Frost & Bothered (12 page)

Logan’s turn to choke on a drink, and I patted him on the back, which in turn reminded me of something else in regard to the Dalsarin business. “You know, I spilled blood for you again, thanks to your buddy, Dalsarin, and Logan nearly died from one of his poisoned arrows.”

“I loaned you the use of my hunting pack when you were searching for your mother.” The elf’s gaze flicked to Logan. “And there are some we aren’t beholden to in matters of spilled blood.”

Right, because elves considered shifters nothing more than animals. “You didn’t exactly divulge everything you knew then either. You didn’t give me any heads up about the whole Cernunnos and Hunt thing.”

“Be that as it may...”

“Blood,” I said, an idea striking.

“I beg your pardon?”

“I spilled blood for you again. We’re even on that, but Logan spilled blood for you too, and I guess maybe you haven’t gotten the memo: I’m a member of his clan. A queen, which makes him one of my people because we’ve shared blood. So one of my people nearly died because of you. Doesn’t that mean that mean I technically spilled blood twice on that little jaunt?”

The tips of Thorandryll’s ears began turning red as he stared at me. His face had become an expressionless mask. I could see a wide-eyed Dane watching us from the corner of my eye. Logan, recovered from his juice misadventure, was sitting perfectly still.

Judging by their reactions, I either had a compelling argument, or had just stepped in it big time. “Well?”

“What would you have of me, Miss Jones?”

Yay! I had a debt from an elf prince in my pocket, but not an answer to his question since I hadn’t planned on bringing up the matter. “I’ll get back to you on that. Right now, I’m thinking you might want to speak to Mr. Whitehaven.”

“For what reason?” Thorandryll’s tone was frosty.

“To hire us to investigate whether or not someone’s trying to smear your name.” I smiled, more pleased with myself than I probably should’ve been.

It’s not like I managed to put an elf over a barrel every day.

“Y
ou didn’t have to do that.” Logan started the truck while Dane climbed in. Being sandwiched between them meant I didn’t instantly grow cold as we drove out of the elven summer into the Texas winter.

“No, but if you’ll remember, he has me on the hook. I have to go to dinner with him sometime, to repay him for turning me back from a dog. Turnabout’s fair play.”

Dane pulled the center seatbelt out from under his leg and handed it to me. “What are you going to ask him for?”

“Whatever Logan wants me to. He’s the one who almost died.”

Logan shook his head. “A blood debt’s a big deal, and he owes it to you.”

“Dude, don’t even argue with me over this. Instead, start thinking. When you know what you want, tell me.”

“Discord...”

I lifted my chin and stared at him. “That was an order.”

Dane snickered. Logan’s lips parted as though he were going to protest again. I silently dared him to. It was only right that he reap whatever reward I could wrangle out of Thorandryll.

“All right. Thank you,” Logan finally said.

“You’re welcome.”

Dane let a few seconds pass before asking, “Where to now?”

“Good question.” I sighed, unable to think of what to do next, other than hang out at Dreamland that night. It was too early for that, and it’d be a little bit before we learned whether Thorandryll had called the boss. “Mom’s house. I need to take a turn with the dogs, and maybe cook dinner too. We can get ready to hit the club after that.”

“A
rgh.” I rolled over, spitting and swiping snow off my face. “Diablo, you are in so much trouble.”

The black pit whirled around with a yip. “
More where that came from!
”

I laughed as snowballs rained down on him, and he raced away. “Hah! Thanks, guys.”

Logan grinned, tossing a snowball at Leglin. My hound ducked and ran, his tail held high as it waved. Dane scored a hit on Bone’s shoulder, and the white pit charged him, barking happily. They went down in a shower of snow.

I rose to my feet, only to fall again when Leglin bumped into me. “You too?”

Kyra, Tonya’s husky, leaped into the air and hit Leglin in the side with all four of her paws. He went over, thrashing snow everywhere. “Way to go, girl!”

The park had been deserted when we drove by on the way to Mom’s. Snow had left a two-feet-deep blanket on it, with drifts up to four feet. No one objected to my suggestion we take the big dogs there for some exercise.

Bone bounded up as I climbed onto all fours and swiped his tongue across my face. “
Chase me!
”

I did for about twenty minutes, slipping and sliding all over the place thanks to the snow building up in the tread of my boots. The exertion quickly wore me down, and the white pit stopped to look back at me when I halted. His tongue lolled out in a laugh, right before a pair of arms closed around my waist.

My shrieks filled the air as Logan lifted me and spun around several times. When he stopped to put me down, he stepped back. I turned and swayed toward him like a drunk. “No fair, now I’m all dizzy.”

“Yeah.” He shook his head. “Little dizzy myself.”

“And I’m cold.”

“Aw, poor baby.”

“You’re mocking me. That’s not nice.” Equilibrium restored, I bent and scooped up some snow to pack.

Logan followed suit. We began circling each other, and he said, “My arms are longer.”

“Yeah? I can teleport.” I did, rising on my tiptoes to smash my snowball on top of his head. He whirled, throwing one arm around me, and shoved his handful of snow down the back of my coat.

“Holy crap, that’s cold.” I did my best to knock him over, trying to escape the freezing clumps sliding down my back.

Laughing, he leaned back to shake snow from his hair. His other arm settled around me. “Bet you’re really cold now.”

“You jerk. Some of that made it all the way down.” I wiggled, unable to hold still as icy water made a line down my panties and jeans. “Oh, my God. That is way too cold.”

“You did try to freeze my brain.” The tip of his nose brushed mine. I could see the gold flecks scattered in the dark pine green of his irises. “I say we’re even.”

He didn’t seem interested in letting go, and I’d stopped wiggling. “Not yet.”

“Oh?”

I grinned, and shoved snow I’d gathered with telekinesis down the back of his jacket. Logan’s eyes went wide before he closed them, grimacing. “Okay, it’s on, woman.”

“Aw, poor baby. Are you cold?”

He opened his eyes, looked at me, and proceeded to wipe my grin away with his lips. His weren’t cold, and suddenly, I wasn’t cold anymore either.

“Ooh, Cordi and Logan, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.”

Logan pulled back. “I think I’ll go kill Dane now.”

“Uh, okay.” I had hold of his jacket.

“Or it could wait a few minutes,” he decided before his lips met mine again. I slid my hand up his chest and around the back of his neck. He purred, and I nearly melted.

“Guys. Oh, come on,” Dane said. “Break it up or get a room.”

I giggled, and Logan smiled, both breaking our lip lock. He rested his forehead against mine. “That was pushy of me.”

“I was pushy back. We’re even.”

“I like even.”

“Me too.” I was also enjoying gazing into his eyes, but shivered. “Brr, for reals.”

“I can kill Dane later. Let’s go.” He released me, but held out his hand after stepping back. I grabbed it as he asked, “Do you think Sunny has anything hot to drink?”

“Y
ou crazy kids.” Mom shoved mugs of hot, spiced cider into our hands. “Drink and warm your insides.”

“I was going to help with dinner.”

She tousled my chilly, damp hair. “There’s a pot roast in the slow cooker, and it’s almost ready. Plenty for everyone.”

We cheered her, and Mom retreated to the kitchen with a laugh.

Not long after that, we were seated in the kitchen and busy stuffing our faces. Playing in the cold and snow had definitely worked up my appetite. Mr. Whitehaven called as I neared the bottom of my second bowl.

“Would I be correct in thinking you have no objection to accepting another case for Prince Thorandryll?”

“You would. He’s sort of involved in the Aguerra case, and two paying clients is better than one, right?” I knew the boss wouldn’t give Prince Snooty Pants a discount. The elf hadn’t been truthful with him either, during the first case we’d worked for him.

Mr. Whitehaven vented one of his deep chuckles. “Yes, indeed. However, there’s one detail I need to clarify with you. The prince’s impression that Logan is your bodyguard persists, and I didn’t disabuse him of it. Will Logan be assisting you two on the prince’s case?”

“Is it a problem if he does?”

“No, I simply need to know to properly bill the prince, and assure adequate remuneration for Logan.”

“Okay, hang on.” I pulled the phone from my ear and tapped mute. “Mr. Whitehaven wants to know if you feel like temping again.”

Logan swallowed the roast he was chewing. “I have two weeks of vacation time and no idea how to spend it. Temping works for me.”

“Cool.” I unmuted the phone to tell my boss, “He’s on board.”

“Excellent. Someone will meet you at Dreamland this evening. Make certain to keep me updated on your progress.”

“Yes, sir. Bye.” I ended the call and checked the time. “We need to get a move on, guys. We have a meet at Dreamland to make.”

I
n spite of our best efforts, it was after nine before we arrived at the club. The same tall bouncers passed us through the door, and Angel Elf greeted us with a smile. “Welcome back, Miss Jones. A moment, please.”

“Sure, thanks.” I untied my coat belt. No dress and heels for me this time. I’d chosen jeans, a teal, short-sleeved top, and my favorite pair of brown, aviator-style boots. Clothing I could run or fight in, if either became necessary.

The guys had both gone with short-sleeved polo shirts. Logan’s was the dark gold that looked positively scrumptious on him. Dane’s was baby blue. The color complemented his coloring, too, brightening his rather dark blue eyes. My partner was an attractive guy, but the reasons I liked him had nothing to do with his looks. Dane was smart, dedicated, and fun. It didn’t hurt that he was easy-going and loyal too.