26: Rule Number 2. five

Quincy St. Martin

Looking at the man standing in front of us, I can see why. Tall and muscular with fair blond hair and a face like an Adonis.

Even when I have Caspian on my brain, my eyebrows almost reach my hairline when my eyes land on him.

Not that he’s better looking than Caspian or anything, but he ~is~ magnificent to look at.

Caspian is gorgeous in a classical sense with a strong aristocratic, angular face. Regal, elegant, and polished, yet playful and charming.

This man has a beautiful, yet strong and severe, and has an unreadable face. He is warrior-like. Quiet, controlled, and intimidating. He looks dangerous. There’s no hiding it. You wouldn’t want him as your enemy.

As soon as that thought crosses my mind, I almost roll my eyes. Of course, he’s dangerous. They are all dangerous. They’re lycans! I feel like smacking my forehead. My brain is truly fried. I blame Caspian. His kisses from last night rendered my brain useless.

Warrior-man’s glacier-blue eyes are only for Penny. They soften for her. These two clearly belong together. The look of total devotion and love when they look at each other is clear. They must be mates.

“This is Darius,” Penny says, finally able to take her eyes off her man. “Darius, this is Quincy.”

They exchange a look before Darius gives me a polite nod. There’s something in the way they look at me that makes me pause. Then Penny orders their food and drinks.

“I’ll be right back with your order,” I tell them.

The café is really short-staffed today. I slide the order to Travis across the counter. He looks up and smiles at me before he snatches the paper. Travis is nice, and I know that he likes me. Why can’t I feel for a normal human like Travis the way I feel for Caspian? Caspian’s a lycan. A lycan! Of all creatures in the world.

“Your friend?” asks Travis, and I glance back at Penny and Darius.

They’re such a stunning couple, and they look very good together. Penny’s dark sultry look is a wonderful contrast to Darius’s pale Nordic appearance.

I shrug my shoulders as I pour some steamed milk into a metal pitcher for the cappuccino. I don’t know how to answer that. I just met them, but I somehow feel like I’ve bonded to them in some way. It’s a weird feeling. There’s also that strange, almost possessiveness in the way they look at me.

“Good-looking people. Probably models or actors like a lot of people here,” Travis adds conversationally as he places lettuce on bread. Somehow I doubt that, but I don’t say anything.

“Do you model?” he asks.

I laugh at the question. “Nope. This is my career right here,” I tell him, pointing at the café logo on my apron.

“Okay.” He chuckles. “It’s not too busy this morning, but it gets crazy during lunch hour,” he informs me. “Oh-oh. I think it just got busier.” He’s looking over my shoulder behind me.

I follow his gaze and see that Penny and Darius have company at their table. Four other students, and they are all humans. One of the girls has taken a chair and is sitting too close to Darius. She’s sliding a flirtatious look at him, and Penny doesn’t look too happy. Oh, boy, I smell trouble.

These humans have no idea what they’re getting themselves into. As a human, I have five rules regarding non-humans.

Rule number 1, stay away from these creatures.

Rule number 2, never piss off any of these creatures.

Rule number 2.5, never get in between them and their mates, especially the one as dangerous as a lycan.

Rules number 3, 4, and 5: try to remember and follow rule number 1, 2, and 2.5.

It’s never good to piss off a lycan, and these humans have no clue. I should send them a copy of my rules.

What happens when you’re their mate then? I have no clue. I will have to come up with a new set of rules soon.

“Well, it’s my table. I’d better go get their order,” I tell Travis cheerfully.

Yikes! I am so not looking forward to this. Even Travis is watching them warily. On instinct, I grab a glass and fill it with tap water and walk briskly over. I glimpse a flash of Penny’s eyes turning molten black before Darius wraps his arms around her waist. Things are getting ugly.

Without thinking, I splash the water all over the other girl.

Everybody goes silent. “Oooppsss. Sorry. My bad,” I tell them, trying my hardest to look like I am sorry. I have my eyes wide and eyebrows up, the innocent look, down pat. Usually, it works. This is so much like when Nana caught me with my hand in the cookie jar. When I said I was sorry, it wasn’t a total lie, but I wasn’t sorry that I did it.

I was just sorry I got caught. Those cookies were freaking yummy! Right now, I’m not at all sorry I threw the water all over the other girl. I happen to like Penny, and it’s actually very satisfying.

I wish I could pretend it wasn’t me, but I’m holding an empty glass. Besides, I have too many witnesses. Can’t get rid of them all. Penny’s eyes are now back to their normal color, and she’s staring at the other woman in shock just like everybody else.

“You stupid bitch!” the woman screeches at me, jumping up after she gets over her shock.

You’re welcome, bitch! It’s just water! And I just saved your ass from a freaking lycan!

“Your manager will hear about this! I’m going to make sure he fires your sorry ass!” she rants before stomping off to find Adam.

Oh well, no good deed goes unpunished and all that.

“What?” I look around to see everybody staring at me. “She just needed a cold shower,” I tell everyone. She did look very thirsty and water’s on the house.