Page 33 of Taming the Beasts (Crooked Point #3)

Monday

Zoey

It was very possible that I was about to handle this whole situation wrong. But once a plan was formed in my head, I had a hard time changing it.

Kebe looked around the foyer as she helped me carry in the takeout bags. “This is so much nicer than I thought it would be. A lot cleaner.”

I ignored her dig at my boyfriends. I already knew how she felt about them. Tonight wasn’t about that. It was about figuring out if she was a murderer on top of being a rude liar.

She followed me into the kitchen. “Absolutely spotless. It’s just fascinating.”

She was acting like she was expecting cat litter everywhere.

I shook my head. My boyfriends were werecats, not cats.

And yes, I was the one that had cleaned the kitchen, but she didn’t need to know that.

They’d been tidy enough before I moved in.

I started unpacking the takeout containers from the restaurant Emma was most excited about.

“Mmm smells good,” Kebe said and joined me at the kitchen island.

I’d asked her to come over and help us taste-test a bunch of stuff for Emma’s reception. Kebe had agreed very quickly. Which was suspicious all by itself. Emma had asked me to do it with the guys since she couldn’t do it with Callum. Since Callum said he barely tolerated normal human food.

So...why was Kebe excited to eat it? She was supposed to only have a taste for blood too.

I was really starting to wonder if she was some other kind of supernatural creature.

Because I didn’t believe for a second that she was actually just a vampire.

She was something...faster. Something fast enough to murder two strangers across the world in less than two hours. And I was going to prove it.

For just a second I stared at Kebe as she looked around the kitchen. I couldn’t believe how old she was. The only question was...how? What on earth was she? How many other types of supernatural creatures existed?

My train of thought ended as soon as the front door opened. “Hey, guys!” I called from the kitchen. “We have company!”

They all walked in through the archway.

“Surprise,” I said. “Kebe is here. Emma needs our help taste-testing the food options for her wedding. You know...since Callum isn’t any help.”

Everyone looked fairly pleased but Bennett.

I would have been worried it was because I’d mentioned Emma’s wedding.

But we’d had a good talk about that. His displeased look was from Kebe’s presence.

And I totally got it. I was displeased that she was here too.

But I needed to confront her head on. With eye witnesses.

“Oh, wait,” I said. “I’m so sorry, Kebe. I totally forgot that you’re a vampire too who doesn’t like normal food. You probably don’t want to help with this. Shoot. I wasn’t thinking. ”

“It’s totally fine,” Kebe said. “I’ve already had a ton of blood for lunch. I’m satisfied in that department. And I’ve actually grown quite used to normal human fare over the years. I’ve developed a tolerance for it.”

Bullshit. “It’s okay, you really don’t need to eat it.” I grabbed six plates instead of seven.

Kebe stared at the takeout containers. “No, I want to help. It’s the least I can do for Callum.”

I stared at her. I was really helping Emma . Yes it was for Emma and Callum’s wedding. But where did Kebe’s loyalties lie here? God, was Kebe still trying to get with Callum?

“Besides,” she said. “I have quite a refined palate from all my travels. I can tell what normal human people will like even if it’s not my particular cup of bloody tea.”

Ew. Did she sip blood from a teacup? I quickly shook away the thought.

No, probably not. Since she was a dirty rotten liar!

I stared over at my boyfriends. Were they believing this shit?

Because I wasn’t. She’d wanted lunch the other day at the bank too.

This was sus as hell. She was practically salivating over the takeout containers. Just a tolerance my ass.

“Interesting,” Huxley said. “What’s your favorite type of cuisine?”

“I’ve always had a fondness for Greek food. A lot of great Greek restaurants came to my home town during my adolescence.”

“I’d love to hear more about that.”

I gave Huxley a dirty look and Ace chuckled.

It was really good to see him smile again.

“I guess seven for dinner it is,” I said. I added another plate and started opening up all the containers. It really did smell amazing. Emma couldn’t go wrong with anything from this place. And I was glad it was American food and not Greek.

As everyone started filling their plates, I shuffled closer to Titan. For just a little bit it had seemed like he’d fallen under Kebe’s spell too. But then a few off-hand comments about werecats had woken him up from his daze. He was on my side. At least with this one thing. I was sure of it.

“Follow my lead,” I whispered to him.

He looked up from his plate. “What?”

“Like I said. Just follow my lead. There is going to be zero sweetness from me at the table tonight.”

He lowered his eyebrows as he stared at me.

“We’ve got this.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

“Mayhem of course. We’re going to catch Kebe red-handed in her lies. And make sure to try the mashed potatoes. They’re to die for. Not literally,” I quickly added. The thought of his two missing friends made me immediately stop talking.

Titan just scowled in response.

I slapped his back. “See you in there.” I walked into the dining room, making sure to save the seat next to me for Titan.

He was the last one to come in, and it looked like he’d rather sit anywhere but next to me.

But I patted the seat. I needed him to be my sidekick tonight. He’d figure out the flow of how this evening was going to go soon enough. And his menacing stare was going to be really valuable. “I saved you a seat, big boy.” God, why did I keep calling him that?

He sighed and sat down .

“So, Kebe,” I said. “What were you up to on Friday night? Did you go out at all? Maybe really late?”

Kebe thought about it for a moment and slowly shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. I don’t know many people in town yet. So I’ve been having early nights. Although I am really starting to enjoy the camming.”

I hadn’t realized she’d still been doing it. Honestly, I hadn’t thought much about MyFanatics at all. It was strange. It had been my whole world and suddenly it seemed so small. I was finally living in the real world instead of living behind a screen.

“Are you doing the same kind of things as Zoey?” Otto asked. “With produce and all that?”

Kebe shrugged. “I’m trying to add my own flair to it. I think it needed a refresh. A fresh face if you will. Mine.” She smiled.

Rude. My camming was perfectly fine. There was a reason why I had one of the most popular MyFanatics accounts. She didn’t need to change a thing.

“Have you spoken to anyone interesting yet?” Huxley asked.

I was the one that was supposed to be asking Kebe a bunch of questions. What was this?

“Actually, yes,” Kebe said. “There’s this really interesting guy named King that I’ve had some fascinating conversations with.”

My stomach dropped.

“Wait,” Bennett said. “Zoey’s mentioned him. Isn’t he the one that knows about the coin too?”

“Yes!” Kebe said. “I’m so glad she already told you about him. King and I talked for a really long time about the coin. He’s fascinating and knows so much about history and mythology and supernatural creatures. It was really good finally getting a second opinion about the coin and it’s safety.”

“I thought you already got a second opinion from your father?” I asked.

“Right, I meant an opinion other than Daddy’s. Obviously. And King really thinks it’ll work. I’ve been feeling so positive about it. I’m sorry, I really should have told you about that sooner. I spoke to him a few nights ago.”

“Which night?” I asked.

“I think that was Friday, actually. We spoke way into the wee hours of the morning.”

“You just said you went to bed early on Friday.”

She shrugged. “I forgot. But I was definitely talking to King. You can log on and ask him if you want. I think he kind of misses you. Maybe you can do one more session with him or something?”

Shit. I could feel all the guys’ eyes on me. “I’m retired,” I said firmly. And also...double shit! Did she really have an alibi for Friday night?

“Yeah, Zoey won’t be doing that,” Bennett said.

I smiled at him. I was glad he trusted me.

“She might be doing that,” Titan said. “She’s only on vacation from the site. Right?” He looked down at me.

“A permanent vacation,” I said. “Don’t be jealous.” I hit his chest with the back of my hand as I kept focusing on Kebe’s face. Waiting for her to give some kind of tell that she was a filthy liar.

She took a bite of mashed potatoes. “Oh, these are some of the best I’ve ever had. They could use some blood instead of gravy though. Am I right?” She laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world.

I cleared my throat. “I was actually wondering if any of you knew about any other supernatural creatures? Other than werecats or vampires I mean?”

“Sure,” Kebe said. “There’s so many. Too many to count really.”

“We actually haven’t heard of any others,” Ace said.

Kebe laughed. “Oh, right. I mean, none that exist any longer. But long ago in my youth, there were so many walking among us. The times have really taken a toll though. Now that you mention it, I don’t think I’ve run into another creature in centuries.

I guess vampires and werecats are all that’s left. ”

She’d literally just changed what she said halfway through. I stared around the table, hoping someone else would call her out. They did not. I elbowed Titan.

He just grunted at me.

What was he doing? He was supposed to be helping me! I looked back at Kebe. “Well, what other creatures used to exist? Anything that could maybe disappear? Like teleportation?”

She shook her head. “Teleportation is more of a sci-fi dream. It’s not rooted in facts, Zoey.”