Page 39 of Death and Donuts

“Why does Miles think we’re both needed?” Cross asked.

“The dwarven ring is missing,” Shepard said.

The way he steadily held Cross' gaze, in addition to knowing that Master might be alive, was enough to send a chill through me.

“I’m not comfortable leaving Vena and Everly alone with only Anchor as protection,” Cross said, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “No disrespect meant, Anchor.”

“I understand,” Anchor said. “My focus would fall to Vena first and Everly second. And Vena likes to do what she wants without considering the consequences.”

“Vena is right here, asshat,” Vena said, scowling at Anchor. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

“Are you offended because he’s telling the truth or hurt because he’s not seeing how deeply you care about us?” I asked.

She lost some of her anger. “The second one.”

I nodded. “But you do know he’s right, right?”

“Whatever. I get it. I’m a problem maker, not a solver, so I’ll stay here, out of the way.”

Anchor hugged her from behind, and she let him, which I took as a good sign.

“Everly can accompany us,” Shepard said. “I’ll message Doc and see if Sierra can cover your shift today and possibly tomorrow.” As he spoke, he texted. “Pack for two nights. It shouldn't take more than that.”

I looked at Vena, not liking that we were being separated.

“Go,” she said. “I trust you to bring my family home. All of them, Ev.”

I knew she was counting me as family, too, and went to hug her.

“I promise.”

Fifteen minutes later, I was in the front seat of Shepard’s SUV with Cross seated behind us.

“What are the chances of you finding a body with Master’s scent after the dwarven ring goes missing?” I asked. “It means he’s alive, right?”

“It’s not something I would have thought possible, but the scent was fresh,” Shepard said. “A few days old, not weeks.”

I leaned my head back against the seat, trying to fight my dread.

“Whether it’s Adriel or someone else, the problem is still the same,” Cross said. “The vampires haven’t given up on collecting the rings. We need to warn the fae that they’re next.”

Shepard tapped the steering wheel, seemingly deep in thought. “This must be why the vampires stopped supplying fae with humans. I wonder if they know the vampires are setting up to betray them.”

“What does their supply have to do with the rings?” I asked.

“No matter what species we are, if we are hungry, we will focus on finding our next meal,” Cross said.

A sick feeling settled into my stomach as I understood.

The vampires had cut off the fae’s food source as a distraction.

Shepard used hands-free dialing to call a contact he’d labeled “Caution.”

“Is that the same as ‘use protection?’” Cross asked.

Shepard shot him a hard glance in the mirror. Cross grinned as a woman answered the phone.

“I knew you wouldn’t deny me forever,” the woman said with a sultry purr. “Tell me where you are, and I’ll come to you.”

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