Page 14

I really liked Sasha and Colbie. They were lots of fun, and, added to that, they were great at their jobs. I could tell that Marc was the heart of the squad, and everyone looked to Jameson as their leader. North was a good medic, but he had spent the last hour scowling at me across the table.

I turned my glass around, fiddling with it. I wanted him to like me, dammit. Dad would tell me that it would all be fine. That I just needed to earn his trust.

We’d worked well together today. I just needed to give it time.

I rose. “I’m heading to the ladies’ room.”

I headed toward the back of the bar, and quickly visited the restroom. After I washed my hands, I walked out, and spotted Hemi Rahia behind the bar. Or rather, heard him.

He had a booming laugh. I’d heard all about him and the berserkers. Wild tales of their exploits during the fight with the Gizzida.

“There you are.” The man I’d been talking to at the bar appeared. Blake. He had a friendly smile and was nice to chat with. He was a firefighter for the town of Dawn and the surrounding communities.

“Hey,” I said.

“I wanted to see if you’d like to dance?”

On the small dance floor, a few couples were moving around to the music.

I smiled. “Sure.” I was new here and I wanted to make friends.

He reached out and took my hand.

Kai was playing a fun upbeat song on the piano. We found a spot on the dance floor and started to move.

Blake wasn’t bad on his feet. He twirled me out and back in, and I laughed. He seemed nice, but my mind kept returning to the fight this morning. To the monsters we’d fought. I was eager to find some quiet time to take more notes on the creatures. If we encountered them again, I wanted to take a sample of the poison in their backs. I’d already talked to Jameson about getting my hands on a small test kit to take out with me. I was also very curious about how they’d lured us into a trap.

They certainly appeared to be working together. The monsters here were changing behaviors. More so than anything I’d seen back home.

It couldn’t mean anything good.

“I’m cutting in,” a deep voice said.

I looked up into North’s blue eyes and stiffened.

“Ah, we aren’t done yet, mate,” Blake murmured.

“Yeah, you are,” North said curtly.

“Blake, this is North, one of my squad mates,” I said.

Blake didn’t look happy, but he stepped away.

I managed a smile.

Then North wrapped his arms around me. He was taller and broader than Blake. He smelled like shower gel. Something crisp and fresh.

“How are your burns?” he asked.

I tried to focus. I hated that his proximity affected me so much. “They’re fine. A little tender.” Which he already knew from our trip to the infirmary. “You?”

“I’m good.”

We were quiet for a moment, swaying to the music.

“Is that why you came over here? To check on my injuries that you know are healing fine?”

“Yes.” His brows drew together. It was so annoying that a scowl made him look even more handsome. “And to warn you. That guy you were dancing with, he’s here with a different woman every time I see him.”