Kissed by Claw and Fang novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: Fire and Ice

I got out of the car very slowly, with a blanket around my shoulders.

The wolf stood up, shook out its coat, and trotted behind the pickup.

Half a minute later, Rhys came around the tailgate pulling a flannel shirt over his head.

His boots were unlaced and his hair stuck up on one side.

He stopped about ten feet from me and held up both hands.

"Before you say anything," he said, "I was going to tell you."

"When?"

"After breakfast," Rhys said. "I wanted you to eat first."

I looked at him for a long time.

"Boathouse," I said. "Eleven o'clock. Both of you."

"Both?"

"Your friend with the cold hands is coming too," I said. "I'm only doing this once."

"He is not my friend," Rhys said.

"Good. Then neither of you will be shy."

The Wintermere boathouse is a gray shingled building on the edge of the lake, closed for the season.

Rhys had a key.

I did not ask how.

Lucian was already inside, sitting on an overturned canoe with his coat buttoned to the chin.

He had the black book on his knee, and I was beginning to think he used it so he would not have to hold anything else.

"Pengelly," Rhys said.

"Ashgrave," said Lucian.

"Hi, Cold Guy."

"Hello, Dog."

"Okay," I said. "That's enough."

They both stopped talking at once, and I decided I could get used to that.

I sat on a bench between them and put my hands on my knees.

"I'd like to hear it from both of you," I said. "Plainly. No hints. I live in a car, I'm not going to get a better week."

"Rhys," said Lucian.

"You first?" Rhys said. "No, you go. Ladies first, vampires second."

"I am not a lady."

"You're a little bit of a lady."

I held up one hand, and they both shut up.

Rhys went first.

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