Page 59 of Quest of the Wolf

“I’ll go with you to see if we can help your mother, but I’m going collar-free.” Duncan squinted at me.

“Are you absolutely positive? You’d look good in fluorescent orange. There’s a Walmart in Monroe. Maybe they sell them.”

“From what I’ve seen, they’re hundreds of dollars. Is that in your budget?”

I grimaced. “No.”

I took out my phone to research the collars and see if he was right. Looking a little smug, or at least satisfied, he folded his arms over his chest.

When the price came up on the collars, I grimaced again. “I’ll just turn into a wolf to follow you.”

“I thought you might decide on that.”

“Will you let me?” I looked into his eyes, again debating whether to tell him everything. If he knew what I intended and that I would bring some potions and whatever else I could find to help, he might have more faith that I could handle Radomir and his thugs.

“Iwon’t attempt to thwart you.” Duncan flattened his hand on his chest. “I’m less certain about the bipedfuris. In that form, well, it’s like in the wolf form. Sometimes, other instincts come into play, and he may see you as a threat if you’re trailing along at his heels.”

“I’ll take my chances.” I would follow from a distance, tracking by scent. If there was one thing I could be sure of, it was that the bipedfuris wouldn’t have a pickup car waiting for him, at least not until he reached Radomir. And even if Radomir had the controldevice, I doubted he would pat the seat and invite an eight-foot-tall clawed and fanged werewolf to hop in next to him.

“As you wish, my lady.” Duncan looked wistfully in the direction he’d tracked the men, looking like he would prefer to help me with my local problem instead of dealing with Radomir.

Too bad. I needed him to be free of control before I could fully trust him. I also needed to make sure those guys wouldn’t harass my mother—or worse—anymore.

“If you don’t need anything else tonight,” Duncan said, “I’ll reestablish my relationship with my van and my bed.”

I sniffed. “Maybe reestablish a relationship with a shower too. You’ve been in the woods a long time.”

Duncan pointed his nose toward his armpit. “Hm. Yes.”

As he headed off, Bolin’s voice came from my phone. “Luna?”

“Sorry.” I lifted it to my mouth. “I didn’t realize you were still on the line.”

“I’m packing up your druid supplies to drop off.”

I lowered my voice. “Can you find me an inexpensive GPS tracker too? Like something that could be used to find a car?”

Or a werewolf, I thought, but kept to myself.

“I don’t have a spell book for GPS trackers,” Bolin said dryly.

“I’m sure you can get one at a store on the way. I’ll pay you back.”

“Okay, fine. When do you need me to drop everything off?”

“You could come along with us once you’ve gottheeverything.” I didn’t know how I was going to manage this, but if I had to shift into wolf form to follow Duncan, I wouldn’t be able to carry potions and grenades. Hell,Imight have to wear the GPS tracker.

“You want me to come with you to a huge fortress of evil?”

“It might only be a small compound of dubious intent.”

“I’ll pass.”

“Jasmine is going.”

“I’ll go,” Bolin said. “When are we leaving?”

In the living room, Jasmine arched her eyebrows.

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