Page 108 of Feral

Chapter Twenty-Three

Daphne

Thedrivetothecottage was tense. Fraser was either snappish or sullenly quiet, and I assumed it had to do with the full moon tonight. I knew he was scared for me, but I also felt like I still didn’t have all the information about what had happened with his ex. There was something in the story that was the real crux of his fear. I wanted to know it so I could reassure him that I wasn’t her. But given the mood he was in, I knew it wasn’t a good idea to push him.

So I chatted with Liam as Fraser drove us. By the time we parked at the foot of the hill where the cottage sat, the tension in the car was so thick that Liam and I hadn’t spoken for the final twenty minutes of the drive. Fraser stalked from the car, grumbling to himself as he led us toward a thick outcropping of trees on one side of the property.

I slipped my hand into his only to have him jerk back and stop.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m…”

“Angry? In a bad mood?’

“Aye.”

“I know, and if you don’t want me touching you, I won’t. I just want you to know that I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

His gaze heated in an instant and he gathered me up in his arms, flicking his tongue along my lips and jaw. I wound my arms around his thick neck and smoothed his fur as he liked. His tail began to swish in smooth movements, instead of the agitated, jerky ones it had been.

“It’s all going to be okay,” I whispered.

His ears drooped a little and he set me back on his feet.

“I hope yer right, lass.”

“I don’t mean to break up this tender moment…” Liam began.

Fraser spun around and bared his teeth at his brother. My breath caught in my throat because for a second it looked like he was going to lunge for him. Liam didn’t flinch, just stood his ground and stared Fraser down until my mate finally shook his head and backed up.

“We need to get that artifact,” Liam continued as if nothing had happened. “Let’s get going.”

We crested the hill without further incident, even though Fraser seemed to be one big ball of barely contained frustration.

When we reached the edge of the trees at last, I saw a tiny, dilapidated cottage half covered in climbing roses that I was sure were holding up the sides of the house in some way. The roof slanted oddly, as if it weren’t exactly sure it wanted to remain on the house. Paint peeled off the sides and the small porch in great clumps that hung like shredded clothing. The yard was severely overgrown, dotted with wild flowers in places, and odd bare patches in others. The windows were all dark, and no smoke came out of the chimney. The whole place was looked sad, lonely and it made my heart hurt that this was where Ruben had retreated to.

“What does it look like?” Liam asked.

“It’s about the size of a small apple, but golden,” I explained, handing out a containment bag to Liam and Fraser both. “If it begins to glow, do not look at it.”

I double checked my Stinger, slipping it into the shoulder holster. Then I dug Amanda Nunes’ sparring gloves from my purse and slipped them on. The second I connected the Velcro ties, a tingle zipped up my arms and through my body. I felt strong, lithe and sure in my skin, in a way I supposed only pro athletes feel.

“What are those?” Liam asked.

“Amanda Nunes’ sparring gloves. They give me extra speed, strength and agility.”

“I didn’t think you were supposed to use artifacts.”

“Sometimes agents are given permission. But it’s only the artifacts that aren’t going to cause chaos out in the wild.”

“And only agents they trust, I’d imagine,” Liam surmised.

My stood up taller at that and smiled.

“Yeah, I suppose so. Okay, so tell me the layout of this place.”

“There’s the front door and then one in the back that leads to a small mud room just outside the kitchen. I haven’t been here in ten years or more. Damn shame what’s happened to the place.”

“I don’t see Ruben, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t here. Any hidden rooms or anything I should know about?” I asked.

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