here to hurt them, you can come in and get some food. And take a bath.
"Do I stink?" I didn't need to ask. I'd been living in a tower. The running water had lasted until the first winter, and I'd relied on Mr. Grouse bringing me bottled water after that.
Instead of answering, Dog nuzzled his nose into my neck. I thought he was trying to say even if I did stink, he didn't mind.
"The kid is talking to Dog. Is that not proof enough of what he is?" Diesel asked.
The men continued their bickering, but as their voices rose, the ball of unease sitting in my gut grew. I leaned my weight back, trying to figure out how to get my feet under me in case I needed to run. Dog said I was safe, but maybe he'd meant eventually. What if something went wrong before then?
My hands shook, and though I tried to be quiet, my breaths came in short gasps. The world spun a little, and then I saw Faust's worried gaze peering into mine. "It's okay. I promise."
I wanted to believe him, but all the evidence before me pointed to the contrary. Unlike me, these men not only looked capable of violence, but like they used violence the way others used pencils or hammers. If I'd stood no chance in defending myself against Mr. Grouse, I certainly stood less of a chance here with them. They could make me do anything they wanted.
I needed to run. Dog wouldn't come with me; he was bonded to Faust. But would he stop me?
I brought my lips against his ear before speaking as softly as I could manage. "Dog, I need to go."
"No," Faust ordered sharply.
I jerked away from the harsh word, and Faust sighed before disappearing completely.
My lips parted to let out a squeak as my brain worked out how to get to my feet. I didn't get far and my legs were still a pretzel by the time I noticed there was another wolf standing where Faust had been.
Can you hear me? the gray wolf asked. The voice wasn't exactly the same as in his human body, but his calm demeanor shone through. This was Faust.
That also meant Faust could turn into a wolf. I felt oddly betrayed. Here these men were pretending I was the odd one out, and yet none of them had blinked an eye at Faust's transformation.
"Yes," I replied in a tone that was very nearly irritated.
I wanted to tell you, Faust said, correctly guessing the reason for my scowl. But I didn't want to overwhelm you.
"This isn't overwhelming." In this form, there was none of the conflicting tension that existed when he was a human. As a man, I felt an instant attraction that scared me. But in his wolf body, I felt more like how I did toward Dog. I recognized Faust's animal and could ignore the man. I also had a second warm, large body to further swaddle me from danger.
I instinctively carded my fingers through Faust's fur. He wasn't one shade of gray but a hundred different shades, with some black, brown, and white mixed in as well. His coat was longer than Dog's and also softer. My nerves settled enough that I didn't feel like I had to be poised and ready to make a run for it.
Faust brought his broad nose to my neck and sniffed before asking, What's your name?
I frowned. He knew that already, but I answered anyway. "Storri. My name is Storri Warler."
"You can understand Faust in that form?" Diesel looked from Faust to me, and I nodded. He turned to the others, and I felt vaguely like a criminal standing trial with Diesel as my lawyer. "What more proof do you need, Knox?"
Knox sighed, shoving his thick fingers through sandy brown hair. "The notes. At least explain those. How did you get notes from where you were being kept to here?"
He'd addressed me specifically, but I still waited for Diesel to give the go-ahead before speaking.
I draped my arms over Dog and Faust in separate half hugs, needing both to face the scowling man looming over me. He wasn't as tall as Diesel, but I couldn't gauge his malice—if there was any, or if it was just suspicion that brought his eyebrows so close together.
I buried my nose into Dog's scruff and scratched behind Faust's ear. "I've been sending them for…a long time. I don't know where the others went. I asked the animals