Page 15 of Caligo

“Thanks, man, but I think we’re going to head back into town,” Jasper answered for both of us.

Beau pulled Jasper in for one of their intricate bro hugs. “Suit yourself. More beer for me. Catch you later, Ava!” He waggled his fingers at me and took off into the budding twilight.

Jasper pulled me close as we walked to the parking lot, kissing the top of my head. “You did really good today, baby.”

I leaned into his touch, finding comfort in his body. “Thanks. I happen to have a pretty good teacher.”

He sighed heavily. “Even if he reminds you about stuff you don’t want to think about?”

I stopped and pulled away from him. “I knew what I was getting into when I asked you to train me. This situation happens to be accelerating the timeline, but danger would have happened at one point or another.” I ran my hands over the delicate skull tattoos on his hands. “Memento Mori,” I murmured under my breath.

He stared deeply into my eyes, shaking his head. “You really were born for this.”

I was beginning to think that myself, but it still made me feel good to hear it from him. I leaned over to kiss him, but was interrupted by my cell ringing. Mouthing an apology to Jasper, I lifted the phone to my ear. I had been doing better at keeping my cell charged, but hadn’t been so good at staying in contact. I was reminded of this when I heard Mollie’s voice on the other end of my phone.

“Girl! I know you’re in the honeymoon phase, and I totally get that. But please, please, please tell me you two are coming to my holiday party!” Mollie’s voice was full of excitement.

Shit. Christmas.With all the commotion going on in our lives, I hadn’t even had a moment to focus on the holidays fast approaching. I knew Christmas was soon, but shopping hadn’t been at the top of my priority list -- and neither was Mollie’s party. I slapped my hand to my forehead and tried to sound like I hadn’t forgotten all about it. “Of course, we’ll be there! What day did you decide again?”

“Friday. You know, Christmas Eve,” she answered dryly. “I’m on break and I don’t have a lot of time, but don’t forget!” Her voice was sweet, but I heard the implied threat behind it.

“I won’t, Mollie. I promise.”

“Good. Okay, gotta go, love you!”

The line went dead before I could respond, and I pocketed my phone again, shaking my head at my best friend.

Jasper picked up my hand again. “What was all that about?”

“Mollie’s holiday party. You know, for Christmas. Which is this weekend, and I’m completely unprepared.”

Jasper peeked at me out of the corner of his eye. “Uh huh. So why does a holiday party make you look like you’re about to cry, but the thought of possibly dying in your new career doesn’t?”

I gulped in breaths, trying to calm myself. “I haven’t spoken to my parents since I hung up on my dad. I’m really hoping they aren’t planning on coming here and pretending we’re some big happy family right now. But also, if they don’t come, do I sit at home eating Doritos on Christmas Day?”

I could picture the day now -- sitting on my couch with Betty, both of us stained with orange dust. “No. We spend Christmas together. If you want more excitement, then we could always invite the boys over. Or if you want less, then you could come meet my mom,” he said casually, as if he hadn’t just dropped one of the biggest bombshells.

His mom? I tried to remain calm. “Oh. Um. Okay. What does your mom know about me? I thought she didn’t live around here.”Does she know I’m human? Does she know I’m a Venator? Does she know who my parents are?Unspoken questions raced through my mind. Doritos with Betty were looking better by the second.

Jasper smiled reassuringly. “She doesn’t, she lives in Chicago. And she knows enough. But we don’t have to think about meeting my mom right now. Mainly because I’m starving. Get your fine ass in the car so I can make us some dinner.”

Chapter 5

Thankfully, Jasper was a great cook. Which was great because the one time I had tried to make him a casserole ended with the smoke detector going off and us ordering pizza. But even his perfect spaghetti couldn’t pull me out of my funk. I pouted through dinner. And the washing up. I still hadn’t gotten over the holiday thing by the time we sat down on the couch together. Jasper was right. I was facing imminent danger, and I was more concerned about who I would be eating Christmas dinner with. Luckily, I had bought a few presents last month, but my mind had been firmly on training the last few weeks.

I tried to focus on my work as Jasper researched our unknown wolf friend. But there had been too much going on today, and the words were becoming blurry on my screen in front of me. I slammed the lid of my computer down, rubbing my eyes. Jasper absentmindedly rubbed his hand along my calves where they rested in his lap. “Everything okay?”

“I can’t think about work right now,” I complained.

Jasper set down the tablet he had been researching on. “So, don’t.” He swung my legs off of his lap and walked into my kitchen. I buried my face in a throw pillow. How did I manage all of this insane shit in my life on a day to day basis, and yet I was going to let a stupid holiday unravel me? I needed to pull myself together. I was supposed to be a Venator, for Christ’s sake.

“Here. Drink.” I peeked out from behind my pillow mask. Jasper stood beside me holding two double shot glasses of whiskey, one considerably fuller than the other. At least I hoped it was whiskey.

He passed me the fuller one, and waited for me to take a long sip. “Better?” he asked, and I nodded.

“Thank you,” I told him as he sat down beside me on the couch again, pulling me into his lap. He looked as worried as I felt, and I wondered if he had found new information. “Any good research tonight?”

“No, nothing.” Jasper took a swig of his own drink and closed his eyes. “None of this is adding up. I want to understand what we’re actually up against, so I can train you appropriately. And with the limits the pack put on me, I’m stuck with the fucking Internet.”

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