“Why is she already outside?” Shay asked.
“I’ll go check.”
He looked at her. “Why you?”
“Because you can be terrifying, and we don’t have time for that right now.” She pointed to her watch. “Do you see the time?”
Tock didn’t wait for Shay to answer. She got out of the car and quickly walked the distance from the vehicle to the kid.
“Hey, Dani. Everything okay?”
Dani didn’t answer; just rolled her eyes.
“I was hoping to speak to Mister or Mrs. Malone,” the teacher announced.
“My mother is not a Malone,” Dani practically snarled, “and she already told you to call my dad because she couldn’t come.”
“I tried to contact your father, and your mother has refused to pick you up again.”
“Thank you for making me feel bad about my family, Mrs. Latimer.”
“That’s not what I meant—”
“Mr. Malone’s phone was damaged earlier today,” Tock quickly cut in. “But we’re on a schedule, so can this important discussion wait until another—”
“Dani punched another student.”
Tock gazed at the teacher, waiting to hear more. It took her several seconds to realize that the teacher had thought that was more than enough. She wanted Tock to say something.
“Was it a boy?” Tock asked Dani.
“Yes.”
“Did he deserve it?”
“Absolutely.”
Tock shrugged at the teacher. “Sounds like he deserved it.”
“It’s not that easy, Miss—”
“I’m sure it’s not, but it can wait until later.”
“It really can’t.”
One of the glass front doors was pushed open and a full-human man stomped through; his kid was just behind him.
And yeah, Dani had definitely punched the kid. In his left cheek. It had a golf ball–sized swelling under the skin, which might mean the kid had a broken cheekbone. Dani was young but she had some true cat strength. No wonder her mother was constantly trying to get her into football.
“Is this the mother?” the man demanded, finally reaching them. Tock and Dani glanced at each other and both giggled a little. They looked nothing alike, but . . . okay! “Look what your daughter did to my son,” he said, pushing the boy forward.
“She says he deserved it, and as someone who has dealt with boys in math departments for many years . . . I totally believe her.”
“If you think I’m letting this little brat get away with assaulting my kid, you’ve got another think coming, lady!”
“If we could all calm down,” the teacher offered, “I’m sure we can come up with a way to . . .”
Her words faded off as something very big blocked the sun behind Tock. She watched the father’s gaze lift up and up as Shay—who had already had a very bad day—came up to their small group and then kept coming. Until he stood directly in front of the man, who quickly shoved his son behind him.
“What . . . what is this?” the man finally stuttered out.
“This is the brat’s father,” Tock said with her arm around Dani’s shoulders. “And if you have a problem with her, you should really address it with”—she reached her arm up and patted one of his giant shoulders—“him.”
Shay stared down at the man but said nothing. Instead, he just stared. Really . . . it was more of a glower. It reminded Tock of Keane actually, in its complete animosity. But Shay wasn’t completely silent. Tock could feel the low grumble emanating from the big cat’s chest.
“I . . . uh . . . um . . . uh . . .” the man stammered. Was this how full-humans acted when they stumbled upon black bears in the woods? All stammers and shaking? Putting themselves between the apex predator and their kid. Like that would prevent or help anything.
“Well, if you think of something,” Tock continued, “I’m sure Mr. Malone would be happy to discuss the issue with you. Here. And now.” She waited a beat. “Or we could go. Because we do have a schedule to adhere to.” When the man did nothing but shake his head, unable to speak, Tock turned Dani around and shoved her in the direction of the car. Then she reached back and grabbed Shay’s arm, dragging him along behind her. It wasn’t easy. He weighed a lot, even while human, and didn’t seem to be in the mood to leave his prey undigested. But they’d have nothing but more problems if he bit the guy’s face off. It was best to keep moving.
Thankfully, when she intertwined her fingers with his, Shay followed, letting Tock pull him to the car. She got back in the driver’s seat, and when everyone was buckled in, she took off.
“I guess I can’t go back to math camp now, huh, Daddy?”
“Probably not, baby.”
“That’s okay,” Tock interjected, stopping at a light. “Stevie and I will set up a math camp for you. It’ll be great.”
“We were going hiking tomorrow.”
“In the woods?” Tock asked, looking in the backseat at Dani. “On purpose?”
“And there was supposed to be kayaking next Friday.”
“I thought it was math camp. Doesn’t that mean math?”
“We do math, but we also do some outside activities. Like regular camp. I like that part, too.”
“You do?”
Shay finally looked at Tock. His anger seemed to have faded away and was now replaced with curiosity.
“Not a big outdoors person?” he guessed.
“Not when I’m doing math.”
“If you didn’t get Mommy’s messages, Daddy, why did you guys pick me up so early?”
“For your safe—”
“We’re going on a little trip,” Shay cut in. Apparently, he didn’t want to tell the kid the truth and Tock got that. She kept forgetting that most shifter cubs were much more delicate than badger cubs.
“To where?”
Tock and Shay exchanged a glance. Neither of them really knew.
“It’s a surprise!” Tock said, using an old gambit Max pulled out anytime they had to get preteen Stevie out of dangerous situations without alarming her.
“I hate surprises.”
Tock sighed. “Yeah. Of course, you do.” So had Stevie.
*
Mads had just parked herself back in the chair next to Streep’s bed when the bedroom door opened and Streep’s girlfriend, Ashley Baker, rushed in. She took one look at Streep and charged over to the bed, kneeling beside it and taking Streep’s hand.
“Baby? Baby, can you hear me?”
“Ash?” Streep squeaked out. “Ash . . . is that you?” She reached out one limp arm, fingers barely able to move. “Ash. Take my hand. Let me know you are there before I go.”
“Oh, Cass!” Ash said, using Streep’s real name and grabbing the weak hand the idiot held out. She placed that hand against her cheek, then glanced over at Mads. When Mads crossed her eyes, Ash quickly hid a smile and said, “My poor, poor baby! What did those bastards do to you?”
“Don’t cry, my love. You will find happiness again . . . once I’ve left this harsh, horrible world.”
“No, Cass! No! You know I can’t live without you!”