Page 78 of First Ritual
“Thank you, Josie,” Wild said, then followed up with a pointed look my way.
Guess that was my cue. Couldn’t say I wanted to be in the same room as Wild and Bedwyr anyway. Especially because Wild’s visit seemed to coincide with my arrival very coincidentally.
I stood and put some space between me and Wild, again, then said to Bedwyr, “Hey, look, I suppose swimming isn’t recommended for rock people. How about I bring breakfast and my favorite board game here instead?”
Crack. Crack. “Good idea.”
Take that, predator Wild. He wasn’t getting in the way of any of my dates. No fucking way.
I closed the door behind me and pulled up short when Josie blocked my path.
“Bronte,” she said, then didn’t offer anything more.
A duel of names? I could play this game. “Josie.”
She crossed her arms.
Should I continue the obvious direction of this conversation? “Would you like to know what’s going on between me and Bedwyr?”
“No,” she scoffed. “I want to make sure you’re not going to hurt him by playing him and Wild at the same time.”
If Josie was a relation, then I’d buy it. If not, she had the hots for Bedwyr. “You’re Bedwyr’s sister?”
“No,” she blurted, red splotches staining her cheeks. “A friend.”
Totally had the hots for him. “I see. Well, there’s no need to worry. Bedwyr and I have a date planned, and we’ve discussed that we’re not exclusive, so if I wanted to date Wild too, then that would be okay. Obviously if I chose to do that, then I’d let Bedwyr know. Since you’re his friend, though, I’m happy to reassure you nothing is going on with Wild.”
She scoffed again.
Quite a rude sound in my opinion.
Josie fixed me with a do you think I’m stupid look. “You have Wild panting after you and you aren’t going there.”
If she thought so much of Wild, why did she have a crush on Bedwyr? “Is there a ranking system I’m unaware of that I’m meant to follow? What’s the big deal with Wild anyway? He’s got confidence—I’ll give him that. More like arrogance, though. And natural power that he hasn’t been sloppy about. But man, is whatever he gives out worth the rest?”
The door closed.
Ugh.
Warm breath tickled the back of my neck as Wild said, “I’ve never had any complaints.”
I shuddered and half turned to put the fucker in sight. “You weren’t meant to hear that. I was talking behind your back.”
That seemed to amuse him more than anything.
I gestured at the glaring magus on my left. “Josie was just asking if there’s anything between us.”
She spluttered denials.
Wild wrinkled his nose. “Tempest is confident, I’ll give her that. More like arrogant, though. She has natural power that she hasn’t been sloppy about. But is whatever she gives out worth the rest?”
Laughter burst from my lips. I jerked a thumb at him and cocked a brow. “See? Total jerk.”
“Is it worth it?” he repeated.
Uh-uh. That was flirting talk. “Nope. Shit lay. Bye now. Nice meeting you, Josie.” I walked away, grateful when I heard the female magus engage him in high-pitched and breathless conversation. Good ol’ Josie, always having my back like that.
Unfortunately, I didn’t know exactly where to go now. Today had been… weird, starting with the unasked-for Nordic rune tattoo, then the public library orgasm, and lastly the emotional conversation that resulted in me storming from the library.