Page 29 of The Mating Frenzy
“I handled it like a Skin,” Kieran protested. “What is theproblem?”
“You handled it like a jealous cat,” Xavier muttered. “Show a littlerestraint.”
Instinct had urged him to shred the man like ground meat. “I showed much restraint. I could have killedhim.”
Outside, they were nearly at his car when he smelled her. Kieran turned to see Ella racing towardhim.
“Kieran,wait.”
Ella raced after him. She ground to a halt, her expression filled withwonder.
“Thank you. No one has stood up for me in a long time. Not that I need it, but it…” She nibbled on lower lip. “It was nice ofyou.”
Damn if he couldn’t help stare at her mouth, hungering to nibble on it himself. He drew himself up straight. “You deserve better treatment, fair maiden. No woman should be abused like that simply because she servesmeals.”
She gave him a smile that made his knees go weak. If she kept smiling like that at him, he would slay all the dragons in the kingdom for her, and every male who even looked twice at her he would turn intomincemeat.
“I get off work at midnight, so if you still want that drink, it’s going to be a long wait.” She gave a tiny sigh. “Of course I understand if you haveplans.”
“No. I donot.”
She gave a shy smile. “Great. There’s a late night bar in town called the Mountain Suds. Kind of a dive bar, but the folks are friendly and the drinks arereasonable.”
“Sounds perfect.” Any place with her would be perfect. But away from nasty men who thought because she served food, she owed them something. “Do you have avehicle?”
Her face dropped. “No, I came on mybike.”
“I shall return here to pick you up.” He glanced at Xavier and Gideon, hoping this was the correct terminology. At their slight nods, relief filled him.I can dothis.
“You’re going to drive?” Gideon askedKieran.
“I candrive.”
Xavier looked at Ella with humor sparking in his eyes. “Good luck. I advise you to consider the Uber, a modern day transportationconveyance.”
“Or a horse. Much easier to handle for our Kieran,” Gideonadded.
Kieran pulled his lips back to snarl at the duo. Gideon blinked. “Your driving skills are much rusty. Rustier than my lance and you would not want Ella…disappointed. Not that there’s anything shameful about it, myfriend.”
Ok, we’re even,wizard.He turned to Ella. “They jest. I am a good driver. But if you wish to take an Uber instead, that is fine with me. I can meet youthere.”
Good move, for she relaxed a little. Maybe it was the idea of being alone with him in a car that rattledher.
“I have to get back.” Ella smiled at him. “Thanksagain.”
The quick kiss she brushed against his cheek fired his blood anew. Kieran stared after her as she raced into therestaurant.
“I’m never washing this cheek again,” Xavier sang out in a high falsetto. But both wizards were smiling and he had a silly grin on hisface.
Xavier went to unlock the rental vehicle when gooseflesh sprang out on Kieran’sarms.
A loud shriek, like a keening whistle, split the air. Kieran yelped and covered his ears. Pain whipped through him. The sound continued, and tears poured from his eyes from theeffect.
And then he looked up and sawit.
Beneath the yellow sodium parking lot light, a black raven sat on the hood of a car. It opened its mouth and shrieked again, but its beak elongated, the mouth opening wide to reveal a set of gleaming razor-sharp teeth. And then its face changed to that of a crone, with a long, hookednose.
“Shifter,” it screamed. “Shifter with the wizards, you aredoomed.”
