Heartsong (Green Creek 3)

I had his mark on my body.

/> And he had mine.

“Why is Robbie sitting there with his mouth open?” Chris whispered to Tanner.

“I think he’s coming to a dawning realization,” Tanner whispered back. “Keep watching him.”

They stared at me.

Elizabeth said, “I’m afraid we’re out of soup,” and I swore she was trying to keep from laughing like the others. “I haven’t had a chance to get to the store in a few days. Robbie, perhaps you’d like to—”

“On it,” I said, because goddammit, I was going to provide. I was going to take care of him. And it had absolutely nothing with wanting to flee the room in order to keep from throwing Kelly over my shoulder and carrying him away so that nothing could hurt him ever again. “I can buy soup.” Then, “Crap. I don’t have money.” We hadn’t found time to get me back into the pack finances.

“Jesus Christ,” Gordo muttered. He pulled out his wallet. He fumbled with it, grunting as he flipped it open, almost dropping it. I saw him bring up his other arm, the one that ended in a stump. He glared down at it for a moment. I stepped forward to help, but Mark shook his head once, mouthing the word wait.

I did.

Gordo spun the wallet in his hand until he could slide a thumb up against one of the credit cards. He managed to get it out on his own. We all immediately looked away as if we were completely distracted by everything else in the room. “Here,” he said, shoving the card at me. “Use this.”

“Thanks.” I was absurdly touched.

“I’m not going to hug you, so get that look off your face.”

I had no idea what he was talking about. I wasn’t even thinking about hugging him.

Much.

I turned back to Kelly. He looked up at me with glazed eyes. “I’ll save you,” I promised him. “Just hold on. I am going to bring you so much soup, you won’t even believe it.”

“Perhaps someone should go with him,” Elizabeth said mildly. “I have a feeling Robbie could use the help. Kelly needs medicine too. Something over-the-counter will work just fine.”

“On it,” Tanner said. “I used to be a human, so I know all about this.”

Chris grimaced. “You would just tell him to get clam chowder and Advil. I should go too.”

“There’s nothing wrong with clam—”

“It’s offensive, and you should be ashamed of yourself for even liking it—”

“You do not want to talk to me about offensive. I saw you eat that mole during the full moon. That little fucker was shrieking as you chomped down on it—”

Gordo sighed. “Rico, go with them. Make sure they don’t get into trouble.”

Rico glanced at me, an inscrutable expression on his face, before he looked back at Gordo. “I know what you’re doing.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Rico rolled his eyes. “Whatever you say, bruja.”

“I really wish you’d stop calling me that.”

“Yeah, yeah. Fine. Ox, we’re taking your truck.”

Ox frowned. “How are you all going to fit?”

Rico headed for the door. “I’m traveling with a pack of dogs. I’m sure one of them won’t mind sitting in the back.”

The wolves all growled at him, but he ignored them.