Page 45 of Werewolves Don't Howl
“The beast may be an original founder of Lynx, who decided they needed an arm that could enforce, but lost control, or didn’t. I don’t know. I only know that its home is Singsong City, and has been for over a decade.”
I frowned at him. “How do you know that? I’ve never run into any beasts until Ridley moved here from Golden.”
“Exactly. Singsong is the only place the beast has meticulously not targeted. Monsters that stay in business keep the blood far from their doors.”
I nodded and refocused on my knitting. “All that time, you really thought I was dispensing vigilante justice?”
“Mm. Not exactly vigilante justice. It was more bloodlust that needed to be sated, but was directed by some form of conscience. Ergo, the victims had to be worthy of death. Don’t you crave blood and violence?”
I gave him a look. “I’m part gnome. I crave cookies, chocolate, and yarn. What about the kitten?”
“The kitten. Yes, well, I have no idea. It could have been a test. The beast had to keep the kitten alive to prove that they hadn’t lost it to the beast, but why did Loren have it.”
“Assuming that the beast is under the control of the Lynx group.”
“Yes, assuming that.”
“That is a lot of assumptions. Why would the Lynx group want me to find the body?”
He frowned. “I don’t know. I dislike not knowing quite passionately.”
I elbowed him. “That’s an elf for you, only passionate about knowledge.”
He looked at me with those beautiful violet eyes and a slight smile curved on his mouth. “I am also passionate about gardening.”
“I beg your pardon for not realizing the depths of your passion. Really? You like gardening? I haven’t ever seen you working on it.”
“I garden at night. I’m a night elf, you know.” He elbowed me back, but gently.
“Ah. Now I understand. That’s why you focus on white blooms and scent. That makes sense.” I sighed because that was the worst pun ever. I must be stressed. I only punned under stress.
He spoke low, seeming to focus on his phone. “I was very impressed when you brought the tree back to life at college. Don’t you feel the urge to garden?”
I blinked at him while a forgotten ache gnawed at me. I’d almost forgotten to be sad about losing my Elven magic when I became a wolf. I mean, I could imbue knitting with some Elven spells, but the natural magic was buried. “It was difficult enough to use Elven magic with the gnome in the way, but with the wolf…” I shook my head and refocused fiercely on my knitting.
He cleared his throat and changed the subject, like a well-mannered elf would do. “It seems that the monster hates me, so he’s toying with you, since I find it so disagreeable, but he’s not going as far with you as I’d expect, almost like he doesn’t want to destroy you. It’s likely someone who knows and admires you, but not enough to entirely mitigate his hatred towards me.”
I hugged my knitting to my chest, horrified at the thought of being stalked by an obsessive beast that was more terrifying than the Alta before I resolutely returned to my purl row. “I hate you too. Did you force him to transition into a monster as well?”
“I doubt it, but there are other reasons to hate people. My work in the senate steps on a lot of toes.”
“Not your allies.”
“Depends on whether my allies are corrupt. My different roles have different goals, and I play my roles methodically.”
“So you’re a terrible ally.”
He flashed me a smile. “How lucky that you’ll never know. I’m your protector, not ally. That includes all the pieces of myself.”
“Including assassin extraordinaire. How lucky for me. And you’ll keep me in cashmere, so I should be doubly grateful.”
“And sushi.” He raised a brow, almost like that was flirtatious.
I shrugged. “I can’t eat a lot of sushi. It makes me smell like a werewolf and ruins the effects of my cookies.”
“That is a pity as I’ve already ordered an entire boat. I suppose I’ll have to take it to Libby if you can’t finish it.”
I growled at the thought of him giving my sushi to someone else, then I pressed my lips together, pretending like that hadn’t happened.
