Four

 

Alasdair relented and wore a pair of pale blue jeans and a semi-casual dark blue shirt that brought out his silver eyes beautifully. I wasn’t the only one who noticed how good he looked, either. He turned heads as we walked down the street to the bar Tabs and Misha had chosen. Grayson was grinning. He apparently got on very well with his sister, which I hadn’t thought was a thing. The siblings in the coven had fought like cats and dogs, but that was hardly a healthy situation. Lysander and his wife seemed to treat their situation more like a pack, which led to stronger, healthier bonds.

I had no idea what to expect from the night, but a thrill of excitement ran through me as we stepped into the packed bar. Conversations filled the air, and the smell of alcohol permeated everything. Laughter cut over the words and gave everything an addictive high feeling. I needed this. A night to forget about blood rituals and feral lycans and just hang out with good people.

Alasdair wrapped his arm around my waist, much to the disgust of a pair of middle-aged men perched on bar stools near us. Not everyone was ok with same sex relationships, but thankfully that attitude was slowly fading. I resisted the urge to stare the men down and instead focused on the two women Grayson was leading us towards. Tabs had Grayson’s long dark hair and bright hazel eyes that danced with merriment. She was Gray’s younger sister by two years, but she had an air of experience about her. There was a confidence about her movements, and her eyes took in every detail around her. I bet she had no fewer than two blades on her somewhere. My fingers reflexively went to the silver knife on my hip, hidden in a sheath which had been magically woven with a stealth spell to hide it from prying eyes. I still hadn’t gotten my alchemically enhanced blade to take through the airport security yet.

Grayson stopped by the corner table where the girls sat and gestured for us to sit. Alasdair gently pushed me towards the seat next to Tabs, putting him and Grayson with their backs to the room. They were guarding us.

I looked pointedly at Alasdair and whispered, “I can look after myself you know,” in his ear.

He grazed my ear with his teeth and gave me a sinful smile. Damn him.

“This is Niko, Alasdair’s partner.” Grayson gestured from me to the girls. “Meet Tabs, my sister, and her girlfriend, Misha.”

I held out my hand and shook their hands in turn.

Misha had inky black hair in loose curls down to her shoulders, kind green eyes, and a striking blue halter-neck dress that flattered her willowy figure.

“So, I hear you’re Alasdair’s lifebond?” Tabs said, a playful smile on her face.

I shrugged. “So I’ve been told. Any drinks you recommend here?”

“Gin and tonic, they have a good range of gins here.”

Thankfully, we fell into a normal conversation from there. Tabs had taken Misha sight-seeing for the day, and they’d visited a number of galleries and museums that they were very enthusiastic about. It wasn’t my thing, but I was happy to be surrounded by upbeat conversation.

After a few drinks, Tabs excused herself to go to the bathroom, and Alasdair left to get more drinks. Misha leaned over the table and whispered conspiratorially.

“Check it out.” She stretched her hand across, and a small flame formed in the palm of her hand.

I quickly clamped my hand over hers and looked to Grayson before I hissed at Misha, “You can’t do that in here!”

“How did you do that, Misha?” Gray growled.

I released her hand as she frowned at us.

“Am I supposed to report to her to the Council?” I asked Gray.

I didn’t want to, but the laws were the laws, and I was supposed to uphold them. I was already forming excuses to not tell them, but being a Guardian, I needed to know where I stood on those things. It was down to enforcers to bring those who displayed magic in non-sanctioned, non-magical places into custody, ready for punishment.

“You should, yes. It’d be down to an enforcer to take in, but you should notify the Council, yes,” he said, glaring at Misha.

“There’s this new drug… it’s called Tempo. It gives people a temporary bit of magic. Do you know what it’s like being in a respected coven and having no magic?” Misha whispered harshly.

“Yes. I do,” I growled back.

Alasdair and Tabs returned, each looking between us with a frown on their face.

“Did you know that Misha has taken something called Tempo?” Grayson asked Tabs.

Tabs’ look of horror said no, she didn’t know.

“Why?” she asked as she took Misha’s hand in hers.

“Because I’m tired of being surrounded by magical people and having none myself,” Misha said as she slumped against the back of the wooden bench.

Tabs stroked her hair and kissed her softly. “You can train as a hedgewitch. You’ve been offered two good placements.”

Alasdair silently pushed everyone’s drinks in front of them as he watched the room around us. Grayson was tense and watching his sister closely.

“I don’t want to be a lousy hedgewitch. I’m the first in my coven to be without magic in four generations!”

“I think it’s best that we called it a night,” Alasdair said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Tabs squeezed his hand and gave him a sad smile.

“I’m sorry.” She patted the back of my hand. “It was nice to meet you, Niko, it’s about time Alasdair has his one.”

We left the drinks as they were and made our way out onto the noisy street. Grayson whispered something in Tabs’ ear that made her go pale. She took Misha’s hand and stalked off up the street, I assumed towards their hotel room. So much for a fun night out.