>You’ve got his room number?
>>Do we look like amateurs to you?
“Rue.” Asa dragged me from my phone. “The glow.”
>I’ll touch base when we finish up here.
“Clay says he’s got a lead for us when we can juggle it.”
“Probably best we don’t talk from this point in,” Derry told me. “Just in case.”
The advice was sound, so I put away my phone and tuned in our surroundings. I didn’t expect to bump into trouble out here. Old Man Fang’s remains had been removed in order to place him under the spellcaster’s control, but I was happy to turn this operation over to Derry.
Ahead, a dark mound of earth beneath a blackened headstone marked our destination. No name graced the raw hunk of marble, and no mementoes had been left to honor the dead. Under the dirt, however, a brutal reminder of the grave’s occupant rested within the shadowy depths.
A tarnished cage of pure silver, just as the story had claimed.
Derry crouched and drew air into his lungs, careful not to get too close. It made me wonder if silver residue leaching into the soil was a concern, which flipped into worry over potential rust particles.
“We’re alone,” he announced. “No ghosts, summoners, or anything else I can sense.”
Asa held up a finger then let flames take him as he grew into the daemon.
“Damn,” Derry breathed. “Meg was right. You are a big fella.”
“Eat lots of cookies,” the daemon told him solemnly. “Smell grave?”
“Knock yourself out.” Derry shot to his feet when the daemon leapt into the grave. “Careful in there.”
A twinge made me brace for him to imply the daemon was clumsy or careless, but Derry was in awe.
“I’d give you a hand up,” he told the daemon, “but I can’t get that close. There’s silver dust mixed in with the dirt.”
Well, that explained that. They really didn’t want this guy to rise. Pity someone ignored those wishes.
“Can get out.” The daemon climbed up without a hitch. “Got scent.”
“You’re a tracker too?” Derry’s eyes brightened. “You ever consider hunting with a pack?”
The offer froze both the daemon and me in place, but he recovered first.
“Rue pack.” He wiggled his fingers at me. “Hunt with her for bad people.”
“Nah.” Derry yanked off his shirt. “I mean a real hunt. For deer, mostly.” He kicked off his shoes. “We get calls to put down problem animals too. Cougars and the like that have developed a taste for people. You should come.” He shoved down his pants. “The way I hear it, Rue’s mom used to run with our pack back in the day. I doubt anyone would care if you gave it a go.”
“Rue come too?”
“That’s up to her.” He pivoted toward me. “You want to run with the wolves?”
Right now, I wanted to ignore the fact he was butt naked and giving me a full frontal.
“I’ll take it under consideration.” I kept my eyes averted. “I’m not much for hunting.”
The blood, the death, the heart offered up to the one who made the killing bite…
“It’s not the same as a pack run,” he agreed. “Those are about family time and playing, building pack bonds.” He stepped behind a bush. “I’ll need about fifteen minutes.”
For whatalmost popped out of my mouth before it hit me.