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“Space?” Her voice broke on the word.
He moved back farther. “Only because you ask it of me.”
She felt lightheaded.
Keenan gave her a strained smile.
She stood on unsteady legs and walked to the door. She pulled the door open and clutched the doorknob until she was afraid she’d break it. It took more self-control than she’d have liked, but she caught his gaze. “This changes nothing. It can’t. You are my friend, my king, but that’s…all you can be.”
He nodded, but it was a gesture that indicated that he heard her, not that he agreed, which was abundantly clear as he said, “And you are my queen, my savior, my partner—and that’s everything.”
Chapter 7
Aisli
Part of her wanted to talk to Seth, but she was terrified that he’d go away. No matter how often he whispered that he loved her, she still worried that she’d mess it all up, and he’d leave. Sometimes she wanted to run from the world of faery problems; how could she expect him not to want the same thing? Seth had to share her with her court and her king. If she told him that Keenan was pressuring her—and that she was tempted—would that be the final straw?
Seth gave her space, but he noticed when she was upset and she wasn’t sure what she would say if he asked her why. My king, my other half, he’s decided to change the rules. And I barely refused. She wasn’t up for that conversation, not any time soon. She would be. She’d tell him. Just not yet. Not until I know what to say.
She wanted to talk to someone, but her only other friend who knew about the faeries, Leslie, had left town and refused to discuss them; telling Seth meant admitting to being tempted by Keenan; and her other confidant to things faery, Keenan, was the problem. Aisli
After a glance at the time, she called Carla.
Carla answered almost immediately. “Ash? You okay?”
“Yeah. Why?” Aisli
“I just…nothing. What’s up?”
“You free?”
Carla was silent for a beat. Then she said, “Depends on why you’re asking.”
“Okay, I was thinking I’ve been a lousy friend lately….” Aisli
“Keep talking. You’re on the right track. Next part is?”
“Penance?” She laughed, relieved that Carla was making light of it. “What’s the price?”
“Ten per game? Meet you there?”
Aisli
Carla snorted. “Penance, sweetie. I’ve been eying a new video card, and you’re going to bankroll it by the time the night’s done.”
“Ouch.”
“Yep.” Carla’s laugh was joyful. “See you there in thirty.”
“I’ll get a table.” Then, in a decidedly improved mood, Aisli
With that in mind, she walked the half dozen blocks to Shooters. The h in the sign was out, so it read sooters—which was far better than when the first s had been out.
It had been weeks since she’d even stopped in. Guilt hit her again—and fear that she’d no longer be welcome. The regular crowd at Shooters worked hard and relaxed with equal enthusiasm. They were all older than she was—some old enough to be Grams’ long-ago classmates—but they didn’t draw age or class or race lines at Shooters. It was a place where everyone was welcome as long as they didn’t start trouble.
Before everything changed, De
When she went inside, she saw De
De
She shrugged. “Girl time. I’m meeting Carla.”
“Grab a cue or a seat.” Grace’s voice had a cigarette-and-whiskey rasp to it that contrasted with her body. She sounded like a woman who should be a lithe singer in a vibrant scarlet dress, breaking hearts and inciting lovers’ quarrels, but Grace was a different sort of trouble. Wearing black boots, faded jeans, and a man’s button-up shirt, she was all muscle and just as able to handle any fights as the men in the room. She took immense pride in the fact that her Softail Custom was outfitted with more chrome and louder pipes than De
“You want to shoot teams when Carla gets here?” De
“Only if I get Carla,” Grace said. “Sorry, Ash, but the two of them together would kill us.”
Aisli
“So, twenty then, for teams?” De
“Or ten still, even splits.” Grace opened a bottle of water.
“We might break even, if you have Carla,” De
“Or not,” Grace muttered.
He gri
Something bluesy kicked up on the jukebox; Aisli
By the time Carla arrived, Aisli
But Carla was there, De
“Game,” Carla crowed. She did a little victory shimmy that made De
“Somebody’s keeping a secret,” Aisli
De
Grace and Carla were chatting as Grace racked the balls. Aisli