“If ye are looking for sign language with all that gawking, I’m sorry to disappoint,” Niamh said, sounding just as surly as I felt. “All I know how to say with my fingers is feck off.”
“Faith,” the man by the door said, not a bark of command or even very stern, just the name, delivered with a crack of power.
Her lips tightened, holding something back, but she pushed herself up using nothing but her heavily muscled arms, and, still just using her arms, “walked” herself to the open seat next to it and slowly lowered back down.
“If yer trying to look intimidating, you’ve gone and missed the mark, love,” Niamh said, reaching for her drink. “It’s foolish ye’ve managed.”
“Keep it up, old woman,” the woman said, so low I barely heard. “I won’t be on a leash forever.”
“What are ye going to do, do bar handstands and hope I die of fear?” Niamh shook her head.
“Going great here, then, hmm?” I slid into the seat. “Thanks,” I told the woman.
Her lip pulled up at the corner, like she was snarling.
“Don’t even bother, Jessie. She’s been at me all afternoon.” Niamh waved it away. “She’s trying to push my buttons, hoping I’ll start a fight. What a load of hassle that would be.”
“Miss Jessie!” Donna smiled at me. “Haven’t seen you in a while. What can I getcha?”
“Umm…beer, I think. Something strong.”
She nodded and moved away.
“Uh-oh, beer, eh? Not wine?” Niamh glanced over. “You’re going to be here for a while?”
“Yes, but not so long that I can’t get home.”
“Ah, sure, Austin Steele will make sure you get home.”
“Call him alpha,” Faith grumbled.
“He’s not my alpha, and you’re not in his pack,” Niamh replied. “But helluva try, girl. Helluva try. Drink up. Maybe you’ll be pleasanter when yer drunk.”
“All these new people do is stare,” I murmured to Niamh. “It’s really annoying.”
“Aye, it is. They aren’t allowed to make challenges, so they glare down powerful people and hope for the best.”
“And when nothing happens?”
“Well, Faith there just keeps at it, and it seems the bollocks behind ye isn’t giving up, so I’d say we’re in it for the long haul. Just ignore them. It’s more fun when they grind their teeth in frustration.”
“I won’t always be on a lea—”
“Yeah, yeah, I heard ye the first time. Janey Mack, she’s something.” Niamh rattled the ice around in her glass. “Paul, if you please. A whiskey, too. I need a little help drowning out my new dear friend.”
“Fancy meeting you here.”
I recognized that voice, like a growl, but not angry. Not unpleasant.
Turning, I scowled at my “rescuer.” “You scared off my nemesis,” I said. “Now how am I going to find a way to stab him without getting in trouble? He tattles.”
“May I sit with you?” He stood straight and tall, as though at attention, waiting patiently for the verdict. His face was a closed book, no hint of the easiness I’d heard in his tone.
“Sure, why not, invite all yer friends,” Niamh said dryly.
He ignored her, continuing to wait for my response.
“Yeah, sure, if you want,” I said.
He nodded, grabbed a chair from down the way, and placed it behind us, forming a triangle. I scooted out and turned my chair a little out of politeness. Niamh didn’t move.
“I came to ask the alpha about your game,” the man said, and then stuck out his hand. “I’m Kace.”
I shook it. “Jacinta. Jessie to those in the know.”
“Miss Jessie, eventually, when that God-awful butler makes his rounds,” Niamh muttered.
“That’s Niamh.” I hooked a thumb at her, belatedly realizing Sebastian hadn’t come in with us. For a guy who didn’t usually feel fear, he’d sure gotten a wake-up call on this trip.
“Sebastian is going to train me,” I told Niamh while he was on my mind.
“Oh yeah? That’s good news, now. As odd as they come, make no mistake, but he does know his stuff.”
“Sebastian, is that the mage?” Kace asked, interested rather than aggressive, his mannerisms subdued, not at all like he’d been with Sasquatch pushed against the fence.
“It is, yeah,” I answered. “He hasn’t been here long. Where’s Sasquatch, Niamh?”
She huffed out a laugh. “He came in here shaking like a leaf, so he did. Pure terrified of something. He took one look at my new friend Faith there, sitting next to me, turned around, and walked out. If Faith weren’t the worst thing to happen to sunny days, I’d be relieved for the peace and quiet.”
“Just wait until my—” Faith started.
“Yeah, yeah, yer leash. Jaysus, do ye not get out much or what?”
“Kace did that.” I thanked Donna for the drink and then pointed at Kace. I didn’t really want to play conversation host to a stranger today, but he’d been trying to help, and the least I could do was be polite. If I’d actually been in trouble, he would’ve been a welcome sight. “Whatever he wants.”
“No.” Niamh put out her hand. “She doesn’t know shifter rules. She is offering because of Jane manners.”
“What’s the matter?” I asked, pausing with my beer raised, ready to pour it into the glass Donna had provided.
“Let me get the round,” Kace said.
“No.” Niamh shook her outstretched hand. “No. She stays on my tab, and that is that. She will neither buy nor accept drinks from nice-looking gentlemen who gave Sasquatch a good clatter across the head.”
“I didn’t—”
I waved Kace away. “Let her dream.”
He shrugged at Donna. “I’ll have a beer. Bud.” Kace nodded to Donna.
“What’s the deal with buying drinks for a shifter?” I asked.
“We—”
“No!” Niamh half turned so she could glare at Kace. “Fer feck’s sake, lad. Do ye have no sense? Leave her be. Mind yer business.”
“Today is getting on my last nerve,” I said.
I finished pouring my beer into the glass and took a large gulp as Niamh said, “I am right there with ye.”
Too bad she was part of the problem.
A couple of hours passed, and the drinks were still flowing. Kace turned out to be pleasant company, but I was tired and still heart-sore, and I honestly didn’t want to have to try so hard. Being polite wasn’t normally a lesson in patience, but Kace had caught me on a bad day, and Niamh definitely wasn’t helping.
Thankfully, Austin was finally getting close. He’d answer Kace’s question, and then Kace would be on his way.
Except I knew that wasn’t quite true. Kace was trying to get to know me, and since he hadn’t come right out and said he was interested, I couldn’t think of a polite way to tell him that I wasn’t.
“I’m going to head to the bathroom,” I said, and slid off my stool, squeezing between his left leg and the back of Niamh’s chair.
Kace twisted his knees to the side and lightly touched the top of my hips to help guide me through.
“I’m good, thanks,” I murmured dismissively, stepping away from his touch.
I might not be great at subtlety, but I did know when someone’s interest was piqued. His touch, more intimate than helpful, confirmed what I’d already suspected. Crap. I wasn’t in the mood to gently rebuff someone. He might react badly, and then I’d feel threatened, and then magic would start flying around, and suddenly it would be a whole thing. What a mess.
Still mulling over how to get out of this situation—I had to do something, because I didn’t want to lead him on—I used the restroom and made my way back, feeling Austin nearby. His progress had stalled, though, indicating he was probably talking to someone outside.
Sir Stares-a-Lot still stood by the door, and I found myself veering that way. His presence actively squashed mirth, and his watchfulness had been overwhelmingly applied to me for the last couple of hours. I didn’t know why he was so bothered by me—I was clearly not a shifter. I should’ve escaped his notice altogether, unless he was that worried about naïve mages without much magical experience. Regardless, full of liquid courage and a black mood, I decided it was time to put this to bed.
“Hey,” I said, stopping beside him, leaning against the wall.
He didn’t respond.
“Why do you keep looking at me instead of spreading your attention around the bar?” I asked.
“I am learning this territory and the people in it.” He angled his body, his presence overbearing and his height topping mine by about half a foot. Although not as tall as Austin, he was just as broad and muscular. I felt his focus beating down on me, his dominance almost a palpable thing.
I just was not in the mood to pay attention.
“Rather than stare at me all creepy-like, why don’t you just ask questions?”
He was silent for a beat.
“What are you?” he finally asked.
“Amazing.” I spread my arms. “Also a female gargoyle.”
His face might’ve been painted on for all the emotion he showed. “I haven’t heard of a living female gargoyle.”
“It’s a new situation.”
For the first time, I saw a flicker of something on his face. Doubt and maybe annoyance. I narrowed my eyes, now watching for all I was worth.
“I am staring, ma’am,” he said, his voice rough, “because I monitor dangerous things. Within this bar, you are the most dangerous thing. You are wild and unpredictable, mouthy without worrying about the consequences, and too confident for your own good. I can’t sense much power in you. You’ll be killed if you keep this up.”