Kyla raised one paw and placed it on her trunk. I unlocked her car and popped the trunk, surveying the large white containers that were neatly stacked and organized. “That’s a lot of clothes.”
It made sense that she’d take them with her in case she needed to shift. I hopped in the passenger seat and waited while she shifted and pulled on her clothes.
She opened her door a few minutes later, sliding into the driver’s seat. “Where to now?”
“I need to go to Gary’s. He’s going to be more cooperative if I talk to him alone. If Gary gives us his blood, we’ll head straight back to the Middleground.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“I’ll be calling in every favor I have left to try and get some freely given gnome blood from elsewhere. And if that doesn’t work, I’m down to one option.”
She glanced at me and I sighed. “Go back and start killing the tengu until they tell me what I need to know.”
Kyla winced.
“Yeah.” I would be moving into bad-guy territory. There was another option, of course, but I wouldn’t let myself consider it. Cutting Gary out of the picture and asking his kids for their blood would only mean I wouldn’t be able to meet my own eyes the next time I looked in the mirror.
I wouldn’t become a monster just to save our lives. It was a slippery slope down, but it would start with betraying my friend’s trust. I wouldn’t let my desperation turn me into someone I couldn’t recognize.
I glanced out the window and crossed my fingers that Gary would be willing to help.
9
DANICA
Iopened the door to Gary’s store, marveling at the silence. Kyla was waiting in the car, although she’d made noises about stopping somewhere for some food. The werewolf burned through calories at an insane pace, and she got pissy when she was low on fuel.
Gary was restocking his shelves with exploding charms. The gnome had recently decided he needed to improve his branding, and all of the charms glistened in a dusky gold.
He nodded at me as I walked in. “I heard what happened to Samael.”
“I guess the word has spread by now. Where are the kids?”
“At their friend’s house for a playdate.”
Good. Because I had a feeling Gary was going to say some incredibly bad words when he heard what I was asking for.
His gray face creased as he watched me walk toward him. “You need my help.”
“Yeah. You’re the only one I could think to ask.” I chewed on my lower lip as he watched me expectantly. “You’re not going to want to do it, but I swear on my life that I won’t allow it to harm you.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “How about you swear on Samael’s life, and I’ll know you mean business.”
I gaped at him and he shrugged. “I’ve seen the shit you jump into when someone you love is in danger. Samael’s life is more important to you than your own.”
“Fine. I swear on Samael’s life that I have you covered.”
The words seemed to echo in the small space and Gary nodded as if he could hear the truth in them. “What is it you need?”
This wouldn’t go well. “I need some of your blood to give to a clan of tengu in the Middleground.”
His mouth dropped open, revealing his pointed teeth. “Oh, is that all?”
“I know it’s a lot to ask.”
“I have kids, Danica. I can’t risk them.”
“I know. And I’d never ask you to risk them. You know that.”
