“Yes. I graduated in late May, and some savings kept me financially afloat through summer, but I’ve been sleeping in my car for about three months—saving up for an apartment. I had plans to travel, so it’s not a bigdeal.”
When Jen got back from Europe, we were going to move in together. Until then, I was going to be a car-sleeping hippie and see the country. But Logan couldn’t let itgo.
He pressed. “Your mother passed, but do you have anyone else? An aunt?Cousins?”
Way to shine a light on my shitty family-less life,buddy.
“No. I’m all alone in this cruel world,” I saiddramatically.
He smiled. “Right. Sorry. Umm, the first set of hunters that came for you. Were they the same ones we killed a few days ago? When we found you in thewoods?”
I shook my head. “No. The first set found me a couple hours after I had first transformed. I had stolen clothes from a nearby ranger station at the canyon, and when I came out they were there. They wore olive green army fatigues and had that weird glowing redknife.”
Logan looked distressed; his brow furrowed as he pinned me with a gaze. “You’re sure this was a different set ofguys?”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m an artist. I do faces for a living. One guy had a big red beard and scar over his eye. The other was bald, and the third was a female with blackhair.”
Logan cursed. “Start the car. Let’s get out ofhere.”
Chills ran up my arms. “Why, what’swrong?”
Logan stared out into the dark cold night. “Those hunters that you lost up at the Grand Canyon will still be looking for you. How did you getaway?”
I sighed, throwing the car into drive. “Iflew.”
Logan’s eyes bugged out as he gave me directions to the ranch house. “You flew! I haven’t flown in years.” He soundedenvious.
I shrugged. “I panicked. I still wasn’t one hundred percent sure that I hadn’t accidentally dropped acid orsomething.”
Logan chuckled. “I’m sorry about before. It’s hard for me and the others to grasp what it must be like for you. I can understand your wanting toleave.”
Guilt gnawed at me. These guys had saved my life, and twice now I had tried to figure out how to ditch them. “I’m not going anywhere,” I told him, and was rewarded with a sexygrin.
“Is it because I gave you a hundred grand? I was hoping that would make you guilty enough not to leave us,” hesaid.
Hah! I laughed a genuine laugh that felt rare in these dark days. “Is that real? The money. I mean, I don’t even know how she will get it into my account. I only gave her my first and lastname.”
Logan chuckled. “Eva can find out anything. The money will bethere.”
What the...? For real? I couldn’t even process a hundred grand. “But … I mean, shouldn’t I share it with youguys?”
I careened my car onto the I-40 and made my way out of Flagstaff and into the direction of NewMexico.
He winked. “You can share the nextone.”
“The next one!” My skin hurt just thinking aboutit.
Logan nodded. “That’s how I keep the pack and myself employed. Scales, talon clippings, and evenurine.”
I gasped. “You sell yourpee?”
He grinned. “You will too once you see how much it’s worth to the magicalcommunity.”
Well, I guess it was better thanstripping.
“Blood?” Iqueried.
Logan paled. “Never give your blood to asorcerer.”
