“You didn’t see the look on his face when he saw me standing there furry.” Helena dropped her hands and lifted her head to eye his holster. “Anyway, I thought you were trying to convince me to stay away from him.”
“I am. Furry or not, you’re a hero. He doesn’t deserve you.”
“He looked pretty heroic to me when he picked up a death god and started killing werewolves. Man had more bites than a bucket of chicken. You’ve got to admire the balls.” Which were outstanding…
“He’s still a player. And he’s going to hurt you whether he means to or not.”
“Look, you don’t have to worry about me and Conal.” Helena hooked her hands behind her neck and pulled, trying to stretch out tight muscles. “I’m well aware that whatever he’s feeling right now is a product of hormones.”
Liam made a growling sound. “There’s no reasoning with you right now. You might as well get some sleep.”
She sighed. “And with any luck, maybe this time I won’t dream about things that go bite in the night.”
* * *
Mentally kicking his own ass, Conal sat with his elbows braced on his knees, staring grimly at the bedside rug. The door opened, and his head snapped up. Wings fluttered and Essus came in for a landing on his bare shoulder. What’s happening? the bird demanded through their link. I could feel how upset you were all the way downstairs.
Just the usual. I’m a dumbass.
The bird reached up one clawed foot, grabbed a hank of his hair, and gave it a hard tug. Don’t be any more stupid than you can help. What happened?
Es had always been a good sounding board, and God knew Conal could use one. So he told his friend about Helena’s nightmare and his own stupid reaction. The bird cocked his head. Why are you surprised?
Conal glowered, stung. It’s not like all my romantic evenings end in disaster.
The bird leaned down so that his eyes were only an inch or two from Conal’s. You were tortured today, boy. And from the sound of it, it triggered some bad memories for her too. Both of you awoke from very ugly dreams. Of course you were disoriented.
Conal raked his hair back from his face with one hand. It was worse than that -- I hurt her, Essus. You should’ve seen the look on her face. I all but accused her of being a monster.
Oh, bullshit. The eagle butted his feathered head against Conal’s cheek. You had a nightmare. So did she. She understands.
He shook his head. “Maybe,” he said aloud. “I don’t know.” Frowning, he stared out the window at the lights of New York. “I want to do something for her. Show her the city. I’ll bet she’s never had the chance to play tourist. She’d enjoy that.” Conal wanted -- needed -- to show her he had something to offer. That he wasn’t just some pitiful victim she had to rescue and protect. He was a Sidhe warrior. He’d proved as much in Siobhan’s hell court. They’d have eaten him alive if he’d been any less.
Essus clicked his beak, a sound of irritation. “The woman lives with Maeve. New York is impressive, but it’s not fairyland. She’s not going to be that dazzled.”
“Of course not. I just want to show Helena a good time. She deserves it.”
The bird tugged his hair again. “You both do.” Cocking his head, he added, “But you’d do well to remember she is a werewolf in her Burning Moon. Don’t assume your emotions for her are genuine, or you’ll end up hurting you both.”
Conal rolled his eyes. “I’m one hundred and twenty, not thirteen. This isn’t my first hard-on. She’s gorgeous, brave and intelligent. I’d be attracted to her regardless.”
“She’s also not Sidhe, Conal.”
“After Siobhan, that’s a big point in her favor.”
The bird hunched his feathered shoulders. “That’s what I’m worried about. Are you sure about this girlfriend gambit?”
Conal shrugged. “It’ll keep the hell-bitch’s attention firmly on me.”
“Since when is that a good thing?”
He made himself grin. “Since I’ve got Helena and a death god with me. And you, of course.” Essus shifted his weight uneasily, and Conal reached up to stroke a soothing finger over the big bird’s breast feathers. “I like my odds.”
“Depends on how many werewolves Siobhan’s hired. And there’s no guarantee wolves are all she’ll send. There are some nasty Sidhe warriors in her court.”
Grimacing, he remembered Olwydd. “And worse.”
“Another thing -- don’t assume Liam’s on your side,” the eagle warned. “There’s a reason Maeve bound him into that weapon. He was killing far too many people, and even then, it took both the Mother and the bloody Dragon god. Then he had to spend a century or two in her gun safe before she found someone who could resist his magic.”
“I know the stories, Es. I still like my chances better with him than without him.”
“You’re just lucky he didn’t eat you when you picked him up,” Essus said, flexing his claws in agitation. “You took a real chance.”
Conal shrugged, ignoring the sting of his friend’s talons. “All he wanted was to save Helena.”
“You still can’t trust him.” Essus clicked his beak. “Liam can make blowing your own head off seem perfectly reasonable. That’s what happened to the previous two warriors Maeve gave him to. And they were full-blooded Sidhe with far more power than you.”
Conal winced, knowing the eagle had a point. “I’m aware of that. Don’t worry, I’m not going target shooting with him any time soon.”
The bird mantled, lifting his great wings. Feathers stroked Conal’s bare back. “You’re assuming he’ll give you a choice.”
Chapter Five
Helena woke to the sound of wings and Liam’s dark rumble. “Get out before I pluck you like a chicken.”
She opened her eyes to see Essus perched on the bed’s footboard, glaring at the gun as he lay on the bedside table. “Now there’s an empty threat,” the bird said. “Without someone holding you, you’re nothing but a psychotic paperweight.”
“And you are about two minutes from becoming a feather boa.”
“Really?” Helena growled. They’d awoken her from an incredible dream about Conal’s long cock stroking hard into her slick pussy. Her body was still sizzling. “I haven’t even had my coffee yet.”
“Sorry about that,” the eagle said, sounding genuinely embarrassed.
Sighing, she rolled out of bed. “What can I do for you, Essus?”
The bird lifted one clawed foot and raised a single talon in Liam’s direction. “Conal thought we’d take you to breakfast before we tour Beltane.”
“Essus, did you just shoot him the bird?”
“Better watch it,” Liam growled. “I shoot back.”
“What part of, ‘I haven’t had my coffee’ did you not grasp?” Helena demanded. To the eagle, she added, “Give me twenty minutes to shower and dress.” Liam had already filled the guest room closet and drawers with her clothes. He might be an ornery little dick, but he did come in handy.