“You’re Lisbeth?” I clutched her hand. “My Lisbeth?”
A long exhale passed her lips, and she slumped against the pavement.
“Lisbeth.” I shook her shoulder, and her head sagged to one side. “Frak. Frak. Frak.”
Bishop had ditched me, and I had yet to spot Midas. That left me precious few other allies to call.
No.
Not allies.
I had to stop being such a coward about labels.
Friends.
I had few friends to call, and the first one who popped into my head wanted space.
With that in mind, I dialed up Remy. She didn’t answer, which wasn’t unusual when she was on the clock at the kiosk, but her dedication to the sale had never irked me more than it did right then.
Hating myself for putting him in this situation, I called my first choice before I changed my mind.
“Ford,” I blurted. “Don’t hang up.”
He blasted a sigh across the receiver that spoke volumes.
“I’ve got a team member down on Crescent Avenue Northeast one block east of Greenleaf.” I trained my gaze on the raucous partygoers, praying to spot the familiar in the churning faces. “Near as I can tell, she ingested the new drug that hit the streets tonight. She needs to be evacuated immediately.”
Before any sharp ears overheard us, realized who she worked for, and figured payback might be a giggle.
“A member of your…” He grew more animated. “She’s OPA?”
“Yes.” I trusted him with another clue that risked exposing her identity. “Her name is Lisbeth.”
“Damn it, Lee.” A tick, tick, tick filled the background. “I’m on my way.”
“Thank you.”
He ended the call with a muttered curse that made me feel three inches tall.
Hunkered down while I waited for backup, I sought out Ambrose through our bond and found him strolling down the center of the sidewalk, uncaring if I noticed him absorbing trickles of ambient energy from the crowd. The effort of snatching him back to my side was exacerbated by his mini power trip, but I got him locked down before he stirred up more trouble.
Crouched over Lisbeth, checking her every so often, I caught a flash of gold fur from the corner of my eye.
Midas had shifted. And so had…Ares?
This section of Midtown was heavily populated by paras, and clubs on this strip were for paras only. That didn’t mean clever humans never tricked or bribed their way in, or that the club owners didn’t pay them to be the entertainment for a night or two before wiping their memories.
That said, Gwyllgi had no business on four legs in this area without a frakking good reason.
The golden gwyllgi walked right up to me, his gaze sliding over me with a questioning air.
The dark gwyllgi beside him tipped its head in greeting but kept vigil on the clubgoers.
“She’s one of mine,” I explained, touching Lisbeth’s cheek. “She’s OPA.”
That sparked their curiosity, and they paid the unconscious woman at my feet closer attention.
“Ares?” I checked with the dark gwyllgi to be sure, and she nodded once. “Can you wait with Lisbeth until Ford gets here?”
The hairs on the back of her neck bristled, and she stepped over Lisbeth’s supine body.
Midas watched me with such intensity that I rubbed the fur of his ruff against the grain to annoy him as much as his perception irked me. Proving two could play that game, Midas licked my wrist, leaving me a bracelet of warm slobber.
“I’ll remember this, mister.” Gagging, I wiped my hand on my leggings. “When you’re trying to stick your tongue down my throat, I’m going to remind you of this exact moment.”
Ares chuffed with canine laughter until a growl from him silenced her.
“Who knows where your mouth has—” I spluttered as he stepped in and licked me from chin to hairline, “—been.”
No expression leaked onto Ares’s somber face, but her sides heaved with silent laughter.
Midas, quite proud of himself, lolled his tongue out one side of his mouth.
“I hate you both.” I pointed a finger at him. “You’re sleeping on the floor tonight.”
Confident in Ares’s ability to protect Lisbeth, I left a vital part of my team in the capable jaws of the pack.
Four
Our hasty exit to avoid Ford prickled over me like cowardice, stung like shame, and hurt like heck. Lesser of two evils? Maybe. Or maybe I was too chicken to face him less than twenty-four hours after he asked me for space, with yet another favor to beg of him. Either way, it was done. All I could do was hope Ford would forgive me. Eventually.
Done tormenting myself for the moment, I asked Midas, “Did you find the teens you were looking for?”
Ears twitching, he shook his head then barked at a man who paused beside us with wide eyes.
“That’s one gnarly dog,” the guy said, swaying on his feet. “What’s wrong with his fur? Scabies?”
“Yes,” I said solemnly. “He’s got scabies, and it’s highly contagious.”
A splash of red magic hit the pavement beside me as Midas traded one form for another.
“Whoa.” The guy poked Midas’s arm. “Did that just happen?”
Poor guy must have missed the highly contagious part.
“No,” Midas growled. “It’s your imagination.”
“You don’t see a man?” The guy pointed at Midas. “He’s right there.”
“Nope.” I ran my fingers through Midas’s hair. “All I see is Princess Pooferella, my dog.”
“This stuff warps your mind.” He rubbed his eyes. “I’ve got to get more.”
“Hey, friend.” I fisted the back of his shirt before he escaped. “Where did you get it?”
“I tell you that,” he whined, “and it’s two more people dipping into the party favors.”
“We don’t want the drugs.” I tightened my hold as he flailed. “We want answers.”
“The Bone Lounge,” he panted. “I got it from Skullduggery, okay?”
“Enjoy the rest of
