“Do we have to talk about it now? Or do I have to keep kicking the shit out of what’s-her-cow?”

“Hey, hey,” she said warningly. “Watch the language.”

“You have a problem with cow? You put your hands on him again, I’ll kick your ass up so high people will think you have a second head. Cow.”

“Says the midget.” But the woman’s lips were twitching—like Drake’s did when he was amused and trying not to show it.

“For heaven’s sake, Janet,” Drake was saying, limping over to her and helping her out of the dirt. “What’s the problem? I haven’t seen you in—what? Fifteen years? And you attack me?”

“I don’t suppose we could talk about this over a drink,” Hottie commented. He grinned, and Crescent nearly screamed. He had about a thousand teeth, and they all looked very sharp. “So to speak.”

“So now we’re sort of…uh…in love and stuff. And I’m not going back,” Janet added defiantly.

“You don’t have to sell me on the advantages of going rogue,” Drake said.

“What, so, you’d get in trouble with your boss? The what-d’you-call him? Pack leader?” Crescent dumped a third packet of sugar into her coffee. “What’s he care?”

“He probably wouldn’t,” Janet replied. “But it’s not worth it to me. The risk, I mean. He could order me to stay on the Cape and I—I would have to obey, or disobey.”

They were sitting in the corner of the Starbucks on Park Street, speaking in low voices. Although Crescent wasn’t sure why they bothered. This was Boston, after all. Nobody gave a shit.

“Well, you don’t have to worry about me. You’re only the second pack member I’ve run into in the last year. And even if I were to run into Michael—which isn’t likely—I certainly wouldn’t mention you.”

“Well, thanks. I guess I shouldn’t have. Uh.” Janet coughed. “You know. Kicked the shit out of you without asking questions first.”

“That’s all right,” Drake said kindly, ignoring Crescent’s and Richard’s snickers.

“You might think about moving,” Crescent suggested. “If your boss and all his lackey werewolves live on the Cape. I mean, you’re only ninety miles away. If you lived in—I dunno, Argentina? That would be better.”

“Our home is here,” Janet said stubbornly. “Besides, we’re all over the world. Might as well stake out a small claim and defend it here as well as anywhere else.”

Crescent noticed the hottie—Richard—hadn’t touched his frozen coffee. “Aren’t you thirsty?”

“Yes.”

“So what’s your story, Blondie?” Janet asked. “Getting smacked by you was like getting smacked by a two-by-four. What do you have for bone marrow, steel ball bearings?”

“Well, I think I—”

“—might be part fey.”