“Like hell you are,” Des hissed, but she was already halfway down the bar.
“Come on,” Jasper said to Gareth, who glanced at Des for permission.
He rolled his eyes and nodded.
By the time he reached Daisy, she was chattering away while the Blake girl stared at her, looking completely baffled by this turn of events. That made two of them.
“I’m Daisy,” she said, holding out her hand.
“Erm, it’s nice to meet you? I’m Aurelie.”
“You’re Dean Blake’s niece, aren’t you?” Daisy asked, as subtle as a sledgehammer, and Des, who had been draining the last of his pint, choked.
Daisy reached around and smacked him hard on the back. “Don’t mind Des. He doesn’t get out much.”
The girl fished in her coin purse pointedly. “No, I expect not.”
What wasthatsupposed to mean?
“So you are, aren’t you? Dean Blake’s niece?”
She glanced at Daisy from the corner of her eye. “I am. How did you know?”
“Yes, Daisy,” Des said through gritted teeth. “Howdidyou know?”
Daisy continued to stare at the Blake girl, ignoring him. “Commander Yew mentioned the dean had a niece named Aurelie. It’s a name you don’t hear often.”
“It’s a family name,” she said, her eyes drifting to Des, clearly suspicious.
“On which side?” Daisy asked, chin propped in her hand as though she had all the time in the world.
“Um, my mother’s. Excuse me, I should be going.”
“Where?” Des asked, stepping in front of her as she hopped down from her stool.
Daisy chuckled awkwardly and attempted to sling her arm aroundDes’s shoulders, found she couldn’t reach, and settled for punching him lightly in the bicep. “As I said, he doesn’t get out much. Do you need an escort? There’s been some unusual demonic activity lately. Better not to walk alone.”
“Who said I was alone?” she asked, glancing around as though she might find a friend, or a random stranger, to come to her aid. “I’m only walking back to the university. I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Nevertheless,” Des said, thinking of how she’d laughed at him earlier. How she clearly didn’t take anything—including her own life—seriously. “We’ll walk with you.”
“I’ll be fine, really.” She stepped forward, apparently expecting him to move.
Des folded his arms over his chest. “We insist.”
For a moment, he was sure she’d protest again. Des’s glower, which had been known to turn grown men to dust, didn’t appear to be having its intended effect.
But after a long moment, she let out an exasperated sigh and turned to Daisy. “Well, then, Daisy. After you.”
They’d been walking for a quarter of an hour, Daisy babbling nonstop, when the Blake girl stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and turned in a slow circle. Des, with his long strides, caught up to them almost instantly.
“What is it?” he asked, hand subconsciously drifting to his hip. He’d sent Jasper and Gareth back to the fort, and Daisy was clearly distracted.
“No need to panic,” the girl said, her eyes tracking his movements,and once again he had the impression she was mocking him. At least she had the sense not to giggle this time. “It’s just that I don’t know where we are, exactly.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Pardon?”
She sighed, crossing her arms over her chest in a gesture he imagined she found intimidating, which was so pathetic it was almost charming. Almost. “I’m afraid I may be turned around. I don’t leave campus often.”