Challenged - Skinwalker Book 2

Chapter 36

She skirted around the couch island somewhat, hoping that if he did catch sight of his sister sitting and talking politely to a young man, he wouldn't freak out too much. But he seemed distracted and didn't even look around. She opted for a cider at the bar and he got himself a lager; both of them had enjoyed more than their fare share of shooters for the night. Luckily were-metabolism meant hers wore off a lot quicker than it used to.

After a little initial awkwardness, they settled down at the counter and started chatting.

"You can feel free to dance with me any time you wish to let loose again," Luc invited with a grin.

"Me too," Ken chimed in as he pulled up a chair behind Luc.

Sierra cringed inwardly.

"Argh! Don't tell me you saw that," she mumbled.

"Don't worry, we all saw that," Anthony remarked with a broad smile behind his friend. Alyssa pulled up a seat next to him. She was also smiling knowingly.

Sierra blushed. She somehow got the feeling they weren't going to let her live her little dance down for a long, long time.

"This has been fun," Karina remarked as she approached, "but now I am hot and sweaty..."

"I'd bet Luc's also hot and sweaty," Anthony piped up.

Sierra glared at him, but it didn't do much to stifle a few chuckles.

"As I was saying, I think it is time to move on," Karina continued.

"Agreed, but I'm not ready to head home yet," Alyssa confessed.

"I have an idea," Sierra remarked. "Is there anywhere around here that would sell us an ice-cream at this time of the night... er, morning?"

Their faces brightened at the idea.

"Luc?" she asked.

He didn't answer. He was staring past her, over her shoulder at something very, very stormily.

"I am going to kill him," he growled.

Sierra glanced back and realised that the game was up - Luc had seen his sister and Bastian... and they were kissing again. In fact, they were kissing a lot 'more' than they had been a few minutes ago.

Luc jumped up angrily and was about to storm off when Sierra caught him by the arm and threw him back on his stool. She looked at her hand in surprise a moment, still amazed at her new-found strength. She seldom actually made use of it. But there wasn't time for that. She put a palm on Luc's chest to steady him. He pushed quite forcefully against it.

"If you go over there now, she'll hate you forever," Sierra warned.

"But he is all over her!" Luc protested angrily.

Sierra glanced back over her shoulder.

"Is he?" she asked, her one eyebrow raised questioningly. "Take a long, hard, look, Luc. Who is kissing who?"

His eyes strayed back to the young couple and hurt shone in them when he realised that it was his sister that was initiating the second kiss. She felt him push a little less against her.

"Your sister is a young woman now, and she's going to do these things with or without your permission. You can either be there for her or push her away," Sierra reasoned. "How old were you when you first... you know," she reasoned.

Luc glanced up at her sharply. "That was different!" he protested.

"You're right. You didn't have a big brother right there, looking out for you," Sierra commented. "Look at her, Luc. She's not scared, she's not uncomfortable - she's having fun. Still fairly innocent fun."