CHAPTER SIX
The concrete beneath his feet caused James to lean to the right, the crack wide and lopsided on what used to be a sidewalk. He gestured with his left hand to the house in front of us. The use of the word ‘house’ was quite generous. He murmured, “What do you think? Hideous and desolate enough for you?”
I grunted, my tone droll. “You outdid yourself.”
He nodded and chuckled, staring up at what was once a three-story Victorian home but was reduced to shambles. Even that was a generous word for this piece of shit. He pointed to the right side of the house, and managed to say with a straight face, “At least it has a tree.”
I bent over and busted up laughing at that. I panted through my hilarity, “I’m pretty sure trees aren’t supposed to growoutof a house!”
“Well, you could always stay in that one.” He stared at the house to the right of this one, the homes part of an olden subdivision.
“Fuck that,” I mumbled quickly. That house was somehow worse than the one in front of me. I sighed heavily, resigned to my fate. “Everything is set up for me? I don’t need anything?”
James blinked. “Pretty sure the key to the house was lost. Probably around the time the front half of the house disappeared.”
I snorted. “All right, smartass. I’ll call you when I need you again. Thank you for everything. I know it was short notice.”
“Anything for a pretty lady.” He tipped his bald head to me, and then gave a quick warning before leaving, “Make sure to keep the bedroom door closed at all times. There’s wildlife around here that wouldn’t mind taking a chunk out of you. Too thin or not, they’ll eat you.”
Little did he know that I had contraband—a restored gun in my luggage with plenty of ammunition. Fuck, he probably didn’t even know what a gun was. I knew how to shoot, too. Money would buy you almost anything you wanted, and in my line of work, any added security was a must.
I waved as he left and then trudged up the weed-infested walkway to the ‘house.’ The wild plants were so enormous they brushed against my waist. I was very pleased to know I had packed the right type of clothing—tall boots, jeans, and warm sweaters. A daunting adventure didn’t even begin to describe how I’d be living from now on.
I eventually found the only remaining bedroom with four walls, a ceiling, and a solid floor. But what I saw inside chilled my soul.
A silver fox was sleeping on the bed.
I knew the other seer would be a pain in my ass.
I just hadn’t expected him this quickly. He had to have left New City right after I’d published the article. And he’d known exactly where to find me.
Fuck.
* * *
I pulled my gun out of my luggage and pointed it at the fox. “If you don’t leave right now and stay away from me, Cassander, Iwillshoot you.”
The fox peeked open one silver eye.
The shifter yawned wide, showing me his sharp teeth.
Then he closed his eye…and, apparently, went back to sleep.
Hell no. Not happening, asshole.
I set my feet and clicked off the safety. “Last warning.”
The fox didn’t move. Only his little chest pumped up and down with quiet inhales and exhales, perfectly content to ignore me.
My body jerked forward, shoved from the back, and a large, warm hand ripped my gun away from me as I fell to my knees.
I looked up and froze in place.
Theron shook the gun in the air, barking, “Cassander! Get your ass up. This problem-human was actually going to shoot your furry hide.” He narrowed his eyes at his son, who merely stretched and rolled onto his back, comfortable and lackadaisical. “I should have let your pampered ass be shot. Maybe you’d actually listen to me one day if I did.”
Another yawn from the fox. And a simple glare.
Poppy stormed into the bedroom and waggled her finger at the furry lump on the bed. “Listen to your father, damn it. He’s older and wiser and shit.”
