the moon again. She didn’t have to, not really. She could have been in an underground bunker (which maybe the hobbit hole was, come to think of it) and would have known exactly what phase the moon was in at all times. Still, she had to look. The moon was her jailor and her lover.
“Then I rang the doorbell and was courteously let inside.”
“You didn’t call.”
“No.”
“They had no idea you were coming.”
“No.”
“Fearless or stupid.”
“Yes, or something beyond that, something we can’t understand. Perhaps it’s because they live so much longer than we do. Their slow—nonexistent, even?—metabolism spreads a different message. They have perspective we don’t have. Or can’t understand.”
“Yeah, maybe. That’s . . .” He trailed off, thought about it. “That’s interesting. Huh. So they let you in.”
“Yes. Because, see, I didn’t know it at the time, but they thought I was there to collect . . . This is going to sound complicated, but another Pack member used to live with them. They thought I’d come for her things. They weren’t surprised to see me. And they weren’t afraid, either. When I realized that, I decided to come back another time. I wanted to think about what I’d seen. I wanted to ponder what they’d done, and what they hadn’t done. So I left.”
“You saw the queen, though?”
“And her assistant, and a pregnant woman. And a . . .” She paused. Thought about it. Went ahead anyway. “I don’t expect you to believe me, because you haven’t believed anything I’ve said today, but I also saw a for-real zombie!”
“I know, right?” he cried, his hands on her shoulders, almost shaking her in his excitement. “Really good-looking guy, green eyes and scrubs? Right?”
“Amazing!”
“I knoooow!” He realized they were nose to nose and pulled back. “Okay. So we can agree that whole zombie thing was cool and weird.”
“Very cool,” she agreed. “And very weird. I didn’t even know there were zombies.”
“Jeez.” He was watching her in that strange way again, as though he couldn’t make up his mind if she was a freak or a find, or both. “If you’re lying, you’re the best I’ve ever seen.”
“I’m not lying.” She tossed her head. “But I am the best you’ve ever seen.”
He laughed, surprising them both. Then sobered almost at once. She was sorry. But at least he was—
concern concern puzzlement concern perplexity
—listening. At least he was trying to keep an open mind, even if he truly didn’t know what to think.
“You said your Pack leader, you said he sent you out here. To Minnesota. Why?”
“We’re cousins. He trusts me and he knew I’d do what he asked for love, not duty. He knew I wouldn’t want to go, but he also knew I wouldn’t let that get in the way of the work.”
“Yeah? So you guys are close?”
“Yes,” she said simply. There were too many things to explain in the course of one evening, especially that evening, and Pack dynamics were one of them.
“Are you gonna get in trouble for telling me all your secrets?”
“I’m not,” she replied, amused. “There isn’t time to tell you all my secrets. But if there was, the answer would be no. He loves me and he trusts my judgment.”
“I can see why he loves you.” Edward nodded. “Who wouldn’t?”
Oh, Edward. Do you even know what you just admitted to me? And the answer is, lots of people. Lots of people wouldn’t. Daresay couldn’t? But I love that you can’t understand that.
“But,” he continued, “why send anybody?”
“Because the last werewolf he sent to keep an eye on the vampire queen turned up dead in less than two years.
“What?”
Thirty-eight
She nodded. “It’s true.”
“Jesus!” Worry. Worry. Fear. Fear. Worry. “They killed her?”
“No. She took a bullet for the queen.”
“She did what?”
“I know. She died. We’re a hardy bunch, Edward, and we can take a lot of punishment compared to your kind, but even we can’t grow our own frontal lobes back.”
For a moment she thought he was going to fall off the bench. His look of shock and horror did more than touch her heart; it gave it a cramp. Oh, Edward. You’re too good.
“And he asked you anyway?”
“Yes.”
“And you went?”
“Of course.”
“Because you’re his cousin and he knew you’d go.”
“Yes!” she said, pleased he was catching on.
“Then he’s a prick and I’m going to beat the shit out of him!” the accountant roared. “I am not believing this shit even as I’m hearing it! He’s a dead man, Rache! That shit! That fucker!”
“But that’s so sweet! Truly, Edward. I