The Flame Game (Magical Romantic Comedies #12) - R.J. Blain Page 0,29

where you get our eggs, isn’t it? I noticed you didn’t get ours from the grocery store.”

“Right. I get them before processing, too. That’s why we can keep them on the counter.”

“Gorgon-incubus doohickeys require a great deal of specialized care. Do wolves eat mice?”

“Yes.”

“So, the mice could have been used to spread rabies in other animal populations?”

“That wouldn’t explain a thousand rabid raccoons in a town in a month.”

I went to a search engine and searched for rabid raccoons in Long Lake, and to my astonishment, I found only one relevant result, which claimed there had been an unusual surge in rabies in the area, but that it had petered out quickly. “Only one news site reported about it that I’ve found during a quick search.”

“You’d think a rabies outbreak of that level would hit the news. There were more rabid animals in town than people.” Shaking his head, Quinn retrieved my work laptop and resumed searching the internet for any clues that might help us. “I’m going to end up calling my grandfather back and telling him to have all feeder mice sent to a lab for testing.”

“You should, especially from the hives with deaths. And pull their purchase records to find out where the mice came from.”

“I’ll need my phone back for that.”

“You may have it back, but you may not throw it. The only thing you’re allowed to throw is me, and only if you’re throwing me onto the bed.”

“Don’t cry when you get what you ask for later,” my husband promised, accepting his phone back and calling his grandfather to begin the tedious process of learning if the feeder mice were infected with rabies and who might be behind the outbreak.

I returned to churning through the CDC’s data in search of more clues on when the rabies outbreak had begun, so we might bring a permanent end to it.

Five

You’re stuck with me, so you better like me.

When honest with myself, I had severe workaholic tendencies, something Quinn first attempted to resolve through the strategic placement of presents on my lap. When I worked around the box, he stole my new laptop, closed the lid, and hid it among the gifts.

I gaped at him. “But I was working on that.”

“You were. Now you are unwrapping presents and spending at least an hour doing something not related to identifying the key states probably somehow associated with the rabies outbreak. Once you have opened some gifts, I’m throwing you on the bed and having my way with you. Should you have energy afterwards, we will resume working. I need to digest what I’ve learned, and I’ve discovered you’re rather beautiful when intently working. As I’m just a man, I have reached my threshold of patience. Now, open your gifts.” To establish dominance and make it clear I would be doing what he wanted, he piled more presents on my lap. “I will bury you in presents if you don’t start unwrapping some of these.”

“That’s quite the threat. Open presents or be buried in them.” I peeked over the pile, wondering just how we’d gotten so many gifts. “Why are there so many presents, Quinn? I don’t get this.”

“People like you.”

I narrowed my eyes. “People like me? Like who? I mean, Perkette. She counts. Perky likes me, I guess. You’re stuck with me, so you better like me.”

“I love you, which is far more than merely liking.”

“I love you, too, but this is an excessive number of presents! Nobody likes me this much.”

“Tiffany is responsible for at least six of the gifts. I put one of hers on your lap already. Arthur got us a present each, as he was concerned you might rupture something in your head if you got more than that from them.”

“In addition to the like ten other gifts they got us on Christmas morning. I’m glad I had done my shopping early, and I owe your relatives for fetching the presents. I didn’t even offend either one of them, but I’m concerned over how much Perkette liked the miniature flasks. They were a prank. I think she now wants to do miniature experiments. We still need to get stuff for the kids.”

“Bailey, I bought them almost an entire bookstore each when I found out they like to read. Apparently, Beauty wants to cook, so we’re going to have to potentially remodel our kitchen—or make sure our new house has a good kitchen. You’ve been showering them with affection, candy, and giving their snakes treats whenever