Once Bitten (Shadow Guild: The Rebel 1)
Page 72
If the cops made the connection between us and this cabbie—unlikely, but I was paranoid—I didn’t want to lead them straight to the Haunted Hound.
He nodded. “Be there in a jiff.”
My heart thundered the whole way to Convent Garden, then the entire way to the Haunted Hound. Once we made it to the safety of the pub, Mac sagged against the door. “Thank fates we’re back.”
“They can’t get in here?” I asked, searching the small crowd warily. No one turned toward us but Quinn, who smiled at us from the bar.
“Not unless they have magic.” Mac straightened. “Now, it’s time for a drink.”
“And they don’t. Have magic, I mean.” Finally, I relaxed.
Mac looked at me, her eyes wide. “You changed back.”
“To myself?”
“Yeah.”
“So did you. When did that happen?”
“I don’t know. I was in such a panic, I wouldn’t have noticed.”
“Could it have been when the guards were chasing us?”
“Maybe.”
Shit. They had looked right at us. Had they seen my real face after all?
I drew in a shuddering breath. They might not get me for the murder, but I didn’t want to be caught desecrating a body. I rubbed my hands over my face.
Mac grabbed my arm. “Come on. Let’s get that drink. I’d say we earned it.”
“Yeah. Yeah.”
She pulled me toward the bar, where Quinn waited. Handsome as ever, he eyed us up and down, taking in our disheveled appearances and heavy breathing. “Have fun, ladies?”
“Sure.” I sat, staring at the offerings behind the bar, having no idea what I wanted. My mind spun with everything that had happened.
“Two Hound’s Prides,” Mac said.
“Coming right up.”
“What’s a Hound’s Pride?” I asked.
“Does it matter?”
“Not really, actually.”
“That’s what I thought.” She grinned. “But it’s just a local ale, made here.”
“Great. Perfect.”
Quinn set two pints in front of us, and I grabbed one gratefully, drinking half of it in huge gulps. I looked up at Mac. “What the hell was the dark magic that froze us like that?”
“Necromancer magic, probably.”
“Did my mobile’s flash make it go off?”
Mac shrugged. “Maybe it didn't like the light. And you did reveal his work.”