Page 64 of Kin of the Wolf

“You only had two?” I peered into his van. “I guess space is at a premium in a house on wheels.”

“Quite true. Are you breaking into a home on a lake?” Hepointed at the map on the phone. “As I mentioned to you before, Idohave underwater demolitions.”

“Do those have a pin you can pull as you hurl them over a gate?”

“No. You set them, then swim away and detonate them remotely. They’re much more sophisticated than grenades.”

“I don’t need sophisticated for Augustus.”

“A bear trap and a club ought to be sufficient for him. But are you certain you wouldn’t want to blow up his dock? And is that a boat house attached? Goodness, such a palatial home for a werewolf.”

“Yeah, our kind aren’t supposed to care that much about money and mansions and luxury lifestyles. We’re furry Spartans, if not troglodytes. We howl at the moon and pee to mark our territory.”

“I may resemble that remark,” Duncan murmured, eyeing the satellite imagery as we spoke.

“I know you do. I have a nose.” I tapped it and nodded significantly toward the greenbelt, well aware that he’d marked territory back there.

“I was attempting to ward off your odious cousins.”

“And let other males know there’s a female here that you’re interested in?”

“Of course. Are you flattered?”

“More than I should be,” I said.

His smile was smug. “May I assume that when you visit Augustus in his oversized abode, you would like some company?”

I hesitated. Ididwant his company, but…

“He said not to bring you.” I summed up the phone conversation, then added, “I’m asking Jasmine to come. I don’t think Augustus will object to her, and I need someone to hold the camera while I throttle the truth out of him.”

Duncan blinked slowly, looking stunned. “What youneedissomeone to walk at your side and fight with you when he breaks his word and launches a legion of werewolves at you.”

“I probably do need that, but he won’t let me in if I show up with you, and he said he can detect you. Throwing you in the back of my truck under a blanket won’t work.”

“What if I wear SCUBA gear and come in via the dock? I could blow up the boathouse as a distraction on my way in.”

“I…” That actually sounded fantastic. “That would irk him.”

“Good.”

“I would love to have you with me, Duncan, but I’m concerned about you, not just about my plan working. He’s gunning for you, and…”

“I can avoid licking any candy he hands me when I show up.”

“That’s not it. Or notallof it.” I looked frankly into his eyes. “The last couple of times we’ve fought together, you’ve turned into the bipedfuris and, shortly after, you’ve fallen under the spell of Lord Abrams.”

“I’m certain it was a coincidence last time. He and Radomir couldn’t have known I was changing at that moment.”

“But they’ve been trying to call you for days, right?”

“They have.”

“EvenI’vefelt the magic. You’re more susceptible to it when you’re in that form, aren’t you?”

Duncan hesitated and looked away.

I waited, my gaze locked on his face. I had a hunch I was right about this.

---