Page 35 of The Hive Queen

She lifts a shoulder. “He is too stuck on what is and not on what could be. How do humans put it? He needs a good kick in the ass where his familiar is concerned. She is not a pet. She is a tool and should be treated as such.”

Beside me, Sharpe lets out a surprised laugh. “You came back from your vacation bloodthirsty, Mayn.”

“I had much time to dwell while on my forced leave.” Mayn sips her water before adding more salt. “What I could hunt in the ocean lacks challenge now that I know the thrill of crime fighting. Sharks are dangerous, but simple creatures at heart. The work I do here holds meaning. I already loathe my next return home.”

“Everyone needs a break from all this.” I want them more and more of late. “It’s good to take a step back to gain perspective about what you enjoy in life.”

She dips her chin in concession to my point. “Even so, a week is too long. There is only so much to do in the ocean.”

“You should travel to one of those underwater scuba parks next time.” I bring out my phone to pull up pictures I’ve seen of a place that looks like an entire underground city and show it to her. “You could go places even the divers can’t go.”

Mayn cradles my phone in her hand. “Fascinating. Humans never cease to amaze. They are not made for life in the deeps, and yet they not only go where they should not, but they turn it into a game.”

Our food arrives, and Mayn returns my phone.

Between bloody bites of steak, she tells us about visiting her old bone garden, and Sharpe catches her up on the gossip at the office.

Despite talking, we eat quickly.

When Gladys drops off the to-go box with Flint’s meal, I ditch them to pay the bill and go find my missing lover.

As promised, Flint waits in our car, the engine idling. Anny sits on his lap, a smug expression on her foxy face while she basks in Flint’s attention.

I tap on the window. “Delivery.”

He rolls it down. “Thank you. Sorry I left.”

I lean against the side of the car. “You don’t usually let that kind of stuff get to you. She barely pressed your buttons before you stormed out.”

“Yeah, well, it’s a sensitive button.” He pushes Anny onto the floor to open the cardboard container and dig the plastic fork into his hash browns. “And I’m at a loss for what to do with a familiar in the real world.”

He shoves in a mouthful and speaks around it. “At the Conservatory, no one bats an eye at me walking around with a fox, but out here... What am I supposed to do? She draws a lot of attention.”

I prop an arm on top of the car to lean down and study his profile. “You know, your face is very pretty.”

He gives me a suspicious glance from the corner of his eye. “I’m aware.”

“Have you considered seeing if you could do the same for Anny?” I glance down at the fox. “She’s an extension of you, so it might work.”

He gives Anny a considering stare. “You mean make her look like a dog?”

“Something that’s not too far of a stretch. Like a shiba inu or an akita,” I suggest.

He takes a smaller bite of hash browns. “But that still won’t get her into restaurants and other places where animals are restricted.”

“After you left, Mayn pointed out that Anny isn’t a pet. She’s a tool.” I tilt my head to the side. “If only there was a law that gave animals a pass if they were invaluable tools for a person to be safe.”

Flint’s mouth drops open before he slaps his forehead in realization. “A service animal! Why didn’t I think of that?”

I reach inside to pinch his cheek. “You just needed a good kick in the ass to jog the idea loose.”

“Such a loving woman I have.” He lifts his burger and takes a big bite before frowning and setting it back down to lift the top bun. “Hey, where’s my bacon?”

I lick my lips and taste the salty grease that lingers there. “Payback’s a bitch.Nowwe’re even.”

the trouble with kids these days

- Flint -

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