“Mosavi changed her.”
“How do you know?”
“I uh… saw it in a dream,” I said, trying to speak over the volume of the music.
He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes.
“Don’t look at me like that. I know it was one of her visions. She wanted me to see their history.”
“I wouldn’t trust it.”
The music shifted to something with a tango beat, and the two came alive, commanding the dance floor. Her lithe body twirled and contorted to the seductive music, all while leaving a trail of lace and mist. Mosavi was just as graceful, but more masculine and rigid as he handled her, leading her around the black-lit tiles.
He was so refined, but grabbed her with bestial passion, both of them matching every movement as though they had rehearsed this dance all their lives.
“If she’s controlling him, this could be really bad.”
“She’s not.” I walked back my confidence as I’d found myself asking that same question not long ago. “Just talk to her for a little while, and you’ll see. She’s not like that witch I saw in that vision. If you’ve met one, then you know what I’m talking about.”
Darryl stared pensively at the woman, stroking the thicker fur on his chin. “She’s the first witch I’ve ever met.”
“Then how do you know how they are?”
“I read a lot, Cody.” He patted my back and looked around the room. “Where the hell did Roscoe go?”
“He heard something about tacos and that was the last I saw of him.”
“I swear he never stops eating.”
“I worry about him.” I turned toward Darryl, breaking brief but uncomfortable eye contact with the mayor. “It’s almost like he can’t control himself.”
“He’s always had a couple screws loose. He didn’t eat this much when he was using. Have you tried talking to him about it?”
“I’ve tried, but he shuts me down in the typical Roscoe way. Plus, if he can’t remember his past, therapy’s kind of pointless.”
Darryl let out a slight hum. “I think he still remembers on a subconscious level. No one just forgets the entire first half oftheir lives unless something really bad happened. I mean, Austin was shot, and he hasn’t forgotten.” Darryl shook his head. “I wish he could forget that, though.”
We both turned our attention to a bewildered-looking armored bear with Adam clinging to his back like a child. His eyes were still blue, but they were slowly fading back to normal.
“He looks really cute in that. It’s funny. You’re both the biggest werewolves here and you both have the cutest costumes.”
“There’s only so many things a werewolf can dress up as. A great white shark man and a—” Darryl glanced at Austin again. “Whatever-the-hell that is.”
“I think Adam called it a Pawlibear.”
The half-turn that was once clinging to the back of the costume slid down to the floor. He rubbed his head while slowly making his way to the punch bowl.
“I wonder if he’s sick.”
“Nah. I have a feeling. It’s kinda why I’m here.”
“You think he’s going to finally turn tonight?”
Darryl shrugged. “The odds are good. It’s a full moon, and he looks like he’s ready, but it could happen next week, for all I know.”
The music stopped, and the crowd cheered. Willa sent the mayor away, and her eyes connected with Darryl’s as she flitted across the room to our table.
“Why in the world are you two just sitting here?” she asked, sliding into the seat before turning her attention to me. “Where’s Roscoe?”
