“You’re like my little brother,” I said, scooting my chair next to him. “You can be a real pain in the ass, but I still love you. I don’t want you to leave, and I don’t want anything bad to happen to you. Either of you.”
“I always thought you were this lame nag, always bossing us around.”
I smiled, waiting for him to finish, but he just looked at me.
“But?”
“But what?” he asked. “You’re a lame nag, always bossing us around.” I let out an annoyed groan, and he wrapped his thicker arm around me. “But I still love you, and I don’t want anything bad to happen to you either.” He pulled away and scratched his head. “Would you even be considered a big brother now that I’m taller than you? You’re the new pipsqueak of the house.”
“Thanks,” I muttered, then jumped out of the chair when Roscoe yelled something incomprehensible from inside.
He screamed again, and I dashed through the door, nearly colliding with him as he frantically flailed about.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I asked, trying to grab his arm, but he kept running in circles, covering his crotch.
“Bad idea! Baaaad idea!” He ran into the bathroom and turned on the tap before shoving his dick under the faucet. It looked like he had painted it with red and white stripes using gel food coloring. “Oh my God! That’s worse!” He pulled away and ran back into the bedroom, leaving behind a strong scent trail of peppermint.
“What did you do, Roscoe?”
“I wanted to make ya a candy caa-aane.”
“Did you pour peppermint oil on yourself?”
Roscoe nodded with a whine.
“You really are an idiot.”
“Ye-e-e-eees!” Roscoe cried out with tears in his eyes. “It won’t stop burnin’! Help!”
“Good thing it’s just oil. Get in the shower, I’ll go grab the dish soap.”
Chapter 30
Hunger
The weather couldn’t have been more perfect for November. The air was crisp but not frigid, and the sky was a solid sapphire blue whenever we’d step into a clearing. The forest was thick in some places and thinning into small, grassy meadows in others. Austin and Roscoe carried supplies for trade on their backs while Adam and I brought along all our necessities. We each wore an enchanted stone just in case of unwanted encounters, but there hadn’t been a trace of anyone for hours. No witches, no werewolves. Even the birds were quiet. The only sounds were our heavy footsteps and the wind rustling through the colorful canopy.
“Maybe they only come out at night, like last time,” I said, turning to Roscoe in time to see him lick drool away from the corners of his mouth. “Don’t even think about it.”
“It’s all Icanthink about. Maybe a little snack cake’ll tide me over.” He gave the air a sniff and reached for Austin’s bag. The larger werewolf growled and jerked away. “C’mon, just one.”
“No. One turns into ten with you.” I patted Austin on the back. The one good thing to come of this magic was how well he obeyed the command to not allow Roscoe near his bag.
“Ugh. Blood sugar’s so low. I’m gonna pass out.”
“Oh, stop with the theatrics. You ate an hour ago. If you’re that hungry, go hunt a deer or something. You know, like a werewolfshouldbe able to do.”
“Then I’d have to skin it, butcher it, build a fire—” Roscoe let out a sigh. “I didn’t bring my spices.”
“Can’t you just eat it the way it is?” I asked. Roscoe wrinkled his nose, pretending to gag. “You’re supposed to be a bloodthirsty monster.”
“In the bedroom,” Roscoe added. “I ain’t killing and eating a whole deer without cookin’ it. I ain’tthathungry.”
“That’s gross, Cody,” Adam said from behind.
“What the hell—”
“Yeah,” Roscoe interrupted. “You go kill a deer and eat it like an animal if that’s what gets you goin’.”
