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“Des.” My dad’s deep voice sounded a bit more gravelly than usual. “I know you’re not feeling up to it. I’m sorry for having to put this on you, but if we’re heading into town, we need to get on the road and...you gotta put on your happy face.”
I nodded reluctantly.
“Town’s used to seeing Deck all sullen and moody, but you? No way. They’ll know—”
“Sullen and moody?” Decker interrupted.
Our dad shot him an annoyed glance.
“Like I was saying,” he went on, “the humans will get suspicious, and they’ll know something’s up. We can’t take the chance they’ll come snooping around.” He looked to Decker. “You’re gonna have to stay here while—”
“I’m not staying—”
“Yes, you are, and stop interrupting me.”
Decker crossed his arms and glared at the floor. I could see the stubborn little boy he’d been before his body had changed from a youth to a grown male. I missed that youth. The sullen male standing so angry in the corner made my heart hurt.
“Deck.” My dad’s voice softened. “We can’t leave our dead unprotected.” His gaze turned to me. “You’ll need to send out a group text from your phone. It’s important we get some help here without the humans swooping in. While you’re getting ready, I’ll write down some details.”
I nodded. The humans knew me and liked me. I had to suck it up, at least for a few hours. I lifted Nereida’s chin and forced her to look into my eyes.
“This is part of our life. We’ll get through this. But for now, it’s time for us to put on our human faces. Protect the pack we have left. Are you ready?”
The fierce, cunning wolf flashed behind the sweet human face before she answered, “I’m ready.”
CHAPTER NINE
“Ineed to bathe.” Iset a worn deck of cards on the table and looked at the twins. “Why don’t you show Seff how well you play?”
Arteisma jumped up and ran to grab their penny jars from a shelf. Nereida sat silent, staring at the table. A worry line creased her forehead as she flipped the thick tail end of her long dark braid through her fingers. Nereida was the one I’d need to watch. She had always held everything in—just like me. It didn’t matter how many times I’d told her she could talk to me about anything. She’d look at me without speaking, her emotions burning in her eyes like two tiny flames, and shake her head. I could count on one hand how many times she’d actually opened up.
While I heated a kettle of water on the wood-burning stove, Seff took up the cards and shuffled like a pro.
“What are we playin’? Go Fish?”
Arteisma stopped and stared at him before dumping the coins from her penny jar onto the tabletop.
“Hearts? I don’t really know any other uh...games.”
Nereida didn’t even look up while she and Arteisma created neat stacks of coins.
“Blackjack,” she replied, likeduh.
“Blackjack?” Seff looked at me. “No sh—I mean, really?” Those deep brown eyes of his were full of surprise.
