Page 34 of Curse of the Wolf

“It’s a moonlit night. You two should go for a hunt.”

“In Shoreline?”

“No, nobody should hunt in Shoreline.” Jasmine pulled into the spot beside the van.

The pond wasn’t lit at night, and there weren’t any other cars present.

“I remember you catching a rabbit and eating it on my apartment’s doorstep,” I said.

“Only because I got bored waitinghoursfor you and needed a snack.”

“You could have raided my fridge.”

Duncan stood at the end of the dock with a couple of his magnets. He gazed back at us and lifted a hand in greeting.

It appeared to be a calm moonlit fishing session, nothing suggesting he expected trouble, but he’d already investigated this pond. Other than grime-coated car keys and a rusty shopping cart missing wheels, he hadn’t discovered anything that would prompt a return visit, at least not that I’d witnessed.

“I’ll keep that in mind for next time,” Jasmine said. “Do you want me to wait?”

“That’s okay.” I slid out of her car. “I’ll get a ride back with Duncan.”

“Or you two could stay here and check out the bed in his van. The stars and moon are out, and there’s a pond and romantic ambiance.”

One of the teenagers in front of the store belched, then laughed loudly.

“Romantic,” I said.

“Well, maybe you could drive somewhere else.”

“Good idea. Thanks for the ride tonight.”

“No problem. Sorry we didn’t learn anything more useful. Or get job offers. Though I think that MacGregor would hire you. He was into your female attributes.”

“I’d rather be hired because I do a good job in a professional capacity than because of my ass.” Or because I could turn into a wolf in someone’s bedroom closet.

“The world doesn’t work that way, Aunt Luna.”

“You’re being cynical for a twenty-something. Maybeyoushould go for a hunt.”

Jasmine looked out the window toward the moon. “That does sound appealing. Either that or sitting in my parents’ hot tub.”

“Are yousureyou want to get your own place? You’ve got a lot of nice amenities there.”

“True, but I’m ready to be independent. Besides, condos have hot tubs too.”

“Even barebones condos overlooking the freeway?”

Jasmine made a face. “I might be lucky to even get abathtubthere.”

I waved again, then walked toward the dock, the chilly breeze making me pull my jacket close. January wasn’t the most appealing time of year for romantic moonlit interludes.

“Are you rescuing more fish from coin toxicity?” I asked when I reached Duncan.

“No. If there are coins down there, they’re too deep for me to pluck out by hand, and, as I mentioned to you before, your American currency isn’t magnetic.” Duncan held up one of his fishing implements, a long rusty nail attached to it, to demonstrate what his tools usually attracted.

“You could get out your SCUBA gear.”

“If you drink another of those unappealing potions, and I deem it necessary to buy beverages for you, I’ll consider it.”