14
NESS
The bell over the door chimed. I stiffened, fear slithering up my spine in a cold wave. Cerri peered past me and tilted her head curiously. Her reaction made me turn to see who had entered.
Connor stood awkwardly in the café lobby. He gave me a stiff smile as he rubbed the back of his neck.
I mirrored Cerri’s curious pose. Vi pushed past us, leaned on the ordering counter, and looked up at Connor.
“Are you finally going to kiss Ness’s feet and tell her you’re a sorry sack of shit?”
My jaw hit the floor. “Vi!”
She laughed, a sound like bells. That woman’s mother must have been an angel, because Vi had a devilish charm and a cuteness that threw everyone off.
She gestured to Connor. “Can you blame me?”
I stalked up to my friend and bumped her with my shoulder. “Connor saved my ass the other night.”
“And now you’re engaged to an asshole,” Cerri said with a haggard sigh.
Connor groaned. “Yeah, about that.”
My heart raced. I wanted to back away and run into the stock room, but I managed to hold my ground. This was my sanctuary. If I gave up the coffee shop, then I would have nowhere else to go.
Well, I could go to Ryder. He would keep me safe in his shadow. The dragon in him would ward away those who would try to hurt me. I couldn’t count on Ryder forever, though. As safe as I felt with him, he had made it clear that he had no intention of staying forever.
Aside from that, Ryder wanted to use me. He didn’t have my best interests in mind. He simply wanted to keep me safe until I could figure out how to help him. Once he discovered that I didn’t have any arcana at my disposal, he would abandon me.
“Alvin is organizing another hunt to celebrate your engagement.” Connor grimaced.
I blinked, surprised.
“Another hunt?” Cerri threw her hands in the air. “He’s just going to use it as an excuse to hurt Ness again. Why does he need to hunt her if she’s going to marry his son? I don’t understand Alvin’s motives.”
Connor’s brow furrowed as his gaze fell to the floor. “I don’t think it was enough that I suffered for helping her. Alvin wants to punish Ness, too. He won’t kill her now, but I’m not looking forward to what might happen during this hunt.”
Vi straightened and bounced on her heels. With a great big grin on her face, she punched me in the shoulder. “Tell your dragon friend to crash the party again! He’ll be able to help.”
“Alvin already threatened to kill her for fraternizing with the outsider.” Connor shook his head. “If the big guy shows up again, Ness’s death sentence will be signed for sure.”
Cerri gaped. “You just said Alvin wouldn’t kill her!”
“Not as long as she plays along with Alvin’s game. If she brings a dangerous new player into the game, then she’s fucked.” Connor rocked back on his heels. “I have one solution. If you and I elope, then Alvin can’t force you to marry Harvey. Plus, if we’re married, then Alvin can’t accuse you of treason anymore.”
I chewed on the tip of my thumb. I could feel Connor’s gaze on me. It warmed my skin as I recalled what Harvey had told me the other night. Aside from the nasty things Harvey had said, Harvey had revealed Connor’s true feelings about me. I wasn’t sure how I felt about them.
Connor had been watching my back and waiting for his moment to strike. I owed him my gratitude for saving me but hated the idea that he was always in my shadow. He didn’t own me. No one in this pack could own me, no matter how they tried to help.
Vi leaned over the counter and shoved Connor. “Shut your mouth, you damn fool.”
Connor gaped at us. “What? I offered a viable solution!”
Cerri shook her head. “No. You didn’t. No matter how Ness is associated with the pack, Alvin will find a way to hurt her because he’s afraid. Marrying you will just piss him off even more because it’s in direct defiance of his decree.”
Connor’s soft expression fell away. His features hardened. “Look. I’m just trying to help. If you were a real shifter, then maybe you would know how this works. Since you aren’t, you’ll never understand.”
Vi reached for him, but he moved just out of reach. Unchecked fury from everything that had been happening lately hit me like a wave. I stepped out from behind the counter and stomped up to Connor. I took ahold of him by the front of his shirt and yanked him down so that he had to look me in the eye.