Page 108 of Crown of the Fae King

It was Griffon Carew.

44

Pivot! Pivot!

“Wickham?” Griffon swung out of the booth and turned fully, looking for me. He seemed both relieved and elated to find me just over Wickham’s shoulder. I told myself that adrenaline dumping into my bloodstream was only fear. I was his enemy now. He just didn’t know it yet.

His perfect jaw was covered with a few days’ beard. Despite his date, he tried to plow past Wickham, but the aisle was too narrow, what with Persi now pushing forward, filling the space. He didn’t notice the maneuver was intentional and reached out his hand. “Lennon, love! I can’t believe you found me!”

Yeah. I couldn’t believe it either.

Kitch grabbed my arm for support and leaned close. “Easy, now. He kens nothin’. Ye have to act normal. Ye have to convince him ye’re still in love. Ye cannae be cold, Lennon. He thinks ye’ve come looking for him. Ye have to act the part, so he doesnae start looking for other reasons we might have followed a fairy into a bar. Got it?”

He was telling me I had to be emotional. “Got it.”

His hand fell away just before Wickham stepped aside to let Griffon through. I pasted a big smile on my face. Happy to see him. Happy to see him.

Dammit. I was happy to see him.

“Griffon,” I whispered, then rose on my toes to push my arms around him. A quick squeeze and I let go like he was an electric fence, or a patch of wet mud in front of Sarah’s cottage. I glanced around like I was embarrassed to have embraced him in front of strangers.

He took my hand and pulled me toward the table. “I’m sorry. I’m being rude. Come with me.”

I followed dutifully, ignoring Wickham completely, knowing what he’d be trying to communicate if I would just look him in the eye.

“Aurora, this is my gal, Lennon. I wasn’t expecting her, so…”

“Not a worry,” the woman said, with a thick Irish accent. “We can do this another day if ye like, so we can.”

“No! No. I mean to say this is too important. I’m sure Lennon and her friends won’t mind waiting for a bit.” He caught me off guard with a kiss. “You all get a table and I’ll join you when I’m finished here. I have some questions for her, about my sister, you see.” He looked into my eyes, asking me to understand.

“Of course, we don’t mind. Take all the time you need. No hurry.”

He frowned. “Is something amiss?”

“No.” I forced that smile back into place. “Just a little motion sickness.” I couldn’t seem to do more than whisper.

He laughed. “I hope you didn’t let Persi drive!” He found Persi and winked.

My friend was a much better actress than I was and came forward to kiss Griffon on the cheek. “I’ll remember that.” She tugged on my arm. “Let’s leave him alone with his date.”

Griffon rolled his eyes and gave me one more concerned look before slipping back into the booth.

“I’m fine,” I mouthed, then followed Persi away from him. I did one obligatory longing glance over my shoulder, then asked a waitress where I might find the loo. Of course Persi didn’t let me go alone, so I rewarded her concern by letting her listen to me boke.

Loudly.

When I was done, I checked my face. The only tears in my eyes were from retching. I was fine. The money belt around my waist made me look fatter than it usually did, so I took it off, handed it to Persi. “Take this, would you? Just until…just take it.”

She hooked it around her, tucked it under her pants. “I’m so sorry,” she said, then reached for my arm, but I pulled away.

“I’m fine. I’m hungry. Let’s eat.” And I marched out the door like a good little soldier.

“I ordered ye whisky,” Kitch said, and scooted a shot glass my way.

Wickham reached across the table to put a hand over it. “Hold on. Will this make ye less tense, or will it loosen yer tongue? We can’t have ye—”

“Less tense,” I lied, then picked up the drink and threw it back all at once. I’d never had much hard liquor before, for Hank’s sake. I hoped I wouldn’t regret it.

---