ELEVEN
Three days later, Nic and Jo were making progress on Frankie. The car was slowly coming together with all the mismatched parts and miscellaneous pieces. The quarter panels were now made mostly of steel, making the car heavier than needed, but they’d manage it as best as possible. With so many other teams gunning for them, they needed extra protection, especially since they couldn’t afford the high-tech panels everyone else would have. Most of the other teams would have no budgets for their builds, but Nic and Jo had a strict budget since the beginning, even with Nic adding in his amount he was able to and the money his pack had donated. As it was, they were lucky to have the money they did.
Still, it didn’t help with the appearance of Frankie. There wouldn’t be any money in the budget for a good paint job that would just get scratched off during the race. They were going in bare metal and rust. Nic was tempted to paint some graffiti on the side of the car in the form of a running wolf, but he wasn’t sure Jo would enjoy something like that. He didn’t want to bother her to ask when there were so many other things that needed done.
The engine was due to be delivered the next day, so they were busy getting everything ready in the engine compartment so it would be an easy drop in. As it was, they’d been working on running wires and getting the re-built transmission in all morning. Nic was starving, but he didn’t dare suggest lunch until Jo declared it. He didn’t want her thinking he was slacking off or anything.
With his stomach growling dangerously and Jo steadfastly ignoring it, Nic did his best to focus on the task at hand. He was doing a damn good job of it up until the sound of a car pulling up outside drew his attention.
The garage door was open to let a breeze in, so Nic turn to watch the large pickup truck come to a standstill in the drive. The truck was old but well-kept, clearly taken care of. When the man stepped from the driver’s side, Nic sniffed at the air and knew he was a wolf. The woman who came from the passenger side, however, was anything but.
Jo dropped her wrench in surprise and stared at the two with wide eyes.
“Who’re they?” Nic asked with a frown.
Jo whipped her head toward him in surprise. “You don’t know Cricket Snapdragon and Radley Whiteclaw?” she hissed. “They’re literally legends now.”
The woman rolled her shoulders and wings appeared, great glittering pink appendages that made the sunlight sparkle across the ground. The wolf threaded his fingers through hers and they approached, carefree, happy. A wolf and a fae.
The woman, Cricket, smiled brightly when Jo climbed from the car. “Johanna Adalwolf. I’ve heard so much about you!”
“You have?” Jo wiped her hands clean as Nic climbed from the car and offered a hand to the wolf. He was an alpha, that much was clear. Nic’s wolf immediately understood from his scent.
“You’ve been all over the news,” Cricket laughed. “Even before your name was announced in the Games.”
“Oh, right,” Jo nodded. “Is there something we can help you with?”
Radley glanced between them, his own face sterner than the bright fae at his side. “Are you two together?”
“No,” Jo answered at the same time as Nic said, “maybe.”
Jo narrowed her eyes on the wolf, but Cricket only laughed. “The rumors are flying about the two of you. Someone said you’re fated mates, so we weren’t quite sure.”
Nic didn’t answer, but Jo glanced at him from the side of her eyes. “We were fated mates,” she shrugged.
The words hit Nic right in the chest, destroying him, but he couldn’t say anything right then without angering Jo or making a scene. If Cricket and Radley were as famous and a big deal as Jo said, she wouldn’t want all their dirty laundry aired out in front of them. Besides, it was a conversation for another time and in private. They still had a lot of work to go.
Cricket latched onto the word “were” and seemed to understand quickly not to touch the topic. “Right, well, I’m sure you’re wondering why we’re here exactly.”
Jo nodded. “I assume it’s something to do with the games.”
Cricket smiled brightly. “You’re right. See, I understand you’re already seeing some of the corruption since the announcements?”
Nic growled. “Someone sent us a wolf paw the other day in a box.”
Radley’s face twisted in anger. “Werewolf?”
“Regular wolf,” Nic clarified.
“That makes it even worse,” Radley growled. “Wild wolves are harmless to most supes.”
Cricket frowned. “Unfortunately, the corruption has been running rampant in the races for far too long, and it won’t get any better once you get in. When we raced, there were so many out to get us because of who my father was. Because of your business, there will be similar threats to you.”
“What does that have to do with you, though?” Jo asked, crossing her arms. She was clearly sensing something, on edge with the lead up.
“We’re part of a group trying to stop it, to find out the source of the corruption and take them down,” the fae said brightly, as if she wasn’t talking about destroying someone.
The blast of smoke appeared to Jo’s left, making Nic jerk toward her just in case she needed protection, but the moment the smoke cleared and revealed a male standing there, he paused in confusion. The man was wearing a suit that looked like someone took a Hawaiian shirt and turned it into a full set. Somehow, he pulled it off well.
Cricket sighed. “Really, Theo?”
“Theo? Theo St. Munic? The High Wizard of the North?” Nic asked as he stared at the flamboyant wizard. He couldn’t get past the bright-colored suit or the fact that his shoes were so sparkly, they sent beams of light around the area just as much as Cricket’s wings did.
“It’s the greatest team ever,” Theo announced while taking a bow. “It would benefit you to join us, Johanna Adalwolf and Nicolas Olcan.”
Jo stared at the wizard, her lips pulled into a frown.
Nic hadn’t expected any of this, the outcome, the visits, the threats. What did it say about him that he was proud of how popular his mate was? If all he had to be was a driver and offer his own protection, he would be happy.
She was changing the world and he only hoped he could be at her side as she did so.