Page 38 of Home to the Hollow

“Tilly, I’m surprised you don’t recognize Benjy. He owns this little slice of Heaven that we call the Speakeasy.”

Seer cocks a brow at me as I goggle at the gargantuan in front of me. Despite being on the football team and one of the elite, Benjy was the scrawniest little asshole in our class. He was the kicker—of course—and no amount of training they did when we were in school seemed to put any weight on him. He’s now one of the biggest dudes I’ve ever seen.

“I’m gonna assume the steroids were kind?” I ask, giving them both a smirk.

Teddy barks a laugh and Benjy snorts. Before they can respond, though, my darling doc club sandwich approaches. Euryale perches on Dr. McNuggies’ shoulder, and I worry that its weight is more than he can manage. He seems not to care, and little Wolfie is vibrating with excitement as he walks up behind him. I beam at them, grateful for the rescue from the terror twins.

“Sugarplum!” Wolfie grabs me by the waist, lifting me to swing me around. “Look at you all fancy-like.”

“Yer welcome, puppy. She was a pisser about makin’ her a flah, but I knew you lads would appreciate my sacrifice.” Seer winks at Presley and he winks back.

What did I tell them about ganging up on me? Assholes—I’m surrounded by assholes.

Switching my attention back to the one person who isn’t being a pain in my ass, I smile down at Hottie McBaby Vet. “Put me down so I can hug you.” His face lights up and he lets me slide down his frame until I’m eye to eye. I peck a soft kiss on his lips and give him a quick hug as a reward. “I see why you two were so excited to show me this place—or I would be if someone wouldlet me in.”

Wolfie glares at Edgar and Benjy, and Presley arches his brow. The other two stare back, and I sigh. Men are a serious pain in my ass in this town, and not enjoyably. Jekyll bounds past Seer with Hyde in tow and hisses at Benjy. Hyde yowls her disapproval next, and Euryale honks loud enough to make Presley wince.

“My companions humbly request you jackasses allow us entrance before they get pissed,” I say, bending my legs as I do a sarcastic curtsey.

You can abso-fucking-lutely do a sarcastic curtsy.

I know because a duchess taught me. It’s effective for a polite ‘get bent’ in monarchy-based countries, but also works in sultanates and a few democracies.

Edgar’s eyes narrow at the familiarity I have with my new guys, and he lets out a piercing whistle. Two enormous black beasts come flying out of the bar area, teeth bared and snarling. Something inside takes notice and my skin heats. Standing taller, I slide past all the men, eyeing the oversized Dobermans as they approach. They stare at me as they skid to a stop, their heads tilting in confusion.

I feel Jekyll, Hyde, and Euryale flank me. The air in this place is stifling, and even though I’m only wearing a tiny lavender lace dress, sweat trickles down the center of my back. Blinking my itchy eyes, I wonder if I’m having an allergic reaction. I’ve never had any before, but who the fuck knows what kind of shit this town is hiding. Tapping the toes of my white platform heels on the ground, I continue to stare at Teddy’s dogs until they back down. First one and then the other sit on the ground, ears and snouts at attention.

“Good dogs,” I murmur. My head gets weird, and I glance around, trying to take in the place's décor, but my vision is blurry. I can sense what’s going to happen, and I croak, “Boys… a little help…”

Then everything goes black… again.

Love Her Madly

She’s got to stop fucking doing that, especially in public.

If she doesn’t quit blacking out, there will be many questions asked—ones she’s not ready to answer—and none of us will be able to help her.

Not that she seems inclined toletme help. I can’t get a moment alone with the woman of the hour, which means I’ve yet to explain why I made myself scarce after our tryst. Although, from the looks of it, Tilly’s formed a merry band of companions and acolytes since we last spoke.

That complicates things.

Both doctors are inductees, but the wild woman is unknown. I’ll get Doyle to use his contacts in ICE to find out who this chick is and why she’s here. Tilly’s yet to awaken, and until she does, the situation is far too sensitive for a random girl to be hanging about.

Her awakening is no longer an ‘if’ as the council believed, but a ‘when’. Despite our lack of knowledge about her true lineage, I realize that she’s going to. I can feel it in my bones, and I sure as fuck felt it when we screwed. This woman is no mere human, and why in Satan’s name her awakening hasn’t happened yet, I don’t know.

She’s also goddamnedmadefor me, and it’s hard not to take her over my shoulder and smack that round ass when she gives me sass.

Growling under my breath, I watch as the docs flutter over her. Her weird friend is trying to calm her eagle and the cats because they seem to object to Kali and Hecate standing nearby. I take pity on the Irish girl, whistling low so my hounds will observe from further away. The girl looks at me, squinting her eyes, and it’s like a light goes off in her head. Her grin returns and she dips her head at me.

What an odd woman.

Sauntering over to the bar, I jerk my chin at the bartender, and he scurries over. I don’t tell him what I want to drink—I’m here often enough—but I ask for a cold cloth from the kitchen. He asks me about the line on the Polecats, and I give him enough information to entice, but not be helpful.

If he wants to know actual info, there’s an Internet full of it, and that doesn’t belong to the man taking the bets.

When Henry returns with my Blanton’s and the cool compress, I walk over to the group of people wringing their hands in front of the prone woman. Sighing, I stare at the girl first. “She’s done this in front of you before, right? She did it in school, too.”

Presley and Wolfgang both appear puzzled, but then shoot one another with a glance that says they’re hiding something. Her redheaded friend nods at me, and finally, they give in and do the same.

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