Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 219

Chapter 219: Grace: Crash and Restart

After checking my phone, where a new mission has not appeared despite Caeriel saying it did, I glance up...

And he’s gone.

What the hell.

My eyebrows twitch with irritation, but mostly I’m just grateful the creepy reaper vanished. One second he’s all looming condescension, the next—poof. Supernatural beings must get off on dramatic exits.

My phone buzzes in my hand, the screen lighting up with a notification. Well, would you look at that. The mission he promised has finally materialized.

But the contents are... strange.

[ASSIGNED MISSION: 20-L.fnd-dgID.0039]

So helpful.

I didn’t think I’d miss Caeriel, but now I do. Maybe he’d explain what the fuck this means. It looks like some sort of error in the code instead of a proper mission.

Staring at it isn’t going to help me decode it any faster, though, so I shove my phone in my pocket, resolving to wait for ten minutes to see if some sort of update gets pushed through the app.

I scan the laundromat absently, going still when I see Sadie once again sniffing in the corner and the cat sleeping on the same washer it was before.

What the hell, what the hell, what the hell. Caeriel said they were gone giving reports, but now they’re back in the exact same positions they were the last time I looked at them?

Creep Meter has maxed, Grace Harper.exe needs to restart, this is getting too fucking weird.

(Fine. It was funnier in my head.)


Neither seems particularly disturbed by the fact Caeriel was just here.

Let’s rip the mask off these fake pets and start over.

I march across the worn linoleum floor toward Sadie, arms crossed over my chest. The golden retriever continues her intense investigation of whatever fascinating smell she’s found.

"I know you can understand me," I announce, keeping my voice flat so it doesn’t betray my annoyance. "What the hell are you?"

The golden retriever’s head whips around at the sound of my voice. She abandons her sniffing expedition immediately, her entire demeanor transforming into quintessential dog joy. Her tail wags so hard her butt swings with it. Big brown eyes lock onto mine with what appears to be pure, innocent adoration.

Convincing as hell, but we all know better now, don’t we?

I narrow my eyes, not buying the act for a second. "I know you aren’t a dog. Spill."

to eleven. Her entire body wiggles with enthusiastic tail-wagging before launching

slobber from my cheek. "Gross." Even worse knowing she isn’t

fours, looking supremely pleased with herself. Her tail continues its metronome-like sweep. If dogs could smile, she’d be

is, she’s holding

she doesn’t seem out

dumb." I wipe my hands on my jeans.


has to be a calculated move of

check my phone again, examining the new mission notification, but

then. Another five minutes before I’ll try wracking my brain to

Meanwhile...

might not be willing to spill her secrets, but

dangle in the air, so I just lift its

cat yawns, showing needle-like white teeth, then blinks big blue eyes at

me, and I can feel her butt-wagging

to send in a report. What are you? Who are

feel like an animal abuser does little

purring as it continues to stare at

Hah.

either of you bring trouble to me


Harper, there you

to accompany an old man’s voice, and Andrew piles into the laundromat behind him, saying, "Grace, it looks like the king sent one of his lackeys to

to frown at Andrew, who squares his shoulders and stares back. They both block the door rudely, though it isn’t like anyone’s queued outside to barge in behind

to the camper with Caine, too. He didn’t

I stiffen a little as he looks me over, like he’s judging me in his head. Then he barks, "I was trying to find you so you didn’t

I’d definitely have question marks above my head. Alas,

I just stare at him blankly

with his weathered, scarred face. And, while I have about ninety-seven percent faith Andrew will

all the math mathed out, I’m pretty sure my best bet is to not get on this guy’s nerves. So I give a slightly

to become Caeriel’s bootlicker to survive; may as well do

her," Andrew

"I

and yet they’re at odds. We should be united against the common enemy, but first I have to work on not


I appreciate it. I’m sorry,

way I would have entrusted myself into the car of some weirdo who stared at me with

really awkward. So I set it down, watching as it immediately stretches and resumes its previous position as if I hadn’t just been

Just you wait.

we’re alone, the interrogation begins

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