A cool shiver ran down my spine, pooling in the small of my back. I paused and carefully studied my surroundings. Wide old graveled parking lot, three cars parked along one side—two from around the area, one with out-of-state license plates. Traffic moving normally, business across the street—a small motel and an office building—showing no unusual activity.
The shops next to the Sweet Reflections were a realtor to the north, and a trio of shops under one long, shared roof to the south: resale clothing, a clock store, and a touristy beach collectibles place.
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
So what was this feeling of wrongness?
I picked up the rope and closed the tailgate. I mentally backtracked my movements. I’d been talking to Xtelle, then felt a chill, then pulled the rope out of the trunk.
For a moment, I thought, something…something about a box and a blanket, but then the headache snapped behind my eyes, pounding to the beat of my heart. The wind picked up, buffeting my shoulder like someone buddy-punching my arm, and for the life of me, I couldn’t remember what thought I’d been chasing.
Just in case I’d missed a message, I pulled out my phone. Nothing. If something was really wrong, if something really bad was about to happen, Jean’s family gift would kick in, and she’d call me.
The Jeep rocked, and through the window I saw the dragon pig taking an exploratory nibble out of the seat back.
“No,” I said, striding up and yanking open the dragon pig’s door. “No eating the car. Seriously, if I have to keep telling you that, I’m just going to leave you in a shed at home. Or at the bottom of an empty swimming pool. Or somewhere a dragon pig can’t get out of.”
I honestly had no idea where that might be.
The dragon pig removed its mouth—which had been stretched way too wide and had too many pointed teeth for a real piggy—gave a little grunt, then sat in the chair, its butt pointed my way.
“Pout all you want. Vehicles are off limits. You know how much it cost to find a new bumper for Ryder’s truck.”
“Ryder Bailey,” Xtelle said. “Where is that man of yours, Delaney? Did he dump you for someone smart or someone with better boobs?”
I inhaled, exhaled, then shut the front door and opened the back. “This is a rope.” I held it up.
“I know what a rope is.”
I took a quick moment to indulge in a hogtying fantasy, a blindfold fantasy, then a gag fantasy.
“I am going to tie this rope loosely around your nose and head so I can lead you around back.”
I waited. “Rules, Xtelle. I need to know you’re okay with this.”
“As if I’d say no to some casual bondage.” She extended her neck and turned her eyes demurely downward. “Am I doing it right, master?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. Definitely a gag. Industrial strength. That was my favorite fantasy now.
I twisted the rope into a temporary halter and moved aside so she could hop out. She did so and followed me with mostly believable pony-ness to the wide gravel parking area at the back of the store.
A short bleating sound made me turn.
There was a goat in the parking area. A male, with luxuriant white hair and strong, thick brown horns that stuck out over the top of sideways ears. His eyes were yellow, his hooves were polished, and he was staring at Xtelle like he’d just seen the sun come out.
“Nothing to see here, Panny. Nothing to worry about.”
Panny was also Pan, the god of the wild and frequent lover to…well, almost anyone if his bragging was to be believed.
Xtelle had also taken notice of the goat who was sticking out his chest and tipping his head so the sunlight hit his horns at just the right angle.
“Who is that?” Xtelle breathed.
“That is not what we’re here for.”
“His horns are so…large.”
Panny bleated again in a deep, hey-baby tone. Then he winked.
