Page 23 of Squirrel Hunt

Dahy nodded. He’d always known there were vampires.

“Apparently, vampires go there too, and Roan says it isn’t safe.”

Dahy didn’t reply. He didn’t think vampires were a threat to Myka. They weren’t like shifters. He was sure they had their own prejudices, but vampires didn’t have a problem with interspecies matings.

“But I can take you there.” She focused on the road and nodded. “Yeah, we’ll go there. If anything, Gideon might be able to talk to Roan to convince him I’m not in any danger for having a squirrel friend.”

Dahy did nothing to hide his wince. He’d never meant to put her in danger, but he had.

She indicated a turn and steered toward town again. “It’s not far.”

Nerves built in Dahy’s gut. What if Jyran didn’t want to see him? What if he got angry? What if his mate ate him? His heart beat faster, but he forced down a breath.

“Here we are!” She frowned. “It doesn’t look like much.” She turned off the engine, unhooked her seatbelt, and was out of the car before Dahy had time to react. When she strode toward the entrance, he pushed the door open and got out.

Before he’d closed the car door, she’d disappeared into—he glanced at the sign—The Howling Moon. Ugh. He hurried to catch up, but he was barefoot, and there was gravel on the ground. When he reached the door, Myka had vanished from view.

A car drove up to the parking lot, and Dahy wrapped the fleece throw tighter around himself and hurried into the nightclub. Myka had already reached the bar.

“Hello!”

It was deserted, but the door to the kitchen opened and a grumpy-looking man glared at him. “We’re not open.”

“We’re looking for Jyran.” Myka beamed at him, and the man stilled. His eyes narrowed as they reached Dahy, then he growled. The hairs on Dahy’s body stood on end, but right as he was about to dash out of there, someone entered through the door behind them, and there was another growl. Dahy whimpered. He was surrounded. He was going to die.

“Konrad. What are you doing here?” Myka smiled, but it was strained.

Konrad nodded at her before staring at Dahy. He should have shifted and run, but he couldn’t move. Konrad smelled divine. Now when he wasn’t suffocating on perfume, his scent washed over Dahy, and he never wanted to be away from it ever again. He wanted to run over there and rub himself against Konrad to get as much of his scent as possible. No! A moan escaped, then he took a stumbling step backward and almost fell on a chair.

Konrad took a quick step forward, but Dahy barked at him, and he stilled.

“I mean you no harm.” Konrad held his hands up disarmingly, and his eyes burned trails over Dahy’s skin.

“What’s going on?” The grumpy wolf behind the bar glared at them, and Dahy furiously searched his brain for something to say, something sensible.

“I’m looking for Jyran. He’s my cousin.”

The wolf didn’t move, instead, he flashed sharp teeth at Dahy.

“Gideon.” Konrad spoke in a low, authoritative voice, which had the wolf, Gideon, shift his attention to him.

“He’s a squirrel.”

Konrad nodded. “As is your mate, and if they’re cousins, it makes sense, right?”

“I don’t allow squirrels in my bar.”

Konrad’s eyes shifted to amber, and Dahy winced. If they started to fight, he’d be dead within seconds. With adrenaline flowing, they’d attack without thought. He searched for something to climb.

“I know for a fact that isn’t true.” Konrad was growling now too, and Dahy’s heart sped up more. He had to get out of there.

The kitchen door opened again. “What’s going on?” A short, fine-limbed man in a three-piece suit came to stand next to Gideon, his gaze instantly landing on Dahy. He tilted his head to the side before a smile stretched his lips. “Hello.”

Dahy took a step forward before he could stop himself. Family. He hadn’t seen another squirrel shifter in years. “Jyran.”

He nodded.

“I’m Dahy Doocey.”