The wail of sirens grew louder. Moments later, fire trucks roared up the street, lights painting the night in flashes of red and white. Firefighters poured out, moving swiftly and efficiently, but even I could see the flames had consumed too much. The bakery was dying before our eyes.
A human male named Harold, the fire chief, approached us after conferring with Craig. His face was grim, streaked with sweat. "I'm sorry, Ruby," he said, his voice heavy with regret. "We'll do what we can, but I'm afraid it's going to be a total loss."
Ruby's arms tightened around Teddy, but she nodded, jaw set with the same determination I'd seen in her son. She was trying to be strong for him, but tears shimmered in her eyes.
Bartholomeus materialized beside us, his usual calm composure troubled. "This is terrible. I wonder if there was something wrong with one of the ovens—perhaps faulty wiring or—" I knew he looked for an accidental culprit, but he was wrong.
"No." The word came out hard and angry, cutting through his speculation like a knife, causing everyone to turn to look at me. "It wasn't an accident."
"What do you mean?" Craig asked sharply, his peacekeeper instincts immediately alert.
"I smelled accelerant when I was inside. Shuttle fuel. Someone set this fire deliberately."
The silence that followed was absolute. Even the crackling flames seemed to fade.
"Are you certain?" Craig's voice was tight, controlled, but I could see fury building behind his eyes.
"I'm certain." My kind's sense of smell was far superior to human capabilities. "This was arson."
Craig's jaw clenched, hand moving instinctively to rest on the blaster holstered at his belt. "But why? Who would want to..."
"I don't understand," Mei interrupted, stepping closer to Ruby. "Ruby, you're beloved in this town. Everyone adores you and your bakery. It doesn't make any sense. Why would someone want to hurt you?"
Ruby shook her head, looking lost and small in a way I'd never seen her before. "I don't know. I can't think of anyone who would..." Her voice broke, and she pressed her face against Teddy's mane, breathing him in.
Bartholomeus frowned, mind clearly working through possibilities. "Perhaps it wasn't personal. Could it have been random? An accident?"
"With shuttle fuel?" I growled, the sound rumbling deep in my chest. "That's not something you stumble across. Someone planned this."
Craig pulled out his comm device, expression hardening. "I'm opening a formal investigation. I'll need to interview everyone with access to shuttle fuel, anyone who might have had a grudge, anyone who's been acting suspicious." He looked at Ruby, his gaze softening. "I know this is hard, but I'll need you to think about anyone—customers, suppliers, anyone at all—who might have seemed off lately."
"I can help," I offered, knowing I wouldn't be able to stand by while my mate and child were at risk. "I have experience in the intelligence field. Pattern recognition, threat assessment, and interrogation techniques." I met Craig's eyes steadily. "I'll help you find who did this."
Craig studied me for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "I won't turn down the assistance. Especially not from someone with your particular skill set."
Mei stepped forward, expression soft with concern. "In the meantime, Ruby and Teddy need somewhere to stay." She glanced at Bartholomeus, who nodded immediately. "You can come home with us until we figure out something more permanent."
"Actually," Craig interjected, "I've got a three-bedroom house, and I live alone. There's plenty of room, and it might be easier for the investigation if you're close by."
"No." The word came out hard, possessive, absolute. I moved closer to Ruby and Teddy, my tail curling protectively around them both, drawing them into my space. Instinct surged through my chest like a physical force, something wild and untamable. "They'll stay with me."
Craig's eyebrows rose. "Cristox, the guest house is barely big enough for—"
"If someone is trying to hurt Ruby and Teddy, they need protection." I met his gaze without flinching. "And I will keep them safe."
Ruby lifted her head from Teddy's hair, eyes searching my face. For a moment, I thought she might argue, might insist on maintaining her independence despite everything. But then something shifted in her expression—acceptance, maybe, or trust, or perhaps just exhaustion—and she simply leaned into my embrace, letting me take the weight.
I held them both tighter, my mate and my cub, my tail securing them against me, and silently dared anyone to try to take them from me.
Chapter 10
Ruby
The fire chief's report came back three days after the blaze.
I sat at the kitchen table in the guesthouse, hands wrapped around a mug of tea I hadn't touched, while Craig laid out the findings. His face was grim, mouth set in a hard line that made the scar on his chin stand out white against his tanned skin.
"Accelerant," he said, tapping the document with a blunt finger. "Poured all over the first floor. The trail leads from the back door through the kitchen, the dining area, and halfway up the stairs. Whoever did this wanted it to burn hot and fast."
