Free Fang Me by Parker Blue

hadn't let go of Shade's hand was because the swirls made him uncomfortable.
    I DON'T KNOW, Fang said. MAYBE THE DUDE SWINGS BOTH WAYS.
    I hadn't even thought about that. Or maybe his kind of demon learned more about people by shaking their hand? Naw, a bit far-fetched.
    Rosa returned with a set of keys. Handing them to me, she said,"Alejandro is loaning you one of his cars tonight, to make it easier to search. Please, do not damage it. The cars are his pride and joy."
    I appreciated the offer. It would be possible to search together on our motorcycles, but difficult. Besides, I didn't want either Trevor or Andrew riding behind me on my bike, with their arms around me. The thought made me squirm, and not in a good way. And I really wanted to give my injury a break."I'll try not to," I said. Best not to make promises when I never knew what we'd encounter."Thanks."
    I'M SURE ALEJANDRO HAS INSURANCE, Fang said with a doggie grin. YOU MIGHT NEED IT.
    Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence.
    Andrew got into the front with me so he could give directions, and Shade and Trevor rode in the back, Fang riding on Shade's lap so the shadow demon would look normal to anyone we passed.
    "So, where do we start?" I asked, fumbling with the unfamiliar controls.
    Andrew shrugged."The last place I remember having the books was at Mood's house." He turned around to speak to Trevor."She locked me in her basement because I was planning on burning down the mansion, but I broke out."
    "Okay, let's start there," I said.
    Andrew gave me the address and I drove toward the west side of town, near Lackland Air Force Base, following his directions. Trevor and Shade were chatting in the back seat, having a good old time."Uh, Trevor, the books may be hidden anywhere along this route. Shouldn't you pay attention?"
    "No need," he said airily."I'll feel them if I get within five hundred feet, no matter how much I'm enjoying myself."
    And he continued to enjoy himself while I played chauffer. By the time we reached Mood's house, he'd learned more about Shade than I'd ever thought to ask, like the fact that his parents were both dead, Micah's father had taken him in as a kid, and his favorite hobbies were learning about demonkind and competing in online games against other players. It annoyed me that I felt embarrassed for not knowing these things.
    "Okay, we're here," I said, sounding more snappish than I'd intended as I turned off the engine."Now what?"
    Trevor shook his head."They're not here."
    "Can you tell that they've been here?" Shade asked."Can you track them?"
    "I'm afraid it doesn't work that way." Trevor tapped Andrew on the shoulder."What do you remember after leaving here that night?"
    Andrew thought for a moment."I remember the books encouraging me to use my powers to get back at the vampires, so I was all about burning their house down. But the books were afraid they'd burn, too, so they told me to hide them." He paused, then added slowly,"That's the last time I remember seeing them."
    HE'S TELLING THE TRUTH, Fang confirmed.
    "Think harder," Trevor urged."What do you remember immediately after you left here? Do you remember arriving at the mansion? What direction did you come from?"
    Andrew shook his head."I'm sorry, but all I remember is the books badgering me to hide, hide, hide. I've been trying to remember for days, but all I recall is leaving here to find a hiding place. Then the next thing I knew, I was splashing gasoline on the side of the house, more powerful and more pissed off than I've ever been in my life."
    Trevor clenched his fists on his thighs and persisted."Do you have any idea how much time passed between the two memories?"
    Again, Andrew paused."I'm not sure 'cause Mood used her mojo on me to make me stupid happy. It was about noon when she put me in the basement. She put me to sleep and took away my cell so I don't know what time it was when I woke up." He shook his head."I don't know how long I slept. All I know is that it was