Page 58 of Waifs And Strays
‘What?’ I demanded.
‘I thought that Thane Barrow was sweet on you,’ he said. ‘Now I’m beginning to think it’s the other way around.’
My mouth dropped open. Hang on a minute.
MacTire leaned towards me. ‘Maybe you’re not the committed cat lady you think you are.’
‘Piss off.’
‘That’s your best comeback? Piss off?’
‘At least everyone I know isn’t conniving behind my back because I’ve decided to live like a monk.’
His mocking smile vanished. ‘I don’t live like a monk. I’m not celibate, I’m just choosy about who should become the mother of my children.’
‘I hope that the future Mrs MacTire will have a say in the matter, too.’
He glared. ‘I’m not a tyrant, Ms McCafferty. And I’m not a murderer either.’
I crossed my arms. ‘I think that I’m done talking to you now,’ I said icily.
I marched on ahead towards the market. I’d already lost more than enough time talking to him; I wasn’t going waste any more.
The riverside marketwas in full swing by the time we arrived. MacTire grasped my elbow as if he were afraid I’d make a run for it. I wrenched away from him. ‘Stay close if you want,’ I hissed. ‘But don’t push your luck.’
I strode up to Trilby’s stall and stood behind a shifty-looking witch who was purchasing something dubious. MacTire, however, had no plans to wait patiently in a queue; he elbowed the witch out of the way and marched us to the front. ‘What?’ he asked at my annoyed look. ‘That witch shouldn’t be trying to buy a curse of that magnitude. I probably saved his sorry arse from having it blow up in his face.’
The witch in question glowered but was obviously too intimidated by the MacTire alpha to argue. He picked up his long billowing cloak and scurried off.
Trilby wasn’t like the terrified witch and they gave Alexander MacTire a look that was icy enough to freeze a bottle of whisky – but that was nothing compared to the glare they gave me. ‘Have I not done enough for you, Kit? Why the fuck are you scaring my customers away?’
‘I’m sorry,’ I said, meaning it wholeheartedly. ‘But we have to talk to you, Trilby. It’s important.’
‘Don’t blame her,’ MacTire intervened, surprising me. ‘I’m the one you should blame. But she’s right, we do have to talk to you. Now.’
Trilby folded their arms. ‘Then talk,’ they said, not softening a jot.
MacTire gestured to me and I cleared my throat, feeling awkward. I prayed that Trilby wouldn’t simply laugh in my face for making such a big deal out of one single casual comment. ‘Okay,’ I said. ‘The other day you said something about werewolves.’
Trilby’s face cracked, then they looked at Alexander MacTire and smirked widely. ‘I did. I told you that if you grind werewolfbones into dust, you can cure cancer. I assume that the MacTire alpha here is volunteering in the name of medical science?’
I wasn’t surprised that they knew who Alexander MacTire was. ‘Not that,’ I said.
Trilby tutted. ‘Shame.’
I hesitated. ‘Is it true?’
Trilby laughed loudly. ‘What do you think? Of course, it’s not true, Kit.’ They reached across the stall and chucked me under the chin as if I were a child. ‘But it’s cute that you asked.’
MacTire shifted impatiently from foot to foot. I kept my expression calm. ‘I’m asking,’ I said, ‘because you mentioned something else about werewolves. You said that a werewolf’s blood could be used to invoke a demon. Isthattrue?’
Trilby’s amusement vanished in an instant. ‘Ah. Yes. Unfortunately, I believe that little rumour is true.’ They gazed at MacTire and me then straightened up and waved to Natasha. ‘Hey, Tash! I have to shut up for a few hours. Can you keep an eye on the stall for me?’
Natasha, who had been openly staring at Alexander MacTire as if she’d never seen a werewolf before, nodded quickly. ‘Sure, Trilby.’
‘Thanks.’ Trilby waved at her in thanks and turned back to us. ‘You’d better come with me. I can show you what I know.’
I swallowed hard; I didn’t know whether to feel relief or horror that we were finally on the right track. And then the three of us trooped out of the market.
