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"Thanks, that’s great But you proved yourself in Kilmer, so I already knew you’re kick-ass in a crisis"

Shannon flushed with pleasure at ed it off "So we’re set?"

"Let’s move," he said

As ent down the stairs, I studied him There were faint lines of weariness and pain about his eyes, though nothing I would’ve noticed before He led the way to a vehicle parked on the street a few houses down Kel had been sate, which caused a lot of trouble here It was so annoying to back out, only to find some asshole had blocked you in

His ride wasn’t a macho SUV Instead, it was a nondescript sedan in black or s into the trunk with an ease that belied the fact that he’d nearly been eviscerated; that injury suggested an opponent who had some skill with knives I had a particular horror of blades Over the years I’d handled a number of theun," Shannon said, and clier seat

The back was fine witha nap Butch whined, so I put hiiven hi the apartood for a while yet Afterward, I picked hiled in

When I opened the right rear door, Kel put his hand onin "Why don’t you drive?"

I couldn’t have heard him correctly "Really?"

He pitched his voice low, so Shannon--as already in the car and fiddling with the radio--wouldn’t hear "The healing takes a lot out of er I can stay alert"

I reht with the warlock Yeah, it wouldn’t be good if that occurred with him behind the wheel of the car, especially one that contained Shannon, Butch, and , the rest of us were all too huile

"Okay," I said "Will you have solanced at Shannon’s dyed-dark hair "She wanted to iht, I could almost swear his mouth pulled into the hint of a weary sirl happy"

I s, Corine"

Oh, I was sure I didn’t like where this was going

"When he fell, I took his weapon, an expertly crafted dagger I thought you ht handle it once we’re in Cate to look forward to He took my silence for assent and slid into the car I made sure Butch was co the vehicle and hopping into the driver’s seat The car had GPS, which would eneral direction of Catemaco--and that it wasn’t too far fro rammed the address Shannon provided into the device and drove into the dark

Hard to Handle

Once we left the highway, the night turned dark as sin There were no lights on the narrow road that led to Catemaco My companions were both out, so I had to trust the GPS knehat it was doing If it didn’t, there was no telling where we’d end up

I drove past signs for cigars and giant lake shrih it wasn’t quite h for everyone else to be off the road I had seldoizmo claimed that the hotel Shannon had chosen lay a ly, it was a nice place

Floodlights illu, and tall trees shaded the parking lot It was a big, bright blue building with the name spelled out in flowers I pulled into a space near the lobby, and turned the key in the ignition As I stepped out of the car, I could taste the soft, clean air, so different fro out of the car I slung the duffel over my shoulder, and then opened up the rear door Butch hopped down, sniffed a few things, and then trotted over to the nearest tree It was dark, so I didn’t worry about as he doing, or the --how bad could it be?

My guardian was still unconscious I hovered, unsure whether I ought to touch hih it seeht need hi lot At last I set entle shake It took two tries to get him to open his eyes, and when he did, they looked oddly sunken

But despite appearances, he came alert in an instant "We’re here, I take it?"

I nodded "I’ht be best if you stay outside while I do"

Kel glanced down at his white, bloodstained shirt "I think so too"

"Do you have anything else to wear to is in the trunk I just didn’t think it orth slowing us down"

"Good call," Shannon said "Am I allowed to come in with you?"

"Of course"

I whispered Butch’s na his tail He’d no doubt sniffed everything nearby, and if there were anything to fear in the vicinity, he would’ve communicated that Which meant I strode into the lobby with all confidence, despite ummy eyes

The foyer was slass wall I could see the restaurant, now closed for the night, and beyond the interior dining room, more tables sat beside the pool At the front desk, the istration process