Bridget zoned out of the conversation, and her hand moved protectively to Bas’s knee. She really didn’t want it to be up to Bas to try and kill it on his own.
I won’t be alone. You’ll be with me,Bas replied.
“We can’t forget that Bridget is going to draw that creature like a fly to honey,” Apollo said, stirring his tea thoughtfully. “And we haven’t even considered that Auntie Quinn has oneiromancer abilities that it won’t help being attracted to. We cut off its food sources, so it’s going to be hungry.”
A deep, threatening growl came out of Taranis, rising the hair on Bridget’s arms.
“My mate is not going to be bait ever again. Understand me?” he snarled.
Quinn patted his hand. “Take a breath, love. No one is suggesting that. Apollo is just pointing out it might be attracted to me. So that you can protect me extra well.Right, Apollo?”
Apollo’s eyes went big and innocent. “Of course, that’s what I meant, Uncle Taran. I’d never want to put my favorite Auntie in any danger. How could you think such a thing?”
Lachlan snorted. “Because you did it last time with the Fomorian mage?”
“Shut your whore mouth, Lachlan Ironwood, or I will—” Apollo began and was silenced by Kenna banging her hand against the table.
“No one is using anyone as bait. If it’s drawn to Bridget, it will just give Bas an opportunity to kick its ass. Everyone pick a patch on the map to check out. We are losing daylight, and I’m done with your shit,” Kenna said, and everyone jumped to obey. Except for Taranis, who was glaring at the wall, eyes shining bright with fury.
Bridget leaned over and whispered to Bas, “I want to be her when I grow up.”
33
Bridget and Bas were assigned to Temple Bar. Everyone agreed that if the Brollachan would openly attack anyone, it would be them, so being close to the Greatdrakes mansion was going to be a boon. If everything went to shit, the Brollachan couldn’t get past the wards. They only needed to get behind them to be safe.
Bridget hung onto Bas’s hand as they walked along the river in the fading afternoon sun. It wasn’t the worst way to spend her time. They didn’t know what they were looking for exactly, but Bridget trusted Bas’s instincts.
“Any word from the others?” she asked.
Bas checked his phone and shook his head. “Nothing yet. Valentine has the spirit box and his motorbike ready to go if any of us need him.” Bas had flat out refused to touch the device, so Valentine was on call for whoever found the Brollachan first.
“You all seem surprised at the meeting that he would make something like that,” Bridget nudged.
Bas let out a sigh. “We really shouldn’t be by now. Val tends to look at boundaries as things to cross. He’s got a good enough moral center not to want to use any of the fucked up things heknows how to do. It’s his curiosity that does it to him. He just can’t help himself.”
Bridget chewed that over. “What does he have to prove? He’s already a good magician, right?”
“The best I have seen and many others too. He tries to hide just how good he is, which isn’t typical for a magician. He doesn’t want to get any targets on our backs because people are jealous,” Bas explained. His dark eyes scanned the river, not really seeing it. “It’s lonely at the top. I worry about that for him more than whether or not he’s going to go full dark lord.”
“Your family is complicated and a half,” Bridget said with a shake of her head.
“I know. Is that going to be an issue? For us, I mean,” Bas asked.
Bridget thought about the way Cosimo had hugged her so tightly. How they all had welcomed her into the fold in their own way, accepting her quirks and the way they all bickered with each other but loved each other so deeply.
“No, that’s not going to be an issue. It keeps things interesting. That’s good because I get bored easily,” Bridget bumped her shoulder against him. “Nothing is boring about you, Bas Greatdrakes.”
He stopped walking, took her face in his warm hands, and kissed her deeply. Bridget’s surprise melted. All of her melted.
“Once we have dealt with this Brollachan, you and I are going to have a very serious discussion— with very little clothing,” Bas said and kissed her forehead.
“About magic?” she asked because sometimes she couldn’t help being a brat.
Bas laughed softly. “We can always add it to the agenda. I might even make another torte for the occasion.”
“Chocolate cake in bed? Youarethe perfect man.” Bridget clutched at her chest. “My heart can’t take anymore.”
Bas put his arm around her shoulder. “You’re going to take everything I give you, little hawk.”
