Page 72 of Blood of a Huntsman

Promises

She just had time for a quick shower before running to the pub.

"Cat! What will it be?" Chloe greeted her.

"Wine. Wet and white or red." She tilted her head toward Jack, who was sitting around a large table with his cousin, a beautiful brown-skinned witch Cat didn't know well, Gwen, and two other huntsmen. "On him."

After knocking her about for an hour, he totally owed her a drink. Jack nodded.

Cat had only entered the pub a couple of times, but it had always beenpacked. That Friday was no exception. She was surprised to spot Fin Varra in one corner, seated with Alexius and drinking something that smelled like well-aged spiced rum. He wasn't one to show his face much outside of class.

"Hey."

Bash. She recognized his scent as soon as the door opened. The man circled her shoulders with his arms, pulling her close, and the entire pub came to a complete standstill. Not so much as a fly moved anywhere.

Chloe cleared her throat. "All right, then. Nothing to see. Back to your brew, everyone."

The crowd attempted to resume their conversations, but Cat felt eyes on her as she advanced.

"Did you need to do that?" she whispered to Bash, who shrugged, entirely unabashed.

"I mean, I didn't need to, but I wanted to hug you. And I give nice hugs."

He did.

"Whatever," she replied, giving up. What was done was done, and short of erasing the memory, or killing everyone in the room, there was no undoing it.

Thankfully, the waitress, one of the Campbell daughters, soon arrived with a large glass of red.

"Anything for you, Bash?" the girl asked, batting her eyelashes like she couldn't see his arm around Cat's waist.

Cat did consider gouging her eyes out, but she quickly reined in her vampire instincts.

"A lager on tap, please, Mel."

He smiled at the waitress, and now Cat wanted to scratch his eyes instead.

What was wrong with her? She'd never been half that catty or possessive.

"Since when has this been going on?" Tris asked as soon as they reached the table.

Cat was quick to reply. "Nothing is going on."

Sebastian rolled his eyes. "Yesterday. Catherine is a goddamn ice queen about it, though. Somewhat predictably."

"Good luck, man," Jack said with a wince. "Better you than me."

Cat flipped him the finger before looking around the room.

"Searching for anyone specifically?"

"Yeah, Blair," Cat replied, without specifying why.

They occasionally spent time together; there was nothing conspicuous about wondering if one of her friends was around.

Sebastian did catch her eye, nodding knowingly.

"She tutors until eight-thirty, so she won't be long."

---