Chapter 1

1

"Kendra, if your aim was any worse, we could start a 'how not to throw a net' tutorial." I ducked as a wrench flew past my head.

"How about less sass and more ass-kicking?" Kendra had that look on her face she got when she was two seconds from turning someone into a toad. Or worse.

In one corner, "Bulldog" Benny, a mountain of a man with fists like hams, was attempting to barrel his way through stacks of crates, probably thinking they'd magically part like the Red Sea. Izora moved in, graceful as a cat on hot asphalt. She grabbed his arm and twisted, eliciting a yowl that would have made an actual bulldog proud.

"Hey, Benny." I couldn't resist goading him a bit. "Ever thought of obedience school? You'd be the star pupil."

Kendra snickered, busy trying to tie up "Slippery" Pete, whose slick-backed hair was as greasy as his escape attempts.

"Twinkle Toes" Tony lunged past me, probably fancying himself a boxer with those flailing arms. I sidestepped and clipped him with a shoulder, sending him sprawling across the concrete. "That's for every dog you've ever hurt," I growled. What a scumbag.

"Look at Izora go." Kendra secured Pete with zip ties. "She's like Mary Poppins if Mary carried a sword instead of an umbrella."

I admired Izora, ancient vampire queen or not, as she handled "Tiny" Tim with finesse. He was anything but tiny, a veritable giant with a beard so scruffy and long you could lose a badger in it. Izora danced around his lumbering form, disarming and disabling without so much as breaking a sweat or a nail.

"Way to go, Izora. Not a single jugular ripped out," I said, genuinely impressed. It was hard enough keeping my fangs in check with these creeps.

"Shall I take a bow, or would that be too dramatic?" Izora asked dryly, pushing Tiny Tim down beside his cohorts.

"Save it for the encore," Kendra said with a grin.

"Yeah, let's just get these guys tied up." And before they realized we weren't just three girls who wandered in off the street. I made sure my strength appeared human-normal as I tugged the restraints tight.

"Wouldn't want them to suspect anything supernatural." Izora winked one ice-blue eye at me. "After all, they might think we're the monsters."

Once they were tied up, we stepped away and whispered. "Speak for yourself." I flashed a faux-scary grin. "I'm as monstrous as a cupcake with extra sprinkles."

"Sure." Kendra chuckled. "Just a cute little vampire dragon who plays with metal for fun."

"Let's just get these lowlifes to the cops." I tried to sound tough but probably just managed peppy. "And then maybe we can grab some ice cream. I feel like I've earned some mint chocolate chip after all this."

I've recently discovered I could eat regular foods, so I'm rediscovering all my favorite junk foods.

"Only if it's got double sprinkles," Kendra said.

"Deal." We maneuvered our catch toward the exit. "But no more net-throwing for you, Kendra. Seriously, we'll work on your aim next time."

"Har-har," she said as she yanked the smallest of the guys by his arm. "Come on." She dragged the scruffy-looking man with a nose that had clearly been broken more than once toward Jax's biggest SUV.

Izora and I hauled up the other three. "Walk," I said. "Or you'll need to be carried.

They grumbled, but they did it, clambering into the back of the SUV. It was a tight squeeze with two of the guys being so freaking huge, but they managed it, with the biggest guy in the middle row.

The moment the door slammed shut, a soft whining sound made me pause. My head snapped up, looking back toward the dimly lit warehouse. "Did you guys hear that?"

"Yep." Kendra was already on high alert, her witch instincts kicking in despite her need to keep them under wraps.

"Sounds like... not our problem?" Izora said, though I caught the flicker of concern cross her face.

"Come on, let's check it out." I ignored Izora's eye roll. "Those guys aren't going anywhere."

We went back inside and tiptoed around crates and debris, following the pitiful noise until we stumbled upon its source, a tiny chihuahua, all big eyes and quivering ears, cowering behind a stack of wooden pallets. Poor guy was shaking like a leaf in a tropical storm.

"Aw, look at you," Kendra cooed, squatting down to the dog's level. "What are you doing here, little guy?"

"Probably looking for someone's ankle to latch onto," I joked, but even I couldn't resist the little creature's shaky tail wag. Ugh, he'd probably been a bait dog. Poor little guy.

Izora got close and scooped the little dog up like it weighed a few pounds.

"Okay, furball express to the pound," I said the trembling chihuahua's chin as Izora held it with surprising gentleness.

"Hailey's right. Someone's bound to fall for those bug eyes in no time." Kendra dusted off her hands as if we'd already dropped the pooch at its next destination. "He'll be adopted within days."

"Absolutely not." Izora's words had that ancient vampire queen resonance to them that made it clear she wasn't discussing or debating. She glared at us like we'd suggested deep-frying the little doggie. "This sweet creature isn't going to some pound."

"Whoa, Izzy, since when did you start a canine fan club?" I asked, my brows raised so high they could've flown off my forehead.

"Since now," she said firmly and then, to my utter shock, began cooing at the dog. "Aren't you just the cutest? Yes, you are!"

The chihuahua responded with enthusiastic licks, planting tiny wet kisses right on Izora's lips. If my heart still beat, it would've skipped a few from the sheer absurdity of the scene.

"Are we seeing this?" I said to Kendra, who looked equally gob-smacked. "The big, bad vamp queen, baby-talking a chihuahua?"

"Never thought I'd see the day." Kendra shook her head in disbelief.

"Let's get moving before she starts knitting it a sweater," I said, half-joking, but with Izora, you never knew.

"Agreed. We still have actual criminals to babysit." Kendra nodded toward the SUV where the fugitives waited, blissfully unaware of their supernatural chauffeurs.

"Come along, precious." Izora tucked the chihuahua under one arm, her steely gaze softening as she gazed at it. "You're with me now."

Izora stood up and addressed us with an authoritative tone that brooked no argument. "Let's go."

"Right," I said, still a bit dazed by the vampire queen's maternal display. "I guess now we have a dog."

Izora's eyes flashed with that ancient power of hers, softened only slightly by her new fuzzy companion. "No, Hailey. Now I have a dog."

"Of course." Kendra grinned. "Because what's a queen without her royal hound?"

We climbed in the car, Izora sitting beside the biggest dog fighter. He glared at her, and she bared her teeth at him. "Izora," I said sharply, and she put her lips back into place.

"Cozy enough?" Kendra asked, peering into the back as I took the wheel.

"Like sardines in a tin." I started the engine. "Only less fishy. Hopefully." I glanced back at Izora and her new mini-sidekick. "Next stop, justice served, with a side of kibble."

"Did you just...?" Kendra began, but I cut her off with a smirk.

"Yup, made a dog pun. Deal with it."

"I'm going to call you Courage," Izora said. "You're the bravest little boy that has ever lived, yes you are."

Oh-kay. With that, I pulled out of the warehouse parking lot, the city lights guiding us toward the precinct, where hopefully the paperwork would be less painful than Izora's baby talk... or the inevitable shopping spree for Courage's royal wardrobe.

Navigating through the narrow streets with a cargo of grumbling fugitives and a chihuahua that seemed to think he was a giant mastiff; I let out a breath of relief. The rearview mirror showed Izora keeping a watchful eye on our captives as she nuzzled Courage. Kendra turned in her seat so she could see everyone and talk to me at the same time.

"Where are Luke and Cleo, anyway?" Kendra asked, head cocked to one side as if she could magically summon them with her curiosity. "Shouldn't they be here, helping us stuff bad guys into clown cars?"

"Trust me." I took a sharp left at the traffic light. "Cleo's doing us a favor. She's been working with Luke on his skip-tracing skills."

"Ah." Kendra chuckled. "And how's that going? He hasn't charmed her into letting him off easy, has he?"

"Hardly." I snorted. "She's got him on a tight leash, figuratively speaking, of course. The last time I tried showing him the ropes, I nearly lost my mind. That charm power of his is no joke."

"Bet you're glad she stepped in," Kendra said.

"Like you wouldn't believe. If I had to deal with him for another day, I might've tossed him into the Atlantic... love him to bits, but patience isn't exactly my forte."

"Hailey Whitfield, admitting a flaw? Color me shocked," Izora said while Courage yapped approvingly.

"Ha-ha," I said dryly. "I'll have you know I'm perfectly patient... when it doesn't involve training my brother."

"Speaking of responsibility," Kendra said, "I say after we drop off these fine gentlemen, we treat ourselves to some well-deserved victory shakes."

"Definitely. I was thinking ice cream, but a double chocolate shake sounds even better." I grinned, already tasting the sweet victory.

"Only if you promise not to spill it in Jax's precious SUV," Izora said.

"Deal," I said, the precinct now in sight. "But let's get these guys booked first. Then, my friends, we feast like the champions we are."

"Here's hoping Cleo doesn't turn Luke into a milkshake before we get back," Kendra added with a wink.

"Please," I scoffed. "If anyone can handle my brother, it's Cleo. Plus, she's got Grim and Nash to keep her sane."

"Good point," Kendra said. "Now, let's wrap this up. My taste buds are staging a protest."

"Patience, dear witch," I said. "Justice before dessert."

"Fine, fine," Kendra said. "But if we don't hurry, I'm using my powers to conjure up a milkshake. Rules be damned."

"Keep it up, and I'll have Izora put you on a leash next." I pulled into the station's parking lot with a mix of triumph and the promise of sugary rewards dancing in my thoughts.