Page 34 of Wanted: A Roommate Who Isn't Evil

“I don’t carewhose blood it is!” he snapped. “That ismyassistance dog! And you don’t like him! How dare you use him to fight your battles!”

Luc released a diabolical laugh. “I didn’t force him to do it. The mutt raced over at the first sign of trouble.” He took the leash and patted Dog-Shayne on the head. “We make a good team, actually.”

Dranian snatched Dog-Shayne’s leash and tugged the dog back. “You absolutely do not! Dog-Shayne andmemake a great team!”

“Dranian?”

Both fairies stiffened at the sound of a new voice. Theyturned in unison to find a blue-eyed human female standing on the curb beside a parked police vessel with a swirling iced coffee in her fingers. Her sleeves were rolled up, revealing layers of artwork on her flesh.

“Queensbane,” Dranian muttered as he took in Lily staring at him in question. Her hair had grown so much this past year, she wore it in a long, blonde ponytail that reached almost to her hips, making her look even more comely and a smidgen more menacing with her she-strength and no-nonsense ways. If one squinted their eyes, they might even mistake her for a fae.

Dranian was all too aware of the fox at his side. The one he had failed to tell Mor about. The one he had failed to mention to a single one of his allies at Fae Café, including Lily Baker.

Lily dropped her coffee to the sidewalk and drew her gun. Dranian hardly knew what he was doing as he swept into the crossfire, coming so close to her weapon that it nearly pressed against his heart. Lily’s mouth parted as she looked up at him in disbelief.

She quickly dropped her gun back to her side. “Are you crazy, Dranian?” she accused.

He wasn’t sure if she was mad he’d moved into the crosshairs of her weapon or because she’d caught him red-handed with Luc. Realistically, either crime was worthy of a buttocks beating.

Dranian raised his hands in hopes of calming her, but the gesture only seemed to offend her more. “It’s not what it looks like, Human,” he swore.

An arm came around his shoulders. “Actually, it’s exactly whatit looks like,Human,” Luc’s sweet voice declared. “This North Fairy and I are roommates now. We even have a dog together.”

Dranian blanched. He shook Luc’s arm off.

The sound of disbelief that came from Lily was one Dranian had never heard before. She put her hands on her hips. “Really, Dranian? Him?” She blinked with all the indignation and raging fire of the sky deities. “Seriously?”

“He’s lying—”

“Would you like to see our apartment as evidence? It’s not far from here,” Luc invited.

Dranian glared at him. “Take Dog-Shayne home. Later… we’ll have words.” He articulated the promise and shoved Dog-Shayne’s leash into Luc’s hands.

Lily blinked at the leash in disbelief.

“Oh dear.” Luc tapped a finger along his chin. “I would, but I think I’d rather get the High Court of the Coffee Bean involved in all this now,” he said, and Dranian’s face changed. Luc looked down and nudged a pebble on the sidewalk with his toe. “Wouldn’t hurt,” he added with a murmur.

“What?!” Dranian and Lily both asked at once.

“It’s that or the division will kill me.” Luc held up Dog-Shayne’s leash. “Andthe dog,” he added. “We’ve both offended them greatly.”

Dranian stared with his mouth hanging open.

It was Lily who finally moved first. She reached for Dog-Shayne’s leash. “I’ll take him, and I’ll keephim safe at the—”

Luc yanked the leash back and held it up high where she couldn’t reach. He was quite tall, and when Lily looked up the length of his arm, a broad smile spread across his face. “Oh dear. Too short,” he said.

Lily spoke through her teeth. “I really don’t like you,” she told him.

“I don’t like you, either,” Luc promised. Then hewinked, and Lily looked like she might claw out his faeborn eyes.

But Dranian stared off at nothing, his feet stuck in place. “We can’t bring in the High Court of the Coffee Bean,” he stated quietly, making both Lily and the fox turn their heads toward him.

“Why not?” Lily and Luc spoke in unison this time. Luc smiled at Lily again, revelling in it.

“I’ve deceived Mor. He will feel betrayed,” Dranian mumbled.

“Serves him right,” Luc said.

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