That fucker.
I glared at his retreating back until he disappeared and the door closed behind him.
Rys cleared his throat, reminding me that he could probably sense everything I was feeling. A fact confirmed when I turned to see him sat back in his seat, arms crossed, and eyebrow raised.
“Do I scare you, Nick?”
Okaaay. Straight to the point then. No one could ever accuse Rys of being vague. And to be fair, I appreciated honesty and directness. It cut down the chance of any misunderstanding.
“Not scared, exactly,” I answered, trying to be as honest in return, but not willing to divulge too much. I had my secrets as much as the next non-human. “Morewarythan scared.” I huffed out a small laugh to show him I meant it.
He tilted his head ever so slightly and I got the distinct impression he was scenting the air. Which…I wasn’t sure how I felt about that either. I was used to shifters and their lack of regard for personal space or privacy, but knowing Rys could gauge my mood, my emotions, without me even opening my mouth was more than a little unnerving.
It left me at a disadvantage.
“You’re a witch.”
I frowned, not sure I liked where this was headed. “I am.”
“You have innate magic. And I’m pretty sure you threatened to cause me pain in plenty of ways if I ever hurt Gabriel.”
Ahh. Yep, that had been me. Opening my big mouth when I had nothing to back it up with. Not that Rys knew that. Not that anyone outside my own coven knew it.
Apart from Zane.
And that was the way I wanted to keep it.
Tipping my head back, I fought to get control of my emotions. Rys could clearly read me like a book, and I didn’t need him asking questions I wasn’t prepared to answer. He’d only just stopped looking at me like his next meal; I had no urge to return to that.
And since I was his soulmate’s best friend, if Rys thought for one second there was something off about me, he’d be right back to giving me murder eyes.
Pulling attitude around me like a cloak, I looked him in the eye. “I might be a witch, but you’re an alpha wolf, and I really don’t want to have to test which one of us is quicker.”
He laughed, eyes full of amusement, and I knew from his smug expression that he was certain it would be him.
He’d be right too.
But not for the reasons he was thinking.
Setting the paper down, he said, “You have nothing to fear from me, Nick.” His tone softened to one I’d never had directed at me before. “I haven’t thanked you for your help getting rid of Tombs.”
“I can’t take credit for that.” I’d suggested they use the spell that disguised Talis as Mase, but I hadn’t been the one to perform it. “My coven did all the work.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Gabriel told me you contacted them, organised it all, and personally vouched for him and Talis. That’s not nothing, Nick. So, thank you.”
I nodded, choosing to accept it and move on.
Rys went back to reading the documents I’d brought him, brow furrowing as he read. I resisted the urge to interrupt him and ask what was wrong. Barely.
Finally, he set the last page down and turned to face me.
“Basically, Zane’s signed over the running of the club to you. If you accept it, he’ll still retain ownership, but you’ll essentially be doing his job, with his pay, while he’s being investigated and possibly sent to a non-human prison.”
“And when he gets out?”
Rys snarled, lips curling back as he glanced up at me. A low growl echoed around the room, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
I flinched before I caught myself. Rys’s anger wasn’t directed at me, but being so close to him was unnerving, nonetheless. I debated saying the words on the tip of my tongue, but Zane had been my friend for the past few years, despite what he’d done, and I felt I still owed him something.
