Jacinth's grin widened. "I magicked a bunch of shrimp into their trucks' ventilation systems."
Tyr burst out laughing. "That's pure evil," he managed between chuckles.
Pure glee filled Beth as she imagined the smell that would soon permeate those vehicles. No amount of air freshener would cover that up!
"Plus they still had the confetti and glitter on them," Jacinth said with a merry wink.
Beth leaned back against Tyr's chest as Antonio swept into the clinic, his elegant movements a stark contrast to Dimitri's more aggressive stride. Tobi bounded in behind them, practically vibrating with excitement.
"That was amazing!" Tobi's eyes sparkled with barely contained glee. "Did you see their faces when the guns started spraying water?"
Antonio's lips curved into a slight smile as he brushed an imaginary speck of dust from his impeccable silk sleeve. "I particularly enjoyed the pool noodles. Most... creative."
"The confetti was a nice touch," Dimitri added, his caramel skin gleaming in the fluorescent lights. "Though I must admit, the superheated weapons were my favorite."
Tyr laughed. "The way they dropped those rifles, hopping around and blowing on their fingers..." He shook his head, still chuckling. "Priceless."
"And then the Molotov cocktail!" Tobi bounced on his toes, reminding Beth strongly of an excited puppy. "The way it just hung there before exploding into glitter? Pure genius!"
"Indeed." Antonio's cultured voice carried dry amusement. "Though perhaps next time we might consider a less... flamboyant approach?"
"Where's the fun in that?" Tobi protested, earning an exasperated look from his sire.
Antonio inclined his head toward Kieran in respect, his movements carrying centuries of practiced grace. "I suspect we have you to thank for their peaceful departure, Prince Kieran?"
"A simple memory modification." Kieran shrugged. "They'll remember only finding an empty clinic. Nor will they be able to find it again, should they seek to return."
Jacinth bounced forward, dark eyes sparkling. "Time to go! Arthur promised to help me practice some new spells." She grabbed Arthur's arm, and they vanished in a flash of blue light.
Kieran shook his head, a fond smile touching his severe features before he too disappeared.
"We should return to our patrols," Antonio announced, his cultured voice carrying quiet authority. He turned to Dimitri."Make sure no one harmed Kazakis Restaurant, although no one was there this time of night."
Dimitri nodded, and the two vampires slipped out into the darkness.
"I should head home too." Tamera gathered her purse from behind the reception desk. "Early shift tomorrow."
"I'll walk you to your car." Tobi stepped forward. "Then I'll do a sweep out front, make sure none of those idiots are lurking around. I mean, just in case."
Hugging Tamera tightly, Beth turned back to the scattered files on her desk, knowing she still had work to finish. Tyr's cool presence remained close behind her as she began organizing the chaos.
"I need to complete Mrs. Harrison's charts," Liam called as he walked back toward his office.
"Take your time." Tyr's voice carried quiet certainty. "I'm not going anywhere."
Beth turned toward the reception desk, intending to organize the scattered files, but her hands trembled as she reached for the papers. The adrenaline crash hit her suddenly, leaving her legs wobbly and her breathing shallow. She gripped the edge of the desk to steady herself.
"Hey." Tyr's cool fingers encircled her wrist, his voice gentle. "Sit down before you fall down."
She sank into the reception chair, the reality of what had just happened washing over her in waves. They'd faced men with guns—men who'd talked about hurting them as casually as discussing the weather. The memory of their cruel laughter made her stomach clench.
"I thought I was fine," she whispered, staring at her trembling hands.
"It's okay." Tyr crouched before her, his eyes steady on hers. "You're allowed to not be fine for a while."
He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his touch achingly tender. "The files can wait until tomorrow."
"But—"
