Hunter's Trail

Will and Dashiell exchanged an unreadable look. “Give us a moment,” Dashiell said carelessly.

“Of course,” I responded. “I’ll take Shadow outside. But,” I added boldly, “do me a favor and conference in Kirsten. She deserves a say in this too.” And I limped out of the room, with as much dignity as I could manage.

Shadow went slowly out to the yard with me, being patient with my cane. She pooped on the cobblestone driveway, right in front of one of Dashiell’s cars, and looked up at me guiltily. “Good girl,” I told her.

When we got back inside, Dashiell looked grim. He pointed to the chair, and I braced myself for a smackdown, possibly physical. But he said, in a cold voice, “Fine. We agree to the partnership, the health insurance, and the bonus for your knee. But no team. Instead, you’ll take Corry on as your official apprentice, and the two of you are a package deal.”

I took a deep breath. It still felt wrong, making decisions for someone else. But Corry had asked to be a part of the Old World, and helping the werewolves last night had seemed almost . . . good for her. “She gets paid $10 an hour, and works nights and weekends only,” I negotiated. “And when she turns eighteen, she gets to decide whether to keep working for you or not. If she says no, you let her go with your blessing.”

Dashiell arched an eyebrow. “If we’re going to pay her, you won’t get a raise.”

“I can live with that,” I said firmly, looking him in the eye. “But if Corry’s going to work for you, her mother needs to be able to know about the Old World.”

And to my eternal surprise, Dashiell did something I’d never seen from him: he full-on grinned at me, a natural unguarded smile. If I hadn’t known better, I’d say he was . . . proud of me. “Sounds like we have a deal,” he said levelly.

And we did.

Epilogue

Tuesday. Moving day.

Shadow trotted at my heels as I limped around Molly’s house collecting my things. There were a lot more of them than I remembered, and it was a little sad, having to tear my belongings away from their homes in the kitchen drawers and on the movie shelf. Molly had mysteriously procured a bunch of boxes from somewhere and left them out for me. I went around the house and filled them up, leaving them where they sat so Eli could come carry them out to his truck when he arrived in a few hours. I had hoped Molly herself would wake up to make an appearance, but although I kept popping into range of her, she never emerged from her room. I wasn’t sure if I had fully burned that bridge, but it did seem to need some repair.

At ten thirty, the doorbell rang, and Shadow went into an immediate stalking pose. “No, Shadow,” I cautioned. “First we see who it is, then we eat them.” She tilted her head at me in a classic “I know you’re trying to communicate, but I’m a dog” pose, and I laughed and limped toward the door.

I opened the door. It was Jesse. Wearing, of all things, an immaculate suit and tie. “Um, hey,” I offered. “I didn’t expect to see you.” We hadn’t spoken since the night of the full moon.

I realized, with a pang of sorrow, that I had missed him.

“It’s Tuesday,” Jesse reminded me, hands in his pockets. “I promised to take you to see the surgeon.”

“Oh. Right,” I said lamely. I’d forgotten the appointment. “I didn’t think you were still gonna . . .”

Jesse shrugged. “I swore on my honor,” he said simply. “And I’d like to keep whatever I have left.”

I eyed his clothes. “Is this a particularly fancy doctor, or are you also planning to tell me about Jesus my Lord and Savior?”

He smoothed down the tie self-consciously. “I have an interview later today. Didn’t know if I’d have time to stop and change.” I opened my mouth to ask if the interview was for Homicide Special, but he gave me a tiny head shake and said, “Get your coat, we need to go.”

I put Shadow in the megacrate Dashiell had sent me and got my jacket. When I returned to the door, Jesse was staring at the half-packed boxes. “I heard Eli was back. You moving in with him?” he asked, his voice detached.

“Just for a bit, until I can find a new place. One that allows really big dogs.”

“Are you referring to Shadow or Eli?” he asked innocently.

I swatted him on the arm, and Jesse smiled faintly. “He really loves you, doesn’t he?” There was sadness in his voice, and bitterness, and pain.

I looked up at him. “There are different kinds of love,” I said quietly. “His is the kind I need right now.”

Jesse nodded silently, stepping aside so I could make it through the doorway. I started to scoot past him, but impulsively stopped, brushing dust off on the back of my jeans. I met his eyes and held out my hand. “Friends?” I asked.

He shook my hand, a ghost of a smile on his beautiful face. “Partners, dummy,” he corrected. “Come on, I’ll race you to the car.”