My stomach drops, and I’m almost afraid to ask. “What?”
“He’s human,” she chuckles.
“How could you . . . ” I trail off. “Never mind.”
I shake my head in bewilderment as I close the distance between us. This is the thing about Ash, she seems to know everything about you, like she can simply read you like an open book. It’s freaky, and more than a little unsettling.
“So, Kai didn’t want to face me?” she asks, sheathing her dagger behind her back.
I bark out a laugh. “He’s going for smart, not brave tonight.”
Ash’s eyes twinkle and she laughs. “Fair enough. Good choice.”
I make my way over to the car, the metal frame creaking as I take a seat next to her. “I need a favor.”
“So you said.”
“I need someone to keep tabs on Reaper for a few weeks.”
Ash lets loose a low growl. “Really. Reaper? What did you do to piss him off?”
I sigh, crossing my legs, and look over at her. Understanding dawns and she laughs, “Oh, he found out about your mate. He isn’t happy to lose.”
“Something like that.” I tilt my head back, looking up into the dark night sky and the many stars twinkling above. “I actually don’t think he knows yet.”
“Then why do you need me to watch him?’
“I may have embarrassed Reaper publicly. I need to make sure he isn’t going to retaliate.”
“I see.”
“I just need a heads up, that’s all.”
Ash considers my words for a long moment. “Okay. I’ll keep an eye on Reaper and his pack and report anything you might need to know, on one condition.”
I knew this was coming, and this is why I’ve been so nervous. Payment.
“What is it?”
“One meeting with your brother.” A wicked gleam enters her eyes, and I sigh.
Kai is going to kill me for this.
“Deal.”
I reach my hand out to shake, but Ash is quicker than me. Her dagger slices across my palm and hers before I can comprehend what’s happening, sealing our hands together.
A flare of magic erupts from our clasped hands, making my skin tingle.
When she lets go, I jump from the car, spinning on her. “What the hell was that?” I growl.
Ash shrugs, putting her dagger away again. “Just sealing our deal. Tell Kai I’m looking forward to our date.” She winks, and I watch as her body swirls in magic, her form shifting and changing into a beautiful gray timber wolf. Ash gives me one last look before she turns and bounds off into the dark. I blow out a long breath, shaking my hand. Well, that went better than I was expecting. Ash can be unpredictable and unstable, but she’s a good ally to have.
Kai isn’t going to be happy that I threw him in the deep end with Ash, but he knows how to swim, and I’m sure Ash won’t drown him. Kai, whether he chooses to believe it or not, brings out a softer side in Ash, and I know he hurt her with his reaction when he found out she’s a skin-walker.
I’m ten minutes from the bar when my phone starts ringing. I press answer on my steering wheel without checking who it is, but I already know.
“Hey,” I answer.
