Page 25 of The Mating Frenzy
He lowered the menu. “Hello,Ella.”
She actually stepped back, paling. Then her gaze cut over to the wizards, who seemed to be fascinated with their ownmenus.
“Are you stalking me?” she demanded, her pen paused over the orderpad.
“No. When I stalk prey, usually they wind up in my bed. Or dead. It depends upon my particular appetite.” He gave a charming smile. “Tonight I hunger for your establishment’s grilledmeat.”
Her expression did not change. But he noted the strain bracketing her mouth, and the shadows beneath hereyes.
Kieran slid over and patted the seat beside him. “Sit. You may take our order and get off yourfeet.”
For a moment, she looked ready to refuse. And then she did sit, perched on the edge of the leatherette seat as if ready tobolt.
“Thanks.” Her lovely gaze swept over him and his blood heated. Odd how this female affected him likethis.
“At least you’re wearing clothing this time. Guess you heard we have a dress code. No jerkins or bearing of swords, orarmor.”
Kieran’s smile broadened. “I had considered bringing a dagger, in case your steaks are too tough and your knives toodull.”
Ella laughed. A tingle rushed down his spine at the sound. So delightful. He was happy to see her lose her stiffness and that guardedlook.
Then she glanced around at the bar, where several customers clamored for drinks. “Yourdrinks?”
Xavier ordered a whiskey sour, Gideon a martini. Kieran decided it was safer to stick to water. Alcohol affected him in thisworld.
She waved her pad. “Be upshortly.”
“Thank you,” he told her. “How are thekittens?”
Her lovely mouth quirked upwards in a brief smile. “I took them home and went to bottle feed them, and called a volunteer I know at a local shelter. Misty said she’s been looking for kittens for her friend, who adorescats.”
“Interesting,” Xaviermurmured.
Someone waved at her, and Ella rushed off toward the bar. Kieran leaned back as the wizards looked athim.
“Misty is not a Skin,” Xavier told him. “She’s been assigned to watch over Ella for the past twoyears.”
Xavier smiled. “Although she comes off as a Skin, I can sense her inner strength. Ella will make a formidable warrior once she comes into herpowers.”
“Ella is unique.” Kieran frowned. “I cannot make out her scent. There is something special about her, more than being Wyld, but I cannot pinpoint it with all these scents bombarding me. Perhaps if I took her outside and gotclose.”
“No parking lot seductions,” Xavier warned. “You’re here to break the ice, not havesex.”
“Sex is a good way to break theice.”
The deadpan comment failed to coax smiles from either wizard. He drummed his fingers on the table. This business of taking Ella to find the crystal of Calmach must be far more important, and serious, than either of the wizardshinted.
Kieran leaned across the table. “What is going on that you’re not telling me? There’s more at stake than coaxing a female into accepting her Other nature, and nudging her into bonding with some damn crystal to become head of a warrior tribe offemales.”
Silence. Then Gideon glanced at Xavier,nodded.
Xavier waved a hand and the people chattering in the bar suddenly went still. The wizard had frozen everyone in place. Truly worried, Kieran blinked. If Xavier risked using his magick in a public Skin establishment, the news must begrave.
“I will need Ella, and the other werewolves of the Wyld, to aid me in defeating the Dark Lord’s followers. My soul is still tied to the DarkLord.”
Kieran’s jaw dropped. “You’re with the Brehon. An all-powerful judge and guardian.How…”
Xavier quickly explained about being apprenticed to the Dark Lord while Duncan was still mortal, and how he’d made a vow to last “beyond thegrave.”
