“You never did tell me how you know Lucien.”
“It’s more that Patrick knew him first, and then the rest of us had the terrible misfortune of knowing him after. Honestly, he’s such an asshole.”
Wade proceeded to complain all about Lucien and his murderous ways and annoying attitude for the rest of the drive. Riordan didn’t mind too much since he got some background on events he only had vague knowledge of from rumors that had run the gamut through the preternatural and supernatural communities some years ago.
“—and then one time he—oh, hey, we’re here!” Wade turned suddenly, pulling into the parking lot. It was that weird in-between time between lunch and dinner where the crowds were thinner. Which meant there was a parking spot to be claimed.
Riordan got out, squinting against the sunlight. “How many lobster rolls do you really think you can eat?”
Wade threw back his head and laughed, the line of his throat catching Riordan’s eye. “I hope your credit card has no limit.”
It did, and Riordan definitely put a dent in it that afternoon as Wade ate his way through at least twenty lobster rolls, half made warm with butter and the other half cold with mayonnaise. Riordan ate a couple of his own, more interested in watching Wade eat his fill while letting the conversation meander wherever it wanted. He just liked listening to Wade talk, hearing him laugh.
“Want another lobster roll, or do you want to go for a walk?” Riordan asked after two hours of lounging at the table in the corner.
Wade licked his fingers free of sauce, and Riordan barely managed not to stare for more than a few seconds. “I thought you didn’t walk?”
“I walk.”
Wade smirked. “I bet you like to swim as much as I like to fly.”
Somehow, Riordan didn’t think he was talking about a plane. “Probably.”
Wade used the last pile of napkins to clean his hands before standing. “Come on. We’ll park the car somewhere else, and then you can take me on a walk.”
True to his word, Wade found a parking garage nearby, and they left the car behind, safe from parking tickets. It was late afternoon, and the warm breeze that had blown across Boston all day was starting to cool a little. Riordan wished he had his sealskin with him, but he knew it was safe at home while Wade was safe with him.
Riordan led Wade back toward the street James Hook & Co. was on, taking him down onto the Harborwalk. The shoreline path ringed the majority of Boston, connected by bridges in areas, allowing for pedestrian access to the water and the views that came with it.
Riordan guided them in a more southerly direction. The crowds on the Harborwalk had thinned some from the midday crush, and they weren’t nearly as big as during the height of the tourist season in summer. They chatted amiably as he led them across the Congress Street Bridge, passing by the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum.
“Patrick keeps telling Jono we threw the tea into the harbor for a reason,” Wade said with a laugh as he stood there for a few minutes, watching tourists toss anchored packages off the sides of the wooden ships at the behest of a man wearing an old-timey costume. “Jono still can’t get him to try any.”
“I take it Patrick doesn’t like tea?”
“Patrick is in a love affair with coffee so he doesn’t murder anyone before noon.”
Riordan could relate. They finished crossing the bridge, and Wade got distracted at the plaza on the other side, courtesy of the ice-cream stand there.
“How much do you even eat in a day?” Riordan asked when Wade came back with two ice-cream cones.
“It’s not my fault I’m hungry all the time,” Wade said. He thrust out one hand, the cone holding two scoops of chocolate. “You can have this one.”
Riordan eyed it, then eyed Wade. “I thought you didn’t share your food?”
Wade wouldn’t meet his gaze, cheeks faintly flushed. “Yeah, well, you bought me lobster rolls. Consider us even.”
Riordan laughed. “I spent close to a thousand dollars on those lobster rolls, but sure, this makes us even.”
He took the ice-cream cone because Wade was offering, trying not to read anything more into it. They started walking again, leaving the plaza for the Harborwalk once more. On this side of the Congress Street Bridge, it ran past a small children’s park overlooking the water. Not as many people were on the pathway, considering the weekday hour. The smell of the sea was familiar, the salt of it something Riordan could taste in the air. All selkies knew and loved the ocean, and Riordan’s home would always be alongside a body of water. For all the peace it gave him, it couldn’t completely wash away his unease.
“What if Abhartach doesn’t help us?” Riordan asked.
Wade shrugged, licking at his ice cream in a way that made Riordan go a little cross-eyed. “Then I’ll pay Lucien more money to convince Abby Boy to cave. Don’t worry. I know how to deal with vampires. I’m better at it these days.”
“What do you mean?”
Wade was quiet for a long moment, walking beside Riordan but not taking in the view. The grimace tugging at his mouth was something Riordan wanted to smooth away. “I don’t like it when others try to keep people as slaves.”
