Page 57 of Mate
I blink, wondering if this is a new symptom of CSD: vivid dreams of naked men bickering in Koen’s living room. That’s when an ash-colored wolf with thick fur and green eyes trots inside, comes to stand between me and the two men, and growls in their direction. In a quick symphony of bones cracking, keratin shrinking, and muscles unfolding, it transforms into a familiar shape.
Amanda.
Naked, of course. And pissed. “You guys are way early, and Koen doesn’t want anyone he hasn’t preapproved alone with Serena.”
“Oh. We did not . . .” The men exchange looks of sheer terror. “Sorry about this. We’re going to . . .” One points at the door.
“No, please. Stay.” I quickly hide my writing in the pages of a book and rise to my feet. “You are . . . ?”
Amanda sighs and points at the one with freckles and a spiky red mullet. “Colin.” She switches to the barrel-chested guy who clearly skips leg day. “Pavel.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say, relieved by the lack of handshakes. “No, really. I’m glad you came over. I’m even getting used to your junk just . . . dangling there.”
Colin cocks his head. “Is it not supposed to?”
“Maybe Human genitals are usually retracted?” Pavel suggests.
“Ah, yes. In those cloacal openings.” Colin nods knowingly. “Like koalas and alligators.”
“Precisely. Now that I think about it, I remember reading somewhere that Humans shit and piss from the same ho— ”
“Guys,” Amanda snaps. “Do you want Koen to come back and find you here?”
They pale. Colin clears his throat. “Actually, we’re pretty hungry. We’ll go hunt some dinner and be back later— ”
“I can fix you something,” I offer. A vein starts pulsating on Amanda’s forehead, so I hasten to add, “I wasn’t doing anything, anyway. And, Amanda, you’re here and you’re preapproved. Koen won’t mind.”
In fact, Koen’s behavior is less predictable than a stock market crash. But a little over an hour later, when he returns to find Amanda and five more of his now-clothed seconds eating meatballs, salad, and freshly baked bread, no one ends up impaled on his claws. They all scramble to their feet to salute ashe comes in, like he’s the strictest teacher at the boarding school, but return to their meal and conversation quickly enough.
“Do you always have guests sitting on the floor?” I ask him when he walks up to me, handing him a bowl of scraps. “And could you take this out? For Twinkles.”
“For who, now?”
“The wolf dog I met this morning. I sent Ana a picture and she picked a name for him.”
Koen crosses his arms, refusing the bowl. “What about a feral mutt covered in mud screamed Twinkles to her?”
“I believe she decided that he’s Sparkles’s long-lost brother, and she’s committed to the theme. Elle, since Koen won’t, will you put this on the porch?” I smile at the girl, who looks like a very badass kindergarten teacher. “Thank you so much.”
“Did youcookfor my seconds?” Koen sounds less than enthused.
“Yeah. Isn’t that why you brought me here? To keep your home?” His face has me snorting out a laugh.
“I tried to stop her,” Amanda says, joining us. “But I couldn’t.”
Koen glares at her. “You were unable to physically prevent a hybrid half your size from producing a vat of homemade marinara sauce.”
“Well, the thing is . . . she’s kind of a good cook.”
“Aw, thank you. Want another helping?”
“Yes, please.”
“It’s on the stove.”
“Nice. By the way, boss, what did the Humans say? Anything useful?”
Koen shakes his head as Amanda disappears past him with a soft “Bummer.” He and I are left alone in the middle of the crowded room, and I go back to chopping veggies for my stir-fry.
