Ignoring that for now, I focused on Axel, glaring at him until he rolled his eyes and sighed.
“Because I knew you’d react like this. And besides, I didn’t know for sure that he knew all of Tombs’ plan.”
A raised eyebrow was all the reply I had to that.
“Fine. I washopingit wouldn’t come up. It’s over, in the past, and I’m fine now. Having Talis overreact was bad enough. I don’t—” His mouth snapped shut as he realised he’d said more than he meant to.
I grinned at him, my anger slipping away, and I was liking this conversation a whole lot more.
He narrowed his eyes and mumbled, “Forget I said that.”
“No. I don’t think I will.” But now wasn’t the time to grill Axel on his relationship with Rys Calder’s beta. I felt everyone else watching our interaction with curious eyes, something Axel wouldn’t appreciate, so I changed the subject. “I don’t know about you,” I said, turning to Max. “But I think Zane was hiding something. Or at least not telling us everything he knows.”
Max frowned. “Agreed.” Walking over to the photoboard, he crossed his arms as he studied it. As impressive as he was—and Max Knowles cut a fine figure in charcoal suit trousers and a snug-fitting white shirt—I found my gaze drifting to Nick.
He’d walked over to the window and stood staring out of it, removed from our conversation. I wondered what was going through his mind to have him so absorbed like that. Like Max, Nick stood with his arms crossed, his tattoos clearly visible with his sleeves rolled up.
I’d done a bit of research on witches. The markings covering both of Nick’s arms, and likely a lot more of his body, weren’t there just for show. Unless I was mistaken, they were symbols and runes to channel his magic through, allowing him to cast spells and use his innate ability by touch or thought, depending on his strength. No need for complicated incantations. Much like my tattoos allowed me to call my weapons.
He wasn’t the first non-fae to catch my eye. I’d taken advantage of my trips through the gateway, much like Axel. Well, maybe not to quite the extent that Axel liked to experiment, but I tended to steer clear of witches, especially the powerful ones. Being in the presence of strong magic when my own was temperamental made me uneasy.
Nick was different though.
He’d piqued my curiosity when I’d seen him at Rys’s house, and my interest hadn’t waned.
Max cleared his throat, and I had the uncomfortable feeling that I’d been caught staring at Nick and missed him speaking to me.
Oops.
I turned away from my perusal of Nick to find not only Max, but Gabriel and Axel staring at me too. The twinkle of amusement in Axel’s eyes confirmed my suspicions.
No point trying to deny anything, so I shrugged a shoulder. “Sorry, I was distracted.”
Max snorted. “Clearly. I was saying that as far as I could tell, Zane didn’t outright lie with anything he said in there. So either he’s being clever with his answers, or we haven’t asked the right questions.”
I walked over to join him at the board, standing close enough that his impressive shoulders brushed mine. Accidentally on my part, but I didn’t move away. I had a thing for shoulders, and just because I seemed to be fixated on Nick at present, didn’t mean I couldn’t indulge in a little harmless flirting.
I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t.
He also smelled incredible too, and I found myself leaning in for a little sniff. “What is that?” I asked, breathing deep. I leant closer until my nose grazed the side of his neck.
Max let out a throaty laugh. “I didn’t realise my new aftershave was fae-nip.”
I pulled back, confused. “Fae-nip?” Looking to Axel for clarification didn’t work because he wore a matching frown.
Max rolled his eyes. “You know, like catnip? Except for fae.”
“Catnip?”
“Goddess, help me,” he grumbled. “It’s not funny if I have to explain. Catnip is a plant that cats go crazy for. Makes them act like they’re high or something like that.”
“Ahh.” I smirked at him and leant in for another long sniff. “Well, I’m not sure I’d go that far, but you do smell delicious. Axel,” I called over my shoulder. “Come over here and smell Max. See if it really is fae-nip.”
Axel grumbled but surprisingly stood and walked over. He stopped in front of a now slightly red-faced Max and took a deep breath in. His eyes widened slightly, and I grinned in triumph.
“See!”
Stepping back, Axel sighed. “As much as it pains me to indulge Dathal in this, you do smell really fucking good. It can’t be just us who think this, though.”
