"He's not siding with the vampires," I say and bite my lip. I don't know how much information I can give out.
"Whelp, then we just gotta convince the wolves that. Otherwise, they could try to take him out before the fight. They wouldn't win-you saw him against all those cats. But they could wound him, and the odds of the fight get worse."
"Tell me you didn't make this bet," Parker groans and tugs the hat over his eyes.
"Oh, I made it," Declan pronounces. "Friday night, we'll be rich."
"As long as Grizz doesn't lose," Parker says.
"You saw him fight," Declan picks up a burger and waves it. "What was that? Ten, fifteen to one?"
Parker raises the hat but doesn't look happy. "'Cause there's no other reason Grizz could lose. Like, perhaps, throwing the match for the vampires."
Declan unwraps the burger and scarfs it in three bites. "That would be bad. Do not pass go, do not collect three million dollars."
Parker groans again. "Don't tell me you borrowed money to make this bet."
"It's a sure thing," Declan licks ketchup from his fingers.
"Famous last words," Parker mutters and goes to sit inside the car, cranking down the driver's seat and laying out with the hat over his face.
"So," Declan turns to me. "Where d'you meet our Grizzly?"
"Um," my skin heats, toasting my freckles. "A club."
"Which club, luv? The Fight Club, or the club of kinky vampires?
"The…um," I stammer, "vampire one."
Declan leans forward to say to the third, quietest Stooge, "She's cute when she blushes. Sets off her red hair."
"L-l-leave her alone," the tall, thin one replies.
I smile at him gratefully. "It's all right."
"What was a nice girl doing in a place like that?"
"I was there with my vampire master."
Declan blinks rapidly and I meet his gaze head on.
"You're a s-s-s-sweetblood?" the tall shifter stammers.
"I am. Well, I was." I don't know what Grizz will do with me when he's done, but I doubt he'll let me go back to a vampire master.
"You're not anymore? Did the vampire give ya away?" Declan asks.
I bite my lip and shake my head.
"Then how are you with Grizz?"
"Grizz broke into his house and, um, took me."
Declan sags. "Jay-sus." He hops off the car hood and paces back and forth. Inside the car, Parker sits up.
"What's wrong? Laurie, tell me."
Laurie points to me. "Grizz s-s-s-stole her from a vampire."
"Aw, fates," Parker swears and scrambles out of the car.
Declan continues pacing back and forth in front of the car, head down, mumbling an occasional curse word.
"You bet on a fighter who's crossed a vampire. Who took from a vampire." Parker whirls on me. "Which vampire did you say you belonged to?"
"Augustine."
Declan stops to frown at me. "Tall guy? Looks like a male model? Wears suits all the time?"
Parker nudges the Irishman in the ribs. "You just described every vampire ever."
"I did not!"
"Oh really? What vampire doesn't look like a male model?"
Declan ponders this. "There was that small, skinny one. Remember? Ben something."
"Benedict?" I offer.
Declan snaps his fingers. "That's the one. Good ole Benny. Looks like he belongs in a boy band."
Beside me, Laurie laughs softly.
Declan grins at me. "Tell me I'm wrong."
"You're not wrong," I smile back. After the way he treated me in the club last time, Benny isn't my favorite vampire. Not that any vampires are my favorite.
"Congratulations," Parker says sourly. "You know who doesn't look like a model or a member of a boy band? Frangelico." At the name of the vampire king, everyone's smiles drop away. "How will Frangelico feel about Grizz stealing from vampires?"
I shrug, my heart plummeting.
"I don't think he cares much either way." Declan rubs his chin. "He's pretty lax about his sireds, the vampires he's made. But Augustine…that's another story."
I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly chilled. Augustine is going to be pissed at Grizz if he finds out where I am. I totally forgot about that.
"W-what will A-augustine do?" Laurie asks.
"To a shifter who stole from him?" Parker shrugs. "Anyone's guess."
"What's your guess?" Declan asks.
"I don't know," Parker waves a hand. "Hunt Grizz down and rip his head off?"
All oxygen leaves the vicinity. I sway and slump against Laurie who puts an arm around me.
Declan runs to the driver's door, smashing into Parker who squawks and tries to push him off. They tangle together and start wrestling, arms flailing.
"In the car," Declan shouts. "We gotta find him!"
"Are you okay?" Laurie whispers and I nod. My head is still spinning. I need to get to Grizz. I need know he's okay.
"Calm down, dingbat," Parker growls, pushing Declan off him. The Irishman dashes to the car and climbs in the driver's seat.
"We gotta save him! Where are the keys?"
Parker holds them up. "It's daylight. No vampires are awake."
"Right," Declan says, pushing his hair back from his face. "Right."
"But you gave him intel on the shifter slavers, and sent him after them," Parker says, folding his arms across his chest.
"Jay-sus, why'd I do that?" Declan rubs a hand up and down his face.
"I don't know. So he wouldn't kill and eat you?" Parker stoops and picks up the crushed hat, dusting it off before handing it back to Laurie.
"Oh me heart." Declan lays a hand on his chest, panting. "I can't take this violence."
"Should've thought of that before you bet on a fight," Parker rolls his eyes.
Grizz
THE INTEL DECLAN gave me earlier leads me to an abandoned truck stop a few miles out of town. I buzz around on my motorcycle until I'm sure no one's around, then park to sniff things out. Again, there's nothing here but snatches of fur and the occasional feather. Someone's moving shifters in and out of here for sure. The question is: why? Did Frangelico's vampires all get a taste for shifter blood?