All Knight Long, Book I: One Warlock's Love Story by Shad O. Walker Read Free Book Online Page B

argue. Tau scooped Giovanni up in his right arm and Zander up in his left and began running in the direction of Zander’s car. They were there within seconds. Tau threw Giovanni down on the ground and gently set Zander on the hood of the car.
    “I have a spell that will make a nice fur coat out of you,” Giovanni hissed, as he dusted himself off.
    “I’ll drive,” Tau and Giovanni said in unison. The sirens drew closer.
    “Let Giovanni drive. Tau, you can sit in the back with me,” Zander suggested. Giovanni stuck his tongue out at Tau. Tau growled. They got into the car, where Zander quickly undid the protective spell over the glove compartment so that Giovanni could get the keys, and the car purred to life.
    “Hurry up. We have to get away from here as quickly as possible,” Tau barked from the backseat.
    “Would you shut the fuck up? I know what I’m doing.” Giovanni pulled out onto the street and headed back toward the highway.
    “Where are you going?” Tau asked.
    “We have to get somewhere safe. I’m headed back to my condo.”
    Zander reached up and put his hand over Tau’s mouth before he could respond. Tau rolled his eyes and sighed, then looked out the window.
    “You’d better change back,” Giovanni told him. “We don’t want to draw any extra attention. If the police see you sitting in the back seat, they’ll think we stole an old lion from the zoo.” Tau looked warily at Zander but didn’t respond. Zander gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. His fur was soft, like silk.
    Tau’s body began to convulse and change. Zander’s head was against Tau’s chest, and he was amazed as the soft fur changed back into flesh.
    “I’ve never seen that up close before,” Giovanni said, looking into the rearview mirror. “It’s even nastier than I’d imagined.” Tau stuck up his middle finger.
    After his transformation, Tau laid his head back on the seat and took several deep breaths. Zander noticed the ruby stone that hung from Tau’s neck lay cool against his chest.
    Zander heard his phone ring from the glove compartment. “Shit! That has to be my family. My cousins probably can’t find me at the Litha, and my parents are probably worried sick. They have no idea where I am.”
    “You know...” Giovanni mused. “I was just thinking about something. Who did you say gave you that ruby stone that you gave to the Pink Panther?”
    “Give me my phone,” Zander said, ignoring Giovanni’s question.
    Zander had several missed calls from his parents, cousins, and grandmother. He took a second to send them all a text saying that he was fine and resting in his tent at the Litha.
    Tau’s head was back on the headrest, and his eyes were closed. Zander’s head lay on Tau’s chest, as he listened to his labored breathing. The transformation must have taken a greater toll on Tau than Zander had imagined. His phone vibrated in his hand, indicating an incoming call from his parents. He leaned forward, suffering through the stabbing pain in his leg as he answered the call with a whisper.
    “Zander!” his father yelled.
    “Yes?” Zander whispered.
    “Are you okay? We’ve gotten word of an attack on supernaturals in the Atlanta area. Your cousins at the Litha can’t seem to find you anywhere. Where are you?”
    “I was asleep,” Zander said, trying to sound drowsy. Giovanni was nearing his condo in Atlantic Station.
    “I don’t think you understand...” his father started. Zander cast a small interference spell on the phone.
    “Dad, I think I’m losing the connection,” Zander lied.
    “No!” his father yelled, right before Zander hung up the phone.
    They pulled up to the large basement garage at Giovanni’s condo, where he entered his code to open one of the single garage doors. Tau rose up in the back seat and began sniffing the air.
    “Don’t worry. It’s safe here,” Giovanni said. “I have protective charms all around this building.”
    “I’m sure they had protective charms