Page 19 of Kin of the Wolf

It sounded familiar, but I struggled to place it. It couldn’t be the female owner of the convenience store, could it? I hadn’t heard her speak.

“Uhm, this is Luna.”

“The werewolf,” came the confident reply. “Unless you’ve changed your mind and have imbibed one of my potions?”

Oh, it was the alchemist. Rue.

“I haven’t yet but not because there’s anything wrong with them. I’m sure they’re of high quality.”

“Ofcoursethey are. I only use organic, free-range snake skins and slug slime.”

“I do hate factory-farmed slug slime.”

“Everyone does. It affects the efficacy of the potions. Do you still have an apartment for rent?”

I blinked at the abrupt topic shift, and it took me a moment to remember I’d mentioned that when Duncan and I had visited her graffiti-laden home downtown.

“I… think we have one vacating soon. I can check the date.”

The news stories on the complex had been a mixed blessing. After the parking-lot crimes, we’d lost some tenants, but we’d also gained new ones, thosedrawnby notoriety, such as the ladies who would probably be out setting up their ghost-hunting equipment soon.

“Very good. Do let me know if one is available and of decent size for storing equipment, books, and ingredients.”

“The one coming up is a two-bedroom.”

“Perfect. The tenants in my current complex have grown tedious, and, as I informed you, the landlord blamesmefor the graffiti that ill-educated and bigoted neighbors leave on and around my door. The kindly but pushy grandmother who handsme bibles is no more welcome. I do not live in sin. I help the paranormal community with their problems.”

“I believe you. It’s common for the paranormal to be misunderstood by their mundane neighbors.”

“Yes, this is a certainty. I crave an outdoor entrance and a facility that allows pets such as dogs.Largedogs.”

“Up to sixty pounds with some breed restrictions,” I murmured the line from our lease paperwork automatically.

Rue hadn’t had a dog when we’d visited before, had she? Maybe she wanted them around the premises for protection purposes.

“Are the werewolves not more than sixty pounds?” she asked.

“Yeah, but they’re not pets.”

“They would, being territorial and quite powerful, effectively protect the residents from crimes, though, yes?”

“They would, but I’m also trying to cut down on the amount of crime.”

If she’d heard about all the craziness here, it was surprising she wanted to move up. Though maybe not. She could probably handle herself against criminals; graffiti-leaving grandmothers might be more difficult to deal with since propriety demanded a gentler hand when dealing with one’s elderly neighbors.

“Excellent. Do inform me when you learn the date that the unit will be available. My granddaughter has already promised to help me pack. She agrees that this domicile is not wholesome for me.”

And ourswaswholesome?

“Okay,” was all I said and hung up.

Duncan had returned, carrying the stack of clothing I’d offered him, and caught the tail end of the call.

“I predict a change in the demographics of your tenants,” he said.

“If you mean we’re attracting more weirdos these days, I’m afraid you’re right.”

Duncan touched his chest, eyes innocent.

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