“No pet names, Dustin. And how is it different for werewolves?”
“You tell me, Princess Human, claiming to live in a crew. If you really did live in a crew, you would know werewolves are just naturally badass predators—”
“—murderers—”
“—with superior hunting skills and minds geared for battle. We’re born bad. It’s accepted. Predator animals like Logan and Beast, though? Nah. When they break, they break. Any moment they can go psycho on you and never level out again. What crew, Perky Nips?”
“Even if I okayed a pet name, Perky Nips would never make the cut. And I’m not from a crew.” She stared at his profile to watch his reaction. “I’m from a coven.”
Dustin downshifted and slammed on the brakes. They skidded until they came to a stop sideways right in the middle of the road. “A coven? Your people are vampires?” He was yelling.
Emma giggled and relaxed the seat back a few clicks, then put her feet on the dashboard.
“No,” he said, shoving her ankles until her tennis shoes hit the floorboard.
“I feel like we’re at a place where I can be comfortable in your car, Babe.” Emma grinned and put her feet back up there.
Dustin narrowed his eyes to dangerous little slits. “Just so you know, I researched that little gesture you did earlier, and you said you hated me. I’m really hurt.”
“Dustin, don’t pretend anything I do hurts you.”
“I am.” He eased his foot onto the gas and straightened them out again. “I’ve done everything in my power to—”
“Annoy the shit out of me and everyone else around you?”
“Well, yeah, but I also shared my Chinese food with you once.”
“And I saved your life, so I’m pretty sure we’re even. Four Devils Coven, born and raised.”
“But you’re human.”
“And so are my adopted brother and sister. My parents had trouble having babies. My biological parents didn’t want me. It was meant to be.”
“Why didn’t they want you?”
“I was born in Russia. My parents were poor, and they really wanted a healthy child, but I was born with messed up inner ears.”
“You were deaf from birth?”
This was getting too personal so she brought it back around. “Beast.”
“Oh, yeah, he killed his entire pride.”
“What?” she yelped.
“Yeah, he was the king of the lions. A legend. Nobody fucked with him, and he kept a pride for the longest any male in the history of lions was able to. Usually prides switch out alphas every few years just because the males fight all the fucking time, but Beast held a big pride for ten years. Took control of it when he turned eighteen and kept it until a couple years ago.”
“Eighteen?” Emma’s mind was now completely blown. “Why did he kill his people?”
“Nobody knows. There’s a billion rumors, but none of them make any sense to me. Not with what I’ve seen of him.”
“What do you mean?”
“He protects women still. He went after Logan immediately when he’d clawed up Winter’s arm. The instinct to protect is still there. And he was fucking king, Perky Nips. Why would a king murder his entire kingdom and banish himself to a life of nothing?”
“I don’t know,” she murmured, baffled. “Why are you driving so slow?” The speed limit was fifty, and he was going twenty-five.
“Because you’re human. You’re basically a water balloon. One fender bender, and you’re donezo.”
“Okay, that’s not true at all. At least go the speed limit.”
“Do you have a death wish? You saved me, now I’m saving you. You’re welcome, Shortcake.”
“No.”
“Shit, I really thought that one would stick.” Dustin turned into the parking lot of a local grocery store and announced, “We’re here,” as he pulled up beside a red minivan.
A pretty brunette was leaned up against the van looking pissed, her eyes tracking Dustin as he got out. Inside the woman’s car, a giant dog barked and scratched at the window.
Dustin tried to hug the woman, but she ducked away and ground out, “You didn’t tell me he wasn’t potty-trained.”
“Oh, yeah. Well…he was an outside dog when I stole him from Kane, so…”
“You stole him from the dragon?” the woman screeched.
“Sarah, this is Emma, my new girlfriend. Emma, this is Sarah, my old girlfriend.”
Emma explained, “I’m not his girlfriend.”
Sarah nodded in understanding. “I gave him a pity blowjob one time.”
“That was a pity blowjob?” Dustin asked in an offended tone. “That was terrible if you were doing it out of pity. I barely came, and you bit my di—”
“Do you want the dog or not?” Sarah asked testily, jamming her finger at the mutt barking behind the window.
“Yeah, give him to me.”
“A hundred more bucks for traveling here to meet you.”
“I already gave you two grand to take care of him.”
Sarah shrugged and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Fine,” Dustin muttered, digging through his wallet. He slapped a hundred-dollar bill onto Sarah’s outstretched hand.
With a dead-eyed look, Sarah pointed her key fob at the car and hit a button. The side door slowly opened automatically. When it was able, a mangy-looking, long-legged mutt scrambled out. He charged Dustin, his tail whipping back and forth with such excited fury, it blurred. He had an under-bite, patches of fur missing, and he smelled like a wet hamster, but Dustin knelt down and greeted him like he was his best friend. “Gray Dog, Gray Dog!” he said in one of those barking voices frat brothers used during drinking games.