“It’s not?—”
“So, I’ll be working at the pub, which is a great way to make friends in the community again and dispel any previous bad rumors anyone had about me. Or you,” Liora finished off, lifting her chin and giving me a stubborn look.
I knew that look.
Every man should know that look and respond accordingly.
“Well, then, I’ll say congratulations. It’s a grand place, as you know, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy your time working there.” I mentally sighed. It looked like I’d be going to the pub more often now. Like I’d let her drive home late at night in that ancient tin can of a car of hers. Not with the way things had been in Loren Brae of late.
“Thank you. I think I will too.”
“But you’ll still do your astrology, right? Don’t you love it? I feel like I remember you being obsessed with it.” Though those were Avery’s words, not my own.
“I do. I love it. It’s just not been the most…lucrative of late.” Liora’s face shuttered, and I wanted to ask her more about why she loved astrology so much, just because her expression lit up with joy when she talked about it, but she continued on. “But there’s something else that happened today. Something big.”
“Hit me with it.”
Liora narrowed those gorgeous blue eyes at me.
“It’s magickal related.”
“I can take it.” I shook my head when her eyes narrowed even farther. “Promise. I told you. You can’t live in Loren Brae and not understand that there’s magick afoot. It’s everywhere, isn’t it?”
“Is it? Where do you see it?” Liora’s eyes lit, but I waved a finger at her.
“Uh-uh. Stay on topic. What big magickal thing happened today?”
“Och, right. Um, well, it turns out that Loren Brae might just need me.”
I tilted my head at her and picked up my beer again, gesturing for her to go on.
“At the castle. There’s a magickal Order. The Order of Caledonia. Um, I’m not sure if I am meant to tell you everything, but basically it’s just that I took an oath. To help protect Loren Brae.”
“From…” I raised an eyebrow at her.
“Um, the Kelpies. And bad people who want to do bad things with powerful items that don’t belong to them.”
At that, both eyebrows went up to my hairline.
“That sounds dangerous, Liora.”
“Och, I’m sure it’s perfectly fine.” Liora waved my concerns away. “Sophie says that our powers will help us.”
“Your powers.” I took a deep breath. Right, I’d known Liora was magickal of sorts, but this was really driving it home. “And what, exactly, would those be?”
“Great question.” Liora beamed at me. “I asked the same. I guess they’re meant to come to me and I’ll just figure it out as I go.”
This entire scenario would have made Avery break out in hives. I found my lips twitching at Liora’s impossible optimism.
“And this doesn’t freak you out?”
“Och, no, it one hundred percent does. But I’m in it now. And I think it’s going to be grand. There are other women in the town who are part of it. I’ve met a couple of them already. They’re really nice. I think… I think it’s what I’m meant to be doing,Torin. I’m meant to be here. And maybe that’s why I’ve felt like a key that hadn’t found its lock for so many years now.”
At the sadness that filled her eyes, I reached across the table and held her hand.
“I have so many questions. But for now, I’ll just say… ceud mìle fàilte.”
One hundred thousand welcomes.