The Unleashing
Page 30
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Its retractable.
and the tutu! For free!
You have my dog in a tutu.
It makes her look much less intimidating. Pit bulls have such a harsh reputation that we thought making her pretty would work to her benefit.
Kera held out her hand. Give me my dog.
But
Give me my dog.
The Crow silently handed over the retractable leash.
Kera held it up in front of the women.
Retractable leashes are shit. If youre taking my dog out for a jog, youll use a proper leash or youre not taking out my dog. Do I make myself clear?
But it matches her collar.
Doshe barked loudly, the crows on the roof squawking in responseI make myself clear?
Eyes wide, the two women nodded.
And no tutus.
She looks darling
Ever! No tutus ever!
But it also matches her collar and has Swarovski crystals on it.
I dont care if its made of mithril, you are not to put my dog in a fucking tutu!
Vig leaned down and asked, Mithril?
Quiet, she warned him before refocusing on the two Crows. Have I made myself clear?
Very, one snapped back, but you werent very nice about it.
You put my pit bull in a tutu. Youre lucky that the only thing I did was not be nice to you.
The women stomped off and when Kera turned to face Vig, he quickly reminded her, You already promised youd give this a shot.
Her mouth had been open, about to speak, but now she shut it. Her nose twitched. She wanted to argue with him.
You promised, he said again. And as a Marine . . . you would, of course, honor your commitment.
Now she glared at him. Fine, she said. But that was a little bit devious.
He shrugged. Viking.
Kera reached down and removed the tutu from around Brodies narrow hips; she shoved it into Vigs hands. Take this. Burn it.
Youd let her keep it if it was mithril.
If it was mithril, Kera shot back, Id make it into a shirt and wear it to protect me from orcs and trolls trying to run me through with spears. But its not mithril.
Laughing, Vig watched her open the front door. Thats when he asked, What about the Swarovski crystals?
Kera glowered at him, opened her mouth to speak, closed it, opened it again, then finally slammed the door in his face.
And still laughing, Vig walked home.
Erin was going to bed when she stopped outside her room. She looked down the hall toward Keras room. The door was partially open, light spilling into the hallway.
Erin walked to her door and pushed it open. She saw the dog first. She was asleep on the bed, stretched out from one end to the other of the queen mattress. There was also snoring.
Then Erin focused on Kera. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, furiously writing on a new notepad, which was attached to another clipboard. Where the hell is she getting all these clipboards from?
Kera?
Uh-huh?
Everything okay?
Yeah. Just working out some possible schedules. Making a few lists. She looked up at Erin. Do you guys have weekly team meetings?
Not unless we have to.
Really? Huh. Kera began writing furiously on her notepad again.
Okay, then . . . night, Erin said, easing out of the room.
Night.
After backing out of the room and softly shutting the door, Erin blew out a breath.
Leighs right, she muttered to herself as she went back to her own room. I need to do something about her and do it quick or theyre all gonna kill her.
Vig stared up at the big hilltop home, crossed his arms over his chest, and slowly turned his glare to his Raven leader.
Have you lost your mind? Siggy asked. Why are we here?
Ormi wanted to see me.
So?
It sounded important.
Or it could be a setup.
I dont think it is. BesidesJosef motioned to VigI brought him.
Vig didnt understand that. What do I have to do with anything?
Josef began to answer but Vig felt the air around him change the slightest bit. He turned and swung his fist, hitting one of the Protectors who had flown in behind him in the face and sending him flat on his back. As always, none of the Ravens heard the Protectors come up behind them. Like owls, Protectors had wings that allowed them to flyand huntin near silence.
Vig was one of the few Ravens able to sense the slight change in air as they moved in close only because it was a skill passed on through his family line.
A necessary skill since the Protectors were developed by the god Tyr in direct response to the actions of the Ravens and Crows at the time. And because even the gods had a sense of humor, Tyr based his Protectors on the great horned owl . . . the natural predators of Crows and Ravens. At one time, the Protectors did nothing else but hunt and kill Crows and Ravens. It was their only job. But times changed and the purpose of the Protectors shifted to ensuring none of the Clans, official or otherwise, ever became too powerful. In the end, they helped protect the balance of the world. If the Crows and Ravens didnt threaten that balance, they usually left them alone. But Crows and Ravens forget nothing. Even things that happened more than a thousand years ago.
and the tutu! For free!
You have my dog in a tutu.
It makes her look much less intimidating. Pit bulls have such a harsh reputation that we thought making her pretty would work to her benefit.
Kera held out her hand. Give me my dog.
But
Give me my dog.
The Crow silently handed over the retractable leash.
Kera held it up in front of the women.
Retractable leashes are shit. If youre taking my dog out for a jog, youll use a proper leash or youre not taking out my dog. Do I make myself clear?
But it matches her collar.
Doshe barked loudly, the crows on the roof squawking in responseI make myself clear?
Eyes wide, the two women nodded.
And no tutus.
She looks darling
Ever! No tutus ever!
But it also matches her collar and has Swarovski crystals on it.
I dont care if its made of mithril, you are not to put my dog in a fucking tutu!
Vig leaned down and asked, Mithril?
Quiet, she warned him before refocusing on the two Crows. Have I made myself clear?
Very, one snapped back, but you werent very nice about it.
You put my pit bull in a tutu. Youre lucky that the only thing I did was not be nice to you.
The women stomped off and when Kera turned to face Vig, he quickly reminded her, You already promised youd give this a shot.
Her mouth had been open, about to speak, but now she shut it. Her nose twitched. She wanted to argue with him.
You promised, he said again. And as a Marine . . . you would, of course, honor your commitment.
Now she glared at him. Fine, she said. But that was a little bit devious.
He shrugged. Viking.
Kera reached down and removed the tutu from around Brodies narrow hips; she shoved it into Vigs hands. Take this. Burn it.
Youd let her keep it if it was mithril.
If it was mithril, Kera shot back, Id make it into a shirt and wear it to protect me from orcs and trolls trying to run me through with spears. But its not mithril.
Laughing, Vig watched her open the front door. Thats when he asked, What about the Swarovski crystals?
Kera glowered at him, opened her mouth to speak, closed it, opened it again, then finally slammed the door in his face.
And still laughing, Vig walked home.
Erin was going to bed when she stopped outside her room. She looked down the hall toward Keras room. The door was partially open, light spilling into the hallway.
Erin walked to her door and pushed it open. She saw the dog first. She was asleep on the bed, stretched out from one end to the other of the queen mattress. There was also snoring.
Then Erin focused on Kera. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, furiously writing on a new notepad, which was attached to another clipboard. Where the hell is she getting all these clipboards from?
Kera?
Uh-huh?
Everything okay?
Yeah. Just working out some possible schedules. Making a few lists. She looked up at Erin. Do you guys have weekly team meetings?
Not unless we have to.
Really? Huh. Kera began writing furiously on her notepad again.
Okay, then . . . night, Erin said, easing out of the room.
Night.
After backing out of the room and softly shutting the door, Erin blew out a breath.
Leighs right, she muttered to herself as she went back to her own room. I need to do something about her and do it quick or theyre all gonna kill her.
Vig stared up at the big hilltop home, crossed his arms over his chest, and slowly turned his glare to his Raven leader.
Have you lost your mind? Siggy asked. Why are we here?
Ormi wanted to see me.
So?
It sounded important.
Or it could be a setup.
I dont think it is. BesidesJosef motioned to VigI brought him.
Vig didnt understand that. What do I have to do with anything?
Josef began to answer but Vig felt the air around him change the slightest bit. He turned and swung his fist, hitting one of the Protectors who had flown in behind him in the face and sending him flat on his back. As always, none of the Ravens heard the Protectors come up behind them. Like owls, Protectors had wings that allowed them to flyand huntin near silence.
Vig was one of the few Ravens able to sense the slight change in air as they moved in close only because it was a skill passed on through his family line.
A necessary skill since the Protectors were developed by the god Tyr in direct response to the actions of the Ravens and Crows at the time. And because even the gods had a sense of humor, Tyr based his Protectors on the great horned owl . . . the natural predators of Crows and Ravens. At one time, the Protectors did nothing else but hunt and kill Crows and Ravens. It was their only job. But times changed and the purpose of the Protectors shifted to ensuring none of the Clans, official or otherwise, ever became too powerful. In the end, they helped protect the balance of the world. If the Crows and Ravens didnt threaten that balance, they usually left them alone. But Crows and Ravens forget nothing. Even things that happened more than a thousand years ago.
