Page 27 of Way of the Wolf

Using the hand he’d rubbed the cream on, Duncan tried to open the silver clasp, but there was a tiny lock that kept it fastened. He attempted to wiggle the lid free. Nothing happened.

“Hm.” He turned the case about, examining the hinges. They also appeared to be made from silver. “It looks old, but it’s quite sturdy. And probably reinforced with magic. I guess I won’t ask you to stomp on it to open it.”

“I only stomp on things to destroy them. That’s beautiful. It belongs on an ornate fireplace mantel.”

“Don’t you want to find out what’s inside?” Judging from the way he turned it all about,hewanted that. “I hear something clunking around in there.”

I squinted at him, wondering if this was what he’d come for. He’d mentioned that people hired him to find things. Had someone known about this objectand done exactly that?

“Not if it involves being zapped,” I said.

Still holding the case, almost cradling it to his chest with love, Duncan rose. “Do you want me to take it to the alchemist and see if?—”

“No.” I grabbed an oven mitt and plucked the case from his grip, certain that if he walked out with it, I would never see him oritagain. If he disappeared from my life, I wouldn’t tear up, but Iwas interested in finding out what the case was and why someone had been monitoring my bedroom with cameras.

“You’re certain?”

“I am.” In my grip, the case sizzled a magical protest, my oven mitt not as useful as his magical goo, but I gritted my teeth and endured the pain.

“What are you going to do with it?”

“I don’t know yet.” With him watching, I nestled it in the top drawer of my dresser, next to the sock with the camera. I smirked and put the tube of hormone cream over it.

He snorted. “You want to make sure I don’t come back for it, don’t you?”

“Absolutely.” I narrowed my eyes as I regarded him. “If you linger around the premises, it had better be to rake the lawn.”

His eyes narrowed in return, a challenge in them. Or maybe that wascalculation. Was I going to have to guard that case to keep him from sneaking back to get it?

“I did agree to that task, didn’t I?” Duncan asked, making me regret that I’d suggested it.

If I hadn’t, he wouldn’t have an excuse to stick around. Still, it might be better toknowwhere he was thanwonderwhere he was.

“You did,” I said. “You wanted to show off your manliness and were excited by the prospect of Grammy Tootie watching.”

“Oh yeah. That got my engine revved up.”

Duncan returned to the table and tucked the vial and list of ingredients he’d written into his pocket. He started for the door but paused to look thoughtfully back at me. “You said the rake is in your maintenance shed?”

“Threerakes are in there. Take your pick.”

“I will.” Before heading for the door, he removed his shirt and tossed it on the back of a chair.

Lean and muscular, with a few old scars, he was as fit as I’d imagined after seeing him fight. I kept my face neutral and foldedmy arms over my chest, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me ogle his torso. My gazedidsnag on ropy scars around each of his wrists. Those had to have a story.

At the door, he halted abruptly before opening it. With an odd note in his voice, he asked, “Were you expecting company?”

“No.”

Someone outside knocked, fist thumping the door with the subtlety of a battering ram.

“It’s a werewolf,” Duncan said quietly.

Fresh unease swept through me, and I pulled out my phone with a mix of dread and certainty to see who’d called earlier. My cousin Augustus.

9

I stepped toward the window,surprised to see that night had fallen and intending to find out who was knocking before I answered. But Duncan opened the door first. He was still shirtless, and the eyes of the man on the threshold widened. No, not themanon the threshold. The werewolf.

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