Page 100 of Junkyard Dog

Charlotte took a step back, steadying her light as Seph lifted one hand from the ground, a fragile vine wrapped around her fingers and inched its way along her delicate wrist.

Watching the vine while tiny buds began to form, Persephone eased more of it from the sand. “There was no spark in his eyes when he was home,” she mused, flicking one bud open. “Complete detachment. Except for the brief moment he thought he saw you down there.” Tiny pink flowers emerged along the growing vine and Persephone stood. “You’re the only thing Alex has ever deemed worthy of raising above all else. Above my wishes. Above Hades’s commands. Above his brothers.”

“We were nothing more than tem—”

“Temporary? A fling?” Seph laughed, holding the vine out for Charlotte’s inspection. “Honey, I’m the daughter of Zeus. I know a fling when I see one.” She steadied her hand as Charlotte reached out to touch the delicate flowers. “That boy has had flings with more goddesses and women than even I care to think about. And I’m the goddess of fertility. But this? Honey, he’s risking everything he is and everything he’s known for nothing more than a kind word from you.”

The vine continued to pile at their feet, stretching out across the sand. “Why are you here?”

Persephone knelt down, grasping the vine from the base and crushing it in her fist, staring at it as it browned and shriveled. “This is what we’re doing to Alex. He’ll be tied to us forever through his birthright, but it’s time we lengthen his leash. And I can think of no better woman to pass him to than one who held her own against a feral Pirithous.” She passed Charlotte the dead plant and brushed her hands on her skirt.

“Tell him I’ll take care of Hades, but I expect frequent visits.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder. “We’re all that’s holding him back. What’s holding you?”

Charlotte’s mouth opened to respond, snapping shut when the woman vanished, leaving her alone in the desert with a dead plant.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Alex skidded toa stop when he hit the top of the ridge, dust kicking up around him as he scanned the area for midnight hikers. Satisfied he was alone, he padded to his SUV, panting heavily from the exertion of his run but determined to make it home before Charlotte called.

If she called.

He hadn’t intended to find her when he’d left the tavern. His plan had been simple—avoid thinking about her for a few hours by indulging in a little freedom. A quick run, a bit of exploring, maybe a rabbit for dessert.

The fact his preferred hunting grounds happened to coincide with Charlotte’s preferred route was purely coincidental.

He took another look around before he transformed, yanking the hatch of the SUV open and grabbing his clothes from his backpack.

As long as she was willing to talk to him, he had a shot.

His stomach rumbled as he drove through the park, a reminder of his failed mission to secure a bite to eat. Double-checking that his phone was charging, he tore onto the highway, watching for signs of a small coupe making its way back to town until he found a fast food drive-through on the main strip.

It wasn’t rabbit, but the burger would have to do.

Tossing the food wrappers onto the floor, he punched in the gate code and inched through the trailer park to his site, one eye on his cell until he was inside.

Inside and staring at his silent phone.

Minutes passed, the first hour creeping by at a snail’s pace.

Knowing he wouldn’t be able to sleep as long as the possibility of her call hung over him, he stripped down and hopped into the shower, keeping his phone within reach.

The shampoo was circling the drain when it rang. Scrambling to dry his hands off, he tapped the green icon. “Hey,” he called out over the din of the shower water.

The line was quiet for a moment before her voice came over the speaker. “You sound busy.”

Slamming the tap off, he wrapped a towel around his hips and grabbed another off the hook for his hair. “Just washing the desert off,” he replied, moving his phone to his bed so he could get dressed.

“Oh.” She laughed, a strange nervousness in her voice. “I thought you were at the bar or something.”

“Nope,” he said, pulling his boxers on. “Just killing time around here pretending not to be staring at the clock on my cell.” He hung up the towels and rifled around the bathroom for his brush. “I’m glad you called.”

She hummed. “I didn’t know I was going to until I did. How did it go at the tavern?”

“Not bad,” he said, tugging on a knot and grimacing when the spine of a cholla ripped along his hair. “I hung around for a few hours and helped Thomas out in the kitchen. He wants me to swing by Sunday to let him know if I’ve decided to stay local or not before he considers hiring me back on.”

“So you haven’t decided?”

He set his brush down and turned the speaker off, bringing the phone to his ear and lying back on his bed. “Well, I’m kind of caught on that,” he stated, deciding in the moment he had nothing to lose. “The only thing keeping me here is the possibility you and I might have another chance. If we do, I’ll wash dishes for three bucks an hour if that’s what Thomas is offering. If not, I’ll head north and crash on Ryan’s couch until we find that last guy and then set up shop wherever I need to.”

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