Page 9 of Midnight Whispers
Cass nodded and then headed out. It took ten minutes to fill a container with gas and another ten to get to the guy, and by then, the night air had taken on a bitterness that promised temperatures in single digits.
He parked on the road and shut off his lights. There wasn’t any point in going to the side. No one would be out here at this time of night. He wasn’t even sure why the kid had come this way. The highway would have been a better option.
Cass let his lights shine onto the car so he could see the occupant inside. The kid had dark blonde hair and big brown eyes. He would have had a fresh-faced innocence about him if not for the lifetime of living in his gaze. But he appeared young, as if he were in his twenties.
As soon as Cass saw him, he knew they were mates. They had a twenty-year age gap, or close enough to it for Cass to second guess his reaction.
His eyes shifted into his wolf, and his fangs descended.
The car was an older model with rust on the front fender. Cass saw the tops of boxes in the backseat. He marked the kid as some broke college student on their way to Dinsmore. If Cass remembered correctly from his own college days and if things hadn’t changed, then the new semester started in about three weeks. Dinsmore College called the semester spring, even though it started mid-January.
The kid appeared as though he were about ready to shit himself. And Cass knew why, not that he could help his partial shift. His eyes, being canine, were unmistakable. Their headlights did a good job of illuminating Cass and his surroundings. Cass hadn’t forgotten what Danny said about the kid not knowing about the existence of shifters.
Cass didn’t get any closer than a few feet away. “I have a container of gas in my trunk.”
“Holy shit!” That was all the kid said, but he didn’t press the lock on the door on repeat. That was a positive sign, right?
“I won’t hurt you.” Cass made sure he kept his voice as calm as he could. It seemed to have no effect on the kid, though.
“What-what the fuck? Holy shit.”
“I’m going to approach.” Cass took a step closer, going slow.
Then the kid started hyperventilating, Cass thought the guy would pass out if he didn’t get himself under control. Cass also noticed how the kid’s breath came out in icy puffs. His cheeks were red from the cold and his lips were purple.
Cass cursed and hurried to the car. He tried the door handle, but the door was locked.
“I just want to get you warm.” The kid smelled like sulfur. He was a warlock.
How did he not know about shifters?
The kid shook his head. “Go away. I’ll call my dad.”
As soon as he said the word dad, Cass’s stomach twisted in knots. What was the likelihood that this kid was Iven’s son? Cass couldn’t mate with his best friend’s son. Iven would shit a brick and then probably kill Cass. “Are you Riley Palmer?”
Riley’s expression turned into one of confusion. He hesitated, but eventually, he nodded.
“I’m a friend of Iven’s.”
“You also work for him.”
Cass smiled. “That’s right. Will you open the door, please? My car is warm. You can sit inside while I put gas in your car.”
“I can put gas in my own car.” Sassy. Cass liked that.
He could also give as good as he got. “Apparently not.”
Riley flipped him off. But he unlocked the door. He’d covered himself with a blanket but put it on the passenger’s seat before he got out. As soon as he was free from the car, Cass wanted to wrap him in a hug.
“Stay back!” Riley held up his hand. He was shaking from the cold, but he still stood his ground, not allowing Cass closer. “I don’t know what you are but stay the hell away from me.”
Cass cursed his canine eyes and fangs. Not that he could help it, but he still felt bad for scaring Riley.
His poor mate shook. Whether from fear or the cold, Cass wasn’t sure, but something about it wrenched at his soul.
Cass grabbed the gas can from his trunk.
Riley followed him, although he kept his distance.
