I rubbed my hands over the top of my head. At least I didn’t have to worry about ending up with bits of vomited carrot in my hair, I figured. I shrugged thoughtfully. Maybe I wouldn’t bother re-growing my hair out. Then I reminded myself of the charming nickname Mary had designated for me, and thought otherwise.
Looking around, it was clear that I was on the roof of a building somewhere. I walked over to the edge and peered down, but didn’t see anything I recognised. Not that it was such a huge surprise that I didn’t know where I was. After all, I was hardly an expert on London. I had kind of thought that maybe it would be near the Ministry, but it didn’t seem to be. Shrugging, I turned back, making for a small door that could only lead down to the counsellor’s offices.
The initial staircase heading downwards was considerably more plush than I’d been expecting. The walls were dotted with photos of what I could only presume were successful clients. I stopped at one that looked vaguely familiar. Damnit, I knew I’d seen him somewhere before, I just couldn’t work out where. I felt slightly comforted at least that there others who were brave enough to attest to the fact that they’d been here before. I wouldn’t be letting anyone even think of putting my photo up here, though. Absolutely not.
I emerged from the stairs into a small waiting area. Creamy leather couches stood against a lightly coloured mauve wall. There was a chrome coffee table, upon which sat the obligatory range of magazines to cater to different tastes, and a blonde receptionist behind a desk, smiling professionally at me.
I cleared my throat. “Er, I’m here for an appointment. My name’s Mackenzie Smith.”
The receptionist’s eyes widened slightly. I didn’t like that reaction very much and frowned to myself. She beckoned me to sit down on one of the sofas and then practically ran out of the room to get ‘refreshments’.
My eyes narrowed. Something was going on here that I definitely did not like. Out of habit, I reached behind my head for the silver needles that I used to keep secreted away there, then I remembered that they had been taken away from me far too long ago. Instead of sitting down, I leaned over the desk to look for something I could use in case this was an ambush. I had no idea who or what might be after me now, but experience taught me that you could never be too prepared. My eyes fell on a silver coloured fountain pen and I smiled grimly. That would do.
Unscrewing the top, I palmed the pen, concealing it within the sleeves of my robes. It might not be a throwing dagger but it was better than nothing. Down the corridor from where the receptionist had disappeared, I heard a door open. My body tensed, and I moved to the opposite wall where I’d have optimum access if this really turned out to be something that required more than my usual attention.
Adrenalin began mixing with bloodfire and I could feel trickles of anticipated heat filtering through. I realised that there was a part of me hoping that this actually was some kind of nasty out to get me. It might even help me get rid of some pent up aggression before the real anger management. I frowned. As long as it wasn’t actually the counsellor himself who was hoping for a bit of action, of course. The sound of heavy measured footsteps approaching down the corridor filled the small space. That definitely wasn’t the receptionist returning. I clutched the pen tighter and prepared myself for whatever it might be. The footsteps got louder and louder, and then abruptly stopped just around the corner from where I was. I knew that their owner would be able to see that the couches were empty. That was unfortunate as it meant that I might just have lost the element of surprise. It was of little matter, however; I was confident enough that I could take on whatever was coming.
And then I inhaled.
“Fuck!” I slammed my hand against the wall and pushed myself off, rounding the corner to greet the unwelcome owner of that ever so familiar citrus spice aftershave.
“Hello, kitten,” purred Corrigan.
I shoved a hand into his chest as if to push him away, but he remained immobile, smiling down at me with the predatory gleam of his were. His green eyes danced with amusement.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I snarled.
He painted on a look of melodramatic hurt. “Why are you being so aggressive? I thought we were friends now.”
“We were never friends,” I enunciated carefully. “Now tell me just what exactly you’re doing here.”
Corrigan took a step towards and, before I could twist away, grabbed hold of my wrist. The pen clattered to the floor. He raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to ink me to death?”
“Get your hands off me!” I shrieked with a wail akin to a banshee.
His grip, in answer, merely tightened. I sucked in the scent of him, aware of how close we were. He’d clearly completely recovered from the effects of the red fever, and was looking far too good in a crisp white shirt that dazzled against the tan of his skin and his inky black hair. I swallowed and yanked my hand away harder, this time succeeding in pulling loose.
He gazed at me, a faint line of puzzlement etching its away onto his brow. “What’s going on? I thought we parted on good terms.”
I looked away, unable to deal with those emerald eyes searing their way into me. “You told the mages all about me! About what happened in Cornwall and the fact that I wasn’t strong enough to beat Iabartu.”
He reeled back momentarily, then recovered. “No,” he said slowly, “I told the mages that you were stronger than virtually any shifter I’d ever come across, and that you did well by almost besting a demi-goddess. I wanted them to appreciate your strength. By knowing more about you, I figured they could help train you to be even stronger than you already are.”
“Do you have any idea how patronising that sounds?” I spat, raging at the idea that he thought I needed his protection. “And besides, I know it’s bullshit. You’re just pissed off that I decided to go with them instead of stay with you. Well, guess what, buster? I’m having a great time! It turns out I am pretty good at all this mage stuff. I don’t need you sticking your nose in.”
“Is that right? Because the way I hear things, you’re not doing so hot. In fact there was something about you almost getting kicked out for losing your temper. Isn’t that why you’re here?”
I turned back to look him in the eye. “You’re getting reports on me? You have no right, Corrigan. I’m not part of the pack so you can fuck right off.”
“You saved my life,” he said softly. In fact so softly that I barely heard him. “In some cultures that means that you’re now responsible for me for life.”
“Well then it’s just fortunate that’s not my culture then, isn’t it?”
A muscle throbbed in his jaw. “This is not going quite how I’d planned it.”
“My heart bleeds for you.” I spun around and went over to the sofa, plonking myself, and crossing both my arms and legs. “Now please leave. I have a very important appointment to keep.”
He ignored me and moved over to the opposite couch, carefully sitting down himself. “Your new haircut, it, um, suits you. It’s quite dramatic.”
I eyeballed him angrily. ‘Oh, you’re going to have to do so much better than that, Corrigan.”
He leaned over, forcing me to uncross my arms so he could take both my hands in his. An involuntary shiver ran up my spine. “So give me the chance then.”
“Fuck off.”
Corrigan sighed irritably and then frowned and looked down. His body tensed in anger. “What the hell happened to your hand?”
I was rather taken aback by the vehemence in his voice. “Nothing. I just needed some air so I punched a hole in a window, alright?”
“Did someone hurt you?”
“No.” I pulled my hands back and crossed them against my chest again.
“Mack, I mean it.” The look in his eye was frightening. “Did one of the mages do this to you?”
“No, Corrigan,” I said tiredly. “I did this to myself.”
He stared at me for a moment, as if trying to ascertain the truth. “Fine, then. But, know this, I’m on your side, whether you believe it or not.”
I snorted, then wished I hadn’t as the noise that came out of was quite ridiculously unladylike.
“And anyway, Mack,” he continued, “if you really want to avoid my attentions quite this much, then you should perhaps not flash me quite so much skin.’
My head jerked up at him, confused. He smirked broadly and gestured downwards. With horror, I realised that the rip in my robes had somehow increased even more since I’d put them on in the morning and they were now gaping open all the way up to the edge of my hip. I stood up hastily, more annoyed by the flush of embarrassment now flooding my face than anything else. Corrigan leaned over and chucked me on the chin.
I’ll be seeing you, kitten.
I growled at him again, but he pulled open the door and left, laughter rebounding back across the room. For my part, I kicked the coffee table, overturning it and sending the magazines flying. Outfuckingstanding.
I was picking the magazines back up when the receptionist came back into the room. She flicked me a nervous glance.
“Whatever happened to patient confidentiality?”
“Um, excuse me?”
“Patient confidentiality,” I repeated, annoyed, then gestured at the door that Corrigan had just left from.
“That was the Lord Alpha,” she explained patiently.
“I know it was the Lord freaking Alpha!” I yelled. “How did he know I was going to be here?”
“Ohhhh, I see.” She nodded sagely. “I have no idea. He just showed up and told us he was going to wait for you. Certainly no-one from this office told him you were going to be here. Why on earth would we?”
The look she sent me left no doubt as to the fact that she patently had no idea why the leader of all shifters would have any kind of interest in a bald girl wearing a crumpled blue robe that had a huge rip up the side and who spent her free time going to anger management classes. Actually, maybe she had a point there. But that didn’t change the fact that now that not only couldn’t I trust Corrigan, it meant I couldn’t trust the mages either. One of them must have blabbed to the shifters about me being here. Probably the same person who thought it would be fun to let him know I was flunking out of magic school.