Page 40 of Last But Not Leashed

“Wise man. Let me see if I understand this. As long as I don’t upset Ethel, I won’t upset Missy—her mother?”

“Yes.”

“Anything else I should know?”

“Don’t run. It wakes her elven instincts.”

What had I gotten myself into? As it was too late to run, I followed Ethel’s uncle down the hall to a bathroom spacious enough for several people. The centerpiece of the room was a jet tub meant for two. While I locked the door, I shifted and dressed before someone decided the door needed to be replaced. I delayed long enough to comb my hair and make myself presentable.

It’d take longer than five minutes in a bathroom to manage anything other than passable, but I did what I could. Sighing, I slung my bag over my shoulder and left the bathroom’s flimsy safety.

Ethel’s uncle waited with a willowy waif of a woman, who watched me with narrowed, pale eyes. I’d seen the same look hundreds of times on Ethel’s face when she was scheming something.

Usually trouble.

I couldn’t help myself; I smiled. “You must be Ethel’s mother. I’m Dale. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

She blinked. “Well, damn. You’ve got a pair of steep balls on you, don’t you?”

“Running is tiring, ma’am. Why waste the energy?”

“Smart man, especially since my baby girl has plans on tuckering you out tonight. Her pappy’s running her around, and I expect it’ll take him an hour or two before she’s settled. Once she’s riled up, she needs a good chase to work out her nerves. My fault. The other brats didn’t inherit as many of my tendencies. She’s just like my ma, Ethel. Last to get hitched but first for most everything else. I reckon she’ll keep you busy with a little one in nine months.”

Sometimes, I hated other members of my species. To take the focus off me and Ethel, I asked, “Do you have any other grandchildren?”

“My brats, save for Ethel, got themselves one or two each. You’re my only hope for a full herd from one pair.”

I glanced at Ethel’s uncle, who seemed like the more reasonable option of the two. “I don’t suppose I can negotiate the bounty up, can I? I’m going to need a lot more than what’s on offer for a house capable of withstanding an entire herd of children.”

Something crunched deeper in the house, and Ethel’s uncle sighed. “Plus a psychotic part elf requiring exercise or sedation once a month.”

“How does that rank up against a cranky lycanthrope?”

“Fairly close.”

“And should any children inherit her tendencies?”

Ethel’s mother tossed her head back and cackled. “Don’t you worry your pretty head, sugar. My Ethel’s a skinflint. She could probably retire tomorrow if she wanted, but she won’t. She enjoys work too much, although I think you play a part in that. But you are what you are, and like most lycanthrope males ready to take a mate, you’re driven to provide. I like that you’ve put aside your pride to secure what you feel is needed for your family. I see why my daughter might want you. Still, I’m surprised.”

I was surprised Ethel wanted me, but I wasn’t going to question the good things in my life. “Why are you surprised?”

“You’re quite handsome, have the hybrid form, and you’re patient. What’s wrong with you?”

“I can’t fight worth a shit,” I admitted.

“Ethel can do the fighting for both of you. It’s in her blood.”

No kidding. “Purple fur.”

“Charming and exotic.”

Of course she’d think that. She was half elf, and I’d heard enough about elves to be wary. Some said they were crazy. Others claimed they lived to fight.

If Ethel’s mother liked my fur, I wasn’t going to argue with her. “Beyond that, I don’t know.”

“Wise, too. Come. I’ll show you the library. That’s where we’ll pinpoint who attacked that guard and dragged you into trouble. Once my baby girl’s worked out her nerves, she’ll want that settled. Elves don’t like threats in their territory.”

“Does your library come with an instruction manual on elves?”