“Bring her back, and she’ll be safer,” Elodie said, gesturing to the waitress who was making herself scarce on the other end of the dining room. “Joanne is here to keep her safe.”
“I’m actually here on her behest,” I said conversationally, ignoring her demands. “She wants me to offer you a safe haven as well. I tried to explain to her you’re well-equipped to deal with conflicts, unlike her, but she was adamant you be offered a place to stay, and told that she and Freya are all right.”
“You’re lying,” Elodie accused.
“Not lying,” I said.
“I think you are lying,” Clara said. “Why would you come personally to complete her request? She’s a prisoner.”
They must have some inkling of who I was, apart from simply being the one who’d stolen their family members. My gaze flicked to Joanne, and she gave me a small smile. I’d be asking Amabella some questions when I returned home, because she wasn’t anything I’d seen or learned of before. “My couriers were busy. Why would I want to keep you in suspense, not knowing if they were alive and well?”
Understandably, they were still suspicious. I picked up my sandwich and began to eat. Neither of them would come into protective custody with me, and unlike Mabel I was aware they didn’t need it. Clara was strong like Freya, and what Elodie lacked in magical strength she made up for in fiery anger when necessary. Adding Joanne into the mix created a group Kylan would be hesitant to capture. He’d lose too many men in the process and put his properties at risk.
Mabel had been an easy target, with her half-Null life and little care for magic. That was also why she’d be staying with us.
They watched me eat, trying to get a read on me, and when I reached for a napkin in the centre of the table Elodie whipped out a hand and grabbed my arm. I didn’t visibly react, though every cell inside me flinched. My father used to grab me like that when I reached for something I wasn’t supposed to touch. The grab was usually followed by a broken wrist or smack across the face that smarted for days. As an immature vampire, I hadn’t had full healing strength yet.
“You have a nymph tattooed on your arm?” she asked, inspecting the black line work. It was within a full sleeve, surrounded by other magical water creatures.
“I have plenty of magical creatures tattooed on me,” I said. “You should see my chest. There’s a dragon.”
“So this isn’t meant to represent my niece in some sick and twisted way?”
“Gods, no. I got the tattoo fifty years ago. Freya wasn’t even born.”
She released me and my hand fell limply to the table, fingers still sticky with au jus. I grabbed my napkin and patted around my mouth to clean up. Joanne appeared a second later with a glass of water, and I gulped it down. This was awkward. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do in this situation. They didn’t trust me, but I’d said my piece. I should leave before any of Kylan’s men realized I was here.
“I can’t quite figure him out,” Clara said quietly to Joanne. “What are your thoughts?”
The woman who could read minds would have plenty of thoughts about me, I was sure. In my three-hundred years of life I’d been a killer, a con-man, a liar. There had been a time when I’d cared about what my family thought of me, and I’d done horrible things.
“He’s a good boy,” Joanne said with a motherly smile.
I did a double take. A good boy? The smile was kinder than any my own mother had given me. Clara looked confused as well. “A good boy? You told us he kidnapped Freya and Mabel.”
“That’s true, but he’s got his reasons. They’re good ones. Plus, the girls are more than fine,” she said, a glitter in her eyes like she knew exactly how I’d walked in on Mabel earlier. She directed her next comment to me. “Call them. Let Clara and Elodie talk to them. It’s the only way they’ll believe you about their well-being.”
Fighting a cringe, I shook my head. “This doesn’t work like that.”
If I called, they would know I completed the request myself. Yes, I’d done it for Freya, but it would still be embarrassing for her to find out. I’d rather keep it to myself and claim the favour was completed by Clement. He would cover for me.
“You won’t get into her good graces if you claim you sent someone else to meet us,” Joanne said. “She’ll be upset you told anyone where to find us.”
Despite my effort to curb the reaction, my cheeks went bright pink. “I don’t plan on being in Freya’s good graces.”
“Yes, you do. She’s surprisingly forgiving, considering how damn abrasive she is. A man like you would intrigue her, so you’re doing well for yourself. This would improve your position.”
Avoiding eye contact with all three of them, I grabbed a couple of fries and shoved them into my mouth. They were delicious, but felt dry on my tongue. If I’d known this Joanne woman was here, I never would have come. She saw every facet of my soul, and I couldn’t hide.
“He’s trying to woo her?” Clara asked, sounding incredulous. “She’s seeing Caspian.”
“Freya is seeing more than just Caspian,” Joanne said with a chuckle. “One person isn’t enough to handle your niece.”
“Very good point,” Elodie conceded.
“If you’re going to keep taunting me, I might as well let you talk to her,” I grumbled.
I slid my phone out from my pocket and called Ama, who picked up on the first ring. Hopefully she was done eating Mabel out, because this may be an awkward conversation otherwise. “Hey boss,” she said. “Make it to the diner alright?”
