Rourke who'd been looking through some papers, sighed, got up, and grabbed the tail of the dead mouse and carried it toward the window, which he opened and then promptly threw out the carcass."There.Not so hard."He went to wash his hands in the bathroom, and Ezra sent Ulric an evil glare.
He grinned and stole another cookie, but sat up straighter right after having taken a bite."Car."He spoke around the mouthful and chewed in a hurry.Rourke came out of the bathroom and listened.
"The Ford."
Ulric held up his arm, showing off the goosebumps telling them a witch had gone through the ward.
The Ford?The one Ezra had stolen when he'd gone with Jiprix?
Rourke and Ulric more or less stampeded toward the door.Ezra turned off the oven and dried his hands on a kitchen towel before following.
When he exited the pack house, Jiprix had stepped out of the rusty red car.He looked between Ulric and Rourke, then his gaze landed on Ezra, and he grimaced.Half his face was raw.The scarring had not yet settled, and Ezra could only imagine what his body looked like underneath his clothes.It made him wince.Shixyll had done that to him.
"Jiprix."Rourke's voice was growly.
"Alpha Flint."Jiprix dipped his head."I came to return the car, and...eh..."He held out the key, and Ulric grabbed it without a word.
"Nataz is the new clan leader, and she wishes for the two of you to speak."
Rourke raised an eyebrow."I assume she has my number."
Jiprix nodded."She'll contact you."
It was so weird to see him without piercings on half his face.Had they been taken from him because of his failed mission, or was it to give the skin a chance to heal?
Jiprix glanced at Ezra again, but Ezra didn't know what to say.When he'd been back at the clan, Jiprix had been the person he'd liked the most, but he'd deceived him.
"I'm sorry for your loss, Ezra."
For his loss, but not for trying to kill him or trying to kill Rourke.Ezra stepped closer to Rourke and hooked his arm in his.Jiprix watched the motion with widening eyes.
"And I'm sorry for yours."Ezra gave a short nod.
Jiprix dipped his head in acknowledgment."I'll...eh...leave now.I'm...eh...I'm sure we'll see each other again."
Ezra didn't reply, and Rourke untangled his arm only to wrap it around Ezra and kiss his temple.Jiprix stilled, his eyes jumping between Rourke and Ezra.Then he turned around.
No one spoke until he was far enough away to be unable to hear them.
"Who's Nataz?"Rourke looked at Ezra.
"She was there on the field.Short, rather round, dark brown hair streaked with gray."
"She's old?"
Ezra shrugged."Early sixties."
"And her skill?"
"Stop bleeding."
Rourke stared at him."She's a healer?"
Ezra grinned.Rourke always wanted people to be healers."No one is a healer.She can stop wounds from bleeding."
Ulric rubbed his neck."Does she have any deadly skills?"
"She can throw fireballs, draw power from familiars, normal things."
