One kid ran from the room.

  A few chuckles sounded around the class.

  “Do you find this funny?” the professor bellowed.

  The room went silent.

  “Most instructors like to go over the syllabus on the first day. Not me. You can read it on your own. I assume you can read if you made it in here. We’re going to start with a paper tonight. Pick a lesser-known psychologist—in other words, skip Freud, Jung, Pavlov, and anyone else you’ve ever heard of—and write a three-thousand word paper on everything you learned about him or her. Email it to me before the start of class tomorrow. I hate wasting paper, so we’re going to do as much online as we can. Any questions?”

  Silence.

  “Good. Get to work.” He opened his laptop and started typing. “Three thousand words exactly. No more, no less.”

  I turned to Carter. He shrugged and opened his laptop. I did the same. Part of me wondered if I should have run out of the class with the other kid. I took a deep breath and began my search for little-known psychologists.

  The only sounds were exasperated sighs and the clacking of keyboards.

  After a while, Massaro’s voice broke the relative quiet. “Class is over. Three thousand words emailed to me before class tomorrow.” He left the room.

  “He lives up to his reputation,” Carter muttered.

  “Why’d you take the class, then?” I asked.

  “It sounded like a nice break from my other courses.”

  “Don’t let him hear you say that.” I put my computer back into my bag.

  He chuckled. “I didn’t say I thought it would be easy. I knew it would be a challenge.”

  “When do you want me to text you?”

  “I’ve got another class, so give me at least an hour.”

  “Sounds good. Thanks so much, Carter.”

  He took my hand and gave a little squeeze. “Glad to help. Sorry to run, but my biology course is a few blocks away.”

  “No problem.”

  Carter held my gaze before hurrying out of the room.

  I took a deep breath and thought about what I should do. My best bet was probably to call the banks before starting in on my homework, but I didn’t want to do that at home. I didn’t want anyone overhearing me and knowing I was having money issues.

  Outside, I wandered toward my car and saw a shady area under some spruce trees. That seemed like a pleasant place to make my calls. I sat at the base of a tree and pulled out my phone and cards.

  Not far away, a group of guys played a game of what looked like tackle Frisbee. Just past them, a group of girls were sunbathing. Other various people sat texting or studying. And best of all, no one paid a bit of attention to me.

  I called the first number, and finally managed to talk to a person after about five minutes of pressing numbers.

  “This is Sheri,” said a bored-sounding woman. “What can I help you with?”

  “I need to find out why I can’t use my card.”

  “And you’re Victoria?”

  “Yes.”

  “Let me verify that.” She asked a bunch of questions that luckily I could answer between the information on my driver’s license and student papers.

  “So, what’s the problem?” she asked.

  “My card won’t work!”

  I could hear her typing in the background. “It’s been frozen.”

  “What does that mean? Why?”

  “It was issued by the main card holder. You’ll have to ask him.”

  How was I going to do that? “Who is that?”

  “I can’t give out that information.”

  “But it’s my card! My name’s on the account.”

  “Yes, but it’s been frozen.”

  “I know that! That’s why I called you.”

  “You’ll need to speak with the main account holder. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

  “You can’t tell me anything about my money?”

  “Not beyond what I’ve already said.”

  “Why can’t you at least give me his name?” I exclaimed.

  “Because I have a note on the account not to.”

  I threw my head back and dug the tree bark into my scalp. “Thanks for your help.” I ended the call.

  After a few deep breaths, I called the next company, but didn’t have any better luck.

  Whoever controlled my finances didn't want to be found.

  Chapter 11

  Toby

  I took another swig of my drink and slammed the glass on the bar.

  “Easy there.” Tap mixed a drink, sprinkled in some faerie dust, and then dumped in ice. “What’s eating you up?”

  “Nothing I feel like talking about.”

  “I suppose that’s why you’re here in the afternoon without any of your pack mates.” He added the drink to a round tray with some others and stepped out from behind the bar. Tap went from eye level to four feet as he stepped from his platform behind the bar.

  “Want some help?” I asked.

  The troll shook his head. “I’m fine. It’s just not usually so busy around here in the afternoons. Maybe I’ll hire one of your college pups.”

  “Just don’t call them pups to their faces.”

  “Noted.” He went to the next room and handed the drinks to a group of witches.

  I took another sip and became aware of the loud buzz of conversation around the Faeble. It wasn’t often I came in the afternoon, but when I had, it’d never been this busy.

  Perhaps I wasn’t the only supernatural creature having a bad first day. It was a college town, and the number of inhabitants had tripled, if not quadrupled, in the last several days.

  Someone sat next to me, but I didn’t turn to them. I had no interest in talking about Victoria or my overwhelming disappointment concerning her memory loss or complete lack of interest in me. Even providing her lunch hadn’t phased her.

  “What has you tied in knots, sugar-cup?”

  I held in a groan and turned. My eyes nearly popped from my head and the glass shook in my hands. I set my glass down and scooted away.

  The tall, slender blonde smiled. “Don’t worry, handsome. I’m not here for you.”

  “I-I… you’re a valkyrie.” My heart thundered against my ribcage.

  Her grin turned crooked. “Like I said, I’m not here for you.”

  My mouth dropped.

  “You… you…”

  “I take souls. Yes, I know.” She leaned against the bar and yawned.

  “What are you doing here?” I wasn’t sure I could take any more bad news—and a valkyrie couldn’t mean anything good.

  Tap sauntered back over to the bar. He grinned when he saw the angel of death. “Soleil.”

  She leaned her chin against her palm. “Tap, my old friend. How are you?”

  “Much happier now that I’m running the Faeble. I got tired of fighting the ogres for my lake. You want your usual?”

  “Yeah, but go easy on the unicorn horn flakes. I don’t like my drinks too sweet.”

  Tap muttered something about picky valkyries.

  Soleil turned to me. “Isn’t he adorable?”

  I stared at the tough-as-nails tattooed troll mixing the drink at hyper speed. “Uh, if you say so.”

  The valkyrie shoved me, and I struggled to stay on the barstool. “Well, I find him cute as can be.”

  Tap turned around and handed her a tall rainbow-colored drink. “Light on the flakes.”

  She sipped it and closed her eyes. “Perfect.”

  I eyed Tap. “How do you two know each other?”

  He gave a slight nod, seeming to understand my unasked question—why was an angel of death sitting next to me?

  Tap leaned against the bar. “Soleil and I met centuries ago during a particularly bloody revolution against my people. We quickly became friends.”

  “I helped him defeat the ogres he mentioned earlier.”

  “Until they came back with their cousins.” Tap grimaced.

  “That was practically fifty years later.” Soleil shook her head.

  “I suppose, but like I said, I’m much happier running this place.” He turned and mixed more drinks.

  Soleil and I sipped our drinks in silence. I hoped to sneak out unnoticed once mine was gone, or better yet, that she’d leave.

  “So, what has a gorgeous wolf such as yourself so upset?” she asked.

  “Girl trouble,” Tap answered for me as he poured yellow alcohol into a cup.

  “Ah.” The valkyrie nodded as though that explained everything. “Maybe I can help.”

  “I’d like to keep her alive, actually.”

  “You know, I don’t take the souls of everyone I come in contact with. Tap will tell you.”

  “She doesn’t,” he assured me. “I’m living proof.”

  “Great.”

  “What’s the problem?” Soleil asked.

  “She can’t remember him,” Tap said.

  I glared at him. “Thanks.”

  “Give her a chance, she could get to the bottom of this quicker than anyone else in here.”

  “Really?” I turned to her, suddenly curious.

  Soleil nodded, her expression an odd mixture of knowing and boredom. “Care to hear more?”

  “You should,” Tap said.

  Why had I told him anything at all?

  The valkyrie shrugged and sipped the rainbow concoction. “Whatevs.”

  I took a deep breath. “What does it involve?”

  Her face lit up. “You want my help?”

  “I’ll hear you out.”

  Tap gave me an encouraging nod before taking another tray to patrons.

  Soleil put her glass down. “All I have to do is drink a little of someone’s essence. I can learn a lot that way.”

  I stared at her. “Drink her essence?” I exclaimed. “What does that even mean?”

  “Let me show you.”

  Tap walked by, his tray empty.

  Soleil stared at him.

  “What?” he asked, stepping back up to his platform.

  “I need to show wolfy, here, that drinking someone’s essence isn’t the kiss of death. I save that for the ones I have to kill.”

  “Of course,” I said.

  “It’s close, though.” Tap mixed another concoction.

  “Wait, what?” I exclaimed.

  “I can show you.” Soleil leaned close.

  I shook my head. “No way.”

  “Tap?” she asked. “It was your idea.”

  “Mine?”

  “Come on.” She batted her eyelashes.

  “Fine. Just a little, okay?”

  She clapped her hands.

  My stomach twisted. What had I just gotten my friend into?

  He leaned over the bar, across from the valkyrie. She stretched toward him, and as she did, wings pressed through her shirt. They spread out, one nearly knocking me over. I jumped out of the way just in time.

  Soleil put her hands on Tap’s cheeks and closed her eyes. He closed his, also. She opened her mouth, but didn’t kiss him. His mouth opened, seemingly in response to hers. A couple inches remained between them.

  After a few moments, I wondered if they were playing me. But then a light purple mist appeared from Tap’s mouth.

  I stumbled back, knocking over my stool.

  Soleil widened her mouth and the mist swirled in a circular pattern until it entered her mouth.

  I stared back and forth between them, never having seen anything like that.

  Tap seemed okay. He wasn’t resisting in any way.

  She let go of his face and closed her mouth, breaking the flow of the swirls. The remaining purple mist returned to Tap’s mouth. Her wings disappeared into her back, leaving her shirt torn and bloody.

  His eyes flew open. Peace and relaxation flooded his expression.

  Soleil’s eyes remained closed for a minute. She opened them and leaned back, staring toward the ceiling.

  I arched a brow at Tap. He took a deep breath, but didn’t respond.

  “What was that?” I asked.

  Her mouth curved upward. “Like I said, drinking his essence.”

  “Did it hurt?”

  Tap smiled. “Heavens, no.”

  Soleil giggled. “It’s pleasant on both sides—unless of course it turns into a kiss of death. Then it’s only fun for me.”

  “What exactly does that do?”

  She leaned on her palm again and studied Tap. “So, a trickster has been giving you issues?”

  He blinked a few times and moved to mix a drink. “You tell us, essence-drinker.”

  “You think he came from the south somewhere. He’s been playing pranks on your customers.”

  Tap nodded. “Shaved a young wraith bald as she ate appetizers over there a few days ago.” He nodded toward a table in the middle of the room. “All her hair was gone before anyone noticed—even her.”

  “This is all interesting,” I said, “but what does it have to do with Victoria and me?”

  Soleil sat up straight. “Oh, pretty name. Not one you hear much anymore.”

  “It was pretty common when we were young.” I sighed. “How do you think sucking her soul is going to help us?”

  The valkyrie scowled. “Drinking her essence. It’s an entirely different thing. I can see into her thoughts and experiences. If she can’t remember you, I might be the only way to find out what’s behind that. You two were in love?”

  My heart constricted. “Madly.”

  She frowned and tilted her head. “Tell Soleil everything.”

  “Can’t you just suck—drink—my essence to find out?”

  “I could, but I like to hear people tell their stories.”

  “She does.” Tap disappeared with another tray of drinks.

  “So, what happened, wolfy?”

  “My name’s Tobias, but everyone calls me Toby.”

  “Ah, Tobias. Another one that’s been left by the wayside. Tell Auntie Soleil your troubles.” She twirled a blonde strand around her finger and stared intently at me with her dark green eyes. Her gaze seemed to bore into my soul—it probably did, given her nature.

  I squirmed, finished off my drink, and then returned the stiff stare. “We grew up in rival packs, but we were always drawn to each other. As we grew older, we’d sneak off together whenever we could. We’d planned to run away and start our own pack… but that didn’t work so well.”

  “Meaning?”

  “She died in my arms.” I looked away and cleared my throat before the quirky blonde angel of death could see my eyes misting.

  “Aw, that’s horribly tragic.” Soleil sighed dramatically. “And now she’s back to life, and can’t remember anything? Or just you?”

  I shrugged and swirled the ice in my otherwise empty glass.

  “Leave it to me to figure out the missing pieces to your puzzle.”

  “Why do you care?”

  “Why wouldn’t I?” she countered.

  “Don’t you have better things to do than to play matchmaker for werewolves?” I asked.

  “Not really. I’m taking a break from my mission.”

  I turned to her. “What do you mean?”

  She blew air up, making her bangs bounce around. “I’m searching for a vindictive dictator who doesn’t wish to be found. My superiors won’t be surprised if I’m here on earth for a few decades. Gives me some time to play and have fun.”

  “Oh.”

  “Anything else I should know about the beautiful young werewolf?” She took a sip of her drink.

  “Victoria didn’t shift on the full moon.”

  Soleil choked and put her glass down. “How’s that possible? I thought the moon forced you guys to change.”

  I frowned. “It does. There’s no way around it—or at least there isn’t supposed to be.”

  She cleared her throat. “I’m certainly no expert on other species, but I thought it was totally impossible to avoid the full moon.”

  “Me, too—and I once was alpha over a great many packs. If someone had figured out a way to avoid the curse of the moon, I’d have heard about it.”

  Soleil took a deep breath. “Now I really want to drink her essence.”

  “How are you going to do that? Just walk up and offer a kiss?”

  She laughed. “Good one. No, I’ve been around a great many millennia, and I’ve picked up a trick or two in that time. You got a picture? Location?”

  I pulled out my wallet and showed her my favorite picture of Victoria.

  “What a beauty. Where’s she staying?”

  “Not sure, exactly. She’s a student at the university, though. Somehow, she ended up in my statistics class.”

  “You’re a student, too? Are you following her?”

  “I’m a professor.”

  “Sexy.”

  “So, do you want something in exchange for your essence-sucking?”

  “Drinking,” she corrected. “And no, that’s plenty payment.” She licked her lips. “There isn’t anything tastier or more fulfilling than the essence of a supernatural.”

  “Aside from taking the entire soul.” Tap returned to his place behind the bar.

  “Clearly.” Soleil finished off her drink. “Well, I’m going to make like a baby and head out. I’m dying to know what’s keeping a werewolf from shifting at the full moon.”

  “Wait,” I said.

  She turned to me, brows arched.

  My teeth gritted. I didn’t want to say what I needed to.

  “Yes?” Soleil asked.

  “You might find her with the jaguar shifters. They have a—”

  “Club. I’m quite familiar with it. Let me tell you what I know.”

  Chapter 12

  Victoria

  Carter looked at me from behind his laptop. “How’s it going?”

  I groaned. “Massaro’s a jerk.”

  The server came by. “Would you like more appetizers, or are you ready for dinner?”

  “Could I just get some more sparkling cider?” I asked.

  He nodded and turned to Carter. “Master Jag?”

  “I wouldn’t mind some crab cakes.”

  “Coming right up.” He disappeared.

  “How’s the essay coming along?” Carter asked.

  “Great, but no matter what I do, I can’t get it to exactly three thousand words. First I had two-thousand-ninety-six, then three-thousand-fifteen. Now I’m eight words under. Why does the word count matter so much?”