Page 18 of Magic Forsaken
I let my skeptical stare linger just long enough for her to realize I’d noticed her evasion before raising my glass of ginger ale in agreement.
“Hear, hear,” I muttered, then took a large gulp to conceal my frustration.
Clearly there was something sketchy going on here, but just as clearly, story time was over and no one was willing to tell the freakishly overpowered water elemental anything they hadn’t already let slip.
Including how the literal dragon princess had ended up being raised like a human. That seemed worth filing away for later, even if now was obviously not the right time to ask.
One thing I did know? The human authorities were right to be nervous. If tonight’s events were any indication of things to come, there were about to be a lot of egos, a lot of different powers, and a lot of competing agendas all in one place. All of them under the supervision of a cranky dragon shifter who was perfectly willing to roar first and ask questions later.
Given the display we’d seen this evening? We’d be lucky if Oklahoma City didn’t end up a smoking pile of rubble before this Symposium was over.
FIVE
Fortunately,we didn’t have to wait much longer for Faris to finish his conversation. About the time I finished my ginger ale, he approached the bar with what I was beginning to recognize as his resting angry face.
“We’re closed for the rest of the night,” he told Seamus. “Put the word out. I’ll address Talia’s concerns and see her off afterwards. You’re free to go. Same for Irene, Isaac, Kyle, and Alicia. Emberly can go after she balances the receipts. Oliver can go home and rest, but I’d like Nico to stay until we’re through. Have him board up the door and put in a call for a new pane.”
Seamus nodded. “Whatever you want, boss. What about Raine?”
Those piercing green eyes turned on me, but I couldn’t read them at all. Faris had said I’d done nothing wrong, but I couldn’t tell whether he was angry, curious, thankful, or apathetic. Every one of his tells seemed to have gone flat.
“We’ll talk tomorrow,” he said after a moment or two of consideration. “Kira, can you and Draven drive her home?”
“I’ll take myself home, thank you,” I said firmly, tilting my chin and meeting his eyes without flinching. I didn’t need anyone else seeing where I lived, or with whom. And after this,they should at least be willing to believe that I could take care of myself. “When am I expected to report tomorrow?”
One of Faris’s eyebrows shot up, but he did not otherwise react. “Take the afternoon off. Be here at six. It’s a Saturday, so even if we manage to get the repairs done in time to open, the larger crowd won’t show up until after dinnertime. Should give us enough time to settle things.”
Settle things. Whatever that meant.
“I’ll be here.” I stood up and turned towards the kitchen. I needed to get my jacket and my hat and head out before exhaustion got the better of me and I snapped. Today had just been one shock after another, and even I had my limits.
“Raine.”
I stopped at the sound of my name in Faris’s deep, growling voice.
“Yes?”
“You did well today.”
I jerked back around to look at him. My surprise must have been evident, because the intensity of his expression eased.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to fire you. Yet.”
All I could do was nod. I was exhausted and frustrated, but this, at least, was a relief. I still had a job.
“Thank you,” I said coolly, and left before they could read any other emotions on my face.
The mileand a half back to the hostel began to look more like ten by the time I’d gone three blocks.
It was after midnight, and the streets outside Bricktown were nearly deserted. With the sun’s warmth long gone, the wind was cold enough to cut right through my shirt and still-damp jeans,and I shivered as I trudged along the sidewalk, arms wrapped around my chest.
Maybe I should have accepted the offer of a ride, but the less knowledge anyone had of my situation, the better. Only one more mile, and then I could change into dry clothes, collapse into bed, and sleep until Ari’s enthusiasm woke me up.
Twice, I thought I heard the sound of heavy footsteps behind me, but when I checked, there was no one but the wind.
There weren’t many other pedestrians out and about, but once I crossed over Classen Boulevard, I noticed a group of boys clustered just off the sidewalk in a vacant lot near a gas station. A few of them started laughing just as another one kicked out at something on the ground. I heard a pained sound in response and forgot how tired I was as rage coursed through my veins.
They were torturing something, or someone, and I didn’t stop to consider much beyond my own fury. Exhaustion forgotten, I charged into the middle of the group and spotted a half-grown kitten trying to stagger away.