Page 33 of Suspicions on the Stage
coffee
SLADE
The feelings rushing over me as Morgana protects me are immense, and I have to get a firm grip on them so I don’t overflow in front of this mean woman. My instincts were to step in, both professionally and personally, but I’m not aggressive enough to fend off someone like this without tapping into the magic I don’t use for this kind of situation. I could definitely hum or sing and control her until she leaves, but that’s what my parents do—manipulate everyone instead of trying to use diplomacy.
I hate it because their children have never been an exception and having free will constantly taken from you sucks.
Morgana looked like she was going to lose her mind at the idiotic retort, so I try my way again. “She’s asking if you understand the words coming out of her mouth. Do you?”
“Not Italian!”
“For fuck’s sake, he loved them too dim to live,” my mate mutters under her breath. “No wonder he never visited or hadme come anywhere near him for so long. I don’t have the IQ of a sea anemone.”
Stifling a chuckle, I cough and ask again, “Fine. Except for the Italian, do you get it? Because if you don’t, I’m pretty sure you’re getting dragged out by your hair before security gets here.”
“Fine. Yes, I get it.” The woman crosses her arms over her chest and pops her hips, giving attitude with her body if not her words.
That’s a… choice when faced with an angry mythical, I guess.
“See, I don’t think you do,” Morgana drawls. “Because you’re the bitch who confronted me in the mega-store a few weeks ago, and it seems you didn’t learn your lesson.”
Turning to her, I frown. “When was this?”
My new mate waves her hand, signaling that she doesn’t want to discuss this here, and I nod. Her gaze narrows on our rowdy customer, as she seems to get even taller. “What was the name… oh, for the love of Nemesis, it was something tropical sounding. You were on all the damn trips with Magnus, and I was going to make sure you’re banned from off-campus travel attendance for every department because of your poor reflection on the school.”
Her monologue answers my question—mostly. There’s still something she’s holding back, but I will not push it. Instead, I check the front of the coffee shop, hoping the shitty security team gets here before this escalates further. “As manager on duty, I’m going to ask one more time for you to return to your own table, or leave the premises. If you and Dean LeCiel have professional or personal differences, they need to be settled in the appropriate forum. The Beanery isnotthat location, ma’am.”
Calling her ‘ma’am’ is a tremendous insult in this part of the country—at least, women seem to think it is.
“Howdareyou?—”
The door tinkles with magic as it opens and I let out a slow, thankful breath when the useless canine idiots from security finally arrive. The bigger one sighs and rolls his eyes to the ceiling before he barks, “You again?! I thought this shit would stop when the dragon was murdered.”
“No shit, Sully,” his partner grumbles as they make their way over. “Miss Bergstrom, you gotta stop making a scene everywhere you go. It only worked before because of your… connections,. see? That’s not how it works anymore.”
Morgana’s eyes narrow as she whips around to pin the guards with them. “This woman… has areputationfor pulling this kind of stunt? One solid enough that you know that much about her?”
The one called Sully sighs, shrugging as he reaches for the woman’s arm. “Leilani Bergstrom. Antiquities. Lives off campus now. Used to live in one of the houses in the row…unofficially. She was ousted after your… uh, after the trial and sentencing, along with a bunch of others.”
He looks away and so does his partner as people around us begin to snicker and point. I shake my head, then glare at them. “If you are lucky enough to not have a stalker who is threatening you in public, I hope you consider what it would be like for them to air allyourprivate business for their own amusement.”
Okay, I put alittlelilt into that statement, but the expression on my mate’s face is making my heart hurt.
“It’s fucking peachy,” Morgana says to no one in particular. “I love being infamous without the paycheck to put up with it.”
I cover my mouth as I laugh, admiring her indefatigable spirit. No matter how badly she’s humiliated, Morgana LeCiel is a master of not letting them see her sweat. It’s really impressive and I sure as hell wish I had that talent. “Yes, well… I think our security officers should take Miss Bergstrom out of here and deal with her so everyone else can unclench while they have their coffee.”
“Definitely,” my mate mutters. “Or before I make good on my promises and we have asstons of paperwork to do.”
The canines wince, and Sully shakes his head. “Nope. Paperwork is the worst and this will cause enough as it is. Let’s go, crazy. Back to the office again.”
His partner takes Leilani’s arm, gripping it firmly as he leads her out with the other canine following behind. I notice Morgana watching them, her eyes assessing as she taps a finger on her lips. She’d mentioned revamping security after the cops snatched Lucas, but she was going to simply ditch them all because of their ties to Magnus.
I wonder if she’s changed her mind?
After the disturbance,I let Morgana and the rest of the shop settle themselves. It was obvious by the vibe in the room that everyone was on edge, and as much as I wanted to help lull them into a nicer mood, I resisted. It’s hard sometimes, when I know my heart’s in the right place, but I still need to allow people towrangle their own emotions. Emergencies are one thing, but this was only a daily annoyance; it doesn’t justify doing my thing to give them a processing shortcut. So I went back behind the counter and got busy with the tasks left for me by the opener while my customers settled down on their own, even my mate.
“Slade?”
