“What?” You snap back to look at her. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”
“Oh, no. I’m fine.” She lets out a dreamy sigh. “All thanks to the mysterious hot guy who saved me. Oh, June! You should have been there.” She clasps her hands to her face dramatically, still starry-eyed.
Is she serious?
“You’re…excited that you got mugged?”
“No! Of course not.” She waves away your concern. “But they didn’t get anything. One second the scary creep had a knife to my throat, the next—bam! This guy appears withactual firestreaming from his hands. And he punched the mugger out!” Asshe talks, she gestures wildly with her fists as if she’s beating someone up.
“With…fire?” You repeat, still struggling to process this turn of events.
If it weren’t for Ziros and his wind skills, and also meeting the big scary blue guy, you’d probably not believe her right now. And also the sketchy disappearing bookstore and the magical cuff linking you to Ziros.
After all that, how much more far-fetched could a guy with fire coming out of his hands be?
“Wow,” you say, giving her a closer look. “You sure you’re okay?”
Her smile fades. “Junie! You don’t believe me?”
“No, I do. But that sounds terrifying.”
“It would have been, if it weren’t for Mysterious Hottie.” She sighs dramatically, hugging her arms around herself, and you aren’t sure whether to be impressed or concerned that she seems to be so carefree about it. “I didn’t get his name, but I hope I run into him again sometime soon.”
Is she lovestruck?
Either way, you’re glad she seems to be safe.
“Anyway,” she says, “Enough about me. I’m so glad you were able to make it! How’s the food?” She glances behind you to a table filled with artfully plated snacks. “Come on, let’s go get plates! And then we can hit the pool.”
You want to follow, but you glance back at Ziros. He and the blond vampire are still facing-off, and it’s subtle, but both of them seem to be slouching in their seats, leaning on the table a bit more like they’re actually feeling the alcohol now.
“You go ahead,” you say to Corrine. Nodding toward Ziros a little sheepishly, you say, “I actually brought someone. And I think I should check on him.”
“Wait.” She follows you over. “You didn’t tell me you had such a hot date!”
“He’s not her date,” the blond guy says, standing smoothly from his chair and slinging an arm around your waist.
You can practically feel the sparks sizzling as Ziros glares at him.
Blondie grins smugly. “He’s just her bodyguard.”
Has he perhaps figured out that Ziros isnotactually your bodyguard? Either way, he seems to be enjoying doing whatever he can to get under Ziros’ skin.
You carefully slip out of Blondie’s grasp.
Corrine watches this entire exchange with raised eyebrows.
“Bodyguard?” she whispers, and you just shake your head, making a face that you hope she’ll interpret as,please don’t question it.
She shoots you back a look you can only guess means,girl, you aresotelling me all the juicy details later.
Pulling you aside, she hisses, “Please tell me he has a brother.”
“Actually, I do.”
You jump, and Ziros laughs, sliding his arm around your waist. His bare skin is hot against yours as he pulls you to his side, glaring at the blond vampire before he can reach you again.
Poor Blondie.
