Lucian raised a brow. “Right. Because you are not stubborn yourself.”
“I’m not the one who-”
“Do you want to see the truck?”
Solomon’s voice intervened in their brewing argument again. He stood by the engine Mira had been admiring earlier, one hand resting on the polished red surface. Mira hesitated, clearly torn between continuing her fight with Lucian and genuine curiosity. Fortunately, curiosity won.
“Fine.” She shot Lucian one last glare before crossing to Solomon. “But only because I actually want to know things. Not because you’re distracting me.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Solomon’s voice was dry, but I caught the ghost of satisfaction in his expression. He guided her around the truck, pointing out compartments and equipment. “Pierce Arrow XT. Custom built. Carries eight hundred gallons of water.”
She leaned closer to examine what he was showing her, asking a question I couldn’t quite catch. His hand moved to the small of her back as he answered.
Then I caught movement in my peripheral vision. Danny and a few of the other guys had drifted closer again, watching Mira with a little too much interest as she peered into one of the equipment compartments. When she bent forward, I saw Torres elbow Jenkins with a grin.
The playfulness drained out of me in an instant.
I pinned them with a look. Nothing friendly about it that they suddenly found the ceiling very interesting.
That’s what I thought.
Grabbing the helmet from where Mira had set it down, I crossed to her. She barely had time to turn before I plopped it on her head, tucking her hair underneath the rim.
“What are you-”
“Time to go.” I tugged the helmet down over her head until it sat crooked, the visor covering her nose instead of her eyes. “Say goodbye to the nice firefighters.”
“Percy, I can’t see anything!”
“Perfect. No peeking. The route is a surprise.”
Solomon was already moving. His hand closed around her wrist, firm but gentle, and he started guiding her toward the exit. She stumbled slightly, reaching out blindly with her free hand.
“I will whack you on the head,” she said, but she let him lead her. “I have functional legs.”
“No one’s questioning your legs.” Solomon steered her around a tool cart with practiced ease. “Just your visibility.”
“Which one of you geniuses caused!”
I fall into step beside Lucian as we follow them out. Mira grabs at the helmet, and Solomon calmly removes her hand. She tries again. He removes it again. This happens three more timesbefore she gives up with a huff, letting him guide her through the bay doors.
“You know what’s a better way to get fresh air?” I called out to her. “Shopping. New scenery, actual stores, clothes that fit.”
My wolf snarls at me.Traitor.He wants her in my clothes forever, and honestly, so do I. But she can’t live in my oversized shirts indefinitely, no matter how good she looks in them. Practical concerns and all that.
Also, it was a good excuse to get out of here.
“Shopping,” Lucian repeated flatly beside me. “After this disaster.”
“It wasn’t a disaster.”
“Half the crew spent the last hour trying to get her attention.”
I gritted my teeth. “Fine. The firehouse wasn’t my best idea.”
“Clearly.”
I frown at him. We push through the exit into the afternoon sun. Solomon stands on the sidewalk, still holding Mira’s wrist, waiting for us. She’s wearing that ridiculous oversized helmet, the visor sitting crooked so it covers her nose instead of her eyes, looking thoroughly unimpressed despite the fact that she can’t actually see anything.
