Page 58 of Hallow Hill at Halloween: Part One

Jeff’s eyes ping-ponged between Vuk and me a few times before carefully asking, “You know what this is?” The question accompanied a glance in Vuk’s direction.

I knew the “this” to which Jeff referred was the werewolf standing too close, leaning heavily against the bar.

“Suspicion unconfirmed,” I said.

Jeff nodded as he slowly picked up another glass to polish. “Consider it confirmed.”

I took that to mean that Jeff had read my mind and knew I suspected werewolf. I also judged it prudent to factor Jeff’s careful words and movements into the mix. Jeff wasn’t behaving like he was afraid of the werewolf. He was behaving like he was afraid of what the werewolf might do to me.

“Now what can I get you?” he asked politely.

“Hot toddy. No toddy.”

“Me, too.”

“On second thought, make mine a triple.” My left eye was away from Vuk so that only Jeff saw my wink.”

“Coming right up,” he said.

While the werewolf seemed content to stare at me, I watched Jeff put no whiskey into my mug and a triple shot into Vuk’s.

“Here you go,” he said as he slid them toward us.

I picked mine up and tasted it while Vuk watched. “Hmmm. Good.”

“Proposition. I will take yours. You will take mine. That way I can taste your lips on the cup.”

WHAT? No!

I had no chance to protest before Vuk had half-finished the virgin toddy. He set it down and resumed his staring. “Why do you not drink?”

Staring right back, I said, “Do you know who my husband is? No. scratch that. Do you know who my mate is?”

“Is this something I should know?”

“It’s something you should’ve found out before you began stalking the sephalion’s wife.”

“Sephalion?” He looked at Jeff as if Jeff would answer the question left hanging in the air.

“If the two of you are good for now, I’ve got a couple of things to do in the back.”

I looked at Jeff wide-eyed, but he gave me a look I translated as reassurance. “Sure,” I said. “Go ahead.”

Vuk watched Jeff leave then said, “Sephalion?”

I let out a breathy scoff of frustration. “My mate can transform into a giant winged lion. He was created to keep order in the court of magic kind and has even faced down a god.”

Vuk’s big smile was the last thing I’d expected to see after that. His teeth were perfect enough to be an ad for orthodontics and white enough to be an ad for veneers. This is not to mention that his smile had that innately sexy vibe predators just can’t help.

“You’re telling me this because you’re worried for me.”

Okay. Let’s go with that.“Yes. I’m very worried about what will happen to you when he gets home.”

As Vuk’s smile broadened, I immediately regretted saying that.

“So, he’s away?” Vuk asked like the spider to the fly.

“He’ll be back any minute.” That made Vuk laugh softly. As much as I found the low sound of rocks meeting tires unattractive, my lady parts all fired at the same time. By the way Vuk sniffed the air, it was easy to see that he knew it. I rushed to say, “As if that wasn’t enough, he’s been away with two identical brothers. How’d you like to have to fight three sephalien? Huh?”

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