The Wolf's Witch (book 1)

13. I Melted Into him

Kaitlin:

When I walked in the back door to the Live Brew, Bobby was there in the hallway tapping his foot. I had no idea what I did to deserve the glare he shot at me before he disappeared with the trolls. He said to give him a moment so I slid into his office and waited as he likely checked the trolls over. 

Like every night, the music was on full blast as the thumping could be felt from all the way down the hall. Something felt off though. The air was dense even from back here. I don't know what was going on in the main hall but it wasn't something good. It made sense why Bobby was in a bad mood, why Bobby didn't joke around when I mentioned the 2 for 1 sale earlier on the phone. 

I felt him enter and walk around me to his desk where he leaned, the glare never leaving his face, "Why do you and the trolls reek like wolf?"

"I'm being stalked. The Alpha's son doesn't believe I'm helpless."

Bobby rubbed at where his skin meet his scruffy salt and peppered beard, "He's a smart dog." He gave the end of his beard a tug, "Be careful or he'll eat you."

"Aw Bobby!" I squealed exaggeratedly and sat down in front of him to bat my lashes at him annoyingly, "Are you worried about me?" I rocked in the chair with pure glee. 

He grunted but didn't deny it. It shocked me for a moment since fae can't lie but maybe he was too lazy to point it out and I was hallucinating it. All I did was hunt for him and it's only been three or so months. Ah, that's probably what he was worried about, finding someone to replace me. I hadn't failed a single job since I'd gotten here.

"He'll get tired of following me around soon." I smiled innocently and jumped when Devlin popped into existence in the seat directly next to me. 

"Do you need me to get rid of him?" Devlin asked. 

"Rid of him?" I raised my eyebrows at him. Maybe he saw Sethan on his way in and failed to recognize who Sethan was, "He's the Alpha's son."

Devlin looked away and I got a feeling that whatever was happening in the main hall was preventing him from thinking clearly. Devlin didn't come to the Live Brew this often and he surely wouldn't appear simply because I found two mossy trolls, endangered or not. Time in his own realm kept him occupied. 

"What's going on out there?" I bit. 

"Your fault." Bobby hissed through his teeth like he'd been gritting them. I turned and tried to study him more closely. From his tone of voice, it was clear that he was trying to swallow his rage. His eyes on the other hand was clearly frowning at me like it had been when I had overfed the piranhas Devlin had gotten him as an apology for 'going' to the aquarium without him. Truth was that we accidentally destroyed it and later discovered that it had apparently been Bobby's safe haven. 

"What do you mean my fault?" I asked.

"You killed his brother." he rumbled, deep in his throat,  "Now he has something to prove."

"Elias?" I asked making Bobby grunt loudly. He'd warned me that Irial had a brother and no other immediate family. I'll take that as a yes then, "Why isn't he going after me?"

Bobby looked at me pointedly because I already knew that I was protected. Elias didn't dare cross Devlin or the Queen. That only left Bobby since he was the only other fae I truly associated with. Elias was probably working up a fuss at Bobby's place of business. Either drinking or picking stupid bar fights. It explained the heavy air earlier. 

Something lit up in Bobby's eyes.

"What?" I asked against my better instinct that told me I'd regret it.