Free Fox in the Quarter by Audrey Claire Page B

right. I didn’t know what I had done, so I couldn’t repeat it, but once was enough. “Read them and weep, my friend!”
    “You have a drop of luck after all.”
    “Skill, Nathan. Skill.”
    “Whatever, vampire.”
    He was gathering the cards and stuffing them back into the box, tossing out suggestions for where we might enjoy a night out. I opened my mouth to offer a couple more and then froze. Right there in the center of the coffee table the little fox sat before me. His fluffy white tail curled around tiny paws, and blue eyes winked at me.
    I glanced at Nathan. No reaction at all, although the fox sat inches from his forearm. The cute little beast had to be within Nathan’s vision and definitely within his scent, but Nathan didn’t know. How in the world could that be?
    “Watashi o tasuketekudasai.”
    “What?” I confess I shrieked in alarm. Nothing much ever startled me these days. “Was that some other language?”
    Nathan glanced up. “Huh? I said Fulton’s. We were going to meet there the first night we met, remember? We could go bowling. I didn’t think that would be a foreign language to you, but maybe they don’t have it in a small town.”
    “Don’t be silly, Nathan. We have bowling in Summit’s Edge. I meant…”
    The fox was still there, watching me, but now I realized there seemed to be a plea in his gaze.
    “Nathan, you don’t see the fox sitting right there?”
    My friend stiffened. He narrowed his eyes at me, and then a low growl started in his throat. Nathan didn’t have much patience for sneaky nonhumans. His least favorite was demons, and he killed them without reserve. If one wanted to question said demon, one had better meet the creature alone or hold off Nathan. Holding off a rabid werewolf was next to impossible.
    “If there’s something uninvited in my den, I will kill it,” he growled in a voice gone much deeper. I noted the fingers on his right hand curling, and it was just a matter of time before claws formed. Nathan could transform almost at will, but it took losing his temper. He wasn’t overly reasonable in his wolf form, so I wanted to head it off.
    “Calm down, Nathan. I don’t think the little guy means any harm.”
    “Little guy?” Nathan snapped his teeth together, reminding me he had hunted for his meals in leaner times.
    I swallowed. “Yes, it’s a cute little fox.”
    “Don’t let cuteness fool you, Rue. Demons can look beautiful.”
    “Every creature isn’t a demon, Mr. Obsessive. Now, will you give me a chance to question him?”
    Nathan folded his arms over a barrel chest and leaned back in his chair. His gaze scoured the room in every direction but missed the fox. “He’s got one minute.”
    And then what? You’ll scratch at the air?
    “Thanks,” I said and turned back to the fox. “Can you speak English, little one?”
    I should note here that I had met several different types of creatures in my time, so it didn’t surprise me that a fox could speak. Although, come to think of it, Nathan couldn’t in his wolf form, which was interesting.
    The fox’s tail twitched. A tiny mouth opened to reveal pointed teeth. I waited.
    “I think….” it tested. “I think I can. Do you understand?”
    “Yes.” I nodded. “Now, can you show yourself so my friend can see you?”
    The fox glanced over its shoulder at Nathan. I guessed at its doubt. “He looks hungry.”
    “No, I promise. He won’t eat you, will you, Nathan?”
    Nathan made no promises.
    Then the fox’s body, which I realized appeared to be made up of smoke, changed and became more solid. Nathan knocked his chair over standing and staring. “What the hell?”
    “Did you think I was crazy?”
    “No. I trust you, Rue.” He narrowed his eyes at the fox and bent down to sniff it. The fox raised a paw and smacked Nathan’s nose.
    “How rude,” the fox snapped.
    “I could kill you,” Nathan threatened.
    “You promised you wouldn’t,” I reminded him.
    “I’ve never made a