I patted Ward’s chest. “I think I’ll keep him, um, for my own sacrifice.”
The Brother scoffed. “Your tithe has gone up to three gold talons, lickpenny.” He stepped back into the church.
I had no idea what that was, but Ward vibrated under my hand with a barely leashed fury. He eased forward, and I stopped him. The Brother didn’t even check to see if we were following.
“Teddy bear.” His head swiveled around at the nickname, capturing his full attention. “I’ve been wrong about a lot of stuff on this trip. I get it. My magic meter isn’t the most sound. But we are not going in there. Not for all the gold talons in the world. I found us a place to stay and you’re going to love it.”
I dragged him and our horses over to The Clamouring Clam and asked the servant at the door for Noora. She arrived with haste. Or at least I hoped it was Noora because the woman who came to take us to our room was stunning and also had a full inch on Ward’s height. That was before adding the spiraling ceiling-brushing horns on her head. Her deep-purple skin showed off a silver pattern of spots down her neck, side and legs. I could see every one of them because she wasn’t shy or very dressed. I should have worried about her turning Ward’s head with her miles of legs, but Noora was also crying and trying very much not to. Her red-rimmed eyes didn’t seem like a natural feature.
“This way.” She waved us forward, and I quickly got lost in the maze of halls. Dark polished wood and white lime-washed walls made everything look the same. The half-clad men, women and monsters didn't make it less confusing. At least it was clean.
Ward didn’t seem inclined to chat, or glance at anything on display, still tense from the Brother attempting to buy him. I took his hand and squeezed it. I could be nice to our temporary landlady.
“Thanks for putting us up. Seems like it’s busy around here,” I said.
“Always a pleasure to have more business,” she replied in a monotone. Her smile came easily, showing her perfect teeth, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She led us around another lemon-scented corner and I slid on floor wax.
“Looks like it’s been a long week.” I let go of Ward’s hand to draw even with her as we went through the gigantic house.
She sniffled and turned her head to hide it. “The house brownie will leave your dinner outside your door.”
Ah, so she was just like Fallon, more interested in working than showing emotions. That only made me want to help her more. “I get it. I’m pretty sure some cult guy tried to buy my mate, and that’s only the end of the week for us.”
Ward screeched to a halt behind us, skidding on the polished floor. A stunned look came over his face. I swiveled around, searching for danger.
“What!?” I screeched, fists up like they would do something heroic.
“What did you call me?” The grin spreading over his lips was ten percent joy and ninety percent hot-smug.
‘Mate’ popped out without me thinking about it, and I was immediately nervous again. It was one thing to say it. It was another thing to do it—with him. What if I didn’t live up to the shifter sex he was expecting?
I waved him off to deal with later, turning back to Noora. He followed in a daze.
Noora stopped outside a small door sandwiched between the back wall and what I had to assume was one of the entertaining rooms.
“I’m right there if you need anything…” She smiled a bright, completely false stretch of her lips, pointing to the room next to the small door. “Probably have time…” Noora trailed off. “I haven’t been able to take any…” Noora abruptly crumpled to the ground and took my shoulders in her long, giant hands. “It’s true, you’re mates?”
I looked at Ward and found no help there. He was going to make me say it out loud again. “Ye-yes?”
Ward’s grumble behind us sounded like pure satisfaction and it arrowed right between my legs, the center of which seemed thrilled to please him.
“Are you able to find him anywhere? Can you find other shifters? Are you all able to speak to each other with your animal minds?” Every question grew more desperate and her hold grew tighter and tighter until my bones were rubbing together.
“Be gentle with my mate if you want to keep those hands,” Ward rumbled.
That only made Noora burst into tears, clutching me to her and picking me up to swing me like a rag doll, rocking in her anguish. My hair became a tissue for her copious tears. Thankfully, they smelled like roses, so I couldn’t say I minded. The swinging as she wailed out her grief wasn’t as fun. I didn’t dare put my legs around her to hold on or risk getting taken away by Ward, so I hung limply from Noora’s grip under my arms, patting her back the best I could.
“It’s okay. Let it all out,” I said.
Ward struggled to remain still, but I shook my head sharply. I was helping someone and being useful for twice. This was a new record for me. He didn’t need to rip me off the poor girl… demon. As her tears became sniffles again, she only clutched me tighter to her like some stuffed animal.
“What happened? We’ll try to help if we can.” I stared daggers at Ward.
“If she puts you down,” Ward said.
The demon complied, and Ward quickly snatched me up for himself. It was a more comfortable squishing. I had to be honest with myself that my body really enjoyed being up against Ward’s. Noora slumped to the floor again, her head in her hands. Even grieving, she was graceful enough for a swooning portrait. I would be a red lady, too, if I looked that graceful crying.
“Brightpaw disappeared a week ago. He was getting irritable, quick to anger. He scuffled with a client. His house said he was dangerous. He told me he was dealing with it. I couldn’t do much else but trust him when we’re in rival houses. Could he have left? Brightpaw would never leave me behind.” She started sniffling again, and Ward let me reach out to pat her shoulder. “He said we were mates.”
