Chapter 30 Tag Team
Wynn
I fold a worn flannel and place it atop the growing pile in my bag. I feel Marlow's eyes on me before I even look up. Leaning against the doorframe as he watches me pack up my life and load it into boxes.
“Are you sure about this?”
"Moving out and joining Bane’s pack?" I pause my packing and offer him a wry smile. “Absolutely. Even if it technically makes you part of Bane’s pack too.”
“As long as I don’t ever have to call him ‘Alpha,’ I’m good,” he shudders.
“But what about helping Adelaide renovate the cabin? In case it somehow escaped your notice, I don’t know the first thing about construction.
Putting me, creatures from the underworld, and power tools together is a recipe for disaster. ”
Adelaide will store my stuff, and she suggested that Marlow and I renovate the cabin. Whether it’s a stressed-out pack member or a desperate soul seeking shelter, Adelaide has decided the old cabin could serve as a safehouse. It’s a better option than using her den.
Marlow’s going to bring some creatures from the underworld to help, and I’m too excited to meet them to protest. It’s honestly debatable whether we’ll improve the place or accidentally demolish the cabin, but it’ll keep us busy until we can head to Brighton.
Well, there’s also another project I’ll be tackling.
“If fixing up the cabin doesn’t work out, we can find a place in the city. Hopefully I’ll have my investigator license by the time it’s safe for you to go back to Brighton.”
“You’re sure about joining my business?”
I continue packing, carefully folding each item and placing it into my bag.
"Someone has to look out for the people the supernatural authorities don’t consider a priority.
” Even though it’s not exactly the same, my tracking skills and senses are an asset for investigations.
And having someone on his team actually capable of investigating sounds like a fantastic idea.
It’s a good cause, and I’ll be there to watch his back. Who could ask for any better purposes than those?
He groans and clutches his chest. "Don't make me sound so noble, Blackwood. Have you learned nothing from being stuck with me? I'm a very lazy, very sneaky demon who is always up to no good."
"Is that so? Because you and Iggy were cuddled up in bed this morning and the adorable picture I took is my new phone background. Do you want to see it?"
"Ruthless and terribly villainous," he insists. "Terrible and terribly good-looking."
I turn and catch the fearsome demon around the waist, pulling him against me. I give the very scary face he's trying to make a sunny smile. "You're also my mate."
What a softie. The menacing aura he’s trying to project fades and he wraps his arms around me. "Okay, you've got me there."
I press my lips to his. What starts as a soft peck on the lips soon becomes more intense, and he’s licking his way past my lips while helping himself to a handful of my ass.
Marlow looks proud of himself as we pull apart, as if he won the argument by kissing me into submission.
It isn’t really a “villainous” strategy, but whatever.
"Okay, tough guy. Why don't you help me?"
He pitches in without complaint, loading up a box with the contents from my dresser, which either proves my point about him being a softie or shows how much he loves me. Both work in my favor.
“We can still come back whenever we want. Your pack is here,” Marlow says while closing up a full box.
All the details for splitting our time between Concordia and Brighton haven’t been sorted out yet, but we have time since Marlow can’t go back without being arrested.
“Aside from the prisons, I like it here. Iggy doesn’t have to hide himself all the time. ”
I have an idea about how to help Iggy, but I don’t bring it up now, not wanting to spoil the surprise.
In the meantime, we make some progress on packing. My bag is slung over my shoulder and Marlow carries a box as we step into the living room. My roommate walks up the path to our door, visible in the window.
I set my bag down. "Brenda is back. We should say hi."
Marlow looks out the window, spots her, and shakes his head. "I'll hide in your room. Tell me when she's gone."
I pull him back. "No, you're staying here."
"I mean, I'm going to pack?" the demon tries.
"Nice try. Seriously, stay. She has something for you."
Marlow looks horrified. “I've worn some of her best clothes—yes, Wynn, I know now that the sassy witch shirt and wine bottle pajamas are some of her best fashion choices. I don't want anything she could give me."
"You're going to like this."
My roommate and landlady Brenda opens the door, humming to herself. Her earrings look like tiny chandeliers, and her sweater depicts cartoon cats wearing sunglasses and witch hats. Even her questionable style choices aren’t enough to distract from what she holds in her hands, a small pug.
"A puppy?" Marlow wonders.
All smiles and excitement, the woman bounds over and deposits the puppy into Marlow's bewildered arms. A tiny thing with a squished face and dark fur, it squirms happily in his arms.
"What the—what the hell?"
"Do you like my new look?" The pug preens for all he's worth. "Marlow, it's me. It's Iggy."
“Yeah, I figured that out.”
That little dog face pouts. "Aw, what gave it away?"
"Pugs don't talk," Marlow states matter-of-factly.
The little pug turns his face to me questioningly, and I nod my head in agreement.
“Okay, then," Iggy mutters to himself. "No talking in front of humans. Good to know."
A confused but pleased Marlow turns to me for an explanation.
“This glamor means he won't have to hide anymore in human cities. Everyone will just see a pug."
"This is perfect," Marlow says, his voice soft with wonder. “Going up,” he warns before sending Iggy into the air. The pug disguise fades away as the gargoyle flies above us.
Marlow uses his now free hands to grab my face and plant a firm kiss on my lips. "Thank you."
Then he does something that shocks me: he turns and wraps Brenda in a tight hug. My eccentric landlady lets out a delighted squeal and squeezes him right back.
Iggy’s new look is a hit. We may not be leaving for Brighton right away, but we’ll all be ready when we get there.
30. Tag Team
Wynn
Who knew I’d wind up here again? Back in the Proving Grounds facing down snarling enemies twice my size.
But things are a bit different this time.
"Just these two guys?" Marlow speaks as we walk toward our competitors. "Why don't they grab a few more fighters and make it a real challenge?"
"Don't get cocky."
He blows me a kiss. "You know me, babe. I'm always cocky."
Marlow and I are in the middle of the Proving Grounds together. Face to face with the competitors we're up against tonight, two brothers from the Iron Pack. The Stanley brothers. They’ve won their last three fights and are going for their fourth victory.
A few years younger than me, I never really got to know them, though they worshiped Bane. There's nothing kind about how they're staring us down now as we cross the distance to shake hands before the match begins. The one across from me looks particularly pissed off.
"Saw you get your ass kicked last time." Bastard tries crushing my hand in his grip during what should be a friendly handshake.
"Hope you enjoyed the show." That won't be happening again.
"It sucked," he spits out. "I put money on you, thought a Blackwood would know how to fight."
Okay then. We retreat to our separate sides, and it isn't long before the fight begins and the brother with a grudge against me gets back in my face.
"You cost me 200 bucks last time," he snarls, spittle flying from his lips. "Gonna make you pay."
"You’re forgetting something.” I grin. “I’m not alone this time."
When he feels a tap on his shoulder, he whirls around, fearing a sneak attack from behind. Instead of Marlow, a tiny gargoyle hovers above the fighter's head.
"What's up?" Iggy waves down cheerfully at the man.
His momentary distraction is all the opening I need. As he turns back, I'm already moving. My fist connects hard with his jaw, and he staggers while the crowd roars approval. He shakes his head, trying to clear the stars dancing in his vision.
The other Stanley brother barrels towards Marlow. But just as the burly wolf shifter reaches the demon, his body shifts, turning ethereal and incorporeal. The brother passes right through him.
“Hey, that worked,” Marlow calls to me with an excited thumbs up.
I pitched the idea of him changing his human body to spirit form, but he left something out. “You didn’t tell me there was a chance it wouldn’t work!”
"I was being positive and trusting. This was the first time I tried it."
"Oh my god, you—”
"No time to praise my amazing skills," Marlow says. "We’ve got a fight to win."
And no time to scold him for not practicing beforehand either.
The Stanley brothers regroup, coming together for strength in numbers. Marlow and I do the same. We circle each other, and I bounce on my feet, waiting for an opening.
It’s so different from the last time I was here.
There's no pressure to win and impress someone this time. We decided to go after the prize money since it’ll be a while until I’m ready to start working cases.
I’m not even nervous. My mate and I have faced tougher challenges than this.
I’m actually enjoying myself and having fun.
“You all grew up in the same pack, right?” Marlow chats as he moves with me. “Are you guys all friends? Did you have puppy piles and run through fields of daisies together when you were growing up or whatever it is that little werewolves do?”
The Stanley brothers’ faces twist in annoyance. The taller one sneers, “Fuck no.”
“Wynn’s always been the runt of the Iron Pack litter,” the other adds.
I arch an eyebrow, not offended in the least. “They’re not my biggest fans, but they love Bane.”
“Bane? Oh, Bane and I are like this.” He crosses his fingers, enjoying ribbing them even more as he tells a shameless lie. Somewhere across town, Bane must be recoiling in disgust without knowing why.
"Hey, Bane says hi," Marlow calls out. "Just kidding. He actually doesn't remember you two at all."
The taller one takes the bait. "Screw you. We grew up in the same pack. Of course he remembers us."
Now that he's on my side, it's pretty entertaining to watch Marlow be himself at other people.
"Wait, now I recognize you. You’re the ones who Bane said were the sorriest excuses for wolves he’d ever seen. Werewolves? More like why-wolves—”
I see an opening. The chaos of the arena fades into the background as my focus narrows in on the smaller Stanley brother.
He’s quick to notice me charging and scrambles to raise his arms defensively, but I’m not aiming to punch him.
I drop low, sweeping my leg out in an arc that catches him cleanly at the ankles.
His feet leave the ground, and he goes down, crashing onto the hard-packed dirt of the arena. Bane's complained enough times about them never planting their feet. Guess that hasn’t changed.
Marlow clicks his tongue disapprovingly from behind me. “You went down easy, didn’t you? St. Bane would be so disappointed.”
The brother growls low in his throat as he pushes himself up off the ground, his hands digging into the dirt for leverage. Before he can fully regain his footing, I step forward and deliver a swift kick to his chest, sending him tumbling back down. Will he stay down this time?
A whistle pierces the cacophony of the crowd. Marlow and I whip our heads toward the source of the sound at the edge of the arena.
Across the fighting pit, the larger Stanley brother looks massive compared to the small figure clutched tightly in his hands. Iggy. He thrashes, wings beating furiously as he tries to escape.
As soon as I take a step in their direction, the brother shakes the gargoyle in his fist. "Back off!" he snarls. "Or the little monster gets it!"
The sight may be awful, but Marlow doesn’t look worried, so I’m not either. His lips curl into a smirk. My mate and I stand our ground.
Uncertainty flickers across the brother's face.
Iggy gets a hand free and stops struggling. Draws himself up with remarkable dignity for a six-inch creature. "I'm a gargoyle," he announces primly. "Not a monster."
Before the brother can react, Iggy bashes him, one sharp blow to the top of his head, and the massive wolf crumples.
I turn my attention back to the Stanley brother on the ground before me. “Yield now, or everyone will watch the weakest Blackwood keep kicking your ass.”
A flicker of resentment crosses his face, but he nods curtly. Not the most enthusiastic surrender, but I’ll take it.
We did it. We won.
The moment Adelaide steps forward to announce our victory, pandemonium erupts around us. The crowd cheers and applauds, and people rush forward to take our picture and congratulate us. The best part is knowing those pictures will capture the new marks on our shirtless chests.
Wolves typically bite each other to form a mating bond, but we did things a bit differently because of Marlow.
Close to the horns near his heart that represent Iggy is a new tattoo, a paw print.
I have two new tattoos, my first and only ones, in the same spot where Marlow has my mark.
Two pairs of horns, one larger and one smaller, for Marlow and Iggy.
Mixed with a little magic and our commitment to each other, the marks connect us permanently as mates.
“Congrats, Wynn! If anyone asks, I always knew you could do it.” Adelaide claps me on the back so hard I may bruise, she's so excited, and she even manages a curt nod in Marlow's direction. Progress.
Fighting’s never been my thing. I’ve always preferred the quiet solitude of the forest, the thrill of the hunt, the challenge of tracking prey. But today was different.
Maybe it was because I finally had something to fight for, someone worth protecting. Or maybe it was because I wasn’t alone. Marlow and Iggy had my back and I had theirs.
Marlow throws an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. "We make a pretty good team, huh, sweetheart?" he murmurs.
I grin, the tension of the fight slowly draining away. He’s right. We make an incredible team, and we’re just getting started.