What Alastair didn’t understand was…as much as he claimed the man couldn’t give him what he wanted…or anything at all…Harlow had already given him more than anyone else ever had… Why couldn’t that be enough? Why couldn’t he have just said yes?
He flinched asMy Boy Lollipopstarted to play. Harlow sighed behind him.
* * *
“This is an unbelievably STUPID idea,”Foxx snapped.
Harlow sighed, and found it an actual struggle to argue back, because he knew the vampire wasn’t fucking wrong. “We have no choice.”
“What do you mean we have no choice?! The choice is to FUCKING wait!”
“We can’t.”
“It’s a super blood red moon, Harlow. They are sending us to take down a pack of werewolves, in the middle of a fucking swamp, during a super blood red moon. The only way to describe werewolves during this time is a frenzy! One of uncontrolled violence. Even ones that mean no harm lock themselves down to protect each other and outsiders. It is the moon where werewolves are at their most powerful and most uncontrolled. High werewolves on wolfsbane don’t even compare.”
“I know all that, Foxx. Which is why we have to take them down before they go on another killing spree. Because, while we stand a chance, no one else does.”
“Bloody hell, Harlow. This is stupid. Even more stupid is that we COULD have gotten there before the sun set, but instead, they are forcing us to drive twelve hours, making sure that we arrive right as the chaos starts.”
“I’m not saying it isn’t bullshit. It is. But we are in this situation because the fucking locals waited too long to report this. A massive storm has grounded flights in Illinois. The jets are not in the area, and even if we drove to an out of state airport, we’d likely get there at the same time or later.”
“Why are you being so fucking calm and reasonable about all this?! You do realize how fucked we could end up, don’t you?!”
To be honest, Harlow was a bit surprised himself by how reasonable he was being. The whole situation was beyond fucked… But then, his mind was stuck elsewhere. Partly on murderous thoughts about Iggy…and also on Foxx saying no.
Foxx had a right to say no. But that somehow didn’t make him any less his. Which he knew was fucked up to think or even say, but that’s how he felt. Harlow was pretty sure that going along with Wes’ idea of ‘just say something’ had majorly backfired. And that his thoughts were nothing close to healthy or sane.
None of which had anything to do with what they were currently talking about. Beyond that, he wasn’t sure what Foxx’s deal was…at least, about the case…
“Foxx…what is this really about? You aren’t a coward, and you haven’t given a damn about the strength of those we were facing before. And we’ve had worse odds, haven’t we? Also, couldn’t you do that thing you did with those ‘mafia’ vampires to them?”
“It’s not about what we have dealt with. You were healthy before. But you literally just finished physical therapy after fucking up your back! And before you mention again that I can just do that ‘thing’ I did. Well, no, I can’t!
“All werewolves have a resistance to my kind, to some extent. And while I usually can do something, even with a full moon, my bloodline powers will be useless against them tonight. They will be too strong, too empowered, for me to do anything! We should not be here. And this case is too soon! They should have sent a different pair of hunters!”
As sucky as learning all of that was…his mind still wandered elsewhere, and Harlow had to force himself to say nothing, as words completely unrelated to the case tried to bubble up. He silently stared out at the road, just listening to Foxx’s breathing, frowning at the slightly rapid pace. “Foxx…I’m going to be fine.”
“What if you’re not? What if you fuck it up again?! Worse, what if it happens in the middle of a fight, as a werewolf is trying to tear your fucking throat out?!”
“Then I die.”
Foxx inhaled sharply.
“You told me when we were talking about the trackers that you can’t live your life worrying about what could happen. Well, neither can I.” Harlow went silent for a second, before cursing and blurting out, “Foxx, why did you say no?”
The vampire spluttered. “Y-you are r-really bringing that up now?!”
“Why the fuck not? Might as well have the discussion now, since you think my bitch ass is going to get offed tonight.”
“I didn’t say I think you are going to die! I said that I think it’s stupid that they are sending you on a suicidal hunt, when you JUST got better.”
“Same damn thing. I’m healed, Foxx, and I’m human, so shit’s not really going to get any better than this. In fact, it will get worse. So, what is the fucking point in worrying about the inevitable?”
“Does it have to be inevitable?!”
“Foxx, getting old and dying is inevitable for every human.”
“Do you have to be human?!” Foxx cried out, his voice shaking.
