Page 44 of Wicked Curses
Time blurred as they continued drinking and talking until the pub’s occupants started clearing out. She didn’t notice this until Orin lifted the empty chair beside her, turned it around, and straddled it as he joined them.
Orin picked up the nearly empty bottle in the middle of the table. “Five bottles, little witch. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
Sahira squinted at the three blurry images of him as he grinned at her. Normally, immortals could hold their liquor, but she hadn’t eaten when she returned to the pub, and it had been at least five days since she last had blood.
The alcohol had hit her harder than it normally would. Zeth still looked mostly functioning, as did Radagast, but as her head swam, she suddenly wasn’t so sure she could stand.
“Shit,” she muttered.
Orin plucked Fred from her shoulder and set him on the table. “You look like you’re seeing double.”
“I think I’m seeing triple.”
Zeth placed a napkin over Fred as he released an inelegant snore and flopped onto his back. “I’ll take her to her room,” Zeth offered.
CHAPTERTHIRTY
Though Orin was highly amusedby Sahira’s antics over the night, especially her atrocious singing with a big old smile on her reddened face, some of his amusement vanished at the demon’s offer. They were getting a little too close for his comfort. She was his conquest and game to play.
Zeth could have her when he was done. Until then, the demon wasn’t getting into her room.
“I’ll take her,” Orin said.
“You still have work to do,” Zeth said.
“Work can wait, butI’llmake sure she gets safely to her room.”
Sahira held up a hand as her head bobbed forward. When her chin hit her chest, she lifted it to glare at him. Orin tried not to laugh at the disgruntled expression on her face.
“I can take myself up,” she stated.
He was pretty sure she knew that was a lie, but his witch was stubborn. To prove her point, Sahira rose from her chair and stood with her hands on the table as she swayed a little.
A few remaining patrons glanced their way, but most didn’t pay her much attention. They had their own shit to worry about.
Orin rested his hand on her shoulder and steadied her while leaning closer. “Let me help you to your room.”
She opened her mouth to say something but promptly closed it again. Orin pulled the chair out and guided her away from the table with a hand on her back.
“Don’t be a prick, dark fae,” Zeth said. “You better not try anything; she’s drunk.”
“I’ve got plenty of willing women; I don’t need to fuck intoxicated ones.”
“What about intoxicated ones unwilling to fuck you when they’re sober?”
Orin smiled as he contemplated tearing out the demon’s tongue while guiding Sahira away from the table. He wouldn’t be such an annoying prick then.
“Taking advantage of women isn’t my style, demon. Perhaps it’s yours if you’re so concerned about it.”
He didn’t look back at Zeth as he draped Sahira’s arm around his shoulders and guided her up the stairs to the rooms above. Six doors lined the hall; one was the bathroom, but the others were all bedrooms.
Thankfully, they were the only two immortals staying here now. He didn’t like immortals enough to be sharing the pub with them.
He led Sahira to her room and waited as she fumbled to remove the key from her pants pocket. It trembled in her hand before tumbling free and hitting the floor with a clatter.
Orin leaned her against the wall before bending to retrieve it. He unlocked the door and pushed it open to reveal the room beyond. Much like his was before he did some redecorating, hers was simple yet welcoming and smelled of grass and wood.
He guided her inside and over to the bed. She plopped onto the edge of the mattress, and her head fell forward.
