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"Carol?" Ryan asked again, his hand fir"

But the look he gave her told her he knew differently He gave his head a slight shake But what did she care? He wouldn’t believe she’d had another one of her visions Anyway And theof the vision eluded her as before, so as she supposed to say? Even if he had been htened?

She walked at Ryan’s quickened pace, observing the carved wooden wolves guarding the double doors of the bar If she’d only known in the beginning what they had signified Werewolf territory

Before she’d become a olf, Carol had only been in Silver Town’s tavern once during the fall festival when the doors were open to non-members as well as members She hadn’t realized that to obtainolves

Ryan hurried to get the tavern door for Carol, the rusty hinges squealing as he pushed the heavy oak aside Rustic fans circulating the air were probably new but looked antique enough to have been hanging from the time the place opened in the nineteenth century

The s, polished bar definitely had been there from the early days, and the counter orn in spots where folks leaned against it, drinking their choice of poison She io reflected in the dingy glass Silva swore she was going to make Sam replace it with newwith it Maybe because he was cheap, too

A, casting a soft light over the dark wood tables, soular for larger crowds The place was fairly e drinks and conversation The talking died when Ryan and Carol walked inside

Many of Darien’s pack were still at the gathering Sa roast beef sandwiches and drinks, the aroreet them and directed them to a table in the center of the room surrounded by other tables

A fishbowl

"We’d prefer one over here, thanks" Ryan guided Carol to a table in a corner of the room where it was out of the traffic, half hidden in shadows, quiet, and easier to talk privately And unavailable

"This is Darien’s table," Carol whispered, her heartbeat accelerating, but she had a sneaking suspicion Ryan already knew that

Silva tapped a pen on an order pad "Boss man sits here with Lelandi and his brothers I’ll show you to another table"

"He’s not coht," Ryan told her and pulled out a chair for Carol so self-assuredly that his move fed her own confidence

His aht not be here tonight, but his brothers will be, guaranteed And they also sit there"

"Not tonight" Ryan gave hiested we come here on our date So I’m sure he won’t mind if we take the most out-of-the-way, private spot"

Silva looked at Carol as if hoping she wouldwhat the heck, and took her seat She’d already done enough to create a scene or thy not another?

"Yep I figure capturing Darien’s ribbon today entitles ave her a small nod of approval and pulled his own chair out and sat down

Sam poured a beer for ahis okay She let out her breath

"All right It’s on Sa his table and finds it occupied What would you care to drink?"

"A strawberry daiquiri," Carol said

Silva’s brows shot up into her bangs "You always get a Chablis Are you sure?"

"Yep, tonight’s a cause for celebration"

Ryan leaned back in his chair "A beer for me, Silva And a couple of hot roast beef sandwiches for the two of us, too"

Silva nodded "You know, the word is getting around that you’re here to question Carol about the ood Best be quick about it, if that’s all the business you have, because the bachelors are antsy about you being here Ru that it’s more than that"

"They have a lot htening, Silva said, "Oh?" Which ossip was around the tavern and the town