saved my motherâs life by turning her into a werewolf.â
He took out the bagels and set them on the table with napkins. He sat down and waved her to the other seat. âStart eating and Iâll tell you the rest of the story.â
Heâd given her the blueberry one. She sat opposite him and took a bite.
He gave a satisfied nod and then continued. âIt was one of those love at first sight things on both their parts, apparently. Must have been looks, because neither one of them could speak the otherâs language at first. All was well until she became pregnant. My motherâs father was a person of magic and he helped her when she told him that she needed to stay human until I was born. So every month, when my father and brother hunted under the moon she stayed human. And every moon she grew weaker and weaker. My father argued with her and with her father, worried that she was killing herself.â
âWhy did she do that?â Anna asked.
Charles frowned at her. âHow long have you been a werewolf?â
âThree years last August.â
âWerewolf women canât have children,â he said. âThe change is too hard on the fetus. They miscarry in the third or fourth month.â
Anna stared at him. No one had ever told her that.
âAre you all right?â
She didnât know how to answer him. She hadnât exactly been planning on having childrenâespecially as weird as her life had been for the last few years. She just hadnât planned on not having children either.
âThis should have been explained to you before you chose to Change,â he said.
It was her turn to laugh. âNo one explained anything. No, itâs all right. Please tell me the rest of your story.â
He watched her for a long moment, then gave her an oddly solemn nod. âDespite my fatherâs protests, she held out until my birth. Weakened by the magic of fighting the moonâs call, she did not survive it. I was born a werewolf, not Changed as all the rest are. It gives me a few extra abilitiesâlike being able to change fast.â
âThat would be nice,â she said with feeling.
âIt still hurts,â he added.
She played with a piece of bagel. âAre you going to look for the missing boy?â
His mouth tightened. âNo. We know where Alan Frazier is.â
Something in his voice told her. âHeâs dead?â
He nodded. âThere are some good people looking into his death, theyâll find out who is responsible. He was Changed without his consent, the girl who was with him was killed. Then he was sold to be used as a laboratory guinea pig. The person responsible will pay for their crimes.â
She started to ask him something more, but the door to her apartment flew open and hit the wall behind it, leaving Justin standing in the open doorway.
Sheâd been so intent on Charles, she hadnât heard Justin coming up the stairs. Sheâd forgotten to lock her door after Kara left. Not that it would have done her much good. Justin had a key to her apartment.
She couldnât help her flinch as he strode through the door as if he owned the place. âPayday,â he said. âYou owe me a check.â He looked at Charles. âTime for you to go. The lady and I have some business.â
Anna couldnât believe that even Justin would take that tone with Charles. She looked at him to gauge his reaction and saw why Justin had put his foot in it.
Charles was fussing with his plate, his eyes on his hands. All his awesome force of personality was bottled up and stuffed somewhere it didnât show.
âI donât think Iâd better go,â he murmured, still looking down. âShe might need my help.â
Justinâs lip curled. âWhereâd you pick this one up, bitch? Wait until I let Leo know youâve found a stray and havenât told him about it.â He crossed the room and