Drantos Read online

  Shit. He grasped Dusti’s hand and tugged her toward town. “Let’s go.”

  She had to almost run to keep up with him. He should have felt guilt but didn’t. He was angry. His father followed but the rest of the clan hung back.

  “What are you doing?”

  She didn’t answer so he glanced at her, using their link instead.

  Did you hear me? What are you doing?

  Trying to save a man’s life.

  He saw too much. We must protect the clan. You should have said nothing. Now they might question your loyalty to our people for your own. You’re one of us now, Dusti.

  That doesn’t mean I have to agree to murder without at least trying to prevent it.

  Anger came through the bond from her. He felt some himself. Damn! This is a disaster about to happen.

  I heard that. She shot him a dirty look.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Dusti entered the store with Drantos on her heels. She spotted the visitor right away. He stood at the counter loudly arguing with a dark-haired VampLycan. It was easy to guess who was who since one of them was noticeably buff and big.

  She took the time to snag a bottled water from the cooler before approaching them.

  “I want to call the state troopers,” the out-of-towner complained. “You’re like legally required to let me have access to a phone.”

  “Sir,” Lake shook his head, “I told you. The phone is down. It happens. Storms come through and we can go weeks before it’s fixed.”

  “What’s going on?” Dusti stepped up next to the stranger.

  “Do you have a cell phone?”

  She shook her head. “No. Sorry. I don’t even think we get cell signals around here,” she lied. “Are you okay?”

  “I saw something.”

  She set the water down and held out her hand. “I’m Dusti. What’s your name?”

  “Brad.” He shook her hand. “Do you live around here? Can I use your phone?”

  “What did you see?”

  “I don’t know. It was a big creature. I think it’s some kind of new wildlife. It’s really remote out here so it’s possible.”

  She bit her lip and studied him. He seemed a little scared and excited at the same time. “Was it kind of hairy but not? Big body? Moved real fast?”

  His eyes widened. “Yes!”

  She grinned. “You saw George.”

  “That wasn’t a man.”

  “You’re right. It’s not. George is kind of a celebrity around here. He’s a bear with about the worst case of mange ever. Poor thing.” She turned and shook her head at Lake. “You’re at it again, I see. Messing with the tourists isn’t nice.”

  She sighed and met Brad’s gaze. “It gets boring around here. Let me guess. He pretended he didn’t know what you saw? Or worse, told you that you didn’t see it at all?” She hoped she was close.

  “Yeah,” Brad confirmed. “But that wasn’t a bear.”

  “Trust me. It was George. He’s big and you can see parts of his skin. He doesn’t have much hair left. He looks really freaky like that. Someone even thought he was bigfoot once.” She chuckled, forcing her expression to hopefully look amused. “He was up on his hind legs and yeah, I thought that poor lady was going to have a heart attack.”

  “It wasn’t a damn bear.”

  She reached out and patted his arm. “Tell us what happened.”

  “It was running through the woods. I almost wrecked my car when I saw it out of the corner of my eye. It was big and was all kinds of messed up with patches of dark fur.”

  She nodded. “Yeah, that’s George. About two years ago he showed up in this area. He knocks over our trashcans and scares the crap out of people who see him while driving along the highway, since jerks toss out garbage from their windows. We call that littering but George thinks it’s like ringing a dinner bell. Everyone around here thinks it’s a riot when people like you come in after spotting him.” She shook her head again and pointed at Lake. “Shame on you. Letting this poor man get all freaked out over that mangy bear. I know you think it’s funny but look how upset he is!”

  Lake raised both hands and backed up. “Um, sorry?”

  Dusti sighed and turned her attention back to Brad. “To be fair, we don’t get cable this far out. There’s not a lot to amuse us. It would have made his day if you’d left here thinking you saw some monster and word spread. He’s always hoping some tourist will think he’s spotted bigfoot again and he’ll make a ton of money off all the morons who show up looking for a monster. He’s the only store and gas station within miles, if you haven’t noticed. He made bank the last time.”

  She shot Lake another glare. “It isn’t happening. This man is too smart to fall for your shit.” She shifted her body to stare at Drantos. “This has got to stop. You heard Brad here. He almost wrecked his car! It’s time to put George down. It would be the humane thing to do. Someone is going to get hurt.”

  She motioned him forward. “Brad, this is Drantos. He’s kind of the mayor. The town isn’t big enough to have an official one but he’s the man in charge.”

  Drantos inclined his head. “Hello.”

  “See what I’ve been saying? That messed-up bear is a menace. It’s not some tourist attraction. This man could have been hurt. I demand you put down that bear. He’s got the worst case of mange ever and I’m tired of him coming onto my property.”

  Dusti patted Brad’s arm again, making eye contact. “The crazy-ass bear also loves to roll in the mud when he gets hot. Thank goodness you didn’t see him after that. He looks like the creature from the black lagoon or something. It scared the shit out me too, and I already knew it was George since he did it right in front of my cabin by the river. I’m just glad I came in here when I did, or Lake really would have had you going.”

  Brad’s face turned a little red and she could see he was pissed. “It’s really just a bear?”

  She nodded. “Yep. He’s one screwed-up looking bear, to be fair. He’s scarred up pretty bad too. I think he hit every branch of the ugly tree he must have fallen out of.”

  “Fuck you, man.” Brad jerked out of her hold, glaring at Lake. “You’re an asshole.”

  “Sorry.” Lake didn’t sound it.

  Brad looked down at Dusti. “Thanks for telling me the truth.”

  “You’re welcome. And I’m going to make sure that George is euthanized so this doesn’t happen to anyone else. It’s better for that poor bear too. He’s got the worst skin condition I’ve ever seen on an animal. It’s probably painful. I’m going to ride the mayor until it happens. I promise.”

  “Thank you.” Brad flipped Lake off. “Up yours, man.” He spun away from the counter, giving Drantos a nasty look next. “Listen to her. That shit’s not funny and I would have sued this town if I’d wrecked my car. You know that damn bear is a hazard. I’m never coming back to this shithole again.”

  He stormed out and left tread marks when he pulled out of the parking lot to drive away.

  Dusti smiled at Drantos. “See? You didn’t have to kill him.”

  “I can’t believe he bought that.” Drantos scowled.

  “It’s human nature.” Dusti shrugged. “It was a believable excuse for something he saw that he couldn’t explain. Add in the fact that he thought we were trying to make him look foolish and we have a winner. Now he won’t be talking about a monster. He’ll be saying the people in this town are assholes and to avoid this place at all costs. Problem solved and nobody died.”

  Drantos closed the distance between them and grinned. “I see.”

  “I don’t,” Lake grumbled.

  Dusti turned her head, smiling at him. “Sorry I made you the bad guy, but do you really care that Brad is mad? He’s gone and won’t be back.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t have to clean up blood.”

  That killed her humor. He seemed serious. “That’s always a plus.” She looked up at Drantos. “Is he kidding?”

  He nodded.