Page 101 of Saber Stalked


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“Right as rain, puffin,” he winks at me. “Faylor seems to be okay too. She hasn’t been here very long.”

I smile at him.

“What’s the second question?” Keres prompts.

“Oh, yeah,” I wink. “Why do you call me puffin?”

Rand grins. “It’s a term of endearment. To be sure. I could call you sugar, or honey, or sweet cakes, but those are all empty calories if you think about it. What does that say about a relationship when you call your significant other - basically - empty calories? I might as well call you potato chip. Or bacon grease. Like, you’re not good enough for me to be nutritious or anything. But apuffin, now that’s a term of endearment. That’s an animal that’s not only cute as a button but mates for life. They’re sweet birds but will fight like hell for their family. I think it suits you. And sure beats the hell out of calling you a beaver.”

I snort-laugh. “Good point. Listen, I’m going to get you out of here in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. Me and Dr. Crazy Pants will head back to the middle of this room and have a very loud discussion. I need you and Faylor to lay flat on the ground, if you can, in case Dr. Crazy Pants starts firing with her brand-new Glock-9.”

“Why do you keep narrating what you’re doing?” Keres tilts her head, then walks up beside me and yanks the earwig out of my ear. She tosses it on the ground and stomps on it.

“Hey! That’s expensive equipment you just destroyed!”

“I can’t have the goddamn cavalry coming in and ruining our conversation,” Keres cackles and shoves the gag back into Rand’s mouth.

My eyes dart right, then left, giving him a silent signal. He nods.

Keres turns back to me, and I get a good look in her eyes for the first time. “You’re deranged. Keres. Or should I call you Jankowski?”

She waves the handgun around. “Call me Morta.”

“Death?”

“Oh, as smart as your boyfriend here,” her eyes gleam. “I almost feel bad about ending your lives. Almost.”

I back up toward the center of the room, keeping my eyes on my former therapist. “Aren’t you afraid of how Dash will react when you kill me?”

“He’ll be sad for a little while, but I’ll help him through it.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Because we’re fated mates!”

I choke out a laugh. “What is this? A paranormal romance?”

She gives me a half-shrug. “Doesn’t matter what you think about it. Dash and I are destined to be together.”

“Has anyone told him that? Why don’t you hit play on that recorder?”

She does. Dash’s voice comes through loud and clear.“Yes, Lina. It’s Fate. We’re destined to be together. No jackass men and no temporary women will stand in our way.”

“You believe it’s fate that we met?”

“Not fate that we met. THE Fates decided we’re to be together. You and me. The Moirai decided we should be together.”

“Lies!” Dr. Crazy Pants screams as she throws the recorder onto the floor and stomps on it.

“That doesn’t sound like he’s your fated mate,” I smile. “It sounds like he’s in love with me, and you’re just doing the dirty work. Temporary woman, I believe he called you.”

“Stop saying that,” Keres screams in my face.

“What? That it’s Fate?”

“You don’t know the first thing about Fate!” Keres screams again, tugging her hair with her free hand.

“Educate me.”