"Mary Janice Davidson - Wyndham Werewolves 03 - Derik's Bane" - читать интересную книгу автора (Davidson Mary Janice)

For once, Derik didn't argue.


Michael cleared his throat from the doorway. "You're going, then?"

Derik straightened up from his packing. He'd tossed a few things into a carry-on and was ready to leave.
More than ready. He was taking the Wyndham jet to San Jose, California, and from there he'd pick up a
rental car to the Monterey Peninsula. He'd already said good-bye to Moira and Jeannie.

"Yeah, I'm going now. In fact, I'd better get a move on."

"Well. Be careful. Don't let her get the drop on you."

"The reincarnation of the most powerful sorceress in the history of literature, fated to destroy the world
in the next few days? No chance," he bragged, and was relieved to see a ghost of a grin on Michael's
face. "Leave it to me. This'll be just like the time I agreed to cater your mating ceremony. Except with
less flour."

"I am leaving it to you," Michael said seriously. "You knew Jeannie was pregnant again, right?"

He nodded. They all knew.

"Well, for God's sake, don't tell her you knew before I told you," Michael said hastily. "I had the worst
time pretending to be surprised when she finally got around to breaking the news. And, of course, she
knew I wasn't surprised, and then the shit hit the fan."

"It's not your fault you can smell it on her," he said, puzzled.

"You'd think. Anyway ... my point is ... everything I have, and am, is in your hands. It's too badтАФ"We
haven't been getting along was the obvious end to that statement, but his friend was too tactful to say
it.

"Yeah. Don't worry, chief."

Michael smiled again. "I'm not. Well, I am, a littleтАФit's how I'm made. But, hell, if anyone can save the
world, you can. I'd bet my life on it." He paused. "Iam betting my life on it."

Derik was too gratified to speak for a moment. He remembered his earlier wordsтАФhis earlier
actionsтАФand felt his face burn with shame. So he wanted his own PackтАФor at least, wanted to be his
own man. Did that mean he had to treat his best friend like something to be scraped off the bottom of his
shoe?

"Uh .. . thanks ... but before I go ..." He slung his bag over one shoulder, crossed the room, and started
to hunch lower, prepared to show throat.

Michael grasped his shoulder and jerked him back up. "Don't do that," he said quietly. "For one thing,
you're off to save the world, so as far as I'm concerned, the slate's clean between us. For another, Moira
says you could be alpha. Since I'm pretty sure she's never been wrong about anythingтАФ"