Solus’ face suddenly looked alarmed. “Mack, sit down.”
“I will not sit down. I’m leaving and you can sit here alone in your posh restaurant eating your posh food whilst I go kick some ass. And if I see you again, Solus, I swear to God I will…”
“Mackenzie! Sit the fuck down!”
“No! You’re not the boss of me!”
“If you don’t sit down, Mackenzie Smith, then we are both screwed because between transporting you here and doing that glamour to stop that vampire from snacking on you between courses, I don’t have enough energy left to mask your scent.”
“Why the fuck would you need to mask my scent? The only time you need to do that is when…” my voice trailed off. Oh. I looked over at the group of people just entering the restaurant and sat down very quickly.
Corrigan had what appeared to be a huge entourage. I counted at least eight different heads and, despite the lurching sensation of fear induced nausea that was flooding my system, wondered if it helped him to feel important to surround himself with many different shifters. Recognising his de facto chief of staff, Staines, I sank further down in my seat and suddenly became re-fascinated by the window.
“I’d like to remind you that this was your bright idea,” I hissed at Solus, who was looking vaguely apologetic and also alarmingly entertained. I hoped that his Fae nature for causing mischief wasn’t about to suddenly kick in at my expense.
He shrugged an elegant shoulder. “What can I say? I didn’t think he was in town to be honest.”
“Some help you are. And what happened to ‘I am a Fae therefore I have more power than you can possibly imagine’? That’s not much good if you run out of juice before the day has even started.”
“Hey, dragonlette, if you hadn’t insisted on trying to go head to head with a vampire, then we wouldn’t have a problem.”
“We wouldn’t have a problem? Are you kidding me?” My voice rose to high-pitched whisper. “Were you listening when I said that he would destroy every shifter who I consider to be family if he finds out that I don’t have a were?”
“You could try telling him that you don’t have a were because you’re actually a dragon.”
“Yes, because that’s working out so well for me so far.”
I ripped my eyes away from the window to glare at Solus and then sneaked a peek back over at Corrigan. I had to admit that he was looking good, albeit rather tired, wearing an elegant grey suit that was tight over his muscled arms and snugly fitting in all the right places. His dark hair didn’t have a strand out of place and I caught myself wondering if his eyes were really as green as I’d remembered. I tried hard not to stare so that he wouldn’t feel my gaze, but couldn’t resist checking out the rest of his group to see if he’d brought a love interest. Only because I was curious, that was all, not for any other reason. Lucy was there, along with a few other female shifters, but I didn’t see anyone who looked as if they might fit the title of main squeeze. My eyes travelled over them all until I reached one set of blue eyes staring right back at me. My stomach lurched. I gave a weak smile but Tom didn’t smile back. He just stared. I hoped that I could still count on him as an ally and that he wouldn’t immediately give me to his lord and master.
“One of them has spotted you,” said Solus calmly.
“I know.”
“He’s staring at you.”
“I know.”
“He knows who you are.”
“I know.”
“Mack…”
“It’s Tom.”
“Tom? The one who knows that you are a Draco Wyr? You’d better be right that you can trust him, dragonlette.”
“Solus, I swear, if you call me that again I’m going to punch you in the face.”
I pulled my eyes away from Tom and looked back over at the Fae. He was leaning back in his chair, arms folded and a relaxed smile on his face.
“Don’t push me,” I warned.
Corrigan and his followers, Tom included, started to move towards a table that was fortunately out of view of our own seats and the waitress came over with two steaming plates of food. Before she’d barely placed the plate in front of me, I started shoveling the food into my mouth. Solus watched me, slightly agape.
“What? I’m hungry. And the faster I eat, the faster I can get out of here and away from him.” I jerked my head back to where Corrigan was seated. “And you, of course. Don’t think that just because you’ve been temporarily saved by the presence of the Lord Alpha that I’ve forgotten what you tried to do to me.” I took a large gulp of coffee and swallowed, then gestured toward Solus’ plate. “Eat, Fae.”
Fortunately for him, he did as I suggested and picked up his knife and fork, taking small delicate bites of his quail eggs. It was just as well that the eggs he’d ordered were that small because if he ate like that all the time, he’d never finish any meals. I continued eating my own breakfast, occasionally punctuating mouthfuls with swallows of hot coffee. The burning caffeine just about helped me to forget exactly who was scant feet away from where I was sat.
Before too long, I was putting my knife and fork down on the table and pushing my plate back. Solus barely seemed to have made a dent to the food on his plate. I stared at him and started drumming my fingers on the table, resisting the urge to crane my neck back around to see what was happening with Corrigan and Tom.
“You know, looking at me like that is more likely to just make me feel nervous rather than encourage me to eat up quickly,” Solus stated.
I continued to just stare at him. He sighed and picked up his napkin, dabbing delicately at the corner of his mouth and signalling the waitress for the bill.
“Just so you know,” I said flatly, “I am not trying to run away and hide from the Lord Alpha. I am just recognising when it is prudent to avoid some confrontations.”
“It wouldn’t have occurred to me to suggest otherwise,” Solus said, signing the bill with a flourish.
“But if he spots that I’m here and spots that I’m not a shifter, then…”
“Then he’ll maim and kill all your little shifter friends. Yes, I believe you’ve mentioned that before.”
“I’m not making it up, Solus.”
The Fae stood up and looked down at me with a glint in his eye. “Don’t think I didn’t notice the lascivious look you were giving him, dragonlette.”
I spluttered. “Lascivious? As if! And I told you not to call me that.”
He just grinned and offered me his arm. I scooted round however to his other side so that if Corrigan did suddenly decide to just look up, I would be shielded from his gaze. I still had to try very hard not to start sprinting out of the restaurant however.
I was picking up my silver needles from the security guard, with Solus looking impatiently on, when I abruptly felt someone at my shoulder. Without thinking I put my hand onto their arm and twisted, flipping them onto their back with a dull thud. I instinctively knew that it wasn’t Corrigan – there wasn’t much chance that a simple flip would be enough to floor him – but that it didn’t mean that it wasn’t someone else I had to watch out for. The security guard raised his eyebrows but, when I glared at him, he started to pretend to look busy, shuffling some bits of paper around. I looked down at my would be assailant and groaned whilst Solus studiously examined his fingernails.
“Jesus, Tom, you should be more careful!” I reached down and offered him a hand. He ignored it and staggered to his feet.
“What the hell is going on, Red?”
“I might ask you the same thing,” I said, cuffing him round the head. “You’re looking pretty cosy with the Lord Alpha there.”
“He’s a good guy, you know,” Tom said softly.
“Yeah, up until he rips you from limb to limb for daring to disobey him.”
“He’s not really like that. And besides, Red, I think I asked you first.” He pointed at Solus. “Who is that?”
Solus bowed ostentatiously. “I am Solus. Miss Mackenzie’s companion.” He put an odd emphasis on the word companion.
“Are you fucking a Fae now, Red?”
I bridled. “First of all, it’s none of your business. Second of all, it’s none of your business.” I paused and looked him in the eye. “So is it everything you wished for?”
“What do you mean?”
“Being part of the Brethren. Are you fulfilled now, Tom?”
“It’s not like that. It’s not as sleazy as you suggest.”
“I wasn’t suggesting anything.”
Tom ran an irritated hand through his hair. “You know things got pretty messy after you ran off. The Lord Alpha was…upset that you had gone.”
“I didn’t run off. Anton made me leave.”
Solus raised his eyebrows at that comment but stayed silent. I pointedly ignored him.
Tom took a step towards me. “Are you in trouble? Is that why you’re in London?”
“No.” I shook my head to emphasise the point then glanced back into the restaurant. “I should go.”
“Red…”
“I need to go, Tom. I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry if I messed things up. And I’m glad you’re happy now with the Brethren. Corrigan told me you’re engaged to Betsy. Congratulations on your new life.”
Tom started for a moment. “When did he tell you that? Red…,”
“I have to go,” I repeated and turned to walk away. Solus followed me.
“Wait! Red! Mack!”
I stopped for a moment and turned. Tom jogged up and threw his arms around me, squeezing me to him. I clung on for a moment, breathing his familiar scent.
“If you need anything, Mack, anything at all, just call me.” He pulled away and reached into his coat pocket, passing over a small white business card.