Wild Wolf

She held up the book. “It’s an out-there idea, but you never know.”

Reid reached for the book. Misty handed it to him, and his brows drew down as he read the page through. “This is—”

His words were cut off by a loud thumping on the front door, bangs like blows from a large and very angry hammer.

Xavier lost his friendly look, his hand going to the gun in his back holster. He stepped out into the hall, blocking Misty’s way, and started for the front.

The door burst open, wood splintering as the lock gave way. A hulk of a man strode in, followed, incongruously, by two small boys.

“Misty!” Graham’s bellow rocketed through the house.

Xav relaxed and took his hand from the pistol. Reid joined Xav, the two of them still shielding Misty as Graham came on like a freight train.

“I’m right here,” Misty said between the two tall men.

Graham glared at the wall of Xav and Reid. “Get out of the way. I’m not going to hurt her.”

Xav didn’t move. “She said you split up. Now you tear down the door and come running inside her house. What are we supposed to think?”

“Move, Escobar, or I’ll break your ass. Misty, what the f**k was that?”

“What was what?” Misty squeezed around Xav, who let out an exasperated breath as he let her go. Misty eyed the hole where her door latch used to be and the splinters of wood that clung to it. “Graham, you broke my door. What the hell?”

Graham grabbed Misty by the shoulders and stared down into her eyes. The two kids, Matt and Kyle in their human form, grabbed onto his legs, one to each. “You were in that dream, right?” Graham demanded. “The one with the fountain and the Fae?”

Misty’s mouth dropped open. “How did you know that?”

“I was there. The Fae bastard kept trying to get you to drink the water, and to give it to me.”

“And the wolf cubs stopped me.”

“Then you all jumped on me.” Graham let out a growl. “Had to wash all the spit off my face when I woke up. They were licking me for real.”

“This can’t be right. How did we share a dream?”

“Because Fae magic is messed up. I saw the ice coming for you. I was afraid . . .”

Graham’s fingers clamped down on her shoulders, and the lines around his eyes tightened. Misty saw the fear in him, stark and real, which he strove to cover.

“I’m all right,” Misty said, softening her voice. “Xav woke me up, and it all went away.”

Graham’s fingers tightened more, his anger returning to drive out the fear. “Xav woke you? What the hell was Xav doing with you while you were asleep?” His glare shot to Xavier, who stood without flinching.

“Guarding me,” Misty said. “What did you think?”

Graham’s growl increased, his eyes turning very light gray. He said nothing, only fixed his wolf stare on Xav.

“Keep it cool,” Xavier said, unruffled. “I’m not a shithead who takes advantage of a lady in distress.”

“The points to focus on,” Reid broke in firmly, “are the shared dream, the Fae spell, and how to break it.”

Misty shrugged out of Graham’s grasp, much as she liked the comfort of his touch, even when he dug in. “That’s what you made me remember, Reid—I’d found a book of magic spells involving flowers. I thought it was just nonsense, but now I’m willing to give the rose spell a try.” Anything to break this thirst. She looked down at the boys, who were still clinging to Graham, being quieter than she’d ever seen them. “Thank you, Matt and Kyle, for helping.” She glanced back up at Graham. “Were you all taking a nap?”

“I was walking across Shiftertown to take them to the bears,” Graham said. “I woke up flat on my ass in the dirt, with two wolf cubs licking my face all over. Little shits.”

Both boys grinned. Their faces were dirty, their T-shirts crooked, as though someone—probably Graham—had dressed them in a hurry. One boy had hair a lighter shade of brown than the other; one had brown eyes and one hazel. A way to tell them apart, Misty thought, as soon as she figured out which was which.

Misty leaned to them, her long T-shirt hanging to her knees. “You two want some ice cream?”

“Ice cream!” The boys released Graham at the same moment and hurtled toward the kitchen.

“No shifting!” Graham bellowed after them. “They don’t need any more food, Misty. They already ate everything in my fridge. Don’t know why they haven’t gotten sick yet.”

“Energy,” Xav said. “Diego and I gobbled down everything in sight when we were kids. Still do.” He grinned.

Misty ducked back into her bedroom to change into a pair of shorts and a tank top. By the time she emerged, the three men had gone into the kitchen after the cubs. Reid was sitting at the table going through the book, Xav leaned on the counter near the back door, and Matt and Kyle had planted themselves in front of the refrigerator door, eyeing it longingly. Graham, behind them, had obviously told them not to open it.

“Come on, sweeties.” Misty took down bowls, fetched chocolate-vanilla swirl ice cream from the freezer, and spooned it into bowls. After observing the frozen chunks of chocolaty vanilla cream, icy in the bowls, Misty scooped out a helping for herself.

“Xav?” she offered. “Reid? Want any?”

Reid held up a hand without looking away from the book. Xav shook his head, giving her a small smile. “Not while I’m on duty.”