Page 22

I Knew You Were Trouble When You Walked In

T hat big arsed bird has been perched on the bench for four hours. Word is it belongs to the new lass in town. It’s watching the street like it’s guarding the doorway—I don’t blame the bloody thing. I haven’t once heard jaws flap about any one person in town like they are about her since I got assigned here. Sure, there were wee scandals and outrages befitting a town of rich supes living amongst humans, but nothing on the scale of Jolene Athena Whitley’s arrival has generated.

It's ironic she's named the way she is. Can’t say I’m surprised someone has a rich sense of humor at the expense of the clueless. The relatives amuse themselves with shit like this all the time. It’s what living for millennia does to your mind—boredom is a constant battle. I’m sure dear auntie had herself a great big guffaw when the prof or one of his ilk told her.

Taking a drag, I look down the street and chuckle as I exhale. The names of the stores get me every time, and I can’t believe I managed that. Fine, I indulge in a bit of mischief to quell the monotony as well. Sue me—or don’t, because the last person who needs to be on a stand is me. His Honorable Dickweed would lose the sodding plot if he had to listen to one of these rubes try to elicit truthful testimony out of me. Actually, it might be fun. I may commit some sort of crime just to see what happens.

Sounds craic to 90, and I’m always game for that.

“Doyle, why are you standing out here drawing attention to the building like a fucking gargoyle on fire?”

I sigh, rolling my eyes as I face the dishonorable judge himself. “What are you doing here instead of meting out justice with Vlad and Randall? What do my taxes pay for ?”

Edgar snorts, shaking his head. “You work for us, idiot. You don’t pay taxes. Hell, very few people in this town do outside of tributes and the humans. Answer my question.”

“I’m having a fag, Boone. Even in the South you can’t do that inside city buildings anymore,” I shrug, my eyes cutting to the bird again. I’ve heard some members are involved with the pretty lass with eyes the color of the rolling hills of Tara, and I’m curious. I only saw her once, and that’s all it took to know that she’s bloody enchanting.

“Look, Haggerty. I can tell you’re up to something, and if I find out you’re meddling where you don’t belong, I’ll inform the Town Council. Don’t think I won’t go higher if I need to, either.” His eyes narrow as he follows my gaze, and something changes in his posture. “And leave Jolene Whitley alone—she’s mine.”

I put my hand on my chest, batting my lashes as I taunt the testosterone filled git. “Edgar, I’d swear you were sweet on the lassie. Must sting like a bee that rumors have the doctoral duo warming her bed most nights. Did you not measure up?”

His growl startles me, and before I know it, the air is filled with a fog that threatens to take over my senses, and large feathered appendages smash into my head. Motherfucker hit me on both sides, eh? We’ll see about that. The pheromones continue to choke the air, but I close my eyes and let it run through me. It’d be a waste of a good power boost not to. One of his wings hits me again, and I snap.

“You’re out of your league, Boone!” I snarl back. I won’t use both sides—it would only end in disaster for all of us. I haven’t used the gifts from my mother’s side for hundreds of years. However, my father’s side is much less destructive. Feeling the energy coast over my skin, I look at him in the eyes despite his glittering half-shifted form. My voice is smooth and low like warm honey being poured as I murmur, “You don’t want to do this, mate. The fog can’t charm me, and this will draw more attention than my smoking outside of the club. Shift back, and we’ll go have a drink at Benjy’s.”

Blinking, he tilts his head, not replying with more than a hiss of breath. I keep muttering the same instructions over and over, tracing a circle in the air as I do so. After a few minutes, the feathers fade, and I sense the mist in the air pulling back. My eyes glow as I check out the deserted street, hoping that either we got lucky and no one saw, or his powers drove them inside for more... pleasurable activities.

“Haggerty, I’m going to wring your fucking neck,” he groans, shaking his head and running a hand through his hair. Before I can reply, he whistles loudly and his two giant beast dogs come flying out of the building like the hounds they are. “Leave Jolene alone and shut your mouth about her bedmates. She can have whatever she wants, and it’s none of your goddamn business.”

“Mmmmm. Methinks the uncatchable Judge Boone has met his match,” I say, grinning. “And she must be a very special supe indeed to convince one of your kind to accept this situation. Color me intrigued.”

Sighing, he shakes his head. “I mean it, Doyle. She doesn’t know . Not any of it—even what she is. Hell, the snakes don’t know. So leave it alone until we figure out why a lost one came back without being awakened first.”

“Mate, I’m known for my... discretion. I won’t let it slip, but I’m hurt that no one’s asked me to unlock the secrets. It’s one of my fundamental skills, as you well know,” I wink at saucily, and he rolls his eyes at me. Taunting Edgar Olivier Boone III has been a substantial source of amusement for me since I arrived, and I doubt that will ever change. The git has a sense of humor, but he acts like he has a great stick shoved up his arse all the time.

“We could have had Prez work his mojo as well, but the Council says the directive is to allow things to progress naturally. They have their hands full with several lost ones emerging across the globe, and they’re more focused on the ones they don’t have eyes on. Tilly is among our kind, and they’ve even sent her a Guardian. Speaking of which…” He looks at his Apple watch and runs a hand through his hair in aggravation. “I have to meet her and Cantwell at a site. We’ve been ordered to get her and an incoming team of Guardians settled in very short order.”

My eyes flash as I process that information. An individual Guardian and a team? What do the snakes think she’s capable of? Boone is texting something, and I let my power slip to see if I can get a better read on him. It’s easier for me to get into another member’s mind if I do it when they aren’t paying attention. He ignores me in favor of his phone, and a smile curls my lips. This is my opening.

~This woman pisses me off. The Council put me in charge of her accommodations, and I don't know why. I’m not a real estate agent; I’m a bookie and a judge. Cantwell runs a horse farm. Why the fuck are we the contacts and why the hell is there another team coming? Who are these special Guardians? Why is Saoirse hiding their identity? I won’t let them hurt my drugar—even if it means losing my spot. The docs will agree. I need to talk to them after my meeting at the site. Yes, that’s the plan. After I get rid of this annoying flea, I’ll contact them. ~

Huh. A flea, am I? His Honor just earned himself about a thousand hours of juvenile delinquent pranks gone wrong, I think. Maybe I’ll even tap his beloved football idiots. That should teach him some respect.

I shake my head, considering the other information I pilfered while he worried about someone sending him messages via electronics. He’s worried that our local or global leaders have plans for the lovely Miss Whitley that are less than earnest. And that word he used... I’ve been around long enough to pick up a few languages and I know what he means. I wonder if the others know? Hell, I wonder if she knows. I doubt, given the speech the surly jock gave me moments ago.

Another interesting development. I love secrets.

“Boone, if you’re done ranting at me, I have things to do. You know where to find me if you’d like your ass handed to you again.” I give him a little wave as I saunter up the street towards the city building. His glare burns into my back and I laugh to myself, satisfied with the chaos I may have sown by taunting him. Alpha supes like Edgar are delightful to toy with—the dumber ones are easy to manipulate and the smart ones present just enough of a challenge to make this backwater town less grating.

When I reach the stairs, the giant eagle gives me a dirty look, using its sharp predator gaze to let me know it doesn’t like me. That’s too bad, but I suspect it's fond of Dr. Birdman and the little vet. Companion animals are attuned to their supes, so much so that many learn to summon them without words or sound. I’ve never had one choose me and it’s always puzzled me. I figured it’s because of my father’s influence. Deceit isn’t an emotion companions prefer to spread, I suppose.

“Doyle!”

I look up the stairs, arching a brow as our illustrious Mayor and her menacing lion approach. This is unexpected—Nelia works late into the evening. Tilting my head, I give her my most charming smile. “Afternoon, ‘Nelia. What can I do for you on this balmy day?”

Her eye roll makes me grin wider, and Zareb shakes his mane. “Doyle Aloysius Haggerty. Do not use your... skills... on me, young man. There is an urgent meeting in the city that I must attend. I need you to lock up the office after Jolene leaves the archives. I sent Aldous and the others home before I left, but she’s busy researching. Parents’ Night is tonight, so she shouldn’t be much longer. Just amuse yourself until she leaves, please.”

Ah! What a fabulous opportunity to right our poor introduction last week. I’ll head up and poke my head to say he ? —

“Do not disturb her, Doyle. Miss Whitley has much to learn about our town now that she’s home, and I wouldn’t want anyone to prevent her from grasping our history.”

If those instructions were from anyone in Whistler’s Hollow other than Mayor Cornelia Sykes, I would ignore them. However, even without Zareb, I know I don’t want to cross her. So I nod. “Yes, ma’am. I understand the situation.”

“Good. I’ll be gone for a few days, and when I return, I hope to find Jolene settled in at school and her studio. We have made our guest welcome and I expect that Judge Boone and Mr. Cantwell will have achieved their tasks. I will appreciate anything you can do to speed that process along. I will make sure the Council informs your family.”

The statuesque woman and the surly lion head for the parking lot, striding as though they own this place. They don’t, but they hold the highest seats of power available here, and even I know I have to respect their wishes. Unfortunately, that means I have to assist that dickwaffle Boone and whatever cronies he’s gathered for his project.

Fuck me raw, I hate small towns.