away sleeping it off.” I tried to smile disarmingly at him.
He frowned at me. “Apparently it sounded more like a riot, than a party.”
“Crazy times, Nick, crazy times. Thanks for coming over to check it all out though.”
“Would you tell me if something was wrong?” he asked softly.
“Yes,” I lied, looking him straight in the eyes. I was becoming too good at this.
“Okay, then.” He paused for a moment. “Do you mind if I have a look around?”
Yes. “Ummm…”
At that moment, Tom, bless him, appeared. I waved at him frantically. He looked oddly wary of me but came over anyway. “Actually, it’s kind of late and we were going to go to bed.” I flung an arm round Tom’s waist and smiled at Nick apologetically. “How about tomorrow morning instead?”
His face went cold. “That won’t be necessary,” he said stiffly. “Call me if you need anything.”
He walked back outside. I watched him go, feeling sorry for him. In another world, that might have worked, but… The oak door slammed behind him and Corrigan’s voice came from behind me. “That was fast work.”
I realised my arm was still round Tom and snatched it away, whirling round. Corrigan’s eyes were entirely expressionless - and he was still holding the folder.
“I was just doing what you asked, my Lord.”
His gaze flicked to Tom and then back to me. “Whatever you say. Better get some rest. It’s late and we need everyone rested in case there’s another attack tomorrow.”
“And what if there’s one tonight?”
Corrigan sighed and looked at me tiredly. “I have watchers all over the keep. Do not presume to tell me my job, Miss Mackenzie.”
He walked up the stairs, with Staines behind him like a faithful dog.
“Do not presume to tell me my job, Miss Mackenzie, kitten, servant of my own bidding,” I mimicked once he’d gone. “Tosser.” I didn’t think I’d ever seen someone flick between hot and cold so quickly.
Tom looked across at me. “What the hell is going on, Red?”
“It’s…complicated.” I pulled him in the direction of the kitchen. “Come on, let’s get Alex and get a coffee and I’ll tell you.”
Chapter Twenty Three
The three of us congregated around the now upright kitchen table. I set the large copper kettle on the stove to boil and began preparing some coffee, setting out three mugs. Tom kept sending sidelong glances to Alex until exasperatedly I hissed that he could more than be trusted and knew everything that was going on.
“Including…?” The question in Tom’s voice was obvious.
“That she’s human? I’m a mage, dude, I knew within about 0.5 seconds.”
“Alright, dude,” Tom sarcastically snapped back.
“Hey boys, let’s chill, shall we?” I commented, try to aim for a light tone. It was an unusual day when I was the one trying to keep the peace. I guessed that the stress and fear was getting to everyone.
Both of them slumped slightly and looked guiltily at each other. I continued on, all business-like. “So what’s with the funny looks, Tom?” I really wanted to ask him if he was planning on joining the Brethren but, given the circumstances, decided that I’d have to leave that topic alone.
He started. ‘Eh?”
“After you attacked me this afternoon,…”
“I thought you were another monster!” he interrupted, protesting.
I shot him a look and said drily, ‘Thanks. Like I was saying, after you attacked me this afternoon, mistakenly, you kept looking at me like I’d sprouted horns or something. What was that all about?”
He coloured and coughed slightly. “Your blood.”
I looked at him blankly.
“It tasted funny,” he said. “As if it was hot…and,” he fiddled with his cuffs, “tasty.”
Both Alex and I stared at him.
“It’s not my fault! It tasted nice, okay? And strange. But not like anything I’ve ever had before.”
I opened my mouth to speak but Alex beat me to it. “Have you tasted human blood before?”
This again. Alex was clearly still convinced that I wasn’t actually human.
“Of course not!” Tom replied defensively.
“So you’ve got nothing to compare it to then,” Alex said slowly.
“What do you think I am? I might be a shifter, but I don’t go around eating people.” He had a disgusted look on his face.
“Anton,” I said suddenly.
“What?”
“Anton sneaked into the dorm and stole my t-shirt.” I was starting to feel a bit sick.
“Uh, what’s your point? Are you trying to tell me that he’s secretly had the hots for you all these years and wanted to steal your clothes? Or that he’s a closet cross dresser?”
I held Tom’s eyes. “It had my blood on