Page 115 of Fangs
“Bring Nightshade home. I will heal her. Over,” I repeated.
“Are you sure? Over.”
“Yes… I mean affirmative. Over.”
I glanced up at Sam in the pause.
“He’s probably gonna want to talk to me,” Sam said.
“Requesting contact with Shadowfox. Over,” Mac finally said.
“Are you Shadowfox?” I asked Sam, raising an eyebrow.
He grinned. “Yes, I am.”
I handed over the headphones.
“This is Shadowfox. Go ahead, Alpha Leader. Over,” Sam said into the radio. He listened for a moment, nodding. “Affirmative. Over.” Whatever Mac said next made him roll his eyes. “I copy. Over.” He was quiet for longer this time, but then he grinned and eyed me in a way that made me suspicious. “Sunshine appears sober and has at leastmostof her wits about her. Over.”
Now,Irolled my eyes.
“Roger that. Over and out.” Sam waited a moment before removing the headphones and turning the radio off. He blew out a dramatic breath and looked at me. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“I have no idea what I’m doing,” I replied.
“Great,” he drawled. “This oughta be fun.”
19
We were returning to the clinic when the dinner bell rang. As we neared the small building, I realized Wolf and his entire pack were standing outside, clearly waiting for us. They all seemed to be frowning at me, and I remembered that I’d practically fled from them earlier.
“Ember, Nemo wants to speak with you,” Sable said as soon as we were close enough to hear him.
“Perfect, we’re on our way there now,” Sam replied.
I nearly wrenched my neck, twisting to look up at him, incredulous. He grinned, completely unrepentant.
“Oh,” Sable didn’t even try to hide his surprise.
“We’ll meet you at the canteen,” Sam added, looping his arm in mine and towing me past the pack. “Save us some of that bread Neena’s been bakin’ all day!”
“What the fuck are you doing?” I demanded once we were out of earshot.
“Mac gave me a message for Nemo, and you need to talk to him, too, so two birds, one stone.”
“I don’t want to?—”
“I know you don’twantto, but you gotta stop fuckin’ running away, Shortcake.”
My body wasn’t sure if it wanted to puke or kill him. “Sam?—”
“I’ll be right here. You can do this.”
I fell silent, my stomach churning. Sam pulled me along, moving far too quickly, and soon Nemo’s house appeared. Nemo’s guards watched us go up the stairs, frowning, and I wondered if they ever worried that I’d kill him.
Sam pushed open the door when Nemo’s weak voice beckoned us inside. He looked surprised to see us, but his smile was warm as he pushed himself up to sit.
“Sam, Bones.” His eyes lingered on me. “Glad to see you. Bones, I wanted to speak with you real quick.”
