“He’s performing ritual magic, killing Charmed and stealing their powers, but he’s figured out a way to filter and syphon the magic so he doesn’t take the backlash,” Calix informs him.
Torin lets out a low whistle when he’s done chewing. The table is constantly being restocked with food, and the wolf is just eating and eating. I can’t believe he still has room for it all. You’d think by this point he’d at least have a food baby pooch.
“How’d you get roped into this?” Torin doesn’t need to elaborate, we know he’s referring to his situation.
“That would be Kim.” I roll my head to the side and give her a droll look. At least she’s been keeping her mouth shut.
“I’m on… extended leave.” Calix pushes back from the table a bit. “I haven’t been keeping up-to-date on what’s happening. Someone noticed when I came into town.”
“Hard not to notice,” Kim scoffs, and pushes her curly dark hair over her shoulder. “You’re lucky the humans didn’t see you, it’s not like you were taking precautions.”
“Stars, don’t you have someone who can take one for the team and fuck the stick out of her ass?” I direct my question to Torin. “I will donate a ball gag to the effort.”
I see Torin’s tongue move behind his lips as he tries to school his features. I’d like to think he was hiding a smile, but he was too quick to cover it for me to know. “Do not speak like that,” he admonishes.
Kim doesn’t hide her triumphant grin as she gives me the side-eye, that is until Torin turns his head and makes it obvious he’s talking to her and not me. Good thing too, I would have given him an earful. I’m not one of his pack. “You’re lucky he isn’t stringing you up by your shorthairs. Speak to him like that again, and I will.” Torin’s voice is all growly.
I don’t stoop to Kim’s level and smile at the fact that she got in trouble, but on the inside, I might be doing a fist pump to the alpha for finally taking charge.
“My apologies, Calix, Alpha.” Kim lowers her eyes and her head.
“I started it.” I wave my hand. “She’s just pissed at me. But seriously, not getting dick turns me into a mega-beast too.”
“Can we not?” Gunnar grumbles.
What?” I ask innocently, then focus back on Kim. “I’ll get you a Hitachi wand, problem solved. Five minutes and you won’t even remember what dick is.”
“I destroyed that.” Grim crosses his arms over his chest and lowers his eyelids, looking very smug for a monster who rarely shows emotions.
“He did,” I confess, then whisper, “But I have three dicks at my disposal, so…” I’m definitely winning at life, even without my wand.
“No, we’re done with this conversation.” Gunnar stands up and moves around as if he doesn’t know what to do with himself.
“Okay, okay. We can talk later,” I offer to Kim, but I just don’t think she’s too into having me as a friend. I miss Aeson and Bloody Mary. She would always pretend to be outraged at all my sex talk, but I know she’s a secret freak in the sheets, you can just tell these things.
“How do you know the witch is in my city?” Torin brings the conversation back around to the more comfortable topic of death and bad magic.
“We followed the bodies,” Grim replies.
“Fuck, that’s… People are dying in my territory and I didn’t even know?” Torin’s eyes go a little cloudy. I can tell he’s thinking about how much he’s lost, and it’s not just his mate.
“We could use your help with this. You know the city better than anyone, I’m guessing.” Torin starts to nod before Calix is even finished. “But we need to get what’s happening here sorted first,” he adds.
The wolf’s head stops moving and he freezes. I would be willing to bet he’s not even breathing. Eventually, he turns his head and looks out the window. It’s still dark, but I can see the earliest hints of a glow on the horizon off to the east. The sun will be up soon, strange how sometimes we feel like our world is ending, yet every morning the sun is there to remind you that the world just keeps spinning with or without us.
“I will lead my pack…” Kim lets out a gasp and starts mumbling her thanks to whomever she prays to. “Until I find a successor.” Torin stands and rolls his head around on his shoulders as if he’s preparing for a fight.
I watch Kim’s face fall as tears gather on her lower lashes. The hope she felt just moments ago is crushed under Torin’s announcement. I’m sad for her, sad for Becky and all the other wolves I’ve met over the last few days. I wonder if Calix somehow saw this coming, and that’s why he asked the biker guy to stick around. Funny, I can’t remember his name, but I have no problem remembering Tammy’s name. I guess it’s not allthatsurprising.
Calix stands and moves so he’s in front of Torin. The wolf has a few inches on him in height, but Calix’s presence more than makes up for it. “I appreciate you coming here. Fate has a strange way of intervening.” Torin reaches out, and he and Calix clasp each other’s forearm in a kind of embrace. It feels formal, like a decision has been made.
Kim stands slowly, wiping under her eye, and erases all evidence of her emotions from her face. “I’ll let them know to prepare the hall for this evening.” Her voice is a little flat, and without waiting for a response, she heads out of the room.
“I’m going to go with her. See you guys in a bit.”
“Stay out of trouble,” Gunnar calls after me as I’m rushing to catch up with Kim.
I roll my eyes and give him a wave over my shoulder. “You too, Kitten.”
