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“No, but I still say we didn’t do nothing,” the human male muttered sullenly.
“You’d probably better put a binding on that one too,” Liath murmured in my ear, when he got back to me with the soaking male, who was still pawing at his eyes. “Though I’m not sure how the fuck you’re doing it with all the iron in this place.”
I looked up at him, surprised.
“You…felt that?” I asked. “The same way I can feel your magic?”
A smile quirked one corner of his sensuous mouth.
“Well, it didn’t feel like anyone stroking me off or anything—like my magic apparently feels to you,” he murmured. “But yeah, I felt it. Felt like a stream of hot, sizzling power shooting right past my head. You’re packing a real punch, sweetheart. How the hell are you doing it?”
I shrugged.
“The same way I always am, I guess. I just reach for the sparks and—”
“Hey, I need to thank you.” It was the human girl. I still had my arm around her waist but she was supporting her own weight now and her eyes, which had been clouded by the drug, were clear now.
“No thanks are necessary,” I told her quickly. “I just saw what those two human males were doing and I didn’t want you to lose your virtue against your will.”
She gave a little laugh.
“I guess you’re staying in character, huh? I admire that kind of commitment.”
I remembered what Liath had said about humans thinking we were dressing up as characters in their favorite books and nodded.
“Yes—exactly,” I told her. “Are you well now?”
“I’m feeling a lot better than I was. Thank goodness whatever they gave me seems to have worn off really quickly. I’m Lily, by the way,” she added. “Is there anything I can do to thank you two for saving me?”
“Just be more careful about your drink in an establishment like this,” Liath told her. “There are too many males who would be happy to take advantage of a female alone.”
“Um, yeah. I will be.” She nodded seriously and ran a hand through her long, brown hair. I noticed that her sparks had started again and they were as bright as ever. There was something special about this human girl—I wondered what it was.
But I wasn’t given a chance to find out. Just then, the peace keepers showed up—what Harry had called the “police”—and started asking what had happened. After some explaining, they hauled the two human males away—hopefully to some kind of prison where the two of them couldn’t hurt any other females, I thought.
Lily thanked us again and left and I was about to say to Liath that maybe we ought to leave too—it would be time for the evening banquet at the Unseelie Palace soon—when Harry the bartender came back.
“Well, that was a little adventure,” he said, speaking to Liath. “I don’t see you for months and then you show up with a beautiful lady and keep one of my customers from being date raped.” He nodded at me. “Thanks for that, by the way.”
“Happy to help,” Liath said, nodding. He seemed to want to go but Harry the bartender kept talking.
“Where have you been all this time, anyway?” he asked, frowning. “And where’s Quill?”
“What?” I exclaimed before I could stop myself.
Harry looked at me.
“Liath’s best friend Quill—haven’t you met him? I figured if you’re here with Liath, you must have. Those two used to come in every Wednesday night to drink and play darts—always dressed up like their Elvin characters. Then suddenly, they just stopped coming.” He frowned up at Liath. “Is he okay?”
“No,” I blurted. “Quill is…is dead.”
I could feel the grief and disbelief washing over me as I realized something awful. Liath had known my brother as more than an adversary—the two of them had been friends. Maybe even best friends as the bartender had suggested.
My husband and my big brother had been friends and for some reason Liath had kept that fact from me.
I felt incredibly betrayed.
19
“Look, little bird—” Liath started as we stepped through the rift between the Realms and it closed behind us.
“Don’t call me that!” I exclaimed, rounding on him. “You knew about my nickname because Quill told you, didn’t you? Go on—admit it!”
Liath blew out a breath and ran a hand through his hair.
“Yes, I did. I fucking admit it,” he said. “But you have to give me a chance to explain.”
“Explain why you never told me you were best friends with my big brother?” I demanded. “How could you not tell me that, Liath?”
“Because I didn’t think you’d believe me!” he exclaimed. “Who would believe that the two princes of the warring realms could find friendship in the midst of war?”
“I would have believed,” I said, though I wasn’t sure I would have—not at first, anyway.
“You would have thought I was tricking you—trying to get close to you by telling lies,” Liath growled. “And I wouldn’t have blamed you—it’s pretty fucking unbelievable.”
