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27
Tarnley
For the first time in nearly two months, my pub is open for business. While I know it’s likely only temporary, having some normalcy back in my life is more comforting than I thought. Though I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that my gaze continually drifts to the newly repaired door every few seconds.
I can almost picture her walking in.Almost.
It had taken a bit of convincing from Elijah for me to reopen, but after he suggested it might be good for Bronywyn if she sees us returning to business as usual, I jumped on the opportunity. One call to my cleaners, and the place was sparkling within hours, the damaged door replaced.
Delaney and Cole are leaving tomorrow morning for Texas, where Bestiny’s children are apparently living. Honestly, having her gone is giving me a bit of space to breathe because I can pretend all is right and the woman I love isn’t on a mission that’s going to carry her straight into hell.
The doors open, and Rainey strolls in, Elijah and Fearghas with her. Both men flank the youngest Astor like bodyguards as her gaze travels around the packed pub, and I know she’s sizing up every supernatural in this place, looking for any reason to pull out her blade.
After a few heartbeats, she and the others finally make their way to the bar and take seats on three stools near the edge.
“What can I get you?” I ask, setting three cocktail napkins on the counter.
“We’re not here for drinks,” Rainey whispers.
“Then why are you here?” I whisper back, already feeling lighter than I have since Bronywyn bailed the first time.
“We think we may have found a succubus den, and we’re giving you the chance to join in on the fun. Blow off some steam. You in?”
“Any particular reason you’re going after these succubae?”
“They’re succubae,” she replies. “Do I need another reason?”
Even as she attempts to come across as callous, I know good and damn well the Astors don’t hunt down supernaturals simply because they’re different from humans. The only ones unlucky enough to fall to an Astor blade have committed atrocities against humans and deserve their fate.
Ice climbs up my spine, and I turn, the overwhelming feeling of being watched settling over me like a dark cloud.
“You feel it, too?” Rainey questions, and I nod. One look at Elijah’s taut expression tells me he senses it as well.
With a nod, I cautiously move around the bar, grabbing my suit jacket as I move. Together, we leave my pub without saying another word. The farther we get from the pub, the lighter the feeling becomes, which means some bastard must have been spying on us from inside.
Just as we’re turning a corner, I hear the unmistakable sound of the door closing behind us, so we quickly duck to the side and wait. Rainey and Elijah withdraw their blades slowly while I take a deep breath and ready myself for a fight. The person steps into partial view, and Elijah grabs them, ripping them toward us and slamming them into the brick wall.
“Who the fuck are you?” he demands.
The young shifter stares up at Elijah, wide-eyed and terrified. “I—I—I—uh—I,” he stammers, unable to make even a single sentence.
“Let him go,” Rainey orders.
Elijah drops him but remains where he stood. “I’ll ask, again. Who the fuck are you?”
The shifter glances from Elijah to me, then to Fearghas and Rainey, then back to me again.
“He asked you a question and I suggest you answer,” I say.
Swallowing, the young shifter nods. “I’m David.”
“And what are you doing following us, David?”
“He paid me to.”
“Who did?” Fearghas questions.
“Some warlock. Offered me two thousand bucks if I followed you for a few nights while he’s out of town.”
