Padding toward her, he wound his way around her ankles and rubbed himself up and down her legs with his face. For someone who hated touch, he was sure touching her as much as he possibly could. What the hell was wrong with him?
“What are you doing?” Avery asked.
He didn’t answer, only continued to rub his face against her leg.
“You’re going to get cat hair on my dress.”
He sent a dark laugh down the bond.“If you insist on going out, your fucking scent will be unrecognizable. I’m going to make sure every last inch of you smells like me.”
Felix watchedas Avery sipped on her fourth glass of red wine that night, a blush climbing over her features, like the ivy that crawled along the wooden beams. They sat at a corner table at the back of the pub, the short stone walls decorated by chandeliers of candles and chains, and a gentle folk tune played in the background. Felix perched in the middle of the table next to the bread basket while Callum’s fox lay on the floor like a good little bitch. Well, technically a vixen rather than a bitch, but he digressed.
Felix returned to staring at Callum, making sure that every time he so much as leaned forward, his glare was the only thing the witch was thinking about. It kept working, so instead of saying something smooth, Callum would bumblefuck his way through a pickup line. Honestly, it was the most fun he had all week. That was a lie, actually. Surprisingly, being around the witch had been far more fun than he imagined. They had debated for hours whether pickles were necessary for a good burger. Then it had spiraled into what shade of red was superior. Felix said bright red, like the fresh blood of a witch, to which Avery responded,that is barbaric and not nearly as sophisticated as maroon. He had made such a compelling argument that Avery had ended up trying to smother him with a pillow. A valiant effort on her part.
Callum reached across the table for the breadbasket before flinching back as Felix faked him out with a swipe, only to lick his paw instead. Callum was right to flinch, though; he wouldn’t hesitate to bite a finger again.
The enforcer cleared his throat, still side-eying Felix. “You look beautiful tonight.”
Avery hiccupped, pressing the napkin to her face to hide the obvious blush that deepened.
Felix internally rolled his eyes.“Avery, please have some standards for a man’s compliment, that is the bare minimum.”
“Shut up,” she said, her speech ever so slightly slurred.
“Oh, sorry.”
She shook her head. “No, I meant like shut uppp, you too.”
“Terrible save,”Felix said into her mind.
An awkward laugh escaped Callum as he ran a hand through his hair. Felix supposed he wasn’t terrible-looking; he had broad shoulders and a chiseled jawline. Felix decided his was better, obviously.
Avery slumped her head on her hand, her blue eyes twinkling in the low light. Through his cat sight, he saw her perfectly. Perhaps a little too perfectly. He was attuned to her every movement, even something as small as her pupils dilating when she looked at him wouldn’t be missed.
“How are you and your familiar getting along?” Callum said, trying to change the subject.
Avery grimaced a little before putting on a pasted smile. “Great! Nothing unusual at all.”
Dear god, kill me now.
Callum’s eyes softened as he looked over her. Another rumble of jealousy coursed through Felix’s chest, his tail lashing and threatening to land in the pasta sauce. Then Callum did the unthinkable. Covered her hand with his.
“So…I’ve been thinking.”
Could have fooled me.
“I really like you, Avery.”
Avery’s eyes went wide before hiccupping. Even with the jealousy, the second-hand embarrassment started creeping in instead. Felix cringed internally, his mouth pulling so that his fangs showed. What he would give to chew on an exposed wire right now.
Avery’s brows furrowed, her mouth slightly opening. “You…like me?”
“Well, yeah, you’re stunning, and you remind me of my mother,” Callum said, picking at his pasta like crows did roadkill.
Oh,brother.Had the man never heard of Oedipus?
“My parents had an arranged marriage, and they both ended up sitting on the council. Not that I’m saying we should be married straightaway, but I think if you gave me a chance, we could be like them?”
Avery’s jaw opened wider and wider. “Callum, I?—”
