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

"It's annoying," Derik agreed.

"тАФit's best for you to get out of the habit of showing throat as soon as possible."

Derik paused. "So ... we almost had to cha-cha today, but because I'm gonna save the world, you're
gonna let that go?"

"That's just the kind of swell guy I am," Michael said solemnly, and both men cracked up, their laughter
sounding more like howls than anything else.




5

THE MONTEREY PENINSULA

He knew it made him shallow. he knew he was probably too old for such nonsense. He knew he should
be focused on saving the world. But he couldn't help it.

Derik loved convertibles. And this one was sublimeтАФelectric, eye-watering blue, with leather seats and
a superb sound system. Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love" was tearing his head off, because, joy of
joys, he'd found a local all-eighties rock radio station. The weather was gorgeousтАФ low 70s and
sunnyтАФand his proximity to the ocean meant that thousands and thousands of tantalizing scents were on
the air.

He took a gulp and dizzily tried to process.

Derik's nose was an instrument of frightening precision, but even it could .be confused and
overwhelmed. Shit, that was half the fun of a convertible! Right now he was smelling
seaspray-lilacshottarmacdeerpoopraccoonsseagullfeathersтАФ whoops! Now he was getting a tantalizing
whiff of fishoceangrasslawnmowerexhaustpossumfried-chicken andтАФthank you, Jesus!тАФgirlsweat and
Dune perfume.

I am in California, land of babes and cool cars and movies-of-the-week, but I can't think about that until
I save the world.

At the thought of what was riding on this little day trip, his heart lurched. He had always thought of
himself as a mellow kind of fellow (recent events notwithstanding), and if someone had told him he'd be
responsible for saving the worldтАФnot the Pack, or even his closest friends, but theworld, theentire
world ... well, his mind just couldn't get around it. It would try, and then it would veer away and think
about something stupid, like how great it was to find an eighties radio station so far from home.

Saying good-bye to Lara did it. Brought it home for him, however briefly. He loved that littie stinker like
she was his own pup. He'd die for her in a New York minute. He'd wring the neck of anybody who hurt
her and snap the spine of anyone who made her cry. But if he fucked upтАФ if this Morgan gal got away
from himтАФLara would never make it to first grade. Never go on a date, never experience her first
Change. Never grow up to be his boss, the way her daddy was.

Shit, he'd almost burst out crying just saying good-bye to her.