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Sadly, they were about as unlucky as it got, thanks to their affiliation with me.
But Camber had given me a way to pay back their faith in me.
I couldn’t always be there to protect them.
But I could teach them to protect themselves.
* * *
Before Asa could retrieve Clay, they were assigned a related case that carried them forty-five minutes to the east of Samford. About an hour west of their current location. Three hours away from Colby and me.
From our late-night shopping extravaganza anyway.
With Colby in hairbow mode, list in hand, we hit a sporting goods store the whole of downtown Samford could have fit in. As grateful as I was for convenience, selection, and pricing, I wished there was a way to prevent superstoreitis from spreading to our small town. Sadly, we couldn’t remain in a bubble forever.
Normally, I would have ordered what Aedan required, but Colby could use a pick-me-up, and I could too.
We would get in late, but we were insomniacs anyway, and it wasn’t like anyone would be waiting on us.
And, yeah, that sounded pathetic, even in the privacy of my own head.
“Can we stop for coffee on the way home?”
“Already on the agenda,” I assured her. “Which color do you think for the tent? Red or blue?”
“Blue.”
She left off the duh, but I heard it anyway.
“That does it.” I checked her list twice. “We got everything.”
The total at the register left me lightheaded, but it was hard to pin a cost on Aedan’s life.
The sentiment had popped into my head unprompted, cheering me that it had been my first thought.
Second thought, if you counted the sticker shock of my receipt, but still. It was a solid top five. Go, me!
After we loaded our haul into the SUV—and by we, I mean me—we headed for an all-night coffee shop.
There were some—not many, but some—benefits to chain store mentality.
“What flavor syrup do you want?” I read off her options. “Let me guess…s’mores.”
The mental picture of Clay battling molten marshmallows must have done its job, because she laughed.
“Can I get one shot of s’mores and one shot of cinnamon sugar?”
“Why not?” I spied glazed donut holes in the window with my name on them. “We’ve earned a treat.”
The night was cool and still as I walked to the front entrance, Colby in my hair, but a prickle on my nape had me turning my head to scan the lot. Three other cars had parked, and five were in line at the drive-through. With this many humans around, I couldn’t imagine a safer place. Until I spotted the problem.
“Colby.” I froze an arm’s length from the shop’s front door. “We need to get back in the car.”
The press of her tiny feet in my scalp warned she was about to argue, but then she froze. “Rue?”
With her riding on my head, and me facing the creature, it was no surprise she spotted him so quickly.
“It’s a naga.” I pitched my voice low. “The older ones have human-level intelligence.”
