Page 44 of Secrets at Dawn
Griffin had figured out almost from the moment he met Toby that he was no pushover. The guys who tried to blackmail him hadn’t succeeded. The only thing they really did was injure Toby badly enough to piss him off, which would end up being the last mistake they’d ever make if Griffin didn’t reel Toby in somehow. Hell, Griffin wasn’t even sure he wanted to. Maybe he’d let Toby loose on them and watch the show.
“So let me get this straight. Not only are you a shifter with a third form, but you also have magic. And you can make people disappear. Am I getting that right?” For someone who had children who were also wolves and magic users, Kinnison just couldn’t seem to wrap his head around Toby.
Toby sighed and met Griffin’s gaze. “Do you mind if I send you into the next room, love?”
Griffin shrugged. It seemed they needed a demonstration. “Sure.”
Riley sucked in a breath. “I want to go somewhere tropical. With a beach.”
Riley turned to Cass and put his hands together. “We could save on airfare and splurge on the hotel.”
Cass couldn’t keep the amusement off his face. “I’m pretty sure the Magic Council would have a problem with that.”
“Who’s going to tell them?” Riley narrowed his eyes and pointed at each one of them, even Maggie, who just shook her head and mumbled how they better take her with them.
Zinnie just raised her hands, and even Dad didn’t contradict Riley or tell him he couldn’t.
It was Toby who shook his head. “I’m not an airport, Riley.”
Riley huffed. “Fine, but I want a beach vacation, damn it.”
“This is your one and only demonstration.” Then Toby began taking off his clothing. He folded them neatly and shifted into a werewolf creature. Griffin had seen it before, but not during the light of day. Toby, in his third form, was bigger than Griffin remembered. Or maybe he just seemed bigger because they were all packed into Dad’s kitchen, which wasn’t a small space until the whole family was in the room together.
Griffin nodded.
“You don’t have to walk back here. I’ll magic you back, too.”
“Got it.” One minute Griffin was staring next to his wolfed-out mate and melting over the fact that Toby had called himlove,and the next Griffin was in his father’s living room alone. And then he was back in the kitchen again.
Kinnison cursed under his breath and shook his head. “I don’t get shocked very often, kid. But you’ve certainly done it.”
Dad started over to him as if he needed to make sure Griffin wasn’t injured, and even Mom looked a little freaked out.
Griffin held up his hand. “I’m perfectly fine. Toby would never do anything to hurt me. And besides that, I didn’t feel anything.”
Toby shifted and got dressed. The kitchen island hid his important bits. “Riley gave me an idea.” Toby met Kinnison’s gaze. “Since they want you gone, let’s give them what they want.”
“I’m an alpha, kid. And I can fight if it comes to that.” Kinnison shook his head as if he wouldn’t listen to anything else.
“So is he. And I suspect even if he can fight, he probably doesn’t need to.” Marric was about the only one on the planet who was brave enough to challenge Kinnison Ransome. Marric raised his eyebrows when he met Toby’s gaze. “Am I right?”
Toby shifted his hands. “I can fight. Giant Dickwad took me by surprise, but I could have bested him if not for the poison, not that it’s an excuse, but I won’t make the same mistake again. Everyone else shouldn’t either. We all need to ward against that poison.” Toby turned to Dad. “Can you make that happen, sheriff?”
Dad nodded and smiled, as if Toby impressed him.
“Here’s the plan.” Toby laid it all out for them. The only part Griffin didn’t like was Toby putting himself in the line of fire.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Toby knew when the dickwads began watching him again. The stalking started up two days after their meeting and hadn’t stopped since.
He saw Wolf Dickwad across from Griffin’s house, where Toby had been staying.
Toby liked Griffin’s neighborhood. It was quiet, and the neighbors were nice. He ran on the neighborhood roads because traffic was very light. He wasn’t the only runner.
He often had company when he ran. A wolf shifter from two houses down kept the same schedule as Toby, so they buddied up most mornings. They became fast friends.
Toby held up his hand and pointed to Wolf Dickwad.
