Logan nodded to Danny. “Okay.”
Danny walked over to the barn door and swung it wide as Logan kept my hand tucked firmly in his and pulled me alongside him. We were walking out there, right into the path of these whack-jobs who wanted to kill me and eat my soul, or whatever it was. This was a really bad idea and I was totally going along with it.YOLO.
10
AS WE EXITED the barn,Danny walked in front of us, probably to shield us if the druids started flinging red magic fireballs. Logan had my hand firmly grasped in his; I was slightly terrified, so my palms were dripping sweat, but he didn’t seem to care. I could see now that Keegan had the front door wide open and was leaning in the doorway, holding his shotgun while three druids in sleek black business suits stood on theporch.
“To what do we owe the pleasure,gentlemen?” Keegan’s voice dripped with sarcasm and it was clear the druids were not welcome here. A man stepped closer to Keegan, extending his hand. He was the largest of the three, and had a dark brownish-red ponytail, and tattoos that crept up his neck; that’s all I could see from my angle behind them. “Nice to meet you, alpha. I’m Steven of the North Ireland druids.” He had a thick Irish accent and I couldn’t believe it when Keegan looked at his hand and didn’t make a move to shake it, outright rejectinghim.
“I know who your people are. What are you doing on my property?” Keegan asked curtly, his eyes goinggolden.
Danny shuffled his feet faster, stepping closer to the porch. “Now, darling, is that any way to treat our guests?” Danny called out to Keegan, turning on his charm and causing all three druids to turnaround.
Holy shit. These mofos were scary. Like they drank steroids and ate children for breakfast scary. As they turned around, I could see they were bulked-up and had that danger vibe coming off of them in waves. I must have stopped walking, because Logan’s hand jerked me closer and I picked up my pace, coming to rest beside Danny. All three pairs of druid eyes locked on me and then my red hair. Each druid had some sort of intricate Celtic tattoo on their face or side of their neck, and all I could think about was how much they looked like they belonged inprison.
“Ah. This is who we wanted to meet. Sloane, am I right?” ponytail guy, Steven,said.
My tongue felt like sandpaper in my mouth and I couldn’tspeak.
Finally, I found my voice. “Sloane Murphy.” Inodded.
They gave each other a look I couldn’t interpret. “You Irish?” Steven asked, his eyes tightening. His gaze raked over my hair to my face, then down mybody.
I simplynodded.
“That’s right. And I’m herboyfriend,Logan.” Logan put the emphasis on the word boyfriend, causing the bigger druid tochuckle.
“Relax, Logan. We’re not here to take your girl. As I’m sure you have heard, we have interest in redheads after a new dragon shifter was spotted near the GrandCanyon.”
I paled, and Logan’s hand clamped down on mine like avise.
Dom’s voice came out of nowhere then, and I hadn’t even realized that he’d snuck up around the side of the house until he was behindme.
“The dragons are all gone. Just leave us lowly half breeds alone,” Dom spat. I knew without looking back that he was probably holding half a dozenguns.
The druid’s face fell into a grimace. Gone was the friendly mask. He now wore a menacing face. “You’re lucky we don’t start hunting your kind,” the druid growled. “And you know damn well the dragons aren’t gone or humanity and all of their weakness would be extinct by now.” The air charged with some type of magical current, the wind beginning to swirl and pick updust.
Keegan cocked his shotgun, and that’s when shit gotcrazy.
The big druid spun around at the sound of Keegan’s shotgun cocking. “How dare you threaten me!” He flung his hand out and red magic shot from it, slamming Keegan in the chest and throwing him backward into thehouse.
“Enough!” Danny yelled, and the door slammed shut at the same time the wind dieddown.
Steven looked curiously at Danny, and then Danny had that fake award-winning smile back on his face. “Let’s be frank, boys. My friends are all half human, and they know what you think about them, so your presence is barely tolerated here. Why don’t you ask your questions and then be on yourway.”
Steven’s lip gave an irritated smirk. “Fair enough.” He nodded to one of his druidhenchmen.
One of the two druids nearest me stepped closer to me and reached out hishand.
“Just gimme yer hand so we can get dis over wit’ and ya’ll can get on wit’ yer day,” the short druid said in an even thicker accent than the first. I could barely understand him, but I had heard enough to bescared.
I looked at Logan and he nodded. Logan’s hand tightened in mine as I extended my free left hand. I could hear commotion in the house, and hoped that Keegan was okay. The smaller Irish man took my hand in his and I saw his eyes flash a deep burnt orange. He brought my sweaty palm up to his nose … and sniffed. Hesmelledme. I don’t know what I had been expecting, but it wasn’tthat.
He took another whiff, and this time a bright orange magic seeped from his hand and swirled up myarm.
Danny clapped loudly, breaking my silent awe, and Ijumped.
“You’re a hybrid!” Danny squealed in excitement. Damn, this guy deserved an Oscar. He looked like a genuine fan of these asshats. But Danny’s exclamation made sense. The orange eyes, the smelling, this druid was half sorcerer—I was sure of it—something Logan said was impossible because of their creed. One race, one blood, or something likethat.
