Page 88 of As Above, So Below

Nicholas peers around the stairs before turning back to me. “Just push, girlie,” he encourages, “otherwise you’ll be standing here all night.”

Drawing a deep breath, I push into the crowd shoulder first, following a tingling pull in my chest. People part easier than I’d anticipated, shifting their bodies away to provide room. After what feels like an eternity of sliding through close-knit groups, I slip intoa spot at the bar, the corner closest to the stairs. Scanning the line of figures along the bar, I search for the fae in black.

The male on my right jostles into me without notice, laughing with the group on the other side of him, and I heave a sigh. He’s clearly drunk. A smoky saffron scent hits my nose, and my head snaps left to find the fae in black beside me. Leaning against the bar on his forearms, a tankard of ale between his hands.

“Searching for someone, little witch?” he asks, his face remaining forward.

The pull in my chest nudges me in his direction. Standing firm against it, I set the empty tankard and glass on the bar.

“Yes, Camille.” Another lie that leaves me with expertise as I gesture to her.

Standing on the far end of the bar, she moves with a quickness to deliver drinks and collect payment from a group of rowdy human men. She shifts, her eyes locking with mine, and her brows raise. She throws up a finger, an indication she’ll be a minute.

Nodding, I settle against the bar.

“Lilith give you the night off to enjoy the fight?” I ask, my eyes sliding in the fae’s direction.

“Something like that,” he chuckles his answer, and counters with his own question. “How are you finding life at the temple?”

The casualness of his tone, of the question, takes me by surprise. He sounds as if we are old friends merely catching up.

“Forgive me if I’m wrong, but usually getting to know someone starts with introducing oneself,” I smirk, arching a brow.

He laughs. “My friends call me Ryc,” he replies, his head turning in my direction. His hood casts shadows on everything but the lower half of his face where he flashes a smile, revealing his fangs.

“A brave assumption, Ryc,” I counter with a genuine laugh. “Your confidence rivals that of some nefarious creatures I know.”

“Keep company with nefarious creatures often?” he teases.

Shaking my head, I laugh. “Not any more.”

“For the better.” He nods once and turns his face forward.

Camille saunters toward us, wiping her hands upon the small apron tied around her waist.

“Another round?” she asks, her eyes darting between Ryc andme.

She doesn’t step up to the bar as she had earlier when Eve was with me. Is she afraid of this fae? Or is she afraid of me?

“Yes, please.” I push the glasses further onto the bar.

Surprise washes over her face. “Oh, I like you,” she croons playfully, snagging the glasses, but quickly steps back. “A stunnerandpolite?”

“Eve says to put it on her tab?” I say, grimacing. “I’m not entirely sure what that means, or how that works.”

Camille nods, rolling her eyes. “Of course she wants it on her tab. She’s going to end up in the poorhouse with as much as she owes.”

“Let me buy this round.” Ryc reaches for his waist.

Camille’s smile turns sanguine. “It’s going to take more than a round of drinks to land this one, fae,” she drawls in teasing tones as she levels a challenging glare in his direction.

Ignoring her, he sets a small leather pouch on the bar, the coins inside clinking as he does. With a slow shake of her head, she bounds off to pour the drinks.

The male on my right steps back, his heel landing square on my toes. In a flash of pain, heat, and anger, I snarl, shoving the male with all my strength and weight. He’s sent flying into the two other fae in his company, his ale spilling over.

Faster than I can register, Ryc grabs me by my hips, and in a swift motion, pulls me behind him. The male turns, now faced with Ryc instead of me.

“I suggest you leave,” Ryc says calmly in a low warning tone.