Species Traitor: A Science Fiction Dystopian Novel by Kate Mary (universal ebook reader .TXT) 📗

“He’s right, though.” Dean gave my knee a squeeze. “This stuff is strong, and you’re a little smaller than these strapping Veilorian men.”

He lifted his glass with his other hand as if toasting Finn and Rye, and my cousin’s husband returned the gesture. Finn did not.

My head was swimming, and Dean’s hand, still resting on my bare knee, felt hot enough to burn my skin. I wasn’t sure if I liked it, just like I wasn’t sure if I liked the buzzing in my body that intensified whenever I met Finn’s gaze. Which was a lot. For some reason, despite his hostility during our earlier encounter, he seemed unable to keep his eyes off me for more than a few minutes, and each time our eyes met, my skin prickled even more. It was making me antsy, making me want to run away or confront him, something even my muddled brain could register was a bad idea. I had a tough time keeping my thoughts inside my head when I hadn’t been drinking, and who the hell knew what would come out if I got started now.

To keep myself from opening a can of worms I would never be able to shut, I turned to my cousin. “Finn said you got a job.”

At that exact moment, a particularly violent burst of wind slammed into the building, making the whole thing shake, and I glanced up as if to confirm the ceiling and walls weren’t going to fall down around me. The bar was thankfully intact.

I looked back at Ione to find her eyebrows raised and her gaze focused on her husband’s cousin. “Finn?”

“We bumped into one another before our family meal,” Finn replied, barely looking at her.

“You didn’t tell us that,” Rye said.

“It was nothing,” I replied.

Without realizing it, my hand moved to the scratches on my arm.

The memory of Finn’s warm hands on my skin made me flush again, and I glanced his way. He was staring at the scratches, but as if sensing my gaze, looked up. For a moment, it felt like all the air had been sucked from the room.

“I got a job teaching human history at the school,” Ione said, jolting me from the trance Finn’s gaze had caught me in. “And there’s an adult class people can enroll in once a week at night. So, it looks like I’ll be able to put my education to use after all.”

I tore my gaze from Finn and focused on my cousin, but my heart didn’t slow. He was still watching me, and the attention made the scratches on my arm throb and my skin prickle, and I found myself wishing I hadn’t agreed to let him take my drink. He’d been right. I was nearing the tipping point and needed to stop, but with him focused on me so intently, it felt like the rum was the only thing that would help me calm down.

That or leaving, and since this storm had just gotten started, it would be at least an hour before I could do that.

Chapter Six

“You can hardly stand.” Ione giggled as we headed for the door.

She wasn’t doing much better.

She was clinging to her husband, who didn’t seem the least bit affected by the alcohol he’d consumed, even though it had been a lot. He was grinning, his eyes twinkling with amusement, while his cousin wore his usual scowl.

“How are you going to get home?” Finn asked me, his voice betraying not a single emotion.

Rye’s smile stretched wider. “Maybe you should stay with us.”

“Naw.” Dean threw his arm around my shoulders. “I’ll make sure she gets home safe and sound.”

“That,” Ione stumbled, and Rye had to grab her arm, “sounds like a great idea.”

Finn grumbled something under his breath I couldn’t quite catch, but I ignored him. My head had cleared a little since I’d stopped drinking more than an hour ago, but with it, my unease at being around the half-human man who couldn’t keep his eyes off me had only grown. Even though Dean had gotten more and more handsy as the night wore on, I was willing to allow him to escort me home. Just as long as it meant I could get away from Finn’s penetrating gaze.

The half-Veilorian shoved the door open and stalked outside while behind us the bartender called, “Have a good night.”

“Night,” I replied over my shoulder.

A good twenty minutes had passed since the weather eased, and despite the high walls, the District was ripe with the evidence of the storm. Sand had collected against walls in drifts and blown across the road, covering the dozens of footprints from the day’s activity, and even more had collected on the stairs and walkways above. It would take days for things to get back to normal, and with any luck, we’d have a few weeks or more before another storm hit.

Now outside, I extracted myself from Dean’s grasp and gave my cousin a goodbye hug. “See you later.”

Ione giggled and pressed her lips against my ear. “Don’t forget to thank him properly.”

I rolled my eyes as I stepped back, my focus on Rye even though I could feel Finn watching me. “She’s going to feel horrible tomorrow.”

“It won’t be the first time,” he said, smiling. “Get home safe.”

“I will,” I said, taking a step back.

Against my will, I found myself turning to Finn. Ignoring him was impossible with as imposing as he was, but even more crazy was when my gaze met his and a flutter moved through me that wasn’t the least bit unpleasant.

“Be safe,” he said, his voice quiet.

I had to swallow to reply. “I will.”

Finn’s gaze moved to Dean, who was standing behind me, and his expression hardened. “Make sure she gets home okay.”

“Who do you think you’re talking to?” Dean replied in a stiff tone.

Finn’s expression didn’t change. “I know exactly who I’m talking to, and don’t you forget it.”

“You’re not alone