Ravensong (Green Creek 2)

Carter sighed. “Not… usually. He’s—he doesn’t like it when we’re separated. And then I come back covered in blood, it’s—just a lot for him, sometimes.” He narrowed his eyes as he looked up at Robbie. “And you are not allowed to give him shit for that. I will tear you in half if I ever hear you making fun of him.”

Robbie looked horrified. “I would never do that.”

“Just saying.” Carter saw me and tilted his chin in my direction. “All right?”

“Yeah.”

His nose wrinkled. “You smell like burnt skin.”

“I wonder why.”

“Hand of Fiery Doom?”

I glared at him. “I told you not to call it that.”

He shrugged. “Eh. Remind me never to piss you off.”

“You piss me off all the time.”

He grinned. His teeth were bloody. “Yeah, but you like me.”

I did, but he wasn’t going to hear it from me. “Let Kelly take care of you. You know how he gets.”

His smile softened. “Yeah, yeah.”

I looked at Robbie. “And if you do anything to hurt Kelly, I’m going to stick my Hand of Fiery Doom so far up your ass, your throat will be on fire.”

Robbie swallowed thickly as Carter laughed at him.

I headed for the stairs. I heard the low rumbles of an injured and angry wolf. When I reached the basement, I saw Jessie first, standing against the far wall, a hardened look on her face.

“Gordo,” she said when she saw me. She pushed herself off the wall. “What the hell is going on?”

“I don’t know. Not yet, anyway. I want you upstairs. Better yet, go home. You have work in the morning. You’re not needed here now.”

She tilted her head. “Are you telling me what to do?”

Jessie could be scary when she wanted to be. I faltered. “Uh. Yes? Or. Asking. I think I’m asking.”

She nodded slowly. “I thought so. I will.”

“Good.”

“After I help burn the bodies of those Betas they brought back.”

I sighed. She wasn’t that little girl who’d giggled when Chris brought her into the shop for the first time. I didn’t know how I felt about that. “Get Carter and Kelly to help you. After Kelly finishes shoving a toothbrush in Carter’s mouth.”

“I heard that!” Kelly yelled down the stairs.

Jessie snorted. “Werewolves, huh?”

“Fucking werewolves.”

“The guys?”

“Doing what I told them to. Because they actually listen to me.”

She leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek. “Sure, Gordo.” She glanced at the other end of the basement before bounding up the stairs, ponytail bouncing behind her.