Page 47 of Jacob Michaels is Trouble

“Where’s Ernst and the rest?” I asked, realizing that Oma and I arguing should have brought at least one of them out to investigate.

“Gone.”

“Gone where?” I seethed.

She shrugged. “All the magic’s gone. It’s all getting’ sucked up. I think you probably already knew that.”

She gestured at the book.

“Everything in this town that’s got any bit o’ magic is disappearin’.” She continued. “Including Ernst and the rest. Pretty soon, it’ll be you and me, too, Robbie. Soon as he manages to come back.”

“I thought we had longer.” I felt my eyes watering as I thought of Ernst and the rest of the Kobolds. “The well…I mean, yeah, I used all of that up myself, but I thought we’d have longer before things started getting fucked up beyond recognition.”

“You guessed wrong, I s’pose.”

“This is crazy.” I shook my head as I reached behind myself for the doorknob. Oma’s eyes shot to the door, watching it closely. “Everything is fucking crazy. None of this makes sense, and everything is spiraling out of control. I don’t even know up from down. I have to go, Oma. I’m going to find, Lucas—even if you won’t tell me where Jason and his pack meet—and then the two of us are hopping on a plane out of this fucking state. And we’re never looking back.”

“You ain’t goin’ nowhere, Robbie.” She shook her head, looking guilty. “You know damn well I can’t let you leave.”

“I know,” I said. “But I’m going to. Are you going to tell me where Jason’s pack meets when they’re measuring their dicks or what?”

Oma didn’t answer, but her head slowly shook side to side.

“Fine.” My fingers connected with the doorknob. “But don’t try to stop me, either. I’ll burn this house down without thinking twice about it, Oma.”

“You won’t.” Her eyes grew wide.

“Don’t be the second person tonight who tests me, old woman.” My hand twisted the doorknob. “It didn’t work out so well for the last person.”

“You threatenin’ me?”

“That’s what it’s come to tonight, Oma.” I pulled the door open, cool Spring air greeting my backside. “You have no idea what I’ll do to save Lucas, so if you’re not going to help me—not even tell me where he is—it’s in your best interest to not get in my way. If the Kobolds are gone…”

I took a second to collect myself.

“And you’re the only thing left in this house I’ll burn it to the fucking ground if you force me,” I said. “I don’t even care if I’m in it, too. Understand?”

“You won’t burn down our family home.” She gasped. “What the hell you got left if you ain’t got that?”

Unable to help myself, a barking laugh escaped my throat.

“Our family home?” I cackled. “What are you even talking about?”

“This house.” She stomped her foot against the linoleum. “This is where our family made roots in this damn town. And you think I’d believe that you’d just burn it down without a second thought?”

“You’re worried about this house?” I shook my head in disgust. “I’m worried about Lucas’ life.”

“What are you hopin’ to achieve by goin’ after him, Robbie?” Oma snarled. “You gonna just saunter into a werewolf pack’s meet-up and take Lucas back? Is that your idjit plan? Is that how you think it’ll work out for you? You think you’re capable of takin’ on that many werewolves at one time?”

Slowly, a smile formed on my face.

Oma was showing one card in her hand at a time.

“I thought we’d agreed before that Jason’s pack was still relatively small, Oma?” I cocked my head to the side as I inched my way backward. “But you seem to think there’s more now? Why is that?”

A cloud passed over her face, as though she realized she had said too much or the wrong thing. Instead of trying to backtrack or explain herself, she just glowered at me.

“It don’t matter.” She snapped. “What’s done is done.”