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“Ok, so what’s the bad news?” Mauvy takes a moment to take in Seff, who has caught on to our spectating and is now pouring a full bottle of water over himself like the show pony he is.
Mauvy may not swing Seff’s way as first preference, but he is an incredibly built specimen, and even she can’t deny it. Standing behind her, I have to poke her in the ribs to get her attention. The others are ignoring us now, completely engrossed in Seff’s ridiculous display—hedefinitelydoes not need to bend like that to pick up whatever he’s just purposely dropped.
“Uh, yeah.” Mauvy shakes her head, her braids wiggling on her chest. “It’s Hildy. Her sister is pregnant with triplets, so she is leaving to go help her. Apparently, she lives a couple of hoursaway. So, she’ll be finishing here in a couple of weeks. We need another permanent server.”
Shit. We could probably cover with some of the casuals, but Mauvy and I like working with our core team—since it helps keep things running smoothly. A sudden impulse strikes me, that old fae instinct knocking into me hard and fast. Before I can consider the stupidity of the idea, I turn to Theo, clapping my hand onto his shoulder to get his attention.
“Theo, how would you like a job?”
Theo
I have no ideawhy I agreed to this. I mean, I know Roan was right about working on the cottage. As sore as I am every night when I collapse into bed, Iamfeeling better. Seeing the progress I’ve -we've -made, doing something with my hands, challenging myself to do things I never thought I could do,learning. Like, actually learning, not justknowing. It’s been, well, fun.
Plus, I’m so exhausted from all my hard work in the day that I’m sleeping easier at night. The nightmares haven’t exactly gone away. Most nights I still end up in the dark Woods and I can still hear Marieth and Darius calling to me in their haunting disembodied voices, but they aren’t as intense and vivid as they had been.
Between the sleep, the exercise, the good food, and Edith's disgusting concoction, I am starting to feel like, well, definitely not myoldself, but likemyself. It’s an entirely new feeling, almost like a weird confidence spiral. The more I manage to achieve, the more I want to - like a slippery slope of positivity turning me into this insane being who enjoys other people’s company and agrees to dumb new things.
Like working at the Black Stump Tavern.
Because Roan and I need more time to be sexually frustrated around each other.
But maybe it’s just me. Or maybe he’s a masochist. I don’t think that’s my thing, but I could learn if that’s what he’s into.
I pull nervously at my black jeans and tee shirt that serves as the loose uniform of the tavern. My tee shirt feels a little tight, but Seldon had insisted that it looked perfect and made my “wee, little, baby biceps pop” in a distinctly mocking tone. I have no idea why I am friends with him, but still I make my way down the stairs to the tavern for my first shift.
If only my parents could see me now. I almost giggle with glee at the horror Almithera and Tyne Hivercouer would experience knowing that theirsecondchild had abandoned their heritage,their legacy, to pursue a life inservice.
Though Tor’s deal was a little different. Before he did… whatever it is hedoesat Caelan’s homestead, other than get in the way, he was a dancer-slash-bartender. Basically, he hung around the place looking good in teeny tiny shorts.
From what Seldon said,I’llbe mopping spills and running dirty dishes for the night.
But rather than dwell on that, and the anxiety boiling in my guts at the idea of hanging around a tavern full of beings all night, or the way my shoulder is aching already from stripping wallpaper from the downstairs of the cottage today, I cling to petty joy of rebellion against my parents. It doesn’t matter that they aren’t in my life anymore to see it. I see it. And after spending my life cowering from experiences and desperately seeking everyone's approval, it feels good. Better than good.
It’s liberating.
I thud down the stairs with a little extra pep in my step, smiling and nodding at the tall, pale vampire coming up the stairs. He’s in the room next to me and has an awful habit ofslamming the bathroom door at five a.m. when he showers, but otherwise isn’t a bother.
As we pass, he looks down his aquiline nose at me. His black irises are tinged with red giving him a rather malevolent look, as his gaze bores into me. The look is disconcerting, making the hairs on my arms stand and tingle.
Maybe he just enjoys freaking people out, because when he registers my fear, his face slips easily into a surprisingly charming and handsome grin, and he nods back. The weirdo.
The tavern’s ornate staircase balustrade is cool beneath my hand as I make my way down. It is easily one of my favourite things about the place. The ancient tree trunk stands at the foot of the stairs, its long branches tamed hundreds of years ago to thread their way up the slightly curved staircase, almost like they had been braided by the Gods into subservience. I give the staircase a final pat and jump from the bottom step, running into Edith, who surprises me, threading her arm around my waist.
“My darling, we’ve all come to support you on your first day!”
And just like that, there goes my good mood.
My groan is loud and petulant, but I don’t care. It’s only the middle of the afternoon, so the tavern is largely empty. It’s easy to spot Roan behind the bar, where he’s scratching at the base of his horn, an apologetic smile on his face. Edith pulls me along, literally. I’m stumbling along the flagstone floor to keep up with her as she leads me to one of the booths built into the stone walls.
Horror fills me when Seff, Tor,andCaelan cheer exuberantly at my arrival, all obviously too many pints deep in the beer already. Embarrassment scorches the back of my neck, shooting down my arms to tingle my fingers.
Behind me there is a second round of cheers and laughter as another rowdy group of patrons join in the antics. I am not sureif they are aware of what they are cheering for, but at least they are enthusiastic about it.
I cover my face with my hands, pushing my fingers into my eyeballs until colours dance in the darkness.
“What are you idiots doing here?” I pout after a moment of hiding. Edith had rejoined the others, pouring herself a beer from the jug, overfilling her glass. She leans forward and slurps at the precariously filled glass and then beams her manic, red smile in my direction.
Seff slams his big hand on the table, jabbing a finger in my direction. “That’s rude, my friend. We wanted to be here for you on your big day!” His eyes are glassy and his smile sloppy. Awesome. Just what we need, a drunk, giant wolf shifter.
