All at once, Owen’s body went limp, and Lilith thought maybe he’d passed out. At least, she hoped he’d passed out. It was also good that blood wasn’t spurting, and all his parts still seemed connected.
After what seemed like hours, the wolf released Owen, who slumped to the ground.
Then, miraculously, it was over.
Lilith buried her face in her hands. Remy’s arms snaked around her, and she allowed him to hold her, breathing in the clean scent of leather and spice. He whispered quiet, soothing words in her ear and slowly, she felt a measure of calm return.
“Find me a damned shirt,” Gideon roared.
Lilith pulled away from Remy. The alpha had shifted back into human form again and was magnificently naked. All eyes were on her.
“Are you deaf, woman?” Gideon yelled again. “Find me a shirt.”
He gestured to his genitals. “And some pants.”
Nine by Night: A Multi-Author Urban Fantasy Bundle of Kickass Heroines, Adventure, Magic
CHAPTER EIGHT
“It’s all okay,” Tasha muttered as she threaded her way through the crowded bar making her way back to where her friends were still gathered. The air smelled of onion rings and fried shrimp and beer. Cigarette smoke drifted in through the open windows. Tasha twitched her nose and coughed.
The itchy spot on her wrist throbbed where Lilith had rubbed it after saying stupid, impossible things. Tasha’d wanted to call her a bitch and stalk off. After all, wasn’t that what stilettos were for?
Among other things.
She tennis-matched from one side of the bar to the other, making sure there weren’t any more hunky, leather-clad males with predatory intent lurking. All she saw were the normal tourist-escaping-to-the-beach variety guys. They were a little dumpy, some going bald, and to a man, desperately needed someone to dress them, but after what she’d seen in the banquet room, ordinary guys seemed comforting. Reassuringly normal.
Not werewolves.
Seriously? Who believed that crap?
Those guys could style themselves however they wanted, but she certainly didn’t believe Lilith’s claims.
The real question was what was Lilith trying to pull over on her now?
Whatever it was, Tasha wasn’t buying or believing or cooperating any longer than she absolutely had to in order to get her questions answered. After that, she was heading back to Portland.
Boring suddenly looked like a good thing.
Erin and the others who’d joined them on a night out after ten days at the Lost Legacy spa were still seated at the table to the left of the door. A few guys had wedged into the group. The round-backed chair where Tasha had been sitting next to Erin was still empty. She took her seat and mourned the loss of her lovely pink cocktail. Shards of glass ground underfoot as she scooted closer to the table.
Erin’s chin bobbed against her chest, her red hair swinging back and forth in time to the music. From the looks of it, her friend wasn’t doing well at all, but hey, no judging, right?
“How’s it going,” Tasha asked with forced cheer.
Erin didn’t respond.
She tapped Erin on the shoulder, and she looked up, but her gaze was unfocused. She seemed to be studying something on the ceiling. Tasha resisted the urge to follow Erin’s direction.
“You know,” Erin said, pointing a wavering finger upward, “alcohol just doesn’t do it for me anymore.”
Tasha blinked. “Because…”
Erin’s gaze swiveled, and she spread her hands wide. “Because I’m not drunk.”
“Un-huh,” Tasha said, “and this is you not drunk?”
“Eggs-act-ly,” Erin slurred. “Can you believe it?”
“No, actually, I can’t.”
“You’re no fun, but I should have guessed that.”
“Why?”
Erin leaned forward and spoke in a loud, drunken whisper. “They’ve been telling me about you.”
“They?”
“Uh-huh,” Erin said, nodding as solemnly as a six-year-old with a secret.
“Who?
“Up there.” She pointed again.
“That’s it.” Tasha collected her purse and fished for the keys to her rental. “Let’s get you home.”
“I don wanna go home,” Erin said.
“What do you want to do?” As if cooperating with crazy helped.
“I lost eight pounds this week. Eight! And you know what?”
“What?” Tasha asked.
“Bobby—that’s my husband—Bobby will still think I’m fat.” Erin sighed, and her lower lip quivered. “What’m I gonna do? If I stay fat, I think he’s gonna leave me for one of those skinny yoga girls.”