Page 35 of Throwing Shade
“So shift and take him yourself.”
His growl this time made me take a step back. “You knocked him unconscious before he short-circuited himself with his magic. I was testing something.”
“How to be turned into pink mist?”
The cat kneaded Laurent’s shoulder and he tapped her head in admonishment. “Rupert isn’t powerful or talented enough for that.”
Had I mistaken Laurent’s death wish for him pushing Rupert to a calculated limit? Had he wanted to achieve this all along? Maybe, but it hadn’t seemed that way in the moment. “You’re still strong enough to carry Rupert into the hotel on your own.”
“Don’t push me, BS. You want something, then help.”
“My name is Miriam. Or Miri. I do not answer to that other term.” I picked up Rupert’s legs. “Lead on, Macduff.”
“It’s ‘Lay on, Macduff.’” Laurent stuffed his fallen knit cap in his back pocket and lifted Rupert up under the arms. “Look at that,” he said wryly at my surprise, “the wolf is book-learned and everything.”
“Bully for you. It doesn’t make you less of an asshole. Do you practice in the mirror or is it a natural talent?”
“Most wouldn’t dare mouth off to me like you do,” he said, walking backwards down the sidewalk, the two of us adjusting our holds to balance Rupert’s weight.
I smiled tightly. “Don’t forget about socking you in the nose. I certainly remember it fondly.”
“About that. You got your one free shot. Hit me again and this time, I’ll hit back. Capisce?”
My magic swam up my body to form two dark horns on my head. “‘Beware the Jabberwock, my son!’”
Laurent gave me a snarky look. “Snicker-snack.”
