Page 5 of Beauty At Stake
“No, dude. People say that. I mean not those exact words, but when they're skeptical, they'll use that tone and say something similar.”
“Same smell?” Star lifted his brows.
As I laughed, Killian shook his head. “You're doing it wrong. Never mind. You shouldn't try to be like me anyway. It takes too much wit and skill.”
“And modesty,” Star tacked on.
I laughed harder.
“Yup. Now you understand me.”
“Haven't you learned by now that nothing will faze Killian?” I asked Star. “He went through so much crap with the Coven Witches that he's immune to insults.”
Star shrugged, his lips softening as he stared at me.
I looked away.
Killian cleared his throat. “I'm not immune to that,” he muttered.
“Ambassadors? Extinguishers? Would you like to join us for some celebratory refreshments?” Melissa, the Quake Witch, who was the only female vex besides Vanessa, asked from the doorway of the vex house.
“Sure!” Kill answered for all of us. “It's nice to get a mission done in one night.” He sauntered over the bridge that crossed the moat—or is it a pool since it circled a house and not a castle? A river maybe. Whatever it was called, Kill crossed it while I was still looking at Star.
Not because we were having a moment. It was more about Killian answering for all of us.
“You don't have to stay,” I said to Star. “I know it's been hard for you to get away and you've already been out—”
“One drink won't hurt.” Star cut me off and sidled into the house.
I followed. “But won't your King's Guard get nervous?”
Star paused in the doorway to look back at me. “What about your Star's Guard,Princess?”
I think Star enjoyed bringing up the fact that we were both named Star. In a way. Seren meant “star” in Welsh, and I'd given Astaroth his nickname because it was right there, in the middle of his name.
“We've come to an agreement,” I said.
“Uh-huh.”
“Just like my husbands, my Star's Guard stays home if the mission only involves humans.”
“That crap in Korea involved humans.”
“Andfairies,” I reminded him. “And that human stolefairymagic. So, that would have been an exception. You know, if we had the agreement in place back then.”
“I see.” He grinned at me as he casually held out a hand.
I took it without thinking, and we walked into the living room together. It felt natural to walk hand-in-hand with Star. So, even after we entered the house, I didn't let go. He led the way, drawing me across the hardwood floor, passing low tables with wooden statues on display. A vaulted ceiling slanted sharply above us, crossed by thick beams, from which hung delicate paper and wood lanterns. Open windows let the night air in, their wooden shutters latched back. Low wooden couches featured more of the local artistry, with carved exotic designs in the frame softened by quilted cushions in vibrant colors. Killian stood near the kitchen counter—a barrier between the kitchen and the living room. He turned toward me with a smile and two drinks. Then grimaced.
“Really? You have to hold hands?”
I looked down at my hand in Star's and frowned. “You're right. This is beginning to feel too natural.” I let go of Star's hand. “Shit. This is Anu's influence.”
“Son of a bitch,” Star muttered and strode past me to the bar the vexes were setting up on the counter.
“Star,” I called after him.
“I know, Seren!” He slashed his hand downward. “Do you think I enjoy acting like a smitten teenager? This has got to stop.” He splashed some cognac into a snifter and turned to face Kill and me. “I can't follow you around like a puppy forever.”
