the russet hair that curled around his ears.

“You don’t have enough hair to braid.” I pointed out.

Wyatt agreed with a laugh, and we got out of the buggy and took the steps up to the cellar. The air grew more severe with every step, and though Wyatt and Kaleb had been joking with me a moment before, they grew more rigid the closer we got to the bar. The wolves flanked me on both sides, their face and demeanor growing stiffer with every step.

When we pushed through the staff door into the bar area of the Chug, a wave of sound greeted us, and the bar was fuller than I’d ever seen. Every stool was taken, and every table was occupied. I recognized some people from town, though I tended not to pry into people’s magical leanings as a courtesy; I was shocked to see people I knew in passing.

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