“And?” The glint in Clara’s eye brightened.
“And…er…” I grabbedSacred Polyamoryoff the shelf and slid it in underneath the other book. “That one too.”
“Excellent choice.”
As she shuffled back behind the counter to ring up my purchases, Clara looked from Flynn and Blake to Corbin, then back to me, and winked.
“I’ve dreamed of this day.” Blake slid into a stool at theTir Na Nogpub, his face a picture of happiness. Even though Blake was raised within the fae realm – where the nectar wine made him violently ill – he still had an Englishman’s love for a pub. Or, at least, theideaof a pub, since he’d never set foot in one before until now.
“And ye can keep on dreaming.” Neale appeared in front of us. Instead of her usual flirtatious smile, her mouth was set in a thin line. “I’m nae allowed tae serve you a single pint. You lot have tae leave. You’ve been barred.”
“What? Since when?” Flynn looked horrified.
“Since the boss’ wife put her foot down.” Neale shrugged. “She’s on the church committee with Dora Roberts, and all the old biddies have their knickers in a twist about you lot putting a hex on Dora. Apparently, we dinnae serve witches.” Her expression showed she thought the whole thing was ridiculous, which was nice, but not exactly helpful. “An the girl with the babe is barred, too, only that’s on account o’ her being a hoor?—”
“Okay, we get the point,” I fumed.This is Dora’s doing. Going after me and the guys was one thing – it must have been terrifying to have that fae inside her head, telling her to hurt people she cared about. But turning the whole town against Jane just because of her thoroughly legal profession was pure evil.
If Dora’s crusade stopped Connor’s baptism, then he wouldn’t be safe from Daigh when he came for his sacrifices. No way in hell would I let that happen.
“This is ridiculous,” Flynn cried. “I’ve spent my hard-earned money in this place for years. My drinking put the landlord’s son through four years at Exeter. I’m not leaving this stool.”
“It’s fine.” Rowan stood up and slid toward the door. “I’ll make us lunch at home.”
“It’s not fine,” Blake pouted. “I didn’t come all the way from oneTir Na Nogonly to be turned out of another.”
I could see the manager in the kitchen. He turned at the sound of Flynn and Blake’s protests. I grabbed Flynn’s collar. “Don’t make trouble for Neale. This isn’t her fault. Come on, we’re not staying where we’re not wanted.”
My eyes flicked to Jane, whose face was set in a scowl that would melt the sun. She yanked Connor’s stroller away from the bar and headed for the door. Flynn and I raced after her. As we passed a table by the door, I overheard one of the men at the table mutter, “That’s the hoor I told ye about. The one who sucked my cock like a vacuum cleaner.”
Jane’s body stiffened. Flynn swung around, his face twisted. “Which of you eejits said that?” His hands balled into fists.
Rage sliced through my body, cutting me to pieces. I lost contact with my brain. All that existed were the sneering faces of those men, superimposed over Dora’s screeching face as she yelled that Jane had damned her soul.
I’d hadenough. Enough of people with small minds using their gods to justify cruelty, enough of the people I cared about being pushed down, enough of judgements and small minds in small towns pulling others down to their level. An enemy capable of wiping out half the population of the earth was baying at our gates, but instead of working together, people were hellbent on bringing others down.
What’s next, burning us at the stake?
All that rage welled up inside me, forcing its way up through my torso, sparking on the ends of my fingers. My head swelledand heat surged in my veins, exploding out of me like a supernova.
And then I wasn’t just inside my head. I was also across the room, looking back at myself – an angry girl with a pink streak in her hair staring daggers into me. I slammed my pint glass on the table and elbowed my mate.
We laughed and snorted and then I didn’t feel like laughing anymore. I felt like going for a walk.
I stood up. The man stood up, and he, and I, turned around and jumped through the pub window.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
BLAKE
“You got to admit, that wasspectacular. Truly next-level enemy torture.“
“Shut up, Blake,” Corbin growled.
I grinned. “I’ve never once seen anyone throw themselves through a window. The fae hadn’t even considered it. And Maeve says she has no imagination?—”
“Shut up, Blake.” Maeve rested her head in her hands. Corbin and Flynn sat on either side of her, their arms around her, making cooing noises at her like she was a bloody sparrow with a broken wing.
I didn’t understand what all the fuss was about. That guy deserved whatever punishment Maeve chose. She put him in his place. Or rather, put him through a window. The only injuries he had were a few cuts (okay, alotof cuts) and the marks of her spirit magic across his face, which would fade in a few days.
