Dodger
Harper’s up and alert from the first knock at the door. No, a few seconds before it, actually.
“I’ve seen videos of dogs going crazy when someone comes to the door, but this is overkill,” I say from the hotel bed.
“Shut it,” he responds. Harper stares through the peephole, scrutinizing the visitor on the other side and acting like he’s Secret Service guarding the president and not a broke necromancer.
“Just let me in!” yells the man on the other side.
Harper’s so-called expert looks like a rock star or a petty criminal. Funny how there’s a fine line between those two. I’d met Marlow Maddox before, but I wasn’t expecting him to be the extra help that the detective called in. Hadn’t he tried to arrest the demon once?
I glance at Harper. “This is the expert?”
He sighs. “This is who I know.”
Whatever. The important thing is that Marlow has the most adorable pug with him.
“Can I pet him?” I ask, already climbing to my feet as he comes inside. Harper sighs while he shuts the door, but I ignore him.
The pug wears the tiniest red bow tie I’ve ever seen, and it’s possibly the cutest thing in the universe. Mastering my powers isall I care about right now, but still, I can’t resist the lure of a cute dog. If I didn’t have time to appreciate one of the best creatures on Earth, then what even was the point of living?
Marlow chuckles and holds the little dog out to me. “He really doesn’t need a bigger ego but knock yourself out. This is Iggy.”
“Iggy,” I repeat, shooting Marlow a funny look. Do dogs even have egos? He does seem to be preening for my attention, and I’m all too happy to give it to him. “Hello, handsome fellow.”
The tiny black pug in Marlow’s arms has the most adorably squished face with deep wrinkles and bulging eyes that look almost too big for his head.
“You are just too cute. Yes, you are.”
“You’re a dog person?” Harper wonders behind me.
“Who isn’t?”
“Me.” Figures.
“What? You’re too good for dogs just because you’re a big tough wolf?” I guess with an eye roll.
“No, but they’re afraid of us sometimes.”
“Totally get that.” I scratch the pug under his chin, cooing to him, “I wouldn’t like that scary werewolf either.” When I look up to see Harper’s reaction, I’m surprised. “Why are you smiling?”
The smile fades as soon as it’s been pointed out but there’s still a warmth in his voice… a fondness? “At least you can be nice to someone.”
“Don’t get any bright ideas,” I warn and decide to focus on the cute doggie instead of the confusing wolf. “You aren’t nearly as cute as this little guy. Isn’t that right, buddy? Dogs are much better than people. And wolves. And wolves who are also people.”
The pug tilts his head up to his owner. “Dogs sound awesome. Maybe we should get a dog.”
Holy shit, did the dog just talk?
“What the actual—” I choke out. “Did that dog just... talk? Like, with words? English words? Coming out of his dog mouth?”
Marlow bursts out laughing while the pug—which I’m now questioning if it even is a pug—gives what looks suspiciously like an eye roll.
Man, the supernatural world keeps on surprising me. I look to Harper for guidance. “Dogs talk now?”
This time, there’s no smile, but I can tell he’s enjoying my reaction and trying to hide it. “Not typically.”
A thought occurs to me and I need to confirm, “You can hear him too, right?”
