“You’re an investment, Violet. I’m a friend.” Simon turns toward a nearby house. “Come on. I need to find something to wear.” Heat rises to my cheeks, and I refuse to look down at the naked lycanthrope in front of me. He smiles, sensing my turmoil. “Am I your first naked man?”
“What?” I clear my throat. “I’ve seen plenty of naked men,” I lie.
Simon’s laugh echoes off the bricks of the fort. “You’re a terrible liar.” We move to the garden entrance of the house, spotting a clothesline full of button-down shirts and work pants. “You’re faster than me. Can you…”
Before he has time to finish, I’m in the garden area, pulling a pair of jeans and a plaid shirt off the line. I’m back over the fence, leaving no clues of my theft. “I hope this works. I didn’t have time to be picky.”
“These are perfect,” he answers, sliding into the thread-worn clothes.
“How are we getting to Savannah?”
“I’m going to have to call in a favor,” he answers, buttoning the top button on his shirt. “Let’s go.” He laces my hand through his elbow, leading me away from the city and into a less populated area.
We walk several miles before turning onto a narrow gravel road. “Is this you calling in a favor?” I ask.
Simon stops walking. “Yes,” he whispers. “We’resurrounded,” he adds. “Don’t make any quick movements.”
“I don’t feel anything,” I whisper back.
“You will.” A howl sounds to my right, drawing my attention into the sparse vegetation. Another sounds from my left, bringing the hairs on my arm to attention. Just as Simon said, a rush of energy hits me in the chest. It’s the same as his, only stronger and more of it. “Let me do the talking,” he warns.
“Look what the bat dragged in,” a man says, stepping out of seemingly nowhere.
“The prodigal wolf has returned,” his twin says, moving to his side. “Looks like he’s brought a vamp with him.” He raises his head high in the air. “She smells new.”
“Where’s my father?” Simon asks.
The men laugh in creepy unison. “Oh, now you need us?”
“I’m not doing this.” Simon wraps a protective arm around my shoulder, ushering me away from the Bobbsey twins and further down the road.
The men run in front of us. “Don’t make us stop you, brother.”
Brother?
“I’d like to see you try,” Simon retorts. The twins shift into matching wolves a heartbeat later, and Simon copies their move. Their growls echo off the dense forest. I have no idea what I’m supposed to do other than stand there and watch.
“Boys!” a loud voice pierces the animal noise. “What the hell are you doing?” Out of nowhere appears the largest man I’ve ever seen. He’s wearing a button-down shirt that’s barely big enough to cover his body. Most of the buttons are pulled tighter than Carol’s chastity belt.
All three wolves immediately stop, staring at the oversized man. The twins shift back into human form, their faces looking down in submission. Simon follows suit.
“What’s the meaning of this?” the man asks.
“Simon brought a vamp to our home,” one of the twins answers.
The large man looks between the three lycan, then over to me. He steps closer, sniffing the air around me. A large hand extends toward me, and a warm smile replaces the scowl that covered his face moments earlier. “Gideon Ward.”
I lay my hand inside of his, shaking gently. “Violet Du Four.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Violet.” He turns toward Simon. “No matter what’s brought you home, I’m thankful you’re here.”
“We need your help,” Simon answers.
“Of course he does,” one of the twins responds.
“That’s enough, Samuel,” Gideon reprimands before turning back toward Simon. “Whatever you need, son.”
Son? I stare at the giant lycanthrope before turning toward the annoying twins.
