by LeAnn Mason
That was an interesting bit of information. My aura wrapped around Birdie? What did that mean? Maybe that helped explain the nearly sentient feeling I got from my weapon when it was in my hands… but that wasn’t something I wanted to bring up just now.
“It was mesmerizing,” Nick murmured from his chair, wearing a soft look on his chiseled face. An emotion I couldn’t pinpoint painted his fire-lit features. He completely dwarfed the chair, seeming to crouch with his weight resting over the balls of his feet. As if anticipating the need for a quick escape.
“Okay, how in the hell did you learn to use that thing without losing a limb? Especially with all those spins and downward arcs? That’s mighty impressive, I don’t care what you say,” Jason remarked with the wolfish smile of Hunter peeking through his human facade. That only happened when the animal was worked up.
I wasn’t quite sure if the fact that I had elicited his animal’s appearance was a good thing or bad, but I admired him in either form, so I guessed I’d take the compliment and hope that it was one.
“Well, I wasn’t allowed to use the sword for… oh, a long time. I spent a good eighteen months with a bokken just so that my guardians would let me touch it.” The remembrance pulled my attention back to the sleekly beautiful blade, its visage something I could recall in minute detail. The curved blade was fired, forged in such a way that the metal along the cutting edge resembled a feathered wing, the steel more graphite than silver in color except in the space below each “feather”. With the addition of the eagle-esque head, something most katanas did not have, the overall appearance of the weapon being a powerful bird.
I’d never tire of looking at it. It was the most stunning weapon I’d ever laid eyes on, and it was also the only piece of my mother I was able to retain after her death, aside from the necklace that never left my neck. I touched the warm charm that hung from the long chain, hidden beneath my shirt and tucked through my bra. Couldn’t have the heavy piece coming loose to disrupt my flow.
“Why are you sad? You just proved your awesomeness, girl. You should rejoice in the face of such large and accomplished Sentinels.” I was beginning to realize that Allya would always try to ignite a sense of “I think, therefore I am” kind of a mentality. The girl had accomplished much herself. Maybe she saw something of a kindred spirit in me.
Or maybe I was flattering myself.
“Next time we’re having a sparring match, I’ll make sure we have ample marshmallows and a soundtrack now that we know the two of you work better with those.” Allya smirked at Mae, knocking the quiet brunette with a playful elbow. “Guess what? Your turn now,” the Huntress informed her bestie with raised eyebrows and that too-bright gaze, a toothy smile lighting her darkened features.
“What? No. I’m all for more samurai demonstrations. I’ll even pick the music. You liked the last one I picked, right, Bianca?” she pleaded, her luminous eyes huge as she tried to worm her way out of learning how to wield the heavy knife Allya used. But she needed to learn. Being human meant being vulnerable around the creatures in this town. She’d already been a target; she would continue to be one.
“Mae, you need to have a way to protect yourself, just in case. You’ve already been proven to be a bullseye for a couple of lions. I know I don’t really know you, but… I’d hate to see something happen to you.” It felt weird being honest and more so since the words were true. I’d known the girl only a few weeks and only in passing, but I liked her. She was kind and genuine. Neither of them deserved the hands they’d been dealt. But finding Grimm Hollow had turned Allya’s life around… maybe it could do the same for Mae.
Maybe it could even happen for me, despite the fact that it hadn’t yet. All of us girls were transplants to Grimm Hollow. The guys had grown up within its borders. It was home. They had no reason to think otherwise. The rest of us had to earn our spots.
Allya had done that, becoming the Scarlet Huntress, a formidable ally or opponent. Mae was finding her spot but had caught the eye of one of the town’s most eligible bachelors. A prince, for crying out loud! He wouldn’t stay away; she’d walked away with his heart.
She just needed to realize it. To fight for it, for him.
“C’mon, Mae, get up here and learn how to use your claws. Show those cats they ain’t the only ones who have them,” I told her, sheathing my own weapon, the metal singing as it slid home. It was a sound I’d never tire of hearing and added to the bird-like appearance of the blade.
It reminded me of my mother. Every. Time. So, to move my thoughts, I waved Mae to the spot I occupied and moved to take hers. Allya let Jason act as teacher, conceding that he knew more about handling weapons than she did. Begrudgingly. He praised her skill in return. It was another cute display of their fondness and admiration for one another. They didn’t always get along, and I suspected it was a case of strong personalities clashing in those times when tempers were high.
We all had such moments.
“All right, we’ll start with a stick.”
“You and your sticks. Watch him, Mae. He’s fast, and those switches hurt.”
“Gee, thanks,” Mae grumbled, noticeably more nervous after her friend’s warning.
“Don’t listen to her, I won’t hurt you,” Jason soothed, Hunter tucked away for the moment. Mae must have sensed it too, nodding once before moving to his side.
Hot breath hit my ear only a moment before Nick’s whispered words registered in their depths. “You know, it was seriously hot watching you handle that sword,” he murmured in a deep rumble that rolled through my ears on repeat long after he’d straightened to watch the knife lesson unfold before us. I couldn’t focus on anything else with those honeyed words ringing in my ears. Feeling my eyes on him, his cheek pulled back as his lips lifted in a knowing smirk. After a moment, his attention turned on me again, our eyes connecting. Slowly, he reached across his body, his hand creeping toward me as if at only half-speed.
My breaths became shallow and quick with anticipation. Is he…? It kept coming, and with each inch closer, my heart jackhammered faster. Finally, it connected under my chin and gently pushed upward.
“Don’t want to catch any flies, do we?” he asked sardonically, mischief lighting his too-handsome face as he winked, dragging his fingers back slowly, before turning back to the lesson.
I tried to do the same, but my heart kept pounding in my ears, so much so that I didn’t hear what songs Mae had picked to be her soundtrack. Was this progress? Did he like me? Should I act on it?
This was new territory, and I had zero clues about how to handle it.
CHAPTER 3
I t was generally assumed that, if you were in the service industry, you must naturally love people. In truth, you only need to pretend to like people.
I pretended a lot, so it was nice when someone sat at a table who I didn't have to pretend to like. Even better, the “girls’ night” had given me more confidence in considering this particular group as friends. Most patrons to the diner strained my menial people skills, but I’d paste on my best smile –with a little help from my best red lipstick –and play the part of the bright, happy server. “So I was thinking,” I began, genuine happiness tipping my lips.
“Hey, B! How goes it today?” Allya asked, pulling her attention to me and away from Jason’s devilish smile. The loss of attention didn’t keep him from trying to regain it in little, irritating ways. As if she shooed a fly, Allya swatted at the index finger he had extended and kept hovering just off her cheek. Her bright eyes flicked his way only briefly. Not long after he prepared to try again.
Nick watched the exchange with a playful twinkle in his eye but said nothing. That big, burly bear did all sorts of fluttery things to my tummy, which is why I promptly averted my attention back to where Allya was again swatting a hovering appendage. “I'll cut it off. Don’t think I won’t,” she threatened calmly, not breaking eye contact with me.
I knew she had a wicked, silver knife strapped to her thigh under
neath that bright red cloak she chose to sheathe herself in. Allya had made a bit of a name for herself within Grimm Hollow in the last months, and that cloak was like a uniform, or calling card, and had helped earn her the moniker of the Scarlet Huntress. I’d recently seen what she could do with the blade. She was vicious, and Jason loved it. He’d helped her to become so proficient after all.
“Want your usual?” They’d never order if they continued their tête-á-tête, and I’d be stuck waiting. I loved them, but I wasn’t the most patient person. Too many life experiences had made me wary, ready for another shoe to drop. The couple agreed, and I turned my attention back to Nick. “And what about you?” I didn’t look up from my pad, afraid my veneer would crack and he’d see the want simmering beneath the surface.
“What do you recommend today? Does anything stand out?” His teasing drew my attention even though I tried to focus elsewhere. Those big brown eyes and charmingly crooked grin would always disarm me. I’d had a handle on it until Girls’ Night got crashed. Nick had been super friendly that night, teasing and touching. It was enough to fan my crush into a full-blown infatuation.
Who wouldn't want a guy who was tall, dark, and handsome, without being broody or sullen? Nick was like the sun, always bright and warm, forcing you to gravitate toward his fervor. He’d been missing for a few days, turning up in a human jail well outside of Grimm Hollow. I couldn’t imagine that was a good situation for a Shifter to find himself in, especially a bear, but Nick seemed to have bounced back with only a slight hitch in his giddy-up.
“You know how Emest is: too grumpy to come up with variations to the menu apart from Fridays. I think you’re stuck with everyday options.” I paused, a thoughtful smirk crossing my face. “He did seem to be paying extra attention to Florian’s soups though…” I let the remark hang. Nick could probably infer that whatever Florian had a hand in might have a little extra something. At least, he would if he knew that Florian was perpetually sneezy and could get a little heavy with the spices if a fit hit him at the right moment. The rest of the guys forced him to wear a surgical mask while he cooked just in case he didn’t turn his head in time.
It had happened often enough that he no longer got offended or fought against the implementation of such measures. The question was: Did Nick know any of this?
“Ah, well, in that case, I will take a double cheeseburger, chili fries, and a… strawberry shake. Gotta keep my energy up, ya know?” He winked, passing the plastic-encased menu back my way. I didn’t know why he even looked at the thing; he had to know the menu by heart. He’d been coming in for years. Everyone had.
Maybe he’d just been flirting. The thought brought heat to my already flushed face.
“Fatty,” Allya chided Nick playfully. Jason chuckled.
“Hey now, I’m a growing boy! My bear is, well, a bear.” He laughed heartily, throwing his head back in mirth and wiping at his eyes as his laughter died down.
“Totally wasn’t that funny, brother,” Jason scoffed but the amusement lingering in his tone belied his words.
That was my cue. “All right, guys, I’ll get that put in and get your drinks right out.” At their resounding agreement, I turned on my sneakered heel and trod through the maze of tables toward the little employee door that led back into the kitchen.
Seven sets of eyes alternately looked my way before darting back to whatever task each had been immersed in. It was unusual for all my caretakers to be in the diner at the same time, so it felt a bit crowded. I usually went to the kitchen when I needed a break from the busy seating area. All of the Grimm Hollow peeps and their current buzz could get tiresome. It did make for some good gossip though. I mean there were all kinds of things to be overheard while people were enjoying a meal. How often did they notice the girl refilling their endlessly empty cups? I didn’t use the information though… usually.
When new people breeze into town, it’s pretty hard not to hear about it, which was totally my excuse for butting in when Allya first showed up with Elsie. She’d seemed like good people, especially when Elsie backed her up. Elsie was good people, for sure.
“How was school today, Firebird?”
“I’m sorry, hmm?” Rune’s question caught me off guard, pulling me from my wayward thoughts about the Shaman Elder.
Rune’s cheeks pinked a bit as he ducked his head, continuing to knead the pastries he was creating. The quietest of my guardians, he was one of the most observant.
I smiled fondly at the dwarf as he concentrated, noting the smears of white –what I assumed to be flour– dusting several surfaces on his person. “Looks like the flour won today.”
“What? Oh,” he pinked again, the color flushing his stubbled cheek as he noted a flour streak at the top of his sleeve. Rune, like the others, sported a short beard, though his was closer than many of the others, making his blushes that much more noticeable.
“Did you have an order for us, B, or are you just wanting to chat?”
“Wow, grumpy much, Emest? Save it for the customers, you sweet talker,” I chided playfully. Emest was always grumpy; it was like a perpetual thing, but sometimes I was able to crack that veneer and see the fiercely loyal protector I’d come to know and love. I could say that about all of these guys. They would do anything to protect me.
Hell, they’d whisked me away from the possibility of danger the day we’d met.
“Allya and Jason came in, so burgers and fries for them. Nick’s with them this time, and because he eats like a horse, he wants a double cheeseburger, chili fries, and a strawberry shake.” I shook my head, thinking about the ridiculous order.
“So, that’s why you gave us names,” Selik smirked behind his scruffy yellow beard. “The crush guy is here.”
It was my turn to flush with embarrassment. Selik’s remark hit too close to home, and I’d made the mistake of confiding in the dwarfs that I had a bit of a thing for the giant bear Shifter.
Obviously, I was crazy and couldn’t be trusted to speak. Ever.
“What? No. Shut up!” I scoff-yelled through the din of machinery, clanking pots, and chuckling men. Turning, I waved them off before heading back out into the lunch rush. Tuesdays and Fridays, I didn’t have classes, so I worked at the diner all day, whereas Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I had school until mid-afternoon and worked the after-school and dinner shifts.
Time to put back on the happy smile. Hopefully, my lipstick was still going strong. I hadn’t checked it in a while, and some days it just refused to stay put. It was like my shield, and, when applied to my lips, it forced them to tip up. It was that good.
I went to the bar and started making Nick’s shake then filled two glasses with ice water and put them all on a circular tray before toting it over to my friends.
“So, when are we having another girls’ night? I think we all benefited from the last one, so it should become a regular thing. Oh!” Allya turned and whacked Jason’s arm, an excited fidget taking over her limbs. “I can learn to use a katana.” She turned back to me, smiling mischievously. It worried me. “Bianca can teach me,” she finished, triumphant.
I’d known that look was bad news. “C’mon now, I can’t teach anyone. I barely know how to use the thing myself.” The dwarfs had crafted it but I’d had to teach myself to use it. The blade was too long for their truncated torsos. They had, however, used their axes to show the motions my body should do.
“You handle the thing like a pro, but if instructional videos taught you, I guess I could go that route too. Probably better than this guy anyway.” She hitched a thumb toward her boyfriend. He didn’t even acknowledge me, just kept up the smoldering stare he aimed at Allya. She knew it too, the minx. The glint in her eye and quirk to her mouth gave her away, but she ignored him, which made him try that much harder.
“Get a room!” Nick laughed, chucking a wadded-up napkin that smacked Jason in the side of his chiseled face, drawing a glare. “Yeah, that’s it, look over here, brother. We need to turn the heat
down a notch. We’re in public.” Nick rolled his eyes exaggeratingly before shooting a wink in my direction.
Holy crap, his playfulness did funny things to me. I excused myself before my cheeks ignited, giving me away entirely, and promised to return with food as I scurried away like the frightened mouse I was.
“Pathetic, B,” I berated myself, sending my head backward to thump repeatedly against the wall I’d slid behind.
“Don't be damaging my walls now, Mage. I’ve got enough to worry about having to keep an eye on the rest of these jokers,” Emest groused. He joked but didn’t. While he wasn’t truly mad at me, he preferred I didn’t add to his own frustrations. “Here are the orders for your friends. Take them and go. Shoo!”
I grabbed one of the large round trays for carrying table orders and loaded it up before bringing it to carefully balance on my shoulder with a hand under the unsupported weight. I flicked the metal folding rack I’d grabbed on my way to the booth open, lowered the tray to rest across the legs, then doled out the dishes in the appropriate places, leaving Nick’s for last. I barely had time to remove my digits from the line of fire before each of the obviously ravenous Shifters began inhaling their respective meals, and I’d moved fast.
“I’m gonna do a round to appease the dwarfen-gods, and I’ll be back to chat in a few. Maybe by then, your mouths will be empty.” The wink I aimed at Nick was only achieved by the knowledge that I’d be walking away just after, but I was stupidly happy when he returned it. It was kind of his move, and I loved it.
My lips tipped up again, only this time, I couldn’t credit the lipstick.
CHAPTER 4
T he diner was always busy, keeping me running around to make sure glasses and bellies were full. The harried tasks were good for keeping my mind from wandering into the past, into hurt and pain.
