“You’re a lifesaver.Just put it on my tab.”
“It’s on the house.”
“Now Bear, I don’t want special treatment just because I work for the Council.Supporting the community is important to me, so I insist that you put all these goodies on my tab.I’ll settle it at the end of the week.”
He gave a curt nod.“Yes, ma’am.”
“I need to head out, but I’ll see you at the peace party!”
Mercy clapped her hands.“I cannot wait!I’ll be looking for you, and thanks so much for the RSVP.It helps us figure out how much food and drinks to buy in advance.It’s gonna be one huge party.”
“Is that right?It’s been a long while since someone’s had one of those around here.It’s a chance to bring the community together.”So long as nobody gets into a fight, I thought to myself.“See you soon, and thanks again for the chow.”
I strutted out the door into the dark parking lot, my large plastic bag in hand, and wondered if Lucian would still be at the house.
If not, I’ll just leave his container in the fridge for tomorrow.At least he’ll have lunch.
In the past week since our night of passion, he’d installed new doors.I wasn’t sure what he was working on now, but he’d been up in the attic, and I’d found a box of wires in the kitchen that morning.
When I reached the passenger door, I set the food inside and then rounded the car.
“Miss Thompson?”
As I turned, someone grabbed my arm.I shrieked at the excruciating jolt, which paralyzed me until I dropped to the ground.
“You stupid fucking Shifter.”
I recognized the country accent but couldn’t immediately place it.
Marcus Seaborn, the prisoner I’d recently released, hovered over me.I screamed and scratched my attacker’s face.He cursed and pinned my wrists to the ground.“You Shifters think you run this town.I’m a Mage, goddammit, and you animals ain’t got no authority locking me up.”
“You juiced two Shifters after breaking into their homes, so yes, it falls within our jurisdiction,” I fired back.“Take your hands off me while you still have them, because if my animal comes out, she’ll use your bones for a chew toy.”
When he tried to open my closed fist to juice me, I went batshit crazy and unleashed hell on him.I writhed until he lost grip of my hand, and then I clawed him over and over until I drew blood.My tiger viciously pushed at my skin, but I forced her down.With a powerful thrust, I shoved Marcus against the truck beside us, and his head struck the door.Then I grabbed a handful of gravel and pelted him.
Stumbling to my feet, I shouted for help so I’d have a witness.
Marcus seized my ankle.Just as he threw a burst of energy into me, I grabbed the bed of the truck and kicked him in the face.With lightning speed, he sprang to his feet and reached into his back pocket.Light glinted on a sharp blade.
I raised my arm in self-defense, and the knife sliced through my skin.
“What the fuck is going on out here!”a man boomed.His feet crashed against the gravel as he ran toward us.
When Marcus saw him, he flashed away into the dark.
The stranger shifted into a wolf and took off after him.
When I felt the warm blood trickling down my arm, I stripped off my blouse and secured it around my left forearm to stanch the bleeding.
I got inside my car and called Connor.“Hey, it’s me.Marcus Seaborn attacked me in the Rabbit Lounge parking lot.”
“Are you hurt?”
I took a deep breath to slow my heart.“I think he was trying to juice me.”
“For feck’s sake.”
Facts were invaluable to us, so we shared information to make decisions.It established trust and helped us appropriately handle each incident.
