Page 25 of Starry with a Chance of Nightshade

She nodded to them, blushing as well. “I think they want you.”

“Right,” Craig said, turning to head back to them. He paused a few feet away and glanced over his shoulder. “You never answered my question about if you’re still staying in town or not?”

Franks smiled wide. “I am.”

“Cool,” said Craig.

“Van Helsing!” one of the others shouted right before they whistled loudly.

The noise did more than catch Craig’s attention. It brought the woman’s huge dog back. The dog came barreling across campus, its long tongue hanging out to one side. Its sights set on Craig.

Craig took one look at it, tossed his hands in the air, and ran toward his friends. “I’m not close to her! I swear!”

Suddenly, Stratton had a new appreciation for the dog. Didn’t matter that it had wanted to take a chunk out of him earlier. It clearly wasn’t a fan of Craig, making it A-okay in his book. In fact, if the opportunity ever presented itself, he’d buy the dog a steak.

Franks moved quickly, putting herself in front of Stratton again as the dog came to a grinding halt not far from them. The dog leaned to the left and peered around her, right at Stratton. It growled again.

Drest’s laughter couldn’t be contained. “Must know you’re a cat guy.”

Franks twisted, her gaze sweeping to Stratton. “I’m really sorry. He and I will be having a very long talk about his behavior tonight.”

The dog let out a long huff, as if it understood what she was saying. It sat and panted, its tongue out once more. The dog growled and then jerked around, sniffing the air. He snarled, put his nose to the ground, and then took off in the direction he’d come from.

The woman seemed as if she was torn between following her dog and remaining. She gave in and went after the dog, but she did glance back at him before she darted across the street.

Drest watched him carefully. “You’re going to go after her, aren’t you?”

It was imperative they find the creatures they’d come to Grimm Cove to stop, yet every muscle in his body wanted him to chase after the woman. He found himself taking a few steps in the direction she’d gone, only to stop short. “We have a job to do.”

“Yes,” said Drest. “We do. Want to tell me what happened?”

“What do you mean?” asked Stratton.

“Cousin, we’ve known one another hundreds of years now,” returned Drest, his gaze unwavering. “I know you well enough to say that when you saw her, something happened to you. Can’t recall ever seeing you act that way around anyone.”

“There was nothing,” replied Stratton, wanting to save face.

Drest shrugged and began walking the opposite way the woman had run off in. “Okay, sure. If it was nothing, let’s go check the other side of campus for what we’re looking for.”

Stratton couldn’t bring himself to follow. He stiffened, hating that Drest was right. Something had most certainly happened to him when he’d seen the woman. “I can’t.”

Drest paused. “And why might that be? Could it be you’ve suddenly developed a thing for chicks with purple hair?”

With a groan, Stratton answered, “Because something deep in me is telling me to go after her.”

“Then we might want to get a move on since she’s got a head start.” Drest grinned.

ChapterNine

Astria

I managedto get to Torid as he ran into the yard that he should have stayed in to start with. I drew to a stop, bent, putting my hands on my knees, and took some deep breaths. I really hated running. Colleen would laugh if she saw me now.

I stood and instantly had a stitch in my side. “Somebody is in big trouble.”

Torid went for the front bushes and rooted around in them, sniffing madly.

Dan-gggeer,he hissed out in my head.

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