Heart of Vengeance (Alice Worth #6) - Lisa Edmonds Page 0,56

sheepish look and nodded at the woods. “Sorry. Can I just take a minute to pee?”

She glanced over my shoulder. “Do you need to pee, or do you need to talk to your friend?”

I turned. My wolf stood just inside the tree line, her golden eyes fixed on Lucy. Double shit.

“She’s not a wolf,” Malcolm said quickly. “She’s, uh, only part wolf. She’s Alice’s pet dog. Her name is…Daisy.”

“Daisy” showed Malcolm her teeth.

“Mm-hmm,” Lucy said. Oddly, her right hand was behind her head, as if she was reaching for something on her back, but there was nothing there. Maybe it was an old habit. She moved her hand to her sidearm. “Is Daisy going to stay in wolf form, or does she want to obey the law and shift to her human form and talk to me?”

Triple shit.

“Daisy doesn’t shift,” I said. “She isn’t a shifter at all—just a wolf with a little bit of magic. I don’t know how we can prove that to you, but please don’t shoot my wolf.” I wasn’t sure if Lucy could shoot my wolf, but I didn’t know what kind of bullets she had in that gun. I couldn’t be sure my wolf wouldn’t try to kill her if she fired the weapon.

Lucy studied my wolf. “I’ve never met a magic wolf that wasn’t a shifter.” She tilted her head. “I have a League collar in the jeep. If your wolf will wear it, it will make me feel better. If we run into any other Guardians or local LEOs, it will keep them from asking too many questions.”

“What does the collar do?”

“Its main purpose is to keep her from shifting. It also identifies her as a League asset, which is why no one will hassle us about her. Once you’re on your own, you’ll have to figure something else out.”

“Sounds reasonable.” I hoped my wolf would allow us to put the collar on. “Daisy,” I called.

She trotted to me immediately, showing no fear of Lucy. And what did she have to fear? I reflected grimly. She could grow to twenty feet tall and damn near tear the head off a demon lord. A lone Guardian—whatever the hell that meant—probably wasn’t anything she needed to worry about.

We went to the jeep. Lucy rummaged around in the back seat and came up with a leather collar emblazoned with the same seal that was on the sides of the vehicle, along with the words LEAGUE ASSET and a serial number. A small amulet hung from the collar.

“What does the amulet do?” I asked.

“That’s what keeps her from shifting.”

Lucy clearly didn’t believe my wolf wasn’t a shifter. I couldn’t say I blamed her for her skepticism.

She handed me the collar. “I’ll let you put it on her. If she won’t wear it, you’ll have to keep walking.”

I held the collar out so my wolf could sniff it. “Can I put this on you?”

She investigated the collar and the amulet thoroughly with her nose, flashed a few teeth at us, and then stood still for me to fasten it around her neck. When I clicked the buckle, the amulet flared. Without hesitation, the wolf jumped into the back seat of the jeep and settled in.

“Huh,” Lucy said, pausing with her hand on the back passenger door. “Wounded a dragon and met a magical wolf named Daisy who seems to be more intelligent than the average wolf. Hell of a day, and it’s not even nine o’clock.” She shut the door. “Want some coffee?”

I almost sagged against the vehicle. “I would kill for some. Not literally.” I paused. “Maybe literally.”

“Same. Get in.” Lucy held open the passenger door while I climbed in and put my backpack on the floor at my feet. The interior of the jeep was very utilitarian, as I’d expected from a military vehicle—except for the cartoonish vampire bobble-head stuck to the dashboard.

Lucy shut my door and went around to the driver’s side. Malcolm floated into the back seat with Lucy’s gear and my wolf.

When Lucy climbed into the driver’s seat, I gestured at the bobble-head. “That’s cute.”

“Thanks.” She hit the gas, sending gravel spraying out behind us. She made a fast U-turn on two wheels and headed south toward the city. “It was a gift from my sister Callie. She thinks she’s funny.” She sighed. “You got any brothers or sisters?”

I didn’t turn around to look at Malcolm. “Just a brother.”

“Well, if he ever wants to become a vampire, try to talk him out