Page 44
Story: Ring of Ruin
“You cut me to the core.”
Which wasn’t an actual denial.
As the car slid to a halt at the top of the lane that ran down to our tavern, I said, “You’ll contact me once you know anything about the photo or get confirmation of our victim’s ID?”
“Only if you promise to keep me similarly updated.”
“I will.”
He nodded. “Remain vigilant. Don’t be taking any undue risks.”
I resisted the urge to kiss his cheek goodbye—old habits were surprisingly hard to shake—and climbed out. Darby rang as I started walking toward the tavern.
“Hey,” I said. “Congrats on finally getting Lugh into bed.”
There was a slight pause. “Hetold you? I’m shocked, given the riot act he read me about saying too much. Well, riot act might be too dramatic, but you know what I mean.”
I did. “I know exactly which of my brother’s buttons to push. Glad he’s finally woken up to the good thing you are.”
“So am I.” I could hear the laughter bubbling through her voice. “Not sure how much longer I could have hung around waiting for the man to get a clue. What time are you coming over?”
“I’ve still got stuff to do at the tavern, so I’m not sure yet. Why?”
“I need to know whether to make dinner for two or for three.”
“I have a date with Eljin tonight, remember?”
“I obviously hadn’t, but excellent news all the same.” She paused, and I could almost hear the wicked wheels turning. “So, is tonight the night you sex that man senseless?”
I laughed. “Depends on how well the dinner goes, I’m thinking.”
“Given you’ve already met the man for coffee and for after-dinner drinks, you must have some idea on whether he’s a worthwhile pursuit.”
“You make him sound like a piece of meat.”
“Cynwrig’s the meat, and a juicy piece he is too. But while dark elves are sexual heaven, they will never be long-term. Eljin, however, is a very different proposition.”
Very true. “There’s definitely chemistry between us, but I’m torn between taking it slow and jumping into a relationship feet-first, so to speak.”
“As someone who has suffered through an extremely long build up to a relationship, I suggest feet first all the way.”
I laughed. “I wasn’t intending to string him along for years, just a few weeks.”
“Why?” she asked bluntly.
“I don’t know.”
“You do. I know you do.”
I sighed. It was pointless lying to her when she’d known me for so long now that she could tell a lie sight unseen, from just the sound of my voice.
“I jumped straight into a relationship with Mathi and I’m doing the same thing with Cynwrig. I just thought maybe it would be better to take a different path with Eljin.”
“Again, why?Whenyou have sex doesn’t matter in the long term. What does is whether you’re compatible in bedandout. You might as well enjoy yourself, my friend, while you’re discovering the latter.”
“True enough, I guess.”
“Then go out there and fuck that man so senseless he won’t even think of bedding the many other desperate pixie women hunting him down.”
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