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Chapter 33
Bal slammed the glass down on the polished wood table, frothy amber liquid spilling off the top as the sudden motion sloshed it side to side.
“Oy, watch it!”
“Sorry,” Bal said, catching the towel that was tossed at him.
“What’s got into you lately? You still hung up on that lass—”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Bal grumbled, mopping up the spilt beer. Glancing up, he considered Rory, as he leaned back against the sink, arms crossed giving him an impatient look.
“If you don’t want to talk, then stop moping about it.” Rory said.
Bal tossed him back the damp towel, Rory caught it easily and dropped it in the sink. Fresh beer in hand, Rory took a seat back at the table, sliding another can down to Bal so he could top himself up.
“Thanks,” Bal said, not wanting to engage. Rory was right, he’d been miserable ever since Nayome had left. He needed to snap himself out of it, somehow—which is why he’d had the great idea of seeking out some company tonight.
“Fin should be back from patrol soon. Why don’t we hit up one of the pubs in town—it’s been ages since we’ve been out. A bonnie lass will be just the thing to distract you.”
“You know we can’t get involved with humans,” Bal said harshly.
“Who said anything about getting involved?” Rory was smiling, his white teeth gleaming in the firelight that warmed the dining room.
Bal shook his head. This kid could get away with murder. Rory had let his smooth dark hair grow long, and tied it back at the nape of his neck in a way that reminded Bal of his father. Other than the dark hair, Bal could see Gabe clearly marked in the harsh lines of Rory’s face, in his glacier blue eyes. He had inherited Gabe’s stature as well, tall with muscular wide shoulders and a thick barrel chest. “You’re impossible,” Bal said, taking a healthy sip of ale.
“C’mon, you’re like one of the elders with that stick up your arse. We used to have fun together. You’re not so much older than me, even though you act it.”
“It’s not my fault your balls haven’t dropped yet,” Bal said.
Rory barked out a laugh, “I can assure you, I’m all man where it counts, you ken?”
Bal looked up as Fin appeared in the doorway to the dining room, “Are we taking a shot at Rory’s manhood?” Fin asked “I’ve got a well supported theory that he never progressed past sixteen.” Fin was a carbon copy of Rory, except he kept his hair shorter, clipped neatly to rest at the nape of his neck. A welcome distinguishing factor, since they had raised havoc as kids impersonating each other.
“Ah, shut it,” Rory said, but his voice was laced with good humor.
Bal considered the twins as Fin made a beeline for the fridge, cracking open a beer to join them.
“How was patrol tonight?” Bal asked.
“Boring, as usual. The FBI scare was the highlight of my decade. I’ve got to convince father to give me some leave from training, to travel a bit.”
“I’ve heard the water fae have mermaids.” Rory wagged his eyebrows suggestively.
“Don’t be daft,” Fin said, rolling his eyes in Bal’s direction.
Bal cracked one of his first genuine smiles in a week. As ridiculous as the conversation was, he had needed this. Lighthearted fun. Everything over the last few weeks had been so heavy, he hadn’t been able to shake the weight off himself. As he polished off the rest of his beer, Bal started to feel a pleasant buzz. The head rush allowed him to put some of his worries aside. At least for tonight.
“I hope you don’t mind. I invited Wynn,” Fin said, as he stretched his full length out on one of the tall back chairs, leaning back so he was balancing on the two back chair legs. “I ran into her on patrol, the gel looked like she needed a stiff drink.”
Bal’s buzz dried up as quickly as it had arrived. He shut his eyes and tried to reach for it, but it slipped away as though it had never been. He didn’t want to deal with Wynn tonight, not while she was still acting smug that Nayome had left. “I’d better head home.”
“Bal, no—she will be on her best behavior. I made her promise.”
“Wynn on her best behavior, I”ll believe that when I see it,” Bal said, but he accepted the beer that Rory passed him, refilling his glass. Maybe if he could get his buzz back, the evening wouldn’t be so bad.
Bal enjoyed the company of the twins for a while longer, the amicable banter flowing freely. They spent most of the evening ribbing each other, and remembering the ‘good ol days’ when they had all been young and blissfully ignorant of the realities of the world. Fae in their formative years, coming into their magic resulted in some good stories. Something about the heady combination of power, coupled with the lack of common sense.
Wynn arriving was like a dark cloud rolling in on a sunny day. Dressed in her characteristic black leathers, braid piled high on her head, she looked ready for a fight, not an evening of levity.
