Book 1 - Page 44 (1/2)
”The fae all came out years ago.”
He snorted. ”You're not that dumb. I know a few doctors and teachers who are still in the closet about being g*y-and all they have to worry about is losing their jobs, not having a group of idiots burn their houses down.” I could feel him deciding Warren was fae, and his agitation dropped appreciably. ”That would explain some things, like how strong he is and how he knows who's coming before he answers the door.”
Well, I thought feeling hopeful, being fae wasn't quite the same as being a werewolf. But if he could accept the one, maybe the other wouldn't be too big a stretch.
”He's not fae,” I said. I started to tell him just what Warren was, but the words caught in my throat.
”Warren should be the one telling me this,” said Kyle.
”Right,” I agreed. ”But he can't.”
”You mean he won't.”
”No. Can't.” I shook my head. ”I don't have many friends,” I said. ”Not 'come over and eat popcorn and watch a stupid movie' friends. You and Warren are sort of it.” I don't have many girlfriends. My work isn't conducive to meeting other women.
”Pretty sad,” Kyle commented. Then he said, ”You and Warren are the only people I eat popcorn with, too.”
”Pathetic.” The banter helped. I drew in a breath and just said it. ”Warren's a werewolf.”
”A what?” Kyle stopped the swing.
”A werewolf. You know. The moon-called, run-on-four-feet-with-big-fangs kind of werewolf.”
He looked at me. ”You're serious.”
I nodded. ”And you're not going to breathe a word of it.”
”Oh?”
”That's why Warren couldn't tell you. That and because Adam-the pack Alpha-forbade it. If you go out now and talk to the authorities or the papers, even if they don't believe you, the pack will kill you.” I knew I was speaking too fast, but I couldn't seem to slow down. In Warren's house, with only Samuel and Warren, it hadn't seemed so dangerous. Samuel and Warren might care for me, but there were plenty of werewolves right here in town who would be happy to see me-and Kyle-dead for what I had just told him. ”Warren will fight them, but there are too many of them. He'll die, and you'll die with him.”
Kyle held up a hand. ”Hold on. It's a little soon for you to have Warren and me dead, don't you think?”
I took a deep breath. ”I hope so. You have to believe me on this-they take their secrecy very seriously. How do you think they've remained undetected for so long?”
”Mercy.” He caught my hand-his own felt cold, but that might have been from the wind. ”A werewolf?”
He didn't really believe me-that might be more dangerous. ”Twenty years ago no one believed in the fae, either. Look, I can prove it to you.”
I looked at a thicket of leafless bushes. They weren't really thick enough for me to strip and s.h.i.+ft in, but there weren't any boats out on the water, and as long as we didn't get another biker at the wrong moment... I could just s.h.i.+ft in my clothes-I get smaller, not bigger-but I'd rather be given a ticket for indecent exposure. A coyote in human clothes looks ridiculous.