Page 44 of Spooks & Specters

Axel took a deep breath, enjoying the scent of the steak burger Terry had brought him. Yes, shifters needed calories after a shift, but they particularly needed meat.

“Would you laugh at me if I said my mouth was watering?” Axel asked, because it was, ridiculously so.

“Of course not, because I agree—it smells fabulous,” Terry said, walking over with their lunch. “Let’s eat, shall we?”

Chapter Three

THE FOOD was excellent, and so was the company. Doc Terry had the dark hair and eyes that all daemons had, which of course Axel knew, but it was like he was seeing it for the first time.

And Axel had a thing for tall, dark, and handsome, and Terry fit that description. Odd that he’d never noticed that before now.

Of course, it had been at least a hundred years since he’d last seen Terry, and the last time hehadseen him? They had not gotten along. Of course, Axel hadn’t gotten along with any of Kage’s clan, which had been completely and entirely Axel’s fault.

“Did you make these?” Axel asked, taking a big bite out of his second steak burger.

Terry laughed softly. “I wish I could claim responsibility, but unfortunately, no. I ordered our lunch from Rafferty’s and then had it delivered. It’s a chain of restaurants—a bar and grill type eating establishment. There are several around San DeLain.”

“Oh. It probably wasn’t around when I was.” A lot of things existed now that hadn’t when Axel had last been there. It was amazing how things could change in a hundred years.

“Most likely not.” Terry wiped his mouth with the napkin, then cleared his throat. “There’s an extra burger if you need it.”

Axel glanced at the brown paper bag. He had smelled the extra food, of course. “I thought that was yours.”

“No. I got you three. I know shifters need calories after a shift.”

And Axel was already suffering from malnutrition, so he especially needed the calories. Terry didn’t say that, but Axel heard it clearly.

“Thank you. I appreciate that.” It bothered him that he had no way to pay Terry back, but that wasn’t something he could worry about right then. But one day… one day he would make it up to Terry.

“But it bothers you, doesn’t it?”

Axel shrugged.

“You’re my patient, Axel. Of course I’m going to take care of you.”

Warmth fluttered in Axel’s chest before he ruthlessly stomped it out. Most likely what Terry meant was that Kage was taking care of him, which he had offered to do.

The why of it still confused Axel.

It bothered him to have to accept charity, but on the other hand, he was so pitifully grateful that there was someone who actually gave a damn about him, he didn’t know what to do. It had been so long since someone had. Before now, the attention he’d garnered had been less than... kind.

Terry reached across the table and patted Axel’s hand. “Is everything okay?”

Axel shoved the stupid thoughts out of his head and looked at Terry. “Everything’s fine. I was just having an internal debate.”

Which he was. He was also mildly surprised how his hand tingled when Terry touched him. He was touch starved, but that wasn’t what this was.

This was something he certainly hadn’t felt in a very long time—interest of a romantic nature. Which wasn’t surprising, considering he spent all this time just trying to survive.

“Internal debate, huh?” Terry asked.

“Yup.”

“I argue with myself all the time, and I rarely win.”

A surprised laugh escaped Axel at being called out. “Yeah?”

“Most definitely. There’s me, the doctor, then there’s me, Terry, the daemon. The doctor part is all about schedules, charts, and always learning new techniques so I can improve my patients’ care.”

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