Bonedust

them curiously as they meandered down the streets. A bunch of hookers and drug addicts. They slowed their pace and Urban shot a man looking at Gabriel a smug grin as he passed by, then wrapped an arm around Gabriel’s waist.
    Gabe stiffened, but didn’t jerk away. “What are you doing?” he hissed under his breath and had he been a dog, his tail would’ve been tucked. So flighty, so nervous.
    “That guy was giving you googly eyes. He looked scary—druggie, homeless perhaps. Not your type. I’m saving you here, babe.”
    “How do you know my type?”
    “You look like the kind of guy to be into pretty boys,” Urban smirked. “Like moi. C’mon, we’re losing her.” He pulled away, but looped a finger through the belt loop on Gabriel’s jeans and tugged him after him.
    They found Pandora sitting at the back entrance of a rundown-looking club, staring laser eyes into the door. She let out a soft, humming whine and her entire body went stiff. Urban crept up behind her, placing a tentative hand on her head, finding her trembling just a little. Excitement—hunting was this dog’s fix of choice.
    “Good girl,” he murmured. He pulled the plastic bag back out of his pocket and slid out a glossy photo of a woman. Their werewolf, Reese Callahan.
    Gabriel peeked over his shoulder. “That her?”
    “Yep.” The picture was from when she was human—Urban could tell, because all wolves had golden eyes once they Changed. In this photo, her eyes were a hard green and her short-cropped hair was the color of cinnamon. She looked snarky, like she might bite your head off. Hell, and this was her as a human? He couldn’t imagine her as a wolf.
    He shook his head and offered Gabe the picture. “You getta go in there and find her. Talk to her. I don’t care if you have to fucking seduce the wolf, but I want you to get close enough to put this on her wrist.”
    From the bag he withdrew a thin silver band that, once clamped around something, needed a key to come off. “This will keep her from Changing and going ape shit on you as a wolf. It won’t stop her from ripping you a new asshole while human though, so watch out.” Gabriel frowned as he fingered the metal band and then slid it and the photo into his pocket.
    “I’ve never…” He shook his head and glanced at the door. “I don’t know what I’m doing? How do I engage a girl like that in a conversation, even?”
    “You pretend she’s the sexiest thing on two—or hey, four—legs. Buy her a drink.”
    “With what, my charmingly good looks?”
    Urban snorted and fished out a zael from the little bag. “Here. Buy her a drink, get her a little tipsy. Remember, weres are different than humans, so it may take a few drinks to get her there. Don’t look at me like that! I didn’t say you had to drink, though if it loosened you up, I’d say go for it.” He smirked when the man scowled. “Just get that band on her wrist and then lure her out of the bar. I’ll take it from there.”
    “Why do I have a bad feeling about this?” Gabriel muttered.
    “Would it make you happy if I gave you a good luck kiss?”
    “In your dreams.” And Gabriel took a breath and shouldered through the front door. Urban whistled softly for Pandora to follow—which she did, but whined about it—and then plopped down against the wall of the brick building to wait.

    ***

    The scene sketched before him: A dance floor packed with people, their bodies grinding and swaying together, the thumping throb of a beat pounding from the speakers. The stench of lust and sweat and a haze of smoke, wisps trailing around the dancers. Gabriel ducked between people, accidentally bumping past them. They didn’t seem to care—perhaps they were too drunk, maybe too high to notice. He wrinkled his nose.
    The only lights were a row of flashing colors, spraying shadows and silhouettes onto the walls in a rainbow display. He felt a hand grasp his, heard a feminine voice whisper in his ear: “Do you wanna dance?”
    Gabriel’s heart ratcheted into his throat as he stepped away. “N-No. I’m sorry. I’m…looking for someone,” he blurted, watching the girl’s foxish face merely smile. She blew him a kiss, waggled her fingers, and then promptly merged with another woman who welcomed her into her arms as if they were long lost lovers.
    Gabriel turned away, towards the row of occupied stools at the bar. His gaze skimmed past people, filtering them through his head, but never finding the one