Page 11 of The Labyrinth
Now that she knew what to look for, it wasn’t hard to see the animal-like features.Claws.Feathers.Fur.It was an entire universe she never knew existed.It seemed Deacon was some sort of celebrity, because people came up to shake his hand.Or get a selfie with him.Curiosity seekers glanced at her, but she tried to ignore them.
He escorted her back through the pipe, and soon the night greeted her.Deacon reached into his pants pocket and gave her a few bills.
“What’s this for?”
“I’d walk you to the taxi stand, but I’ve got a labyrinth to maintain.”
She held it out.“I don’t need your cash.”
“Take it.I insist.”
Marion jutted her chin back at fight club.“Do you do that every night?”
He shook his head.“Only Saturday nights.Makes people salivate for more, and that translates into heavy betting.”
“How many fights do you have in a night?”
“Minimum six, max ten.”
“Who’s fighting last?”
“Tonight is wolf against arctic wolf.”
“Which one is better?”
He gave a little shrug.“Arctic wolf has a stronger bite force, and better endurance, but they’re pretty much evenly matched.”
“Then take this hundred-dollar bill you gave me, and put it to win the arctic wolf.”
He grinned and plucked it from her fingers.“Well played.”
“Goodbye, Deacon.”
“Goodbye, Marion.”
There was no reason to linger.With a wave, she headed back to civilization.She hastily made her way to the lighted pathway, heading out of the lush foliage and into the concrete jungle where she flagged down a taxi.Moments later, she sped away, heading to her hotel.
Although their time together was short, it would be a long while before she forgot about Deacon.She’d probably go the rest of her life looking at people and animals in a different light.Wondering if they were human or shifter.When the taxi stopped in front of the hotel, she brought up her bank app and tapped the screen to pay.A few minutes later, she was in her room and sagged onto the bed.Exhaustion hung like gravity.It had been a long day.A long two weeks.
Sucking in a deep breath, she called Peter’s grandmother.The call connected almost immediately.
“Marion,” Peter’s grandmother answered a bit out of breath.
“Hi, Grammy.”
“Did you find him?”
“I have a lead.”
“Oh, thank goodness.”Grammy let out a huge sigh.“Where?What happened to him?”
“I haven’t found him yet, but I have a lead on a woman he was dating.I’m going to track her down tomorrow.”
“You’re a lifesaver, Marion.When you find him give him a stern finger shaking.”
She smiled.“I will, Grammy.”
She disconnected the call and headed to the desk in the room, where she had placed her laptop.
