I furrowed my brow. “Why did you keep asking for my permission to save me?”
“We cannot bite anyone without their permission. To attempt to do so sours the blood, and if taken in enough quantities, we ourselves are destroyed. This rule was placed upon all of us by the Ancestor, and can never be broken unless it leads to our demise.”
I raised my hand in front of my face and watched it shake. A faint smile slipped onto my lips as I dropped my hand into my lap. “Does this mean I’m not getting any of that super strength and speed?”
Our host smiled in return, and he reached into his pocket. “I fear not, Miss Larkin, but to make amends, I offer you my services whenever you should need them.” He drew out a small whistle, which he held out to me. “Blow on this and I shall hear you anywhere in the city, and come to your aid.”
Ramaro’s tongue flicked out. “That’s a nice promise, but what about now? How about some free food for the rest of us?”
“I offer you as much food as you can eat whenever you visit Cathair.”
I hugged the whistle against my chest and bit my lower lip. “You expect that much more trouble.”
He raised his eyes to Marc. “With such a partner, you cannot help but expect more trouble.”
Marc didn’t look amused as he studied me. “I think we had too much fun this time.”
“Your beautiful friend needs only food and rest,” Adrien assured him as he helped me to my feet.
“And I think I’ll stick with water for the drink,” I added.
Adrien bowed his head to me. “Anything you desire, Miss Larkin.”
“Your finest steak, and make it extra tender!” Ramaro shouted as he scurried up the stairs ahead of us, though he paused at the top to look down. “Hurry it up before the night’s through!”
Chapter 21
“How long was I out?” I asked my companions as Marc helped me up the stairs.
“An hour.”
There was a tension in his voice that hinted at that hour being very long. I would have been flattered if I still wasn’t stuck on how I’d almost died by magic.
“So are there any other magic things I need to avoid?” I wondered as we strolled down the hall toward the restaurant.
“Your magic is very rare, Miss Larkin,” Adrien pointed out as he followed behind us. “It would be impossible to guarantee you would not be affected by other magics, both common and uncommon.”
My heart fell, and my foot faltered. Marc caught me in his arms before I stumbled. “It isn’t as bad as that. Magic isn’t everywhere.”
I snorted. “Just where you keep taking me.” I immediately regretted my choice of words when sadness crept into the depths of his blue eye. “Sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.”
“You should,” he mused as he set me on my feet. “It’s true.”
“Then I must take some of the blame,” Adrien chimed in as he bowed his head to us. “I offered the drink with little thought that my interesting friend Mr. Torvus would bring an equally interesting partner.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “He’s brought other women here before, hasn’t he?”
Adrien smiled at me. “No, Miss Larkin. You are the first I have ever beheld, and I am glad for his kindness in bringing you here. You are a treat to the senses and the mind.”
I snorted. “You hardly even know me.”
“But I have seen you persevere through a most horrendous situation, and you have come out the other side unscathed. See? You even smile when I compliment you.”
I was indeed blushing under his compliments. “You’re too kind.”
“I hope I will have no more opportunities to be too kind to you during your stay in our lovely city,” he mused as we reached the door that led into the front of the restaurant. “But should you need anything, do not hesitate to use the whistle. I will come, wherever you are.”
“You’d better make it during the night,” Ramaro spoke up.
