Page 35 of Triumph of the Wolf
Blood ran down his arm, suggested he’d also had a run-in with the invaders.
“That’s an interesting new fashion choice that you’re making.” Duncan nodded to my mask. “Was it also acquired from your Goodwill store? And experienced?”
“The army-surplus store, but I believe itwasexperienced, yes.”
“The air is loathsome out here, so I don’t blame you for wearing it. I think this is the only reason I haven’t passed out.” He ticked the wolf head on the medallion. “I could feel its magic protecting me.”
“Guess I should be wearing my mom’s.”
“Absolutely. And isn’t it… Well, it seemed like she was giving it to you to be yours. To keep and wear.”
I hesitated. Ihadgotten that vibe from Mom, but wearing it before she was gone… didn’t seem right. Didn’t it still belong to her? Until the end?
Not wanting to explain my feelings, I only said, “I think she mostly wants me to wear it up to the cave so it can magically coerce us to have sex.”
“If you dress like that and take me to a cave, I won’t be able to help myself, whether there’s outside influence or not.” Duncan waved at my naked form.
“Oh, is the mask turning you on?”
“All of you turns me on.” His gaze shifted past me—Bolin had stirred slightly—and his expression grew more sober. “Did everyone else get knocked out?”
“Maybe. Being inside didn’t seem to help people. And… they got Izzy.”
“Got her?”
“Picked her up, put her in their van, and drove off.”
Duncan scratched his jaw. “That’s unexpected. As far as I could tell, they were afterme. They spotted me in the street and tried to snag me, but I wasn’t that close when their hired delivery driver was shooting those vials all over the place, so I was able to get away.”
“Do you have any idea who they were?”
His shoulders slumped. “I can’t know for sure, but since they were using magical alchemical substances…”
“Abrams?”
Duncan nodded. “I assume so. Unless Rue has decided to ply our enemies with knock-out potions.”
“I certainly hope not. I gave hertwoten-percent discounts, and I didn’t charge her for the first two months of rent.”
“You’re a most kind property manager. She should feel beholden to you.” Duncan gazed toward the woods.
Another werewolf had arrived. Lykos.
In his furry form, he padded along the edge of the property, his dark silhouette just visible in the night and the lingering haze. He looked over at us but didn’t approach, instead turning deeper into the woods.
Had he come to spy? Or… to take advantage and kill Duncan if he’d been knocked out? What if Lykos, who’d been trying to set traps for Duncan, had been the mastermind behind this?
I looked frankly at him. “You’re going to have to confront Abrams, you know.”
“I do know that, yes.”
“Before his little assassin gets old enough and smart enough to get the best of you.”
Duncan sighed and didn’t deny it.
11
A pre-dawn textfrom Lorenzo relayed a question from my mother.
