He finally manages to stand, and whatever retort he planned to say dies on his tongue as she raises her hands, letting him see the magic crackling there. His eyes widen, and he steps back, his mouth open in horror.
“No onetouches what’s mine without paying for it,” she growls. “Understand?”
“Julia,” I whisper, though I’m not sure if I’m asking her to stop or keep going.
Her attention is fixed on the bartender as she keeps stalking closer. “Go back inside before I make you beg for death.”
He stares her down, apparently refusing to be intimidated. “I want you both out of here. Never show your faces here again.”
Julia raises a finger to her chest. “Cross my heart.”
He hesitates, then shakes his head and backs toward the door, keeping his eyes on Julia.
Only once he’s gone does she turn to me, and the fury in her expression dissolves. She’s breathing hard and her face is pale, like whatever magic she did came at a cost.
Her eyes rake over me and pause at my collar, where he grabbed me. Her jaw clenches. “Did he hurt you?”
“I’m fine,” I manage, though my voice comes out breathy.
My insides are swooping out of control. Nobody’s ever defended me the way she has tonight.
A sick part of me actually wanted the guy to resist so I could see what Julia would do. It’s a little intoxicating, watching her use magic. Watching her fingers darken and her expression intensify.
I draw a shaky breath and tug my sweater straight, tamping down that reckless and shameful thought. The way Julia is, she would’ve had no problem hurting or even killing him. In fact, she probably restrained herself for my sake. “Thanks for…” My sweater is sticky and smells like beer, and I cringe as it gets on my palms. This had better be worth it. “Did you get it?”
She takes me by the elbow and speed-walks away from the bar. “Yes. Quickly.”
My heart jumps in victory, and maybe a little from her firm touch.
I lead us to the nearest bus stop, praying one comes within the next half a second. There, we duck behind the small crowd of waiting people, and Julia passes me the leather wallet. I pull out the driver’s license and punch the address into my phone.
“That was fast,” I say. “Sorry I couldn’t distract them for any longer.”
“It was long enough. And you did well.”
I look up at her, checking that the compliment really did come out of her mouth.
She’s eyeing the passing traffic and the other people waiting for the bus as if it’s all plotting against us, her fists clenched.
I smile to myself. “Looks like it’ll take twenty minutes to get to her place.”
She nods firmly.
The bus rolls up, and everyone shuffles closer to the curb as the doors hiss open.
I pull out my wallet, grimacing as I shake back my damp sleeves. “My poor hoodie. And kneecaps.”
Julia’s gaze rakes up and down my body.
I wish I knew what she was thinking when she looks at me that way. Is she judging me or…something else? Is it bad that I want her to keep looking?
“Are all modern women so unrestrained?” she finally asks.
I can’t help the little smile tugging my cheeks. “What do you mean?”
The warm, stale air from the bus wafts out as the people ahead of us file on.
“That song and dance was…” Julia waves a hand. “And your trousers. They’re scandalously tight.”
