10. Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

C ourage

It's so early in the morning there's still a chill in the air. Candy's curled up in the passenger seat of our rental van, her head leaning against the window as she dozes. She looks so peaceful like this, the morning light casting a gentle glow on her delicate features.

Last night was… fuck, I don't even have the words. Watching Candy on that stage, baring her soul to the world with such raw, unflinching honesty? It was a privilege. An honor. And the way she looked at me afterward, her eyes shining with joy and vulnerability and trust?

I knew right then that I would kill for this woman. Die for her. Anything to keep her safe, to protect the precious, unbreakable spirit that shines so bright it's almost blinding.

I'm so lost in my thoughts I almost miss the turnoff for our first stop of the day. A grin tugs at my lips as I ease the van onto the exit ramp. Candy's going to fucking love this.

"Miss Woods." I use the voice that suck-up waitstaff use when trying to get her attention. When she doesn't stir right away, I have to order myself not to comb my fingers through her shock of pink hair. "Might I interest the world-famous rock star in a little surprise?"

She stirs, blinking up at me with bleary eyes. "Mmm, wha'? Are you finally going to tell me why you rousted me out of bed and on the road before the butt crack of dawn?"

"We're just outside Pittsburgh. This place has Candy Wood's name written all over it. Frankly, I'm surprised it wasn't on your itinerary." I nod toward the sign looming ahead of us, my grin widening. "Welcome to Trundle's Odditorium and Emporium of the Bizarre. Home of the world's largest collection of taxidermied fruit."

"Taxidermied… fruit?" Candy pushes herself upright, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Then she catches sight of the massive, garishly painted building, and her face lights up like Times Square on New Year's Eve. "Holy shit, is that a thirty-foot statue of a jackalope made out of Pez dispensers?"

I chuckle, pulling into the nearly deserted parking lot. "You're not the only one who can find weird places to visit. I thought you might appreciate the sheer balls-out weirdness of this place."

"Appreciate it? I want to live here!" She practically vibrates with excitement, her fingers fumbling with her seatbelt. "Come on, what are you waiting for? Let's go bask in the glorious absurdity!"

And bask we do. We spend the next two hours wandering through room after room of the most delightfully strange, utterly pointless oddities I've ever seen. Candy flits from exhibit to exhibit like a hummingbird on crack, her laughter ringing out bright and clear as she discovers each new marvel.

"Courage, look! It's a life-size sculpture of a T-Rex made entirely out of used chewing gum!"

"Holy hell, is that a replica of the Mona Lisa painted with condiments? Ketchup and mustard and… is that relish?"

"Oh my god, oh my god, an animatronic jazz band of taxidermied squirrels. I can die happy now."

Watching her, I feel a warmth bloom in my chest that has nothing to do with the stuffy, recirculated air of the Odditorium. It's joy, pure and simple. Joy at seeing her so carefree, so utterly enchanted by the wildly weird world we've stumbled into.

After everything she's been through, all the darkness and the pain and the struggle… fuck, she deserves this. Deserves to laugh and play and marvel at the sheer, ridiculous wonder of it all.

"Courage, come look at this!" Candy's voice pulls me from my thoughts, her hand tugging insistently at my arm.

I allow her to drag me over to a display case filled with what appears to be a miniature circus, complete with a big top tent and tiny, intricately carved performers. But upon closer inspection, I realize with a jolt that the "performers" are actually…

"Mice." Candy's nose wrinkles in a way that shouldn't be nearly as adorable as it is. "Taxidermied mice dressed up like circus acts. That's… both incredibly disturbing and weirdly fascinating."

I can't help but chuckle at her expression, equal parts revulsion and reluctant intrigue. "Welcome to the world of novelty taxidermy. Where no critter is safe from being posthumously posed in amusing costumes."

She shudders, but there's a sparkle of mirth in her eyes as she leans into my side. "You know, when I suggested this road trip, I was thinking more along the lines of kitschy diners and weird roadside attractions. Not dead animals masquerading as entertainers."

I wrap an arm around her shoulders and use all my self-control to keep from pressing a kiss to her temple. "Ah, but where's the fun in the expected? Besides, I thought you liked a little mystery and adventure."

She tilts her head back to look at me, her smile soft and warm. "With you, Courage? Always."

Something in my chest tightens at her words, at the open affection and trust shining in her eyes. I still can't quite believe that this incredible woman accepts me, that she sees past the fangs and the claws and the cynical exterior.

"Come on." I need to keep moving so I can control my urge to kiss her, because with every passing minute, I'm believing more and more that she would welcome it, and that's too dangerous. "Let's go see what other marvels and monstrosities this place has to offer."

We spend the next hour wandering through the rest of the Odditorium, marveling at displays ranging from the whimsical (a life-size gingerbread house made entirely out of recycled candy wrappers) to the downright bizarre (a collection of "paranormal" artifacts including a "genuine" werewolf pelt that makes me snort derisively).

Through it all, Candy's hand stays firmly clasped in mine, her laughter and her wonder a balm to my jaded soul. Being with her like this, seeing the world through her eyes… it's a gift. One I never thought I'd be lucky enough to receive.

As we're heading to the parking lot, our arms laden with tacky souvenirs and novelty postcards, Candy's phone buzzes from inside her purse. After we've dumped our cache of goodies in the rear compartment, she frowns as she looks at the screen.

It's obviously upsetting, because all the air huffs out of her as her shoulders sag.

"It's from an unknown number. ‘The past has a way of catching up to those who try to outrun it. And when it does… I wouldn't want to be in your stilettos. Don't talk to the press about anything but singing your pathetic little songs.'"

The blood drains from my face, a cold, sickening dread settling in the pit of my stomach. Fuck.

"Do you think it's Sam Raskins?" I look more closely at the screen as though the inanimate object will spill its secrets.

"Could be him, but he's really more of an asshole who preyed on defenseless kids. He liked to lord his power over the weak and powerless. This seems more… ballsy than the Sam I knew. I wonder if this goes all the way to the head of the network, to Maxwell Blackwell, the CEO."

My mind is racing as I consider all the ways I need to protect Candy. I've been diligent, but with this newest threat, I'll need to be her second skin.

"Should we bring Maury in on this? I know I'm your bodyguard, but you were more accurate when you called me a babysitter. He hired me to protect you from yourself, not cowardly villains who send anonymous threats. This person, whoever they are, doesn't sound like they're playing."

"Let's wait. See if another threat comes in before we bother Maury. I think I've thrown enough shit his way. Hopefully, we don't need to worry him with this. We'll just stay mindful."

My protective instincts surge as I realize Candy's not equipped for this. Ten minutes ago she was thrilled to watch the little band of taxidermied squirrels, for fuck's sake. Now she's acting as though this threat is merely an inconvenience.

She can pretend she's strong and unaffected all she wants, but I tuck her close, one hand cupping the back of her skull, the other banded around her waist as I murmur in her ear.

"Candy, I'm a wolven. I've been providing security in the Zone for a decade. With fangs, claws, an uncanny sense of smell, and more strength than a human, I'll protect you."

She cuddles closer, as though she'd crawl under my skin if she could. I'm glad my words comforted her. Now all I have to do is make good on my word and protect her from some maniac who has her personal cell number.