Breena twinkled beside him, glowing as if her pet had just pulled off its first trick.
I barely contained my laugh and glanced toward Aine. She watched Oakley with a grimace, as if he were someone who’d fart in an elevator. Then her eyes flicked to mine with a look that said eitherkill meorfeed me immediately. Possibly both.
“Oakley,” Aine’s voice sang, sticky sweet. Oakley perked up. “Doesn’t Breena look a little flushed?”
Oakley blinked. “Oh! We can’t have that.”
“I keep telling her to stay hydrated,” Aine noted with mock concern, “but she’s a stubborn little thing.”
Breena’s freckles darkened, face tightening as she threw a glare at Aine.
“I’ll grab ya a drink,” Oakley said, with a cheerful smile.
“While you’re at it, I’ll take a Clover Nectar ale,” Aine added, presenting the kind of smile that’d cause cavities. “And poor Carwynn’s date abandoned her. Perhaps an ale for her too?”
“No, really, I’m—” I started but immediately shut up as Aine’s look cut me down.
Oakley,bless his little soul,agreed with bright-eyed purpose.
“Of course, my ladies. I’ll be but a moment.” He disappeared like a stick bug into quicksand.
Breena struck Aine in the arm.
“What?” Aine yelped, playing innocent. The laugh that followed told another story. “He needed a job. He’s more useful this way.”
I bit my lip, but it did absolutely nothing. A giggle escaped me before I could stop it.
“Ilikehim!” Breena scolded.
“You like that he’s your type,” Aine shot back, rolling her eyes. “Fluffy hair, tall, skinny, nerdy weirdo written all over him.”
“You be nice!” Breena seethed, jabbing a hexing finger in Aine’s face.
Unfazed, Aine smirked.
“You know what?” Breena said.
Then it happened—an unhinged sparkle lit up Breena’seyes. She bobbed on her toes, scanning the crowd until she zeroed in.
Uh-oh.
“Keeffe! Hey, Keeffe!” Breena screeched like a banshee. “Aine wants to have a dance with ya! Said she wants to role-play—pretending she’s not interested. Kind of her kink. She’s all about the chase!”
Several paces away, Keeffe stood like a boulder in wheatgrass. A crooked smile overtook his face as he spotted us, enthralled to be included in whatever shenanigans Breena had begun.
“Breena!” Aine gasped, horrified. “I’ve been avoiding him all night! And now?—”
Keeffe moved toward us, unhurried, like a mountain floating through clouds, determined to catch the woman made of night sky.
“Fecking fates!” Aine ducked behind me, gripping my shoulders like a shield. “He’s coming this way!” Then she bolted, vanishing into the crowd.
“She went that way!” Breena hollered, dramatically pointing in Aine’s direction.
I had to cross my legs as I doubled over laughing. The dress was too classy for accidents.
A hand came to my chest as I steadied my breath, trying to come down off the high.
And then I felt it. That subtle itch at the base of my skull. An involuntary shiver crawled up my spine, like a finger trailing it. Someone was watching me.
