Page 13 of Lessons with the Mothman

I frowned as I returned with their drinks, regretting asking them to stay to speak with Victoria.

"I assumed it was your way of getting to know me."

I set the drinks heavily in front of Rafe and Hannah, staring back at Victoria, her eyes a little larger behind the lenses of her glasses.

"Perhaps all three," I said, and it was too transparent an answer for my liking, but Victoria smiled. It was a barely there smile, hardly a curve and a faint softening around her eyes, but from someone so remarkably unreadable, a little went a long way. "Hannah and Rafe met through MSA. He's a gargoyle, clearly, and she transitioned into a werewolf several years ago. I think you may find a great deal of information about their relationship useful."

I hadn't planned on asking my friends to participate in Victoria's study. I hadn't planned on introducing them at all, not so soon, not when Rafe was all too aware of my own ulterior motives. But in explaining myself to them, how I was helping, what Victoria needed, Hannah had suggested the meeting herself. Which was unexpected.

"Do you allow for anonymity?" Hannah asked.

"I won't be using any real names, but personal details may be relevant," Victoria said, that momentary softness subsiding under academic professionalism. "If at any time you're not comfortable sharing information, or you feel what I need might be too revealing, I can exclude you from my material. If nothing else, an interview could help guide me with another subject."

"You can use my office," I suggested.

Victoria blinked and glanced between us. "I'm not sure an interview after social drinking?—"

"She doesn't drink alcohol, and he metabolizes it too fast to get tipsy," I said.

A shield went up in those dusk blue eyes, and I bit down on my tongue.

"Either way is fine," Rafe said lightly. "We're in town for a few months at least."

Victoria was silent, and I resisted the urge to beat my wings. It'd been a very long time since the vice of impatience had possessed me.

"Three interviews in one night is incredibly efficient," she said, taking a sip of her drink. She paused, and my stare sharpened as she rubbed the rim of the glass against her bottom lip, tongue flicking out. She liked that drink. "As long as you don't mind the late hour."

"We're used to it," Hannah said, smiling.

"Do we tell you about our sex lives together, or separately?" Rafe asked, grinning. "Did you bring a recorder? I'd hate for you to wear out your hands trying to write it all down."

Hannah rolled her eyes, and Victoria shifted her bag on her shoulder. "Separately to start. The office?"

I started to move, but Hannah waved her hand at me, sliding off the bar stool. "I know the way. Entertain my mate."

Victoria's eyes lit up with interest at that declaration, and the crowd parted slightly for the pair to slip away. I had no need to follow them. Victoria likely wouldn't welcome my interference in the interview, and Hannah certainly wouldn't.

"She doesn't like me," I said, partly to myself and partly to Rafe.

His expression was too innocent as he sipped his drink. "Which one?"

I scowled, knowing and hating the answer to his question.

"Too much of a puzzle for you?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

I found a glass to wipe down, whether it needed it or not, and Rafe hummed.

"Ah, no, exactly the kind of puzzle you wanted. This is youexcited."

I made sure that Hannah and Victoria were long gone before leaning onto the bar, my arms crossing.

"It only took Khell and Sunny five days."

Rafe snorted. "That was how long their appointment was. I don't think it took them much more than five minutes to start falling in love."

"Was it that fast for you and Hannah?"

Rafe laughed. "I don't know. I mean, no, but in retrospect, it does feel like the conclusion was inevitable. Elias, are you sure you're not..." He trailed off, gaze sliding away.

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