Donnie was the first one at Harry’s side. He checked for a pulse and pumped his friend’s chest several times before being dragged off by two other wolves.
“We’re so sorry, Simon,” Marco said. “You know us. We’re not like this.”
“I’m sorry about Harry,” Simon said.
I crossed the room to where the werewolves had clustered around their friend. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we’re duty-bound to report the death.”
Donnie turned to me. “Not if you were never here.”
“Even without knights in attendance, Simon is legally obligated to report it,” I pointed out. “He could lose his liquor license if the authorities find out there was a cover-up.”
An unspoken agreement seemed to pass between Donnie and Simon.
“We’ll call the cleanup crew for Harry and then get out of your hair,” Donnie said.
Simon nodded.
The large werewolf looked at me. “I know I fought you, but I’m fuzzy on the details. Whatever happened, I’m sorry.”
“Me, too.”
The werewolves huddled together in silence at the opposite end of the pub while Donnie placed a call.
“Kami and I will help you clean up.”
“I don’t know how you have the energy to do anything right now,” Simon said. “How many wolves did you fight?”
“Enough.” Simon didn’t need to know my magic wasn’t the kind that drained me. In fact, it was the exact opposite—the effort I used to contain my magic left me feeling drained. The more I used, the better I felt.
I picked up a large shard of glass and placed it in the pile that Kami and Simon had started.
“What do you think?” Kami whispered. “Turf war?”
If anyone were to get wind of unrest in a werewolf pack, it would be the one who served their ale. Although he was more of a lone wolf, Simon kept a finger on the pack pulse.
Simon shook his head. “They’re in the same West End pack. Nice guys, too. They’re usually a stable lot. This was…”
“A mess,” Kami finished for him.
“A tragedy,” I added.
Kami examined a piece of red glass before tossing it into the pile. “They were out of their minds,” she said, never one to mince words.
Simon picked up the stun gun and placed the wand in his back pocket. “They’re werewolves. It’s how we fight.”
Kami pressed her lips together. “You seem to forget who you’re talking to. London and I have been in plenty of situations with wolves. Tonight was weird.”
Simon observed the sorry state of the pub with a somber expression. His gaze flicked to the subdued group across the room. “It wasn’t fun, I’ll say that.”
“You started to turn, too. The only reason you stopped is because Kami used your own weapon against you.”
Simon patted the wand in his pocket. “Handy thing, isn’t it?”
Kami pinned him with a hard stare. “You’re avoiding the issue.”
Simon lowered his gaze. “Yes, I started to shift. I don’t know why. It wasn’t deliberate. I think it was all that testosterone exploding in front of me. It affected me more than I realized.”
I stared at the pile of broken glass. “I’m sorry about the window.” As much as I tried not to get sentimental over objects, I couldn’t help feeling a sense of loss.
Simon crouched beside the debris. “It might cost a mint, but maybe there’s something a witch can do to salvage it. Free drinks for a month if you know anyone.”
Kami coughed. “Only a month? This window is worth a year at least.”
Simon grinned. “Willing to play hardball even at the worst of times, aren’t you?”
Kami shrugged. “Hardball is the reason I’ve survived this long.”
“Talk to Minka,” I said. “She might know someone.”
He nodded. “Good idea.”
Kami inclined her head to Simon’s weapon. “Where’d you get that fancy wand anyway? I’d like to buy a couple for the armory.”
His smile was a mixture of relief and satisfaction. “It was effective, wasn’t it?”
“You know me. Always on the hunt for effective weapons.”
“This was a lucky break,” Simon admitted. “A patron and his friends had finished an entire cask of wine before they realized they didn’t have enough to pay the bill. Gave me that instead. Said they’re commonplace in Totnes where he’s from.”
I studied the wand. “Regional weapons. Who knew?”
Simon grabbed a nearby broom and started to sweep. “It paid for itself tonight.”
“It saved your life.” My gaze drifted across the room to where Harry’s body remained. “Too bad we weren’t able to use it on poor Harry in time.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Kami said.
“Me neither.” Simon leaned his chin on the broom handle and gazed at the fallen wolf. “And I hope I never do again.”
3
I climbed to the fifth floor and unlocked the door to my flat. As usual it stuck to the frame and I leaned my weight against it. Multiple faces greeted me as I stumbled across the threshold.
“I’m home and it’s been a tough day, so nobody better have peed on the carpet.”
Such innocent expressions. You could’ve melted butter in their mouths. Except the cat, of course. Hera’s face was the equivalent of silence, witch-servant, and fetch me my catnip on a silver platter.
There was, of course, a building rule that limited me to one animal companion which I blatantly ignored. It had been a minor issue because the former landlady was nosy and had a habit of entering my flat at inopportune moments. Now that she’d sacrificed herself for a lost cause, there was a new landlord to contend with, although this one seemed disinterested in nosing around his tenants’ flats. His name was William and he had a habit of wandering the stairwell in a robe and slippers and muttering to himself.
Big Red was the first one to greet me. The red panda curled his soft body around both my boots. He was only the size of a domestic cat, but his longer body allowed him the ability to trip both my feet at the same time.
I reached down to stroke his soft fur. “Hey, buddy. You miss me?”
Herman bleated. The pygmy goat was responsible for the majority of chewed items in the flat, which was one reason I didn’t keep many material possessions. If Herman could angle his mouth around it, he’d be sure to taste test it.
“I bet you’re all hungry. Let me feed you.” I’d lost my appetite during the brawl at The Crown and had yet to recover it. Maybe after a shower and a good night’s sleep.
Sandy darted ahead of me to the kitchen. Whereas Big Red wanted to be the first to greet me, the fennec fox wanted to be first at the food bowls. Priorities.
I retrieved a variety of food containers from the pantry and dished them out.
Jemima gently pecked my leg and I turned to address the Bantam hen. “Eat first. Then I’ll change your diaper.”