I didn't mind the dismissal. Harrison struck me as a wolf shifter that only spoke when he felt it was necessary.
Something I could relate to.
Before Ava and Macgrath had found each other again, Harrison had developed an emotional attachment to Ava. I believed that Macgrath would force him out after Rhiannon had been captured, but he hadn't. Probably because Ava wouldn't let him.
Or it could be the fact that Harrison had found another object of his affections. One that was even less likely to return them than Ava had been.
Arien, a witch who had served the Goddess for millennia, stood behind the bar, wiping down the wooden surface. Her willowy body was clad in a gauzy blue sundress that made her bright blue-green eyes seem even more brilliant. Her long black hair was twisted into a simple, thick braid that swung between her shoulder blades.
She smiled at me as I approached the counter.
"Greetings, Marcus. How are you?"
Her voice was low and a bit rough, as though years without use had damaged her vocal cords.
For several years before Rhiannon appeared in Austin, Arien had taken the shape of a cat and served as a guardian to Ava and Savannah. Neither woman had known what Arien truly was, but once she revealed her true identity, Ava insisted that she stay.
Now, Arien worked at The Magic Bean and lived in a rental home that Ava owned.
"I'm well, Arien. How are you?"
"I'm learning how to use the computer," she answered, her tone proud.
Arien had not only spent years as a cat, she was from a completely different realm, one that used magic instead of technology. Learning to utilize technology was an arduous process for her.
"That's great," Callum said, coming up to stand beside me. His hand landed on my shoulder. "Maybe you could teach Marcus here."
I noticed that Harrison's hand stopped moving and his back stiffened as Arien beamed at Callum before shifting her gaze to me.
"I'd be happy to help you learn once I'm proficient," she murmured.
I jabbed Callum in the gut with my elbow, pulling the blow just enough to make it annoying rather than painful. "I appreciate that, Arien, but Callum is exaggerating. I do know how to use the computer. I just prefer not to most of the time."
Arien frowned at me. "Why not? It's a wondrous thing. I'm discovering so much about humans and their mating practices."
I blinked, unable to think of a response.
Unfortunately, Callum beat me to it. "I'm sorry...what?"
Her eyes were wide, a thin ring of bright blue surrounding the jade green of her irises. "The mating practices of humans. How they procreate and have sex for pleasure."
"Uh-"
Arien didn't give him a chance to say anything as she continued, "Though sometimes those men call the women bitches and force them to perform oral sex on them until they gag. I don't think I would like that." She blinked several times, her gaze shifting between the three of us. "Do all men like to do things like that?"
Before Callum could speak, I applied my elbow to his belly again, hard enough to knock the air out of him and prevent him from making the smartass remark I knew was on the tip of his tongue.
"I think you should talk to Ava and Savannah about this," I said.
"But why?" she asked, those eyes guileless. "You are men. You would know better what men prefer during mating."
Callum blocked my elbow before it could make contact again and said, "She has a point."
Harrison growled low in his throat, just loud enough for me to hear.
Did I mention that Arien was the current object of his affection-slash-irritation now that Ava was mated? It was difficult to tell exactly what he felt toward her because some days he acted as though he hated her and other days he couldn't take his eyes off her. We all gave them a wide berth because I had no doubt that anyone near them would be burned when they finally collided.
"No, Arien. Not all men like that. And you should feel free to tell any man that you're involved with if he does something you don't enjoy or like. If he doesn't listen, he's—"
