Blood Politics - Helen Harper Page 0,2

man appeared in blue-striped pyjamas appeared, cricket bat gripped in his hands.

He waved it threateningly in Corrigan’s direction and spoke gruffly. “What the hell is going on here?”

The Lord Alpha held up both his hands, palms turned outwards. “Nothing to worry about it, sir. I’m sorry if I woke you up.”

My neighbour glanced down towards me, taking in the destroyed door, then flicked a glance back at Corrigan. “Doesn’t look like nothing to me. You upsetting this lady?”

I felt a surge of warmth towards him, and cleared my throat. “Everything’s fine. I know this guy. He just, er,…” My voice trailed off. Just what? Kicked in my door because he’s a were-panther psycho control freak?

Fortunately, Corrigan’s wits were somewhat more sharp than mine at this time of night and he stepped in to rescue me. “My friend, here,” he laid heavy emphasis on the word ‘friend’ so that there was no mistaking his meaning, “has diabetes. When she didn’t answer her phone or the door I grew worried that she’d fallen into insulin shock.” He smiled disarmingly. “You can’t be too careful, you know.”

My neighbour looked at me for confirmation, so I nodded mutely, trying not to look pissed off that Corrigan was trying to insinuate that we were in some kind of romantic relationship. The idiot probably thought that he was marking his territory when I’d already made it pretty clear that I didn’t need or want him around. Well, I didn’t need him at least. And as for the want part, I was sure that would pass soon.

I found my voice. “Honestly, everything’s fine. I’m so sorry that we woke you up.” I shot a hard look at Corrigan. “It won’t happen again. I appreciate you checking though.”

The man’s grip on the cricket bat relaxed. “Any time, Miss. I’m just upstairs if you need anything. Flat 3D.”

I smiled at him as he shot me a meaningful look, then watched as he turned and walked back upstairs. Once I was sure he was safely back inside his own apartment, with the door closed, I looked back at Corrigan and glared.

“Four fucking days!” I hissed. “And already the neighbours think I’m some kind of nocturnal weirdo with crazy friends. Speaking of friends, what the hell was it that you were trying to suggest anyway?”

He shrugged. “Well, we have been on a date already, kitten. You know it’s only a matter of time.” His chipped emerald eyes gleamed at me with promise lurking in their depths.

My mouth went dry. “Piss off. I told you that I don’t need you and that I want to do this alone.”

“At least for now.”

“Huh?”

“That’s what you said,” Corrigan replied tolerantly. “You need to do this alone, whatever ‘this’ is, at least for now.”

He was throwing back the words that I’d said to him at the mages’ academy after Thomas had been killed by the wraith. And after I’d shifted into the dragon that I now kept having nightmares about. I stared at him, nonplussed.

“I am a patient man, kitten,” Corrigan continued. “I can wait until you’ve come to terms with what you are.”

I rubbed my eyes tiredly. It was too fucking late – or too fucking early depending on which way you wanted to look at it – to be dealing with this now. “I am at terms with what I am.”

“Sure you are. That’s why you’re having nightmares.” Corrigan’s gaze fell onto my now destroyed door. “Come back to the keep with me. You can’t stay here now that anyone can waltz in without so much as a by-your-leave.”

“Yeah? And whose fucking fault is that?”

Corrigan opened his mouth to speak but he was interrupted by yet another voice. “The keep is a long way off. Don’t worry, I will keep watch and make sure that you’re not interrupted again.”

I looked over, surprised, and realised that leaning against the shadows was a Fae. Corrigan growled.

“Who the hell are you?” I snapped.

The Fae stepped out into the dim light of the corridor. “You can call me Beltran, although really my name is unimportant. Her Majesty has asked me to ensure that you are undisturbed.” His violet eyes flicked to Corrigan. “You are disturbing her.”

My mouth dropped open. Un-freaking-believable. All I needed now was for a bloody mage to show up and start waving around sparks of magic in my so-called defense and my night would be complete.

“There’s a witch waiting outside. I can always exhort her to cast a ward so that nothing may pass over