"Tess Callahan," I said automatically, because apparently even finding out that the man had stabbed Jack didn't override a lifetime's conditioning in good Southern manners.
Jack stepped between us when Logan started toward me with his hand out.
"Tess doesn't touch people. And I warned you what would happen if I ever saw you again. I wasn't kidding. Your last favor from me was when I didn't break your arm after you left that knife in my side."
Logan's smile faded a little, but didn't disappear. "Hey, you kept my best knife. Consider it a gift. Something for your trouble. And you're lucky I didn't stab you in the heart, after what you did to my brother."
"Your brother was dealing in black market drugs specifically designed to harm shapeshifters. How can you defend him when he knew what you are? You're a fool, Mackenzie. You always were a fool."
Logan shrugged, but I saw the flash of pain in his eyes. "Yeah, well, being the only shifter in a family of Normals always was a b—"
"Don't swear in front of Tess," Jack growled, and the eagle shifter's eyes widened.
"Oh, I didn't make the connection. So she'stheTess?" Logan said, turning to me. "The famous Tess Callahan. We've all heard of you. Delighted to meet you, lass."
I blinked. "You're all heard of me? How? When? Who is 'we all'? And why have you heard of me?"
He laughed. "The woman who has kept our Jack in one place for an entire year? Not even Quinn could do that, and I thought he'd never leave her side."
Jack opened his mouth to respond, but suddenly a spike of icy pain drove into my skull and I cried out, stumbling toward him and clutching my head.
"Tess! What is it?" He put an arm around me, concern for me replacing annoyance in his expression. "Tess? Tell me."
"My…head," I gasped. "Sudden pain…I don't understand…"
As suddenly as the sharp pain had started, it vanished, leaving only a dull ache behind. I shakily rubbed my temples with my fingertips, trying to breathe in and out; long, slow breaths.
"What happened? Are you okay?"
"I think so. It was the oddest thing, really. I—"
"Mackenzie," Jack growled. His arm tightened around me, and he raised his head to stare at Logan. "Did you do this? Playing with one of your black magic toys?"
I blinked, still taking deep breaths, and glanced up, but the eagle shifter looked bewildered.
"No, Shepherd. I don't carry black magic around when I fly," he snapped. "And I certainly wouldn't do anything to harm this lovely lady."
"Jack," I said, putting a hand on his arm. "Sometimes a headache is just a headache. I was hanging upside down in a well, after all. Maybe it's a little delayed vertigo. Or low blood sugar. Let it go."
Mackenzie's blue eyes warmed, and he smiled at me before a flash of puzzlement crossed his face and the smile changed from something sincere to an obviously practiced smarmy leer. "Yes. Well. Just a headache. My granny says the best cure for a headache is a steaming hot shower. I can help you with that and even wash your back, if you like."
I could feel the muscles in Jack's arm tighten, but then relax when he started laughing. "Oh, Mackenzie. You'd better watch your mouth, or you might get shot."
"I'm not afraid of you," Logan scoffed, but I noticed he glanced around as if looking for a gun.
"I'm not the one you need to worry about," Jack said. "Tess is an excellent shot."
"And that's really saying something, considering I couldn't hit the side of a barn when Jack met me," I said, feeling like I needed to take control of the conversation, or at least take part, before the two of them starting beating each other up right there in the yard. I blew out a breath and looked at the eagle guy. Mackenzie.
"Yes, I'm Tess. And we're late for lunch with my family. Do you—are you—" I bit my lip, realizing the conundrum I'd put myself in at the same time the words came out of my mouth. My Aunt Ruby would absolutely say I had to invite a person to lunch who was there when I mentioned said lunch. But Aunt Ruby's guidelines to proper Southern living had never had to consider offering invitations to a man who'd just admitted stabbing my boyfriend.
On the one hand, imminent bloodshed.
On the other hand, I was dying to know more.
On the third hand, Uncle Mike would be there, and I had complete faith in his ability to keep any guests in line, shapeshifters or not.
Okay, sure, that's a lot of hands. Still…
