The Burning Claw (The Grey Wolves #10)(43)

“Healer,” Peri whispered.
“That’s what I’m thinking. Funny thing is, I don’t think these wolves even realize the affect she is having on them. Their instincts to protect her were immediate, and all of them seem to be drawn to her in one way or another.”
Peri’s sharp eyes snapped down to the little pixie. “What do you mean, in one way or another?”
The pixie’s shoulders tightened and she swallowed. “There is one that has decided he wants to claim her.”
She let out a string of curses. If this was their Sally, and it certainly sounded like it was, then the last thing she needed was to deal with a wolf that thinks he has some claim upon her. Finders, keepers doesn’t work in the supernatural world.
Deciding there was only one way to find out what was going on in Oceanside, she crossed the street and headed for the door. She stopped on the threshold and considered whether to glamour herself or simply lay her cards on the table and allow the wolves and Sally to see who she truly was. But she still wasn’t sure that Sally would even recognize her. The pixie had made it clear that she was pretty sure that the girl was not aware that her companions were werewolves. It had only been nine days, nine measly days, since Sally had gone missing and yet in those nine days it appeared that she’d suddenly forgotten the supernatural world even existed. That thought caused Peri to shiver. Only powerful dark magic could make someone forget herself and her past, especially someone as powerful as a gypsy healer. 
Peri was sick of dealing with powerful dark magic. Why couldn’t it be light, powerless magic that she had to face? Okay, so that was ridiculous, but she was really tired of contending with the latter. Just once she’d like to kick evils’ dark butt and stand the victor for, like, ever. Her irritation grew as she stood there and thought about her past dealings against the forces of darkness. The growing irritation helped her make up her mind. She wouldn’t hide behind a masquerade. These wolves were about to learn that they weren’t the only predators in Oceanside—not any more.
“Are you coming in?” she asked the pixie.
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
Peri smiled. “Jen would like you,” she said and then pulled the door open and stepped inside. Going from the brightness of the Spring day, to the darkness of the bar’s interior, was a shock to the fae’s senses, and she had to let her eyes adjust before being able to fully take in her surroundings.
She was immediately disappointed. The place was…typical. The drab drinking establishment could have been on any street in any coast city in America. Peri didn’t know what she’d been expecting to find, maybe a powerful dark wizard holding court over an army of snarling bloodthirsty werewolves or, perhaps, a bunch of furry mutts walking around and peeing on the bar stools? Okay, so that was probably a little ridiculous, but after all the things she’d seen in the last two years since the Coldspring trio had come into her life, ridiculous was totally a given most of the time.
Her eyes settled on what she immediately knew was going to be a headache for her—and she did not need any more headaches—a large attractive bartender drying glasses on the other side of the bar. He was alone at the bar and, due to the early hour, only a few patrons sat scattered at various tables, each glued to their cell phones, none paying her any particular attention. Though Peri generally leaned toward causing as much drama as possible, she supposed confronting the beast now when there weren’t many witnesses might be the wiser course. It’s a pity the wiser course is always the most boring.
She walked toward the bar, her steps slow and measured, as she continued to watch the male. He was concentrating a little harder than was necessary on the simple task and Peri nearly laughed. He was well aware that she was there and he knew who and what she was.
Once she reached the bar, she took a seat on one of the many, uncomfortable stools. “I’ve never understood why the stools in these places are so damn uncomfortable. You’d think you’d want to keep patrons here longer, not torture their asses until their finally forced to stumble home early,” she said, continuing to watch the bartender closely. His shoulders tensed ever so slightly, and, had she not been watching so closely, Peri would have missed it.
When he finally looked up at her, his eyes were glowing. Peri clucked her tongue at him. “Naughty wolf, do not challenge me here in front of the humans. You know what I am. And I will not hesitate to introduce myself to you in such a way that will be very unpleasant for you.”
“No introductions are necessary,” he growled out. “I know exactly who you are, Perizada of the high fae.”
“What are you doing so far from your pack, Jericho?” Peri asked the wolf hoping to illicit some reaction by mentioning his former Missouri pack.
“We live a long time, sometimes a change is necessary,” he responded and she detected a small amount of bitterness in his voice.
“Mmm, hmm. True, true. But it’s very strange for a wolf to leave his pack, isn’t it? The ties between the members are strong, not to mention the tie you have to your Alpha. Were you running from something? Perhaps, the death of your true mate?”“Don’t,” he snapped. “Don’t ever speak of her.” She could see that the pain of his loss was still very close to the surface. This didn’t surprise the fae. It was unnatural for a wolf not to follow his true mate in death. For Jericho to still be here, alive—having not completed the Blood Rites, was an insult to his mate, or at least that’s how he felt about it.
“Have you moved on?” Peri asked nonchalantly. “You know that some mates left behind in this world still find love, despite the fact that their true mate is gone. No, it’s not like what you had with your female, of course, but it could ease the loneliness.” Why in the hell was she giving this fleabag advice? She mentally kicked herself.
“Are you concerned about my well-being, fae?” Jericho sneered. It was not a good look on him.
“I have more concern for an ingrown hair on a pixie’s ass than I have for you,” she shot back. “I’m here investigating other matters.”
“Since when did the high fae become detectives, sticking their noses into wolf business?” Jericho’s teeth were beginning to grow and his hands were shaking as he continued to dry the same glass he’d been drying since she’d started speaking to him.
“Oh come now, there aren’t any high fae detectives here, just little ole me—a gal trying to get herself a quick drinky-poo. There’s nothing wrong with that is there. It must be pure coincidence that I happened to come into the one establishment where a rogue wolf, hundreds of miles from his pack, is dutifully tending bar. Yep, pure coincidence.”
“Don’t insult my intelligence,” Jericho snarled. The words were garbled and slobber flew from his mouth as his canines lengthened. The glass in his hand shattered and claws began to grow from his fingertips.
Peri slammed her hand down on the bar and pushed her magic out in a flash of light. No, the light or sound wasn’t necessary, but she’d admitted already to having a flair for the dramatic. The room stilled. The humans, completely unaware that she’d suspended them and their minds, took no notice. In their own minds, they were still moving and talking. Nifty little trick, she smiled to herself.
Peri could feel the light pulsing around her body. She didn’t fully reveal her power, but it was enough to put the wolf in his place.
“Are you challenging me, wolf?” Peri said smoothly, as though she could flick her finger and wipe the floor with him—which she could. “I thought I made it clear at the beginning of this little encounter that it wouldn’t be wise to do such a thing.”
Jericho took a step back and averted his gaze as the glow receded from his eyes, and his teeth and claws returned to the normal human length. Peri might not be an alpha wolf, but she was more dominant and more powerful than the man before her and he knew it. So at least he wasn’t as stupid as she had thought. But she probably shouldn’t be giving him the benefit of the doubt just yet. Sometimes stupid took time to present itself. 
“We’re not causing trouble, Perizada. We’ve done nothing to warrant your scrutiny, or anyone else’s.
“That’s where I would have to disagree with you. I have reason to believe that you have something very important that belongs not only to me but also to another pack and another male. And, well, I guess I need to add that she also belongs to her two psychotic best friends.” Peri made a motion with her hand as if to wipe the comment away.
“What could we possibly have that belongs to you?”
“And a pack, a male and—”
“The two best friends, I get it,” he snapped.
“Psychotic best friends. That is a distinction you cannot leave out, and I suggest that you remember it just in case they ever decide to visit Oceanside.”
Jericho crossed his arms in front of him and leaned back on the counter behind him. It was a deliberate pose to make him appear relaxed, as if he didn’t fear the being before him. “We don’t have anything that is not ours.”
Peri nearly reached out and slapped the cocky wolf. He’d chosen his words carefully. He could have said that they didn’t have anything that belonged to her and the others, but instead he’d deliberately said that they don’t have anything that is not ours. It was a passive aggressive attempt to put Peri in her place. He clearly knew who she was looking for and he was making a claim on Sally.