“Sorry to bring all this up again,” Ryu mumbled. “It doesn’t change anything, or how we feel about our daughter.”
He leaned down to kiss her forehead. I ruffled her golden hair.
“Da! Da-da!” she cried.
* * *
“Do you mind taking Angel home?”I asked Ryu after the bar closed up and we readied to leave.
“Sure. Where are you going?”
“I’m just grabbing a few things from the store. Besides, I think Angel needs a diaper change,” I commented.
Ryu took a whiff of the air and frowned. “Ugh, you’re right. I’ll see you at home then.” He paused. With a serious glance, he said, “Whatever you’re doing, don’t be too late.”
“I won’t,” I promised.
This won’t take long. I can already smell that fox a mile away.
I slipped down the street, shifting into my wolf. The scent trail was stale, but I knew the back streets of Cinderhollow better than Henry did.
There, up ahead. A single figure walked alone under the street lights. With a growl I shifted back and trailed behind him. Henry suddenly stopped, looking over his shoulder suspiciously, then gasped when he saw me.
“You again. What do you want from me?” he asked, narrowing his eyes. Then, somewhat fearfully, he added, “I already gave your kid back. Leave me alone.”
“Tell me what you know about Angel’s parents,” I demanded with a growl.
Henry’s mouth tightened. For a moment I thought I’d have to intimidate the truth out of him, but finally Henry spoke. “When I had the idea to steal her from you, I didn’t know. I was just angry and wanted you both to suffer.”
I flinched at the sharpness of his words.
“It was only after that I noticed something was wrong. Mav was too stupid to realize, and he wasn’t there most of the time anyway,” he added bitterly. “That girl knew magic. She could shift into forms she shouldn’t have been able to. I knew then she was more trouble than she was worth.”
“How so?”
Henry’s eyes flashed with annoyance but also fear. “I only knew about one shifter who was as powerful as Angel. Halo Fire-Eater.”
I felt the hot flash of recognition as Henry said his name.So he does know.
“How do you know about Halo Fire-Eater anyway?” I asked. “You only just arrived at Cinderhollow.”
Henry rolled his eyes. “My skulk has lived in the surrounding mountains for centuries. Just because Halo was born in Cinderhollow doesn’t mean we don’t have our own legends. You’re not the only ones who know about him.”
“So why didn’t you keep Angel? Why give her back if you knew how valuable she is?” I demanded.
Suddenly, Henry looked very small, and I felt like I was seeing him for what he truly was—a pathetic, cowardly man who got himself into trouble far deeper than he could deal with.
“You know he’s out there, right?” Henry said under his breath.
“Who? Halo?”
Henry winced. “Yes. And his enemies.”
I paused. “What are you talking about?”
“Halo has been in hiding for hundreds of years,” Henry said slowly. “Don’t you think it makes sense that his enemies are still out there? Why else would he still live in secret?” He paused, then added, “Why else would give up his child?”
So he doesn’t know for sure,I thought.He’s just assuming.
I’d had enough of our conversation. “Thanks for the tip,” I muttered. But before I left, I turned and added in a warning growl, “Oh, and don’t ever think about messing with my family ever again.”
Henry frowned, not saying a word, but it was clear from the anxious look on his face that he wouldn’t dare to try.
