Kate Daniels 02 - Magic Burns

dumped in favor of girlfriend number twenty-four who has slightly bigger boobs? I don’t think so.”
    He kept coming. “Oh yeah?”
    â€œYeah. You get these beautiful women, make them dependent on you, and then dump them. Well, this time a woman left you first, and your enormous ego can’t deal with it. And to think that I hoped we could talk like reasonable adults. If we were the last two people on Earth, I’d find myself a moving island so I could get the hell away from you.” I was almost to the drop door leading to the ladder.
    He stopped suddenly and crossed his arms over his chest. “We’ll see.”
    â€œNothing to see. Thanks for the rescue and for the food. I’m taking my kid and leaving.” I dropped into the hole, slid down the ladder, and backed away down the hall. He didn’t follow me.
    I was midway down to the first floor when it finally hit me: I had just told the alpha of all shapeshifters that hell would freeze over before I got into his bed. Not only had I just kissed any cooperation from the Pack good-bye, but I had also challenged him. Again. I stopped and hit my head a few times on the wall. Keep your mouth shut, stupid.
    Derek appeared at the bottom of the stairway. “It went that well, huh?”
    â€œSpare me.”
    â€œI take it you’re leaving.”
    I stopped hitting my head and looked at him.
    â€œMind if I tag along?” he asked.
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œI want the thief.” Derek’s face was grim. “He has a thing for you.”
    A werewolf who can outrun me, who can bend metal into roses with his fingers, and who could grab Julie in case of trouble and take off like a rocket never to be caught by freaky broads with deepwater teeth. Let me think…
    â€œSure. Be glad to have you.”

CHAPTER 12
    MIRACULOUSLY THE PHONE IN THE HALLWAY OF THE shapeshifters’ office worked. As much as I wanted to get the hell out of there, I didn’t want to risk leaving on foot.
    I got Maxine on the first ring. “Atlanta Chapter of the Order. How may I help you?”
    â€œMaxine, it’s me. May I speak to Ted?”
    â€œHe’s out.”
    â€œOut? Ted’s never out. Where is he?”
    â€œHe’s on an errand.”
    Crap. “What about Mauro?”
    â€œHe’s out, too. Most of the knights are out.”
    What in the world? “Is anybody there?”
    â€œAndrea.”
    Oh boy. “Can I speak to her, please?”
    There was a click and then Andrea’s voice said, “Hey, Kate.”
    Hi, Andrea I know you’ve been attacked by a loup, but can you come to pick up me and my teenage werewolf at a shapeshifter compound? I took a deep breath. Here’s hoping she didn’t suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
    â€œI really hate to ask you this, but I have no choice. I’m trying to escort a little girl to the Order so I can hide her in the vault. I need three horses.”
    â€œNo problem. Where are you?”
    â€œI’m at the Pack’s Southeast office.” I cringed a little as I said it. “I’ll meet you on the corner of Griffin and Atlanta Avenue. And I have a shapeshifter with me.”
    She didn’t miss a beat. “Sit tight. I’ll be right there.”
    I collected Julie, once again armed with my knife, and we left, Derek in tow.
    â€œWhere are we going?” Julie asked as we headed toward Griffin Street.
    â€œTo the Order.”
    Around us the city shrugged off the remnants of the magic-filled night. Technology had hit early in the morning, but the magic waves had flowed and ebbed all night.
    â€œWhat are we going to do at the Order?” Julie asked.
    â€œThe Order’s very well fortified. I’m going to leave you there with Andrea. She’s a very nice lady.”
    â€œNo! I’m going to stay with you!”
    I gave her my hard stare. “Julie, this isn’t a democracy.”
    â€œNo!”
    I kept walking. “I have to go out and look for your mom. You do want me to find your mom, don’t you?”
    â€œI want to come with you.”
    On the corner of Griffin and Atlanta Avenue a crowd blocked the traffic around a crane. A skinny dark-haired girl with the buttery grace of a pickpocket was working the edges of the gathering. She drifted our way. Julie pulled out her dagger and gave the pickpocket a hard look. The girl reversed her course.
    The crane groaned. The cable