Steve’s dick tented his stupid robe, and he didn’t mind if she noticed. If she wanted to try a shifter on for size, he was more than happy to oblige. It sucked for Devon, though. It was clear that a shifter didn’t even have low status in the eyes of the fae—as outsiders, they had no status. They were a red light when it came to marriage, and from what Steve had glimpsed, the head lady was stuffy, at best. While Steve was in Candy Land, with promiscuous ladies who weren’t looking for long term, Devon was in hell.
They crossed a wide dirt lane, and even though there were no fences or markings, it was clear they’d just left the village.
“You’ll be quite comfortable here,” Zana said, indicating a small grouping of cabins that didn’t seem like they’d seen visitors in…a long time. The flower beds were empty, the grass patches were taken over by weeds, and some sort of natural brown wall had probably once started as a hedge.
“You are not so welcoming to visitors,” Cole boomed, and Steve smirked. He hoped the whole village had heard it.
Embarrassment crossed Zana’s face. “I do so apologize. We weren’t expecting guests. I’ll relay your displeasure immediately.”
“It’s fine,” Devon said. Steve didn’t need to have a heart-to-heart with the alpha to know he needed some alone time where he didn’t have to keep all his crap bottled up.
They really did need that hooch. This place better have some.
“Thank you for your hospitality,” Devon said, stopping at the edge of the little grouping of cabins.
The woman gushed, her cheeks reddening, and fluttered her eyelashes. Oh yeah, the young alpha had game. “Thank you, Alpha Shifter. We would like to make your stay as comfortable as we can. We know you are concerned for your charge.”
Devon didn’t so much as twitch, but he must’ve been shriveling inside. His charge. He was a guy expected to move on now that his charge was safe and secure.
“C’mon.” Steve slapped his hand on Andy’s shoulder because he didn’t think Devon would’ve reacted well if he’d tried the move with him. “Let’s get drunk, pass out, and sleep for two days. This will all look better a couple of mornings from now.”
“I could use a drink,” Macy said, her eyes bloodshot and her lower lip trembling. She had some shit to work through too.
“How about it, lovely?” Steve asked Zana. “Got anything that makes people a little squirrely?”
She blushed again. “Yes, of course. I’ll have some sent over right away. Would you…like chaperones, or…?”
Oh yeah, Steve was going to love this place.
He winked at her. “Not this time. We need to decompress. Come see me in a couple of days.”
“Sure. Of course.” She took a step back, bowed, and jogged gracefully back the way they’d come.
“Snooty bastards,” Cole said, glancing at the nearest cabin, which likely hadn’t hosted anyone for twenty years. “Why would a people want to separate themselves from the world, do you think? What are they hiding?”
Macy huffed. “The question isn’t what they’re hiding. It’s what are they hiding from? Did you see them in battle? No real warrior has such well-brushed hair. Sure, they were pretty good, but they’re green as hell.” She lifted her eyebrows at everyone. “Obviously they’re not used to dealing killing blows. Practice in a field with a wooden sword doesn’t make a warrior. Experience on the field of battle makes a warrior. And if they give me an opportunity, I’ll prove it.”
A tear leaked out of her eye. Her jaw clenched.
Oh yeah, she’d prove it. Steve hoped to hell she got an opportunity so the grief didn’t eat her alive.
“With your permission, Mr. Alpha Shifter,” Steve said, giving it the dramatic emphasis the fae seemed to, “let’s get out of these stupid robes and hopefully get roaring drunk.”
Devon stared back at the village, an island with a fragile bridge, and Steve knew he was wondering about the odds of visiting Charity. She’d been put in special, temporary housing while “suitable” accommodation could be arranged. They’d scoffed at Devon when he suggested that she stay with the pack.
“Yeah,” he said, his eyes swinging to Macy. “Let’s get drunk and remember all the good times with Dillon. All the achievements he’d been proud of. That he’d want people to remember.”
“Or the times he’d be embarrassed that we remembered.” Andy smirked, sadness in his eyes.
A tear dripped down Macy’s cheek. “Tonight is for Dillon.”
“Tomorrow…or whenever we wake up, we can pick a fight with the biggest, baddest fae in this place.” Steve winked. “We have some aggression to fight out…and a reputation to uphold.”Chapter Twenty-SixCharity opened her groggy eyes, blinking in the soft light of a bedroom. Her temporary bedroom, if she remembered correctly. She’d come out of the fog of sleep a few times over the last few days, confused and disoriented. She’d only been able to take in small amounts of info, and ask for Devon, before a surge of magic or fatigue pulled her under again.