“Why am I not being bashful about letting you know I… like you?” He said nothing. "A lot?"
"Yeah."
She studied him for a minute while she was deciding what to say. "I guess it's like an antique puzzle box where all the cylinders have to be arranged in a particular pattern before the box will open. When I saw you, all my cylinders lined up and clicked into place. I guess nobody believes in love at first sight until a stranger walks into the room one day and..." She trailed off. "What is it you're looking for?"
Wanting to simply put an end to the inane and pointless dialogue, Storm quipped, "Someone entertaining."
Litha considered that for a moment. "I can be entertaining."
He blinked, trying hard not to find that response just a little bit adorable. He wanted to ask how in the worst way, but forced himself to look uninterested, turn and walk away. Without the watercolor. Even though his fingers had itched to reach out and accept it.
***
CHAPTER 8
It wasn't easy to commandeer space for eleven people in a bar on a night when they were featuring live music. But with a combination of large corner snug and two tables pulled close, they managed to form a loosely structured group. The Norns were going to be trolling the bar all night anyway so there was no point in saving seats for them.
Though Aelsong had her back to the room, she kept getting the feeling that someone was staring. She finally turned to see who it was and her eyes locked on the navy blue gaze of a dark haired angel sitting across the room. He didn't look away or try to hide the fact that he'd been staring. She let her eyes wander down his body and back up again before turning back to her group.
The pub had better food than Elora had expected. Everybody had eaten well and seemed to be having a good time. Well, everybody except Litha. Storm had decided to nip the pursuit in the bud by making a big show of flirting with an array of unattached women in the bar while ignoring her. Observing this, Elora concluded that he must be very afraid of Litha's potential power over him, to engage in such un-Storm-like behavior.
Song also seemed more distracted than anything. Several times more she turned around to see what her admirer was up to. He was out with friends, raucous friends, but whenever she turned his way, he stopped what he was doing and looked back like she was the only one in the room of any importance.
Out of nowhere someone yelled, "Elves!"
The music stopped. The talking stopped.
Aelsong said, "Great Paddy. The crap has hit the wind."
Ram looked at Song and Elora and said: "Stay here," forcefully enough to let both know he meant it. As she slid out of the booth right behind him to follow and cover his back, Elora wondered who in the world he thought he was talking to.
When Ram reached the middle of the room he was facing several perturbed-looking fae, but he was also flanked by a recently cured vampire and three Black Swan knights, one of whom was a berserker and another of whom was his wife, who could destroy the building if she had cause.
He said to the crowd in general. "We do no' want trouble. We are here on official business. If our presence makes you uncomfortable, we'll be leavin'."
One of the fae staring down Ram smirked, raised his voice and said: "Hey, Duffy. The Fen is sayin' he's here on official business."
Aelsong's angel came through the crowd and stood in front of Ram. As she approached, she noticed he was as tall as her brother, which meant he was tall for a fae. She stopped beside Ram in a show of solidarity.
The angel looked down at her. "You're with him, then?"
"For all eternity. He's my brother."
The prince's mouth turned up at the edges. Then he looked at Ram. "And what is the nature of your official business?"
"Again, we do no' want trouble and are willin' to leave, but why should we be tellin' you our business?"
One of the challengers pointed a thumb at Song's angel. "Are you daft? You're talkin' to Prince Duff Torquil. You could be sayin' he's the last word on official."
Prince Torquil noticed that Ram showed no outward sign of being either intimidated or impressed.
Aelsong raised her chin and let her eyes wander over him again. A dark fae.
"'Tis no' for public consumption," Ram said.
"I see. An' is your sister privy to this intrigue?"
"Aye."