Maybe he should have called Patrick after all.
Wade could see the fae through the glowing shield ward and wanted to punch that weaselly little smirk off his face. Wade drew his aura down into a tight knot. He wanted to pass as human for this confrontation if at all possible.
“It’s never good to try to break a bargain with a fae, my dear dire,” Niall tsked as he came to stand beside Casey’s unconscious form. He nudged Casey with his foot but thankfully didn’t do anything more. Three more fae followed him inside, acting like bodyguards, but none of them went further than a foot past the door. They carried swords instead of guns, the edges flickering with magic.
“You,” Abhartach snarled, stepping forward. “You dare to step foot into my territory likethis?”
“I told you so,” Wade muttered, knowing everyone could hear him.
He shoved himself to his feet, edging around the still-active shield. Abhartach’s vampires were all up and prepared to attack, their human servants huddling behind overturned furniture. Every bottle behind the bar had been shattered from the blast, and the handful of mundane humans there for a walk on the wild side were probably regretting their life’s choices right about then. So far no one else was dead, but Wade knew how quickly that could change.
Niall’s gaze swept the room, lingering on Ella and then Riordan in a way that Wade absolutely hated before the fae smiled lazily at Abhartach. “My mistake. I was under the impression this was a bar owned by magic users.”
“Oh, I call bullshit,” Wade scoffed. “How long have you lived in Boston?”
“For once, I’m in agreement,” Lucien said.
Wade jumped when Lucien appeared on his other side, staring Niall down. Niall’s attention slipped to Lucien, and Wade had the absolute pleasure of watching the asshole fae do a double take. Wade knew enough about body language and territory negotiation to know that Niall had just revealed a weakness—he knew who and what Lucien was, and it made the fae wary.
Okay. SomaybeWade wouldn’t try to eat Lucien tonight.
Niall paused, taking Lucien’s measure. “I wasn’t aware you would be here tonight.”
Carmen and Einar blurred to Lucien’s side, and Niall’s gaze flicked to them, eyes narrowing fractionally. Wade recognized the smile Carmen gave the fae, the one that promised absolute fucked-up mayhem the moment Lucien gave the word.
In this one instant, Wade hoped Lucien let her have the run of the place.
“Niall Noígíallach, is it? We haven’t had the pleasure of a proper introduction,” Carmen drawled, her tone arctic. “We should rectify that, seeing as you’ve interrupted the drink we were having with an old friend.”
Niall’s attention swung back to Abhartach and the vampires of the Boston Night Court primed to attack, holding back only because their master bade them. Niall seemed to be rethinking his dramatic entrance. “I’m here about a broken bargain. It doesn’t concern you.”
Abhartach arched an eyebrow and looked down his nose at Niall. “You made it my concern when you attacked my place of business. I’ve killed for far less.”
Niall spread his hands in a faux friendly way. “I’m certain we can come to an accord of some sort.”
“The way I see it, Ella didn’t break your bargain. You said she couldn’t find help with friends, and she didn’t. If anyone broke the bargain, it’syouafter you tortured Casey. Which means it’s void, and you should give him back,” Wade snapped.
The retort earned him Niall’s full and undivided attention. Wade met it angrily. “You speak out of turn. I fail to see how a mundane human could aid the dire.”
For a wannabe god, he really was dumb. Wade could totally work with that.
“Because clearly, you’re an unimaginative dickhead.”
Riordan’s hand fisted tightly in the back of Wade’s shirt, ready to haul him back. “He’s right, Niall. You broke the bargain with Ella.”
Niall arched an eyebrow. “No, I did not. The dire was meant to keep her mouth shut. Otherwise defiance would be met with death. Her precious alpha is still alive. For now.”
To prove his point, Niall drew his foot back and kicked Casey in the gut with enough force to send the alpha rolling. Wade decided right then and there he was going to find Saoirse’s skin, get Casey and Harper back as soon as he could, and then eat Niall. The fae would probably give him indigestion, but it would be worth it.
“I guess that’s one way to view the situation. You’re still wrong, and it doesn’t mean you had the right to come blasting into Abhartach’s territory like you did,” Wade said.
Niall’s eyes narrowed, and Riordan’s grip tightened to the point Wade thought the selkie might rip his shirt. “You haven’t given me your name.”
“Nope, and I’m not gonna, so go cry about it.”
“Leave,” Abhartach ordered Niall. “Now.”
The magic in the walls had sucked up the explosion’s residue, and now a tangled web of jagged-looking light was forming in the air. Niall looked up, mouth twisting in distaste. “I see you aren’t in the mood for conversation.”
