Page 31 of Triumph of the Wolf
Less cowed, the ponytail guy grabbed the woman and hauled her to her feet. “These two owe us thousands of dollars in lost business.”
“Take it to court.” I turned my glare on him while keeping the blade at the other guy’s throat.
“Oh, sure. We’re going to the mundanecourtsabout our summoning business. We’ll explain to the judge about how we call up the dead so people can pay their last respects and make sure their spirits are at rest.”
“Your business ishaunted,” one woman said. “And the building it’s in is a harbinger of evil.”
“It’s in a strip mall across from the golf course. There’s noevilthere.”
“There are dead souls all over it.”
“Because people pay us tocallthem.”
“Just go away,” I told the men. “Nobody attacks my tenants in their own home.”
The man with my sword on his throat spread his arms and didn’t look like he would cause more trouble, but the ponytail guy released his captive and tightened his grip on his tire iron while eyeing the remaining paranormal equipment. She stumbled and dropped to one knee again, but he ignored her. And me.
He had to sense my power, but maybe he thought I was bluffing. That I wouldn’t stop him from enacting further mayhem?
I growled, feeling the cool air of the night and the magic of the nearly-full moon rising behind the trees.
Ponytail Guy squinted at me, then sprang toward the equipment with the tire iron. Abandoning the bald man, I surged forward to intercept him. He swung the tire iron at one of the cameras, but I batted it aside with the sword.
The air around him buzzed, magic crackling against my skin. It was intense, like it might cause an explosion. I punched him in the face, and the buzz halted.
Behind me, a growl sounded. Without looking, I sensed Duncan back there.
“Oh, shit,” the other wizard said.
The one I’d punched also swore. I pointed the sword at him, promising I would do more than flatten his nose if he didn’t leave. He glanced from me to the sidewalk behind me. Duncanhad shifted into a wolf and stood there, lips rippling as he growled and showed off his fangs.
The men sent glares at the women but backed away, hurrying to their car.
“Stay away from our business,” one barked as they drove away.
One of the women surged forward, cursing and grabbing the damaged equipment as she threw wary glances at Duncan.
I offered a hand to help her friend up off the ground. Eyes round, the woman grasped it, looking at me and the sword but also at Duncan. He’d opted for the wolf rather than the bipedfuris, but he was intimidating in either form.
“Thank you for the help,” she said to me.
“Iknewthere was a wolf,” the other whispered to her. “Awerewolf.”
“Did you see him change?”
“No.”
“He’s just a wolf,” I said firmly. “He helps me keep an eye on the grounds.”
Neither looked like they believed that, but they didn’t speak their objections out loud.
“He’s magnificent,” the one gathering their broken equipment whispered.
Duncan raised his chin, looking pleased by the statement.
“You have popcorn grease on your tail,” I told him.
His tongue lolled out in the wolf version of a laugh.
