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As the microwave beeps, the sound of crunching gravel comes from outside, and my heart lurches. Did Jesse come back? Or is this a new babysitter? Maybe Mel? That would be convenient. We can go over the bonding spell.
But when I peek out the kitchen window, I see the delivery van from the butcher backing into the driveway.
Is it meat delivery day? I don’t even know what day of the week it is.
I head to the door to unlock it. “Hey, Rodney, sorry, I didn’t know you were coming.”
“Sorry for the late delivery.” He jumps out of the cab and walks to the back of the van, opening the doors. “Mr. Evans has been down with hip pain all week, so I’m covering the shop and doing deliveries.”
“Sounds stressful.” I push open the screen door but, mindful of Haut’s warning, I hover on the threshold.
Rodney stretches and rubs his lower back. “I won’t lie. It’s taking its toll. My body is killing me.”
Concerned, I shuffle out onto the porch. “Have you asked to hire more help?”
“Every day for the last two years.” He offers me a pained smile. “Mr. Evans thinks things are fine the way they are. And that’s usually true, but he’s getting on in years. Super healing only does so much.”
He steps between the open doors and groans as he reaches into the truck.
Guilt brings me down the stairs. I know Haut said to stay inside, but Rodney’s here. Bryant won’t attack me with someone else so near.
“Let me help you.” Gravel crunches under my socks.
“No, stay inside,” he says, pain in his voice.
I quicken my step. “If you hurt your back, the butcher will be closed, and then everyone will be in trouble.”
“Wait.” A thump sounds against the bed of the van. “Don’t…”
Too late, I round the open door and stare in confusion at the empty back of the van, and fear spikes through me. “Rodney, what’s going on?”
As I turn toward him, I spot a swollen bite wound on his inner elbow, the remnants of a bandaid on the ground at his feet.
He grunts and stumbles back from me as shadows boil out of his skin, and fire flickers in the eyes that fix on me. “I’m sorry, I can’t stop it.”
I shake my head, stumbling away, only to come up against the van door.
Bones crunch, and his legs lengthen until he towers over me. He lurches toward me, his motions jerking like a marionette.
Sharp teeth push from his gums as his mouth opens, and he screams, “Run!”
ALL YOU’VE GOT
The shout jolts me out of my shock, and as Rodney swipes at me, I dodge to the side, falling to the gravel driveway.
Sharp claws screech against the van door, making my heart jackrabbit with panic.
Rocks dig into my palms as I scramble toward the porch stairs, my terrified gaze fixed on the open door. Haut said the house was warded. Rodney won’t be able to get to me inside, and then we can figure out what’s going on with him.
It’s not the full moon, so he shouldn’t be able to change right now. Something else is controlling him.
A metallic shriek comes from behind me, and I duck by instinct.
The door to the delivery truck slices through the stairs, wedging to a stop at the top step to block my way.
In my scramble to avoid running into it, my sock-covered feet shoot out from under me, and I fall to the ground.
A shadowed blur flies over my head, coal-red eyes fixed on me.
