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“Certainly.”

“Wereyouthat food motivated as a pup?”

“I’m that food motivated now. Why do you think I keep coming to your aid?”

“Because of the chocolate I give you?”

“Embedded with such delightful items as bacon bits, cacao nibs, and coffee beans, yes.”

“And here I thought my natural allure was what drew you.”

“Your allure is quite lovely.”

“But not as lovely as dark-chocolate-smothered bacon bits?”

“Well, on par with that, certainly.”

“I’m touched.”

Duncan bowed his head toward me. “I should like to take the medallion to your mother—your pack—and assure her that I have no intention of keeping it. Then I can politely ask if I might borrow it until we’ve eliminated the various threats to your livelihood. I would also like to put an end to whatever megalomaniacal plans Radomir and Abrams have for the artifacts. I trust you wouldn’t be opposed to driving them out of your state.”

“I’d like to drive them off a cliff.”

“That’s an option. Cliffs are abundantly present in your mountain forests.”

“You’re stirring up my fantasies.”

“By speaking of forests and cliffs? I’d prefer it if it was my masculine appeal that aroused fantasies in you.”

“We don’t always get what we want.” Though it had been a long day and night, and I worried about the future, I managed a smile for him and relaxed, even dozed for a while, until we turned into the parking lot for Sylvan Serenity.

For this late an hour, there were a lot of cars with headlights on. It was almost midnight and, with the snow, one wouldn’t have expected people to be out.

Not surprisingly, more than one police vehicle was parked next to my truck. Officer Dubois stood on the sidewalk near them, Rue a few steps away. I couldn’t tell if she was handcuffed, but my stomach sank as the officer looked toward us.

Abruptly, I was glad Austin had stayed behind. I didn’t want him to watch me be arrested. When he stepped onto his plane toreturn to Air Force training, I wanted him to remember me as a hero.

“The bobbies in this city enjoy spending a great deal of time here, don’t they?” Duncan asked.

“It’s my allure. They’re drawn to it.”

“Even the female officer?”

“Oh, she’sespeciallydrawn to it.” I grimaced.

Seeing Rue reminded me of the potions she’d given me, including the one I didn’t want to take, the one that could allow me to locate the hideout of the motorcycle thugs. Maybe… to get the sword back, I would suck it up and consume it. Suck itdown, rather.

I bared my teeth, my esophagus rippling with distaste at the thought, but I owed it to Duncan to find the weapon. Not only because it had been a generous gift but because he wanted me to have it. Even with the medallion around his neck, our enemies remained out there, and it was possible I would need the sword again. Just in case.

Duncan pulled into a parking spot, and Dubois headed our way. If she arrested me, I wouldn’t have a chance to suck anything down. Hopefully, I wouldn’t need a sword in jail.

“Do you think salamis would work to bribe her into pretending she didn’t see us change?” Duncan asked.

“Sadly not. She’s not a werewolf.”

“Alas for her to go through life so handicapped.”

I snorted and climbed out to face her. Rue waved. Did she look… cheerful under the glow of the nearest parking lot lamp? If nothing else, she wasn’t handcuffed.