Page 41 of A Cock and Bull Story

“Let's go,” Belle chirps.

Between Arthur and myself, we hoist the Tertiary onto our shoulders. We attempt to slip out of the flat as inconspicuously as possible and somehow manage to chuck the shifter into the back of the neighbor’s truck.

Belle slips into the cab and Arthur climbs up beside her, shutting the door. I take the keys and drive. It's a silent ride as we go back up to Banbury except for Arthur texting everyone to meet us at the church.

“We’re making a lot of emergency S.A. meetings,” Belle observes. “And not the kind I hoped for.”

Arthur shoots me a look and I just shrug.

How the Hell should I know what kind the woman hopes for?

“Sian and Elise are still with a friend. So, only Theo and Jude will be joining us,” Arthur announces.

I glance at my rearview mirror to make sure the Tertiary is still asleep. I step on the gas, just in case, and arrive in Banbury in record time. Jude is already at the Anglican church, waiting.

“What happened?” Jude demands.

“Let’s just wait for Theo,” I respond.

Belle is pacing around furiously and trembling like a leaf. She's clearly terrified at this secondary attack that she's witnessed.

The question—why do the Tertiaries want Belle?

My worst nightmares have been actualized—humans can turn into creepy crawlers and enter my room when I'm sleeping.

Ok, I suppose I've never had a nightmare of a man turning into a tarantula and coming into my apartment that I battle like a boss bitch with dildos and knives.

But still.

I promise that you would be shitting yourself, too, right now.

Pacing furiously back and forth, I shove a hand through my colorful hair that's in complete and utter sexy disarray from my time earlier with Arthur.

I look over at him.

Jack and Jude are watching me, too—with worried looks on their faces. Theyshouldbe worried. People are turning into gargantuan spiders. Jude looks thoughtful as well as concerned, but I catch him gazing at my long golden legs.

I toss him a wink.

It might be the end of the world, but I'm still DTF.

Theo comes barreling down the church stairs to the basement where we meet, looking ready to brawl. It’s interesting to see the violence simmering in his eyes considering that he's not a very large or overtly aggressive man.

“Where’s the shifter?” Theo demands in a voice that I never would have attributed to him.

Jude’s staring at Theo with the same kind of wonder as me.

“Out in the truck that Jack, Arthur and Belle used to drive over here.”

“Let’s bring him down. Now.”

“N-n-n-no!” I stutter. “That guy turns into spiderman! He’s a dickhead Peter Parker!”

“It’s ok, Belle,” Arthur tries to soothe. “We’ll be right back.”

“I’ll do a perimeter check while you three bring in the Tertiary,” Jude directs.

I make a face.