Page 91 of Harley & Her Ferals

When River notices me shiver again at the chill of the tunnels, he slips his arm around my waist and hugs me. He tries to transfer his meager warmth to me.

He’s at least wearing a thin black coat now, which my brother left on his bed last Christmas.

Companions aren’t allowed presents.

My brother and I always found a way to get around that, as Lionzio did by themysteriousappearance of the new coat.

The medical bag bumps between us, as we walk. Its familiar weight feels companionable.

“I have an idea,” River whispers.

There’s always been something about River’s melodious Italian voice, when it drops to a whisper, that makes me shiver. And not with cold.

“Always dangerous,” I reply.

“It is, bella. But not for you.”

Intrigued, I turn to look into his long lashed, blue eyes.

Sometimes, when he’s this close to me, I can’t believe that this incredible Beta has truly chosen me.

Yet River is the one who doubts that I want him simply because he’s a Companion.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

River’s eyes are blazing with the type of passionate excitement that normally means he’s thinking about one of his obsessions like flowers or an experiment to develop a new ointment.

Yet there’s also a steeliness, which has been slipping in more recently.

The one that reminds me how dangerous he once was.

Possibly, still is.

“When Laurent and you make your risky move on the Hades estate tonight,” River says, “you may know the layout and be able to hack, but there will still be some guards. You can fight, but they will have guns. Yet I know those guards. They get treated by me the same as anyone.”

I furrow my brow. “I don’t follow.”

“I’ve been developing a herbal powder. When added to someone’s drink, it will make them go to sleep for at least a couple of hours.” River smiles, brightly. “I’ve been wanting to try it out. It’ll be easy to have the Hades Betas add it to the guards’ drinks. I have connections across the Underworld.”

I stare at him. “You scare me sometimes.”

He preens like it’s praise.

Perhaps, it is.

“It won’t kill them, right?” I check.

I can’t help remembering the poisonous plants that River is growing in his workshop.

“Of course not. I know the right dosage to kill or not.”

Hmm, is that reassuring?

River grips my hand. “Let’s work hard, have lunch, then save some time for kissing. I enjoy that, bella. If you’re going on such a dangerous mission later, then we need some pleasure first, yes?”

When we turn the corner to the final tunnel, which leads to the vast hangar that holds the domed fighter dorms, we both freeze.

Vinnie and Harbinger block the tunnel ahead.

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