up hurting you both.”
Conal rolled his eyes. “I’m one hundred and twenty, not thirteen. This isn’t my first hard-on. She’s gorgeous, brave and intelligent. I’d be attracted to her regardless.”
“She’s also not Sidhe, Conal.”
“After Siobhan, that’s a big point in her favor.”
The bird hunched his feathered shoulders. “That’s what I’m worried about. Are you sure about this girlfriend gambit?”
Conal shrugged. “It’ll keep the hell-bitch’s attention firmly on me.”
“Since when is that a good thing?”
He made himself grin. “Since I’ve got Helena and a death god with me. And you, of course.” Essus shifted his weight uneasily, and Conal reached up to stroke a soothing finger over the big bird’s breast feathers. “I like my odds.”
“Depends on how many werewolves Siobhan’s hired. And there’s no guarantee wolves are all she’ll send. There are some nasty Sidhe warriors in her court.”
Grimacing, he remembered Olwydd. “And worse.”
“Another thing -- don’t assume Liam’s on your side,” the eagle warned. “There’s a reason Maeve bound him into that weapon. He was killing far too many people, and even then, it took both the Mother and the bloody Dragon god. Then he had to spend a century or two in her gun safe before she found someone who could resist his magic.”
“I know the stories, Es. I still like my chances better with him than without him.”
“You’re just lucky he didn’t eat you when you picked him up,” Essus said, flexing his claws in agitation. “You took a real chance.”
Conal shrugged, ignoring the sting of his friend’s talons. “All he wanted was to save Helena.”
“You still can’t trust him.” Essus clicked his beak. “Liam can make blowing your own head off seem perfectly reasonable. That’s what happened to the previous two warriors Maeve gave him to. And they were full-blooded Sidhe with far more power than you.”
Conal winced, knowing the eagle had a point. “I’m aware of that. Don’t worry, I’m not going target shooting with him any time soon.”
The bird mantled, lifting his great wings. Feathers stroked Conal’s bare back. “You’re assuming he’ll give you a choice.”
Chapter Five
Helena woke to the sound of wings and Liam’s dark rumble. “Get out before I pluck you like a chicken.”
She opened her eyes to see Essus perched on the bed’s footboard, glaring at the gun as he lay on the bedside table. “Now there’s an empty threat,” the bird said. “Without someone holding you, you’re nothing but a psychotic paperweight.”
“And you are about two minutes from becoming a feather boa.”
“Really?” Helena growled. They’d awoken her from an incredible dream about Conal’s long cock stroking hard into her slick pussy. Her body was still sizzling. “I haven’t even had my coffee yet.”
“Sorry about that,” the eagle said, sounding genuinely embarrassed.
Sighing, she rolled out of bed. “What can I do for you, Essus?”
The bird lifted one clawed foot and raised a single talon in Liam’s direction. “Conal thought we’d take you to breakfast before we tour Beltane.”
“Essus, did you just shoot him the bird?”
“Better watch it,” Liam growled. “I shoot back.”
“What part of, ‘I haven’t had my coffee’ did you not grasp?” Helena demanded. To the eagle, she added, “Give me twenty minutes to shower and dress.” Liam had already filled the guest room closet and drawers with her clothes. He might be an ornery little dick, but he did come in handy.
“Good. I’ll let Conal know. He said he’ll meet you in the living room.” Essus lifted his great wings -- spread, they were as wide as the footboard -- launched himself into the air, soared around the room… and knocked Liam off the nightstand on his way out.
“You feathered fucker!” the gun god roared in outrage as he skidded under the bed. “I’m going to roast you like a turkey!”
Mocking laughter floated back.
“Let me fry him!” Liam demanded as Helena sighed and knelt to fish him out.
“He’s a Phoenix Eagle. I don’t think you can.”
“I’m the God of Death. And I’m motivated.”
“Leave the bird alone, Liam.” She grabbed him and rose. It was never a good idea to leave him unattended, especially when he was this pissed. He might not be able to work active magic when no one was touching him, but that didn’t stop him from influencing those around him in nasty ways.
“Ask Maeve to let me shoot when you’re not holding me.”
“That’s a nonstarter, bullet boy. Remember what happened last time?”
“That was two hundred years ago! You weren’t even alive.”
“I’ve heard the stories. You almost caused a war with the Centauri.”
“Prince Fleetwind was a prick.