Page 117 of Evidence of a Folktale

“Based on his wolf’s size, he’s faster than me,” Eamon said. “Not stronger, but I would assume faster.”

“Would you even be able to catch him?” Bel leaned over and poured herself another glass of wine because one wouldn’t be enough after that news report.

“Come, come, Detective. Have a little faith.”

“So, where do you think he’s going?” She rested her head against his chest. “Will he turn himself in now that his mission is complete, or will he travel as a wolf to cross the border?”

“If it were me, I’d flee north. Of course, he might surprise us by turning himself in, butmy guess ishe’ll disappear. So my question is, do I go after him?”

“How long would it take to find him?”

“I can’t say. Depends on how good he is at covering his tracks from people like me.”

“But you’d be gone for a few days?”

“At least.”

“Do you think he’ll ever kill again?”

“No. He wanted justice, and his missioniscomplete.

“And prison bars won’t hold a wolf?”

“Not unless he allows it.”

“So you’d have to kill him to stop him?”

“Is that what you want?” Eamon twisted below her so he could meet her gaze. “It’s up to you. Do you want me to bring him back, or do you want me to kill him?”

“Neither…” Bel paused to let her decision fully sink in. “Beau Draven and the deal died because their car hit the ice.” She stared at Eamon with meaning, and understanding flooded his death-black eyes. “It was a tragic accident that’s in no way connected to Rollo’s prisoner transport. The accidents occurred hundreds of miles from each other. The freezing temperatures and poorly plowed road caused bothcrashes,and losing track of Deputy Ethan Rollo has nothing to do with me. I did my part. I arrested a murderer. Bothof them. I solved the case, and I’ll make sure the world knows of their guilt. But as for tonight? There’s no need to leave this house because of reckless driving in inclement weather.”

She fell silent, but she didn’t need words to hear Eamon’s question. His eyes held his meaning, and she read his concern as if it were printed letters on a page. He wanted to confirm this was a path she was truly comfortable with.

“I need to be done.” She placed her wine on the coffee table and pressed her hands against hissolidchest. “I did my job, and judge me all you want, but Draven deserved what he got. I know that isn’t something a detective should say, but I can’t feel sympathy for men who strike deals with devils. Black magic made you almost kill me in New York. Anotherrecipient of a dealdragged me into the mountains and hunted me through the snow. You know Blaubart threatened to carve apart my face while I was still conscious? He wanted to make me too hideous for you to love.”

Eamon flinched as if her confession had slapped him across the face. She’d never divulged that part of her kidnapping, and it was strange to see an alpha predator riddled with pain.

“Maybe it makes me a horrible person, but I cannot forgive men like that.” She slid her hands up his chest to cup his jaw, forcing him to meet her gaze.

“You aren’t horrible,” he whispered. “Cop or not, some people don’t deserve mercy.”

“And I’m tired. I’m cold. I’m always cold, and I can’t take it anymore.” She pulled him to her mouth and pressed a kiss to his lips to stop herself from crying. “I miss you. Blaubart kept telling me he’d change my face so that not even you’d recognize me. Running down that mountain, I never expected to see you again, and then this god-forsaken case blew through town to disrupt our lives so thoroughly that we didn’t even see each other on Valentine’s Day.”

“I screwed up our first Christmas, so it killed me that I couldn’t make it up to you for our first Valentine’s.”

“Me too.” She kissed him again, this one lingering as if to make up for their stolen date. “So, don’t disappear into the wilderness. Stay here and keep me and Cerberus warm. Let’s celebrate our missed Valentines. I’m talking a new dress and heels, a five-star restaurant, and a pet-friendly hotel that offers human and doggy room service.”

“Hold on.” Eamon grabbed her biceps and yanked her off him with mock concern. “Did you just ask me to buy you expensive clothes?”

“And shoes.” She winked as he pressed a palm to her forehead to check for a fever.

“Can I add jewelry?” he asked, his mouth twitching upward in an excited smile.

“Why not… but no rings.” She jabbed a finger into his chest. “Not yet, at least. I’ll accept simple diamond earrings if you want to splurge, though.”

“I’ll take it.” Eamon lunged for her, wrapping her in his arms as he collapsed to the couch. “Tell me when you have a weekend off, and I’ll plan everything.”

“I can’t—uff,” Bel squealed as Cerberus joined in, his pink tongue lathering both of their faces in drool. “I can’t wait.”

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