Toying with Monsters by D.D. Miers

Author:D.D. Miers [Miers, D.D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-04-16T23:00:00+00:00

14

Chastity’s eyes, clouded with fear, met mine.

It struck me then that I was in the deepest shit of my life. “That’s one reason I want you here. Perhaps, you can tell me.”

She sucked in a deep breath. “I can’t leave you alone for a minute, can I?”

“Apparently not.”

“Then start from the beginning.”

“Do you want the long or the short version?” I asked.

“Spit out the Cliffs Notes version, and then I’ll decide if I need more details.”

I hefted the bag of bottled beer on my hip, retrieved the plate of PB&Js, and nodded toward the dining room. Light daggers danced under the lace curtains, warming the air more than the oppressive heat of the house. Chastity set her purse on the dining room table, then walked to the window. She tugged at it, attempting to lift the sash as I rummaged through the bag to select the perfect brew to pair with a PB&J breakfast.

After several hard pulls, Chastity relented.

“Those wards stick like hell,” she said.

I didn’t comment that the wards probably came from there.

“Let me try,” I said. I whispered low to the window, so Chastity didn't hear, “Thorn.”

The sash sprang upward. I turned and smiled, but Chastity gasped in horror.

“Where—” she said, speechless. “How did you loosen those wards?”

I shrugged. “Don’t be silly, Chas. You must have released them with the tugging.”

She cocked her head and gave me the stink eye, but there was no sense in getting ahead of the story. And the way my BFF stared at me, she wanted it immediately.

I sat at the table, picked up the two chosen beers, and held them to her, waggling them in my hand. “Strawberry or Raspberry. It’s strawberry jelly in the sandwiches, so choose accordingly.”

She reached for the strawberry, still giving me doubtful glances. I twisted off the cap.

“Wait,” she protested. “I know that beer. You need a bottle opener to pop the cap.”

Oops. I did not want to showcase my new abilities to my friend like this.

I held the brown bottle to her. “Take it. The meaning will become clear in the fullness of time.”

She gave me another uncertain glance, but I know my gal. She's curious as hell. I pushed the PB&Js toward her, but she waved them away.

“Spill, woman.”

“Well, I got this job—”

“It always starts with a job with you.”

“Are you done being snarky?” I said, arching an eyebrow.

Chastity held up her hands.

“Fine.”

“I got sent to the bayou to locate a magical object. Kye and the pack were there looking for it, too.”

“What? Why?”

“I don’t know. They were pretty interested in it. Kye and I went a few skirmish rounds.”

“What? The bastard.”

I pulled off the top of my beer and took a sip. Flavor notes of dried fruit, coffee, and dark chocolate slid over my tongue. Dagon knew his beers.

“Okay, so what happened?”

“It was a bad fight. I got the artifact but landed in the bayou and nearly drowned.”

“What!”

“But, as it turns out my employer was there. And he scared off the pack and plucked me from the water.

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