Page 25 of Black Dog

They retreated, reluctantly, to the kitchen to wait.

“So are you cookin’ dinner then?” Helm was asking Duff.

Duff grinned. “Want me to?”

“We have to eat.” Helm shrugged like he didn’t care.

“’Tis no’ much of an endorsement. I want to hear you say how much you crave and fantasize about my delectable pub fare,” Duff teased.

“You’ll be waitin’ long past dinner if you’re expectin’ me to say I ‘fantasize’ about your food.” Helm shook his head as if to say Duff was insane.

Turning away from the banter, Storm pulled out his phone. “Hello?”

Ram and Elora were reentering the kitchen, having been shooed out of the dining room.

Litha came rushing in with excitement written all over her. “I’ve got it!” she said, just as Storm said, “We’ve got it!”

Everyone gathered around the dining room table to see if Litha had placed Blackie at the same spot where Simon’s informants placed the dog fight. It was one and the same. Donnemara.

Litha would have to be on site personally to find the exact location, but she wouldn’t be needed for that. They had good intel about where to look.

Ram looked at his watch. “What time will it be?”

“He didn’t say. Just that it would be tonight,” Storm answered. “I guess it could be anytime after dark.”

“Great Paddy. Somebody needs to place an anonymous tip with the authorities. Ne’er heard of people who needed incarceration more.”

“What are we waiting for?” Elora demanded. “Let’s go.”

“No’ you, love. Storm and I’ll go this time.”

“What do you mean not me?” she said with eyebrows drawn down low over her eyes.

“Can no’ take the chance. You are very likely to be overcome and reveal that you’re no’, em, from here. We can no’ let that happen.” Ram looked at Litha. “Help. Please.”

“Much as I hate to agree with Rammel, I think he’s right,” Litha said.

Elora narrowed her eyes at Litha. “Traitor.”

“I can take Storm through the passes,” Litha said, “but you’ll have to use wheels,” she said to Ram.

“I’m goin’,” Helm said.

“No. You’re no’ goin’ either.”

“Da…”

“We do no’ know what we’ll find or how we’ll have to handle it. The last thing I need is to be worried about you. No’ to mention that the future king can no’ be seen at a criminal gamblin’ event.”

Helm slumped, knowing there was no argument for that. He looked at Duff, who said, “I’ll no’ be goin’ either. Same reason, plus lingerin’ animosity toward fae. We’ll be holdin’ down the fort and protectin’ the females.”

Song snorted at that.

Helm was not assuaged. It was times such as these that solidified his strong suspicion that he would never want to be king.

Ram pulled on a knit cap and a boiled wool pea coat. “Call me as soon as you find it and let me know what’s goin’ on.”

“I will,” Storm said just as the handcuff that bound his and Litha’s wrists together snapped shut. “See you there.”

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