Page 6 of Beyond the Veil (Endangered Fae #4)

Damn . The beast, thing, whatever it was had moved through the kitchen. The back door into the garden stood open and soft laughter drifted through. The scents of human, wolf and pooka reached him.

“No.” Theo hurled himself through the doorway, out into the garden where crickets and frogs sang in happy ignorance. Consul Morrison was out there, with Mr. Sandoval and Finn. Even off duty, he had to protect them.

There. Along the wall, under the kitchen window, a darker shadow slunk in the gloom, headed toward the trio perched on the edge of the fountain.

The consul turned suddenly. “What the— Theo?”

“Stay there, sir!” Theo shouted as he closed in.

He dropped to a crouch, gauged the distance and leaped the ten remaining feet, bringing the intruder down beneath him. Whatever it was squeaked and snarled, writhing madly like an eel. With a knee on its back, he managed to tangle his fingers in the thick mane of hair and hauled it to its feet.

“Theo, what’s going on here?” Consul Morrison was on his feet, teeth bared. Good, he was a superb fighter, backup if Theo needed it.

“This…whatever it is was stalking you.” Theo growled low in the being’s face and shook it roughly. “What are you? Assassin? Thief? What are you doing here?”

It squeaked again and found its voice, breathy and rushed. “I was returning Diego’s tooth! He left it! What sort of guest greeting is this? Diego, why is there a Nightwalker in your home cave? And a Devourer? Will they eat us?”

The rush of strange questions confused Theo but not enough for him to loosen his grip. He would hold tight until they could call reinforcements and contain the threat. Why wasn’t anyone calling it in? His confusion turned to irritation when the pooka doubled over, laughing hysterically.

“Sir.” He glanced toward the consul, who watched Diego with raised brows. “We should—”

“Um, hold that thought, kiddo. Diego, you know this little guy?”

Little? Yes, it wasn’t terribly tall or broad. But small things could be dangerous. Lila had been small.

To his horror, Mr. Sandoval came forward and took the creature’s hands. “Limpet? Dios , how did you get here? Theo, cuidado, por favor . He’s a friend.”

“Poor little selkie.” Finn came forward, still wiping his eyes. “At least we know where your penknife went, love.”

Selkie…selkie…the seal people? That explained the black eyes and the sea smell. “If you’re a friend, selkie”—Theo infused his voice with enough ice to freeze Long Beach Harbor—“why skulk through the embassy? Sneak through the garden?”

“It reeks of Devourer! Please, please, don’t let it eat me!”

“ Hola , Theo. It’s good to see you.” Mr. Sandoval caught his gaze, his stare no less compelling than it had been before his cure. “It’s safe. Please let him go. Please. He was just frightened.”

He had no verification that the situation was secure, and yet he released his grip before he could stop himself. That voice had once commanded him. He had sworn obedience. It was still the same, and yet…not. “Sir?”

“Stand down, Theo,” Zack ordered. “I think we’re all right here.”

Theo twisted his head to the left. “And if not?”

“Really think you and me couldn’t handle this little guy?” Consul Morrison’s smile and wink said he wasn’t worried, so Theo backed off and tried to stop bouncing on the balls of his feet.

Mr. Sandoval wrapped his arms around the selkie, making little shushing noises and rocking him. When the frightened gasping slowed, he pointed to the consul. “Limpet, this is Zack Morrison, the fae’s human consul. Remember what that is?”

“The human who speaks for the fae in the human world. But he’s—”

“I know. He is a werewolf but he’s a good man and my friend. He makes certain he’s somewhere secure when the change comes. He would never hurt you.”

“And the…the Nightwalker?” Limpet eyed Theo suspiciously.

“Is also our friend. This is Theo Aguilar. He helps keep the island safe.”

“Is it usually not safe?”

Finn kissed the top of the selkie’s head. “The human world is a dangerous place. Your parents were right about that. This island is safe for us because of the vigilant and valiant warriors who keep us safe.”

“Who keeps you safe from him ?”

Theo wrestled his anger down, though he had to take it to the mat three times. Don’t react. Don’t react. It gives them power if you react. The taunts, the jeering calls of—damn it, he wasn’t a kid walking to school anymore.

“We know more than they did in the old days,” Consul Morrison said. “When a human changes because of magical…illness, we try to teach them how to live with it. It’s only when people are hunted and desperate that they get crazy and hurt others.”

No, some people are simply bad. Theo didn’t think this would help the current conversation, though, so he kept silent.

“Speaking of. Isn’t this a feeding night?”

Theo twitched and blinked at being addressed directly. Had he lost the thread of conversation? “Tomorrow, sir.”

“You’re looking a little strained and tired.” Consul Morrison stepped up to him, put a hand on the side of his head and shone a penlight in his eyes.

“Ah!” Theo cried out and batted the light away, turning so no one would see him breathing through the pain.

“Sun headache?”

“Yes, sir. It’s not bad.”

“We really should move your feeding up.”

“Sir, please. I’m on duty in fifteen minutes. I can’t do that on a fae feeding.”

Mr. Sandoval’s eyes widened in alarm. “A fae feeding?”

“Vampire anesthetic,” the consul answered after a slow breath. “The fae volunteer and once Theo feeds, he’s out for the night. Happy and full, but not useful on duty.”

Theo glanced at his watch. “Please, sir. I need medical clearance.”

“I should declare you unfit, kiddo. You work yourself too hard.” Consul Morrison puffed out his cheeks on another hard exhale and waved a hand at him. “Go on. Go. I know why you do it. I’ll call your clearance in. Go patrol and we’ll make sure you get fed as soon as you come off shift.”

“Thank you, sir.” Theo turned to try a dignified retreat.

“And Theo?”

“Sir?”

“Thanks for watching over us.”

That stopped him short. It was his job and he did the best he could. The thank you settled as a warm glow in his chest, but what was the proper response?

“Sir.” He nodded and walked away.