“The I’m about to make a really bad choice thing and take this librarian to your bed.”
“Go drink.”
“Already did.”
“I can tell.”
Amour’s mouth almost curves. “You’re Shady.”
“Name on wanted posters. Not my taxes.”
“You’re the one Lady Nyx left clues for.”
The humor leaves me fast.
“Yeah.”
“She’s a clever girl.”
“She ain’t a girl. I’ve been there and made that mistake before. Nyx is a woman. And a menace.”
“Nice,” she says simply but seems to mean it.
“I like you a little. Don’t tell Alpha.”
Before she can reply, Magic appears behind me and slaps a hand on my shoulder hard enough to make my drink jump.
“Tattoo time.”
“No.”
“Dare.”
“No.”
“Diablo’s engaged, Darling has a ring, Alpha found some flower witch, and you’re drinking like somebody shot your dog. You need ink.”
“I have ink.”
“Not white boy ink.”
Vice joins us, because apparently my suffering has become group entertainment. “What’s the dare?”
Magic smiles like the devil’s dumber cousin. “He gets something for Lady.”
“No names,” I say.
Magic points at me. “He already thought about it.”
“Didn’t.”
“Liar.”
Vice studies me. “Small. Something she would not hate.”
“Tall order,” I mutter. “She hates a lot right now.”
“Mostly you,” Magic says.
