Page 56 of It All Started with a Bite

Stake My Shakewasn’t far from the Amberford police station. The diner looked like any other ‘50s-style establishment, complete with chrome fixtures and red vinyl booths. The only hint that something was different was the neon sign in the window that flickered between Stake My Shake and Milk My Shake depending on whether you had supernatural blood or not.

To my surprise, it wasn’t just the staff and the general clientele that gave off distinct otherworldly smells. Several cops eating inside did too.

I tried not to stare at table six as we were led to a booth.

“Those officers are from the supernatural task force,” Didi explained.

The handsome, muscular guy who appeared to be in charge of the group sighed as one of his dragon newt colleagues singed the burger he was eating.

“What exactly does a supernatural task force do?” I asked carefully.

“They handle nonhuman community crimes and infractions,” Gavin explained.

I arched an eyebrow. “Like?”

“Like that time a troll tried to set up residence under the Third Street bridge,” Gavin said.

“Or when someone reported a dragon newt doing loops around the water tower.” Didi shot Gavin a pointed look.

He flushed. “That was one time! And I’d just discovered energy drinks.”

I recalled the Third Bridge underpass being closed for a couple of weeks last summer. “That was a troll?”

“Yeah.”

Bo and I traded a troubled look.

“Aren’t trolls giant monsters that eat people?” I asked uneasily.

“And dogs?” Bo quavered.

“You guys are thinking of orcs,” Didi said dismissively. “They don’t exist.”

Bo and I both breathed a sigh of relief. That was one less terrifying creature to strike off our list of monsters we never wanted to meet.

“Trolls are harmless,” Gavin explained. “They’re big softies actually. And vegetarian. They can even grow mushrooms on their own?—”

Our waitress appeared. She was a perky blonde with slightly pointed ears who introduced herself as Sunshine.

“Let me guess,” I whispered while Sunshine cooed over what a pretty boy Bo was. “Fairy?”

“Pixie,” Didi corrected. “You can tell by the wing shimmer.”

I squinted but couldn’t see any wings.

“They’re glamoured,” Gavin said. “Health code regulations for catering businesses.”

Sunshine recommended the dragon-friendly crab special with extra hot sauce and something called Moonshine Milkshakes. Bo perked up at the mention of the shakes.

“What’s in them?” I asked warily.

“Nothing illegal.” Sunshine beamed. “Just a little fairy dust for extra zing. Your dog will love it.”

A thought occurred to me as we waited for our food.

“Does turning a human into a werewolf count as a crime?”

Didi exchanged a cautious look with Gavin. “Technically, yes.”

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