In the relative privacy offered by the alcove, she accepted the call.
Joshua said, “Tami? I’m sorry to call but we’re trapped in Mama’s place and I’m pretty sure I smell smoke.” His voice had dropped in the last year, but it cracked when he said smoke.
“Trapped?” Tami asked calmly—because panic never makes any situation better. Joshua was claustrophobic—and had good cause to be so. If there was smoke, someone in that neighborhood would call the police. “You and the girls? Or all of you?”
“I don’t know about Mama,” Joshua said, obviously trying to mimic her calm demeanor. “Something fell in the hallway and caused an avalanche and these fu—” He caught himself. “The doors in the house open out into the hallway. I can’t get the door open.” His voice cracked again, and he took a breath. When he spoke again he sounded about six years old and terrified. “Mama had bars put in all the windows so the thieves couldn’t get in and steal her stuff.”
“I remember,” said Tami, still sounding calm. “You should call 911 as soon as I hang up.”
“No,” he said. “Please, Tami. I can’t call them on Mama again. She tried to kill herself last time. I don’t think there is really smoke. Tabby? Do you smell smoke?” There was a murmur Tami couldn’t hear. “No smoke,” he said. “Mama doesn’t mind if you come. If the police come . . . she’s doing better.”
There was more hope than conviction in his voice.
“Okay,” she said. “I’m coming right now. Hold tight. If there is smoke—you call 911. If I see smoke as I’m driving over—” She’d walked to the restaurant from her apartment because she was nervous and needed a walk in the snow to calm herself down. It would take her fifteen minutes to walk back—she’d have to call a car.
She looked over at the table, and frowned. Asil was putting money—three hundred dollars—on the table. As she watched, he stood up, gathered her purse and her coat. Something about her coat made him frown.
He was beautiful even when he frowned.
“I’m sorry,” said Joshua in her ear. “I know you told me not to meet the girls here, but it’s cold outside and they don’t got warm clothes.”
“It’s all right, Joshua. I’m coming.” Tami disconnected.
“Let me help,” Asil said, handing over her purse. He held her coat out so she could put it on. “If I don’t spend an hour and a half with you, they will cry foul and send me on a date with someone who likes drag racing or something.”
She started to put her coat on and stiffened. “How did you overhear my call?”
He wiggled his hands to draw her attention to the coat. She shrugged it on and turned to look at him. Her heartbeat picked up.
“It will be faster if I drive,” Asil told her, ignoring her question deliberately.
“But . . .” she said, and then her voice hung in the air as she looked into his eyes and saw the bright gold of his wolf looking out at her. “Werewolf,” she whispered.
He nodded. “Witch,” he responded flatly. Then his mouth softened a little. “White witch.”
Asil gave an impatient huff in response to the fear on her face. She had had no intention of letting him know what she was. Her hands wanted to reach up and cling to her mother’s pendant—but she forced them to stay at her side.
“No,” he said drily. “I don’t go around eating little white witches. No, another werewolf wouldn’t pick up what you are unless they got very close to you. You are very good at concealing yourself. I just caught the scent of your magic on your coat.”
She stood frozen.
“Children are in danger,” he told her slowly. “I can help.” He paused. “Let me help.”
She blinked as if his last words had broken a spell. She took a deep breath and said, in a businesslike voice, “If you are a werewolf, you heard that whole conversation. Okay, Joshua and his little sisters first.”
It was stupid to get into a car with him, she