Eve sidled up and giggled. “He’s carsick. He also doesn’t like pooping around people. He got in trouble a lot because he’d sneak off and go up to the top floor. Nobody ever went up there, so the bathroom was always empty.”
“Too much information,” I said, pivoting on my heel and assessing the trailer in daylight. It had definitely taken a beating, but somehow that made us stand out even less.
Eve’s teeth chattered. “I’m going back inside.”
“Stay inside. I mean it.”
Christian stepped out of the trailer, looking dapper. He’d changed into jeans and a chocolate-brown Henley.
“You want to come with me?” I asked.
“Better I stay here. Shepherd has a tendency of getting himself in trouble. He hasn’t quite mastered the skill of friendliness, and we still have a window to patch up.” Christian slid on his sunglasses. “Don’t you want your coat?”
I straightened my charcoal-colored T-shirt. “Nah. I’ll warm up once I start walking.”
Blue appeared, her straight hair shining like silk in the sun. She had on green cargo pants with her soft brown leather jacket. “Where are you going?”
“McDonald’s, I guess.”
She frowned at the building nearby. “What’s Hardee’s?”
Carol jumped out and bolted toward the convenience store.
Claude chased after her. “Hold up!”
Blue joined my side as we ventured up the road. “It’s pretty here,” she said. “You forget what quiet sounds like until you’re out of the city. It’s one reason why I like living at Keystone.”
We cut through a parking lot since there wasn’t a sidewalk. A few cars drove by and slowed down, no doubt locals getting a gander at the tourists. Hopefully we looked like tourists instead of mercenary killers.
“Why do they keep staring?” I asked. “They act like they’ve never seen a woman before.”
“Maybe it’s the dagger strapped to your leg.”
I looked down. “Shit. I forgot.” After unlatching the strap, I tucked it in my jeans beneath my T-shirt.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure there are a lot of hunters out here. But maybe they’re not used to seeing a woman walking around this early, fully armed.” Blue chuckled, and I noticed the axe affixed to her side.
“Don’t you want to hide that?”
“No. I’m good.”
“They’re going to kick you out of McDonald’s.”
“Not exactly a travesty.” She took off her jacket and tied it around her waist so it covered the weapon. After adjusting her tank top, she squinted at the buildings ahead. “There’s a grocery store up there. Viktor might need supplies.” She stopped and sent a text message.
I neared the door to the fast-food place. “Adam probably needs a quart of the pink stuff. He’s got stomach issues.”
She continued staring at her phone. “Viktor wants duct tape and plastic bags for the broken window. You good here?”
I laughed and headed inside. Duct tape and plastic bags. Nope. Nothing suspicious about that.
Inside, only two employees manned the register. Not a single customer to be found.
When I approached the counter, my hair stood on end. Someone in or around this establishment was a Mage. Their energy was carelessly swirling around me like air hissing out of a flat tire.
“What can I get for you?” the lanky man asked. The name tag on his dark shirt said “Willie.”
I shielded my light. Willie had light eyes and crooked teeth, and he stared at me for a long while.
