Page 39

H arlow eyed his surroundings as they neared the two-story wood cabin style house. The house was set out pretty deep into the woods, so beyond the gravel drive, it was mostly trees, plants, and grass.

A set of stairs led up to a small front-covered deck, with a rocking chair to the right of the door. The roof and chimney, which sat above to the left, were covered in moss. The shit appeared to be creeping up the light-grayish wooden siding as well.

While all the windows were curtained, each had a yellow glow emanating from behind them. The light seemed bright, even under the late afternoon sun.

Up around the sides of the house were all sorts of plants and shrubs, yet nothing with any actual color besides green.

“It’s giving…creepy witch doctor that may murder us vibes,” Gavin said slowly.

“Mmm, a bit! She is probably fun!” Foxx giggled, before starting to bounce on his feet. And because the vampire was currently wearing a navy-blue bunny sunsuit, with small reflective gold stars of various sizes, and a larger star shaped belly pocket, his ears flopped with him.

Harlow flinched, automatically catching Foxx when the man let out a frightful yelp and leaped into his arms the moment an older woman appeared in front of them out of nowhere.

Eyes twinkling as she looked over them, the witch let loose a high-pitched cackle, before musing in a voice that was oddly youthful. “Why, thank you, my dear!”

The witch he assumed they were there to find looked to be in her seventies, and on the slim side. She was wearing a green babydoll dress with sunflowers embroidered at the bottom of it, along with black leggings and yellow boots.

Standing about five eight, with pale skin, and crow’s feet around her bright-green eyes, she had long, wavy white hair that went down well past her shoulders, a pair of black framed glasses perched on her slightly pointed, upturned nose, and lines around her rather full mouth.

“Fucking hell!” Gavin rasped.

The dragon was clutching at his heart, which Harlow could hear was beating faster than before. And his wasn’t the only one, the vampire’s was loud in his ears too.

Still clinging to him, Foxx slowly unwound himself.

Once both of the man’s feet were back on the ground, the vampire’s previous excitement seemed to return as he cleared his throat and enthusiastically chimed, “Hello! I’m Foxx Honeywell. Love your outfit by the way. And this is my boyfriend and partner, Harlow Blackmore—” Harlow nodded toward her in greeting as the vampire waved to him. “—and finally, this is Gavin…” The man trailed off, frowning. “You know, I don’t actually know his last name.”

“Just Gavin is fine,” the dragon said with a sigh.

The woman smiled. “Awfully jumpy for a dragon in your line of work, aren’t you?”

Gavin just smiled back stiffly. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Mmm, of course not. Well, I am Maribeth Winther, but you may call me Mari. Never Beth though.” She said the last part with a clear warning before happily humming, “Come in, you three, we have much to discuss.” With that said, she turned and hurried into her house.

Jogging up the front steps, Mari opened the door without pause and disappeared inside, leaving it wide open behind her .

“Could have done without the poofing thing, but… Oh, I think I love her!” Foxx said with a squeal as he skipped off after the woman.

Harlow snorted and followed behind slowly.

“And I thought I had too much energy,” Gavin sighed.

He paused, glancing towards the dragon. “You are a battery, he is a generator. Come on, little double A, we’ve got shit to do.” He slapped the man on the back and started walking again.

“I feel insulted!” Gavin sputtered. “I am not a battery! I’ll have you know, I’m at least a whole pack! No, two—three packs!”

Harlow chuckled, but didn’t stop.