BEAUM

ate of confusion. I turned and walked toward the town's only 24-hour caf

en blast of heated air and the smell of s

g fluorescent bulb. Sliding into the cracked vinyl seat, I placed a crumpled one-dolla

y eyes, letting the steam rise against my face as I si

es I had practiced in secret for thousands of nights, I visualized the moonlight outside filtering into my lungs, we

i

diner's entrance bro

high-pitched voice echoed across the quiet diner. "Why couldn

eye on the perimeter road until tomorrow morn

to look up to

more than my entire medical care for the past five years. Clinging to her arm was Dylan, a second-tie

iumphant grin spread across her heavily painted lips. "Oh, look who it

ands on the laminate surface. "Can't even afford a cup of coffee? Just hot wate

of the hot water without looking at her. "You have a collection of stolen privi

ugly flush of red. "You shut your mouth! You're

owl vibrate in his throat, attempting to project dominance. "Watch your t

g Dylan's golden-tinted shifter eyes with absolute, unyielding indifference. The sheer absence

nward. A glint of something shiny pee

avarice. "What is that? You're not allowed to take

ought me from an alley," I said evenly. I knew she h

r sharp nails aiming straight for the delicate chain. "Everything on your wort

tep, Brenda's fingers closed aro

mist

a microscopic pulse of lunar resonance from my h

of silver-white lightning

AHH

crashed against the neighboring booth, clutching her right hand to her chest. The skin ac

ward me, his fangs extending, his eyes flashing dangerous

-hand clothes, the terrifying, ancient stillness radiating from my p

ed, my voice dropping an octave, as if issuing a decree: no on

d hand, but she retreated behind Dylan's broad back, trembli

e cold calculation of an apex predator waiting for him to make a fatal mistake-his wolf

the table. "And tell Barton and Deidre that every silver curse they carved

alked past them. Neither of them da

d my coat. The locket against my chest was warm n