“A hobgoblin runs the book club,” Marduk said. “That can't be good.”
“He's the reason Imani and her flock are alive,” Pike said. “He's a good guy.”
I exchanged laughing looks with Mila as everyone began talking about Sopek, the book-loving hobgoblin.
I suddenly realized I had a community that fully accepted me. I was introduced because of Mila, but I was here because they liked me also.
“You seem happy,” Danzig whispered into my ear.
“It took me a while,” I said. “But I've finally found my place.”
Marduk
I could tell that Bec was enjoying the hell out of talking to everyone at the table. Her earlier moment of sadness was long gone. It almost made her interest in the book club worth it. Unsurprisingly, my lack of enthusiasm about Sopek led to a table-wide discussion among the diverse and mildly crazy group of book lovers.
“I know what you're thinking,” Arthur said. He was on the opposite side of the table as me and speaking softly, but I could hear him, and he knew it.
I lifted an eyebrow at him. “Oh?”
The vampire gave me a mildly evil grin. “You’re thinking that we’re crazy to let our humans hang around Sopek. Wait until your precious human makes friends with something extremely dangerous.”
That made me think of Ysabelle. My thoughts must’ve shown on my face because Arthur chuckled.
“I see you already know what I mean,” he said. “Keep in mind, whoever she’s already met, she’ll probably meet and make friends with other extremely powerful creatures. Our humans seem drawn to them.”
I rubbed my forehead, feeling a headache developing.
“Thanks,” I muttered and the bastard had the audacity to laugh.
Chapter 14
Bec
I wanted to walk around after dinner so Jack suggested I explore the property. He promised it was safe, and we could go any place that didn't have a locked gate or door.
Mila and her men had already left to tour the industrial kitchen in one of the houses. The night was too perfect to be inside.
No one was surprised when Danzig and Marduk got up from the table and walked with me. It wasn't long until we were in an orange grove that was full of flowers and the air was heavy with the sweet scent of their blooms. I was used to seeing annual crops, like corn and soybeans. Fruit producing trees were a novelty.
“This must take so much work,” I marveled.
“Skyler is a nymph,” Danzig said. “She can commune with the ground and the plants. She’s the reason everything around heregrows so well. Someone told me that the first time they visited this place, she drove all the gophers out of this grove.”
Marduk shifted from foot to foot as I looked around, as if he was uncomfortable.
“What’s wrong?” I asked him. “Are you allergic to something here?”
“We’re not allergic to anything,” Danzig said. “He’s feeling restless.”
My gaze bounced between the two of them. “Restless?”
“It’s been a while since I’ve slid into my scales,” Marduk said. He looked down at his feet and toed a bit of soil. “This is my favorite kind of ground to slither over.”
“And this a good place,” Danzig said. He pointed, and I followed his finger to see a massive gray wolf staring at us. I’d never seen a wolf outside of a nature documentary or a zoo. It was alarming to see intense, predatory eyes focused on me.
I froze.
I’d never thought I’d know what it was like to feel like a rabbit. Now I did, and I didn’t like it!
