Retribution (67 page)

After taking in all the provocative details, Layla looked at Quin, curious about his reaction to them, but he was merely grinning at her blush, unaffected by the nudity below.

“Let me guess,” she smirked, “you see stuff like this all the time.”

“Not all the time, but I've been to gatherings similar to this before.”
 

They landed, and he kept his arm around her as he turned toward the middle of the clearing, letting her watch those taking advantage of the music. Many from their own party had joined the fun, and Layla laughed when she found Brietta in the thick of it, dancing like a salsa queen for Kegan. Weylin had already found himself a topless witch, but he watched her face instead of her exposed chest as he pulled her in for a dance.

“What do you think?” Quin asked.

“It's fantastic,” Layla answered, still watching the magicians party. An outsider would never know the crowd was mere hours away from a deadly battle. “It's kind of weird,” she added, “but it's fun, very entertaining.”

Her gaze fell on a witch salaciously dragging two wizards into the surrounding forest, and Layla’s cheeks flamed as she searched the tree line, counting four couples either emerging from the timber or escaping into it. Apparently it was no big deal to grab a partner... or two, and drag them out for a romp in the pine needles.

Quin followed her stare and laughed. “Does that make you uncomfortable, Layla?”

She shrugged as she looked at him. “It's shocking, but it doesn't make me uncomfortable. They can do whatever they want.” She flashed a grin and turned toward him. “And I can't blame them for wanting what I constantly crave.”

His dimples deepened as he pulled her to his chest. “No, you can't, because I’d take you into that forest in a heartbeat, and we’d see the squirrels blush before I finished with you.”

She laughed as she raised her eyebrows. “Prove it.”

“I will. But not yet. Let's eat something so we don't have to worry about it later.”

After a trip through the busy buffet, they hovered their food between them and ate standing up. The music never stopped, but it would fade into different tunes with different beats, staying hyper to keep the energy high.

Layla soaked it all in, once again feeling like she’d stepped into a surreal fantasy world. But no matter how much she believed she was a part of it, she remained an observer, rarely slipping into the role of participant.

She looked at Quin, wondering if he felt like he was missing out. “Are you bored, Quin?”

He found her eyes as he took a bite of bread. Then he watched her in confusion as he chewed. “Why would you think that? This isn't a boring atmosphere at all.”

“What I mean is – would you rather be out there than here?” She pointed to the spot beside her, and he looked down before grinning at her.

“No, Layla. Of all the fun things I've taken part in throughout my magical life, none of them have provided me with the kind of satisfaction I get from being by your side. I have no desire to leave it.”

She hadn't taken a bite in several minutes, so he swept the leftovers away. “However,” he added, tapping the tip of her nose, “if you ever do decide you want to join them, I’d be thrilled to join you, but not because of the activity. It's all about the company.” He glanced around then pulled her close. “Speaking of company.”

She looked over, finding Brietta, Kegan, Banning, Weylin, and Weylin's new female friend approaching.

Brietta was in her element, grinning from her perch on Kegan’s back while slapping a beat on his shoulder blades, but then she gave Layla an ornery wink and tugged on his hair. “Whoa, there,” she ordered. Then she reached over his shoulder and patted his chest. “Good boy.”

Kegan smiled as he reached behind him, hooking her waist with one arm. Then he flipped her in front of him, spun her around, and tossed her over his shoulder. After a playful slap to the ass, he started tickling her thighs, and she giggled and kicked her feet, powerless to escape his strong arms.

“Help me, Bann,” she squealed. But Banning just pointed and laughed as he headed for their parents, who were several yards away with the majority of their coven, alertly sitting on a raised wooden platform positioned high enough to view the entire clearing.

“Weylin,” Brietta called, still searching for aid.
 

Weylin smirked and ruffled her hair, passing by with one arm wrapped around the unknown witch, who was curiously watching Quin and Layla.

Layla offered a polite smile, and while she examined the stranger’s dainty face, she made sure her gaze didn't roam below her chin. Although, Layla was pretty sure it wouldn't matter if it did. Why would the witch show her breasts if it upset her when people looked at them?

Weylin halted when his eyes fell on Layla, and he ran his gaze from her head to her toes, getting a good look at her for the first time since she'd gotten the tinsel treatment from her grandmas. “Hey, gorgeous.”

“Hey, Wey.”
 

“Are there wings under that cloak?”

She blushed as she thought about what
was
under the cloak. “I'm going to leave you guessing on that one.”

His grin widened. “Good idea. Keep the intrigue going. This is Fiona,” he revealed, motioning to the witch tucked under his arm. “I'm sure you've already heard their names.”

Fiona nodded as she offered her hand. “Yes – Quin and Layla. It's nice to meet you.”

Layla shook her hand. Then Quin did the same.

“We’re getting a bite to eat,” Weylin said, looking at Layla, “but I’ll be watching you, because I have a bet going with Bann.”

“What kind of bet?” Layla nervously asked.

Weylin laughed as he led Fiona toward the food. “I'm going to leave you guessing on that one.”

Layla wrinkled her nose, thinking she deserved the cheap shot.
 

Brietta had been freed from the tickling, but Kegan had other snares, and the two of them ignored the world as they teased and kissed each other.

Quin took Layla’s hand and led her toward their family, but halfway there they had to stop for a large crowd heading for the food. They both watched the variety of magicians file past, and when the horde thinned, he found her profile. “Let's go see where we stand on time.”

Layla felt his gaze on her, but hers was aimed at two bare-breasted women who’d altered their path to the food so they could ogle Quin. They’d been toward the back of the crowd, chatting as they followed the flow, but when the brunette with the rather large breasts spotted Quin, she grabbed her perky-breasted, blonde friend and pulled her toward him. They barely hesitated, just long enough to flip their gazes to Layla, noting her cloak with judgmental expressions, and apparently they determined they had no competition in such a modest witch, because they flashed knowing smiles at each other and walked forward.

Layla looked at Quin and found his attentive stare. He had no idea he was being hunted.

“What’s that about?” he asked, reaching for her scowl.

She pointed at the witches, who’d stopped right in front of him. “I believe they want to talk to you.”

He looked forward, and his eyebrows shot up, but he wisely kept his gaze on their faces. His own was etched with understanding as he glanced at Layla. Then he greeted the women with a polite smile.

“Ladies. May I help you with something?”

The brunette held out a hand. “You're Quin, right?”

He accepted the gesture as he answered. “Yes.”

“I'm Idelle; this is Jenny.”

The blonde extended her hand, and Quin shook it before pulling Layla under his arm and pointing her out. “This is Layla.”

The witches didn't even look at her, let alone shake her hand.
 

“You seem to make a lot of the decisions around here, Quin,” Idelle noted. “Is this your party?”

“I wouldn't say that,” he answered. “It’s a group effort.”

“Aren't you a humble wizard?” Jenny observed, shamelessly scanning his chest. “A rare gem.”

“Rare indeed,” Idelle added. “So, since you're not running the show, I guess it doesn't matter if you miss some of it. Would you like to take a break from the masses and join Jenny and me for a walk through the firs? We’d enjoy getting to know you better.”

Layla sucked her lips into her teeth
. Did Idelle just invite
my
wizard out into the woods for a ménage a trois? Right in front of me? While I was watching and listening?
Layla couldn't believe it. She knew wizards were bold, but she had no idea witches were so brazen.

Her incredulous eyes narrowed on the intruders, but she managed to keep her mouth shut, determined not to make a jealous fool of herself.

Quin seemed genuinely shocked as well, and he kept Layla close as he answered. “I'm not interested.”

“Well that's a lie,” Jenny huffed, and Layla's mouth fell open.

“There's no point in lying,” Idelle insisted, sparing Layla a glance, but her eyes went right back to her target. “Not when we have such precious little time to work with. I'm sure your lady friend understands you need things she just can't provide.”

“Says who?” Layla countered, unable to keep quiet a second longer. “What on earth makes you think you have more than I have?”

Quin looked at Layla with wide eyes. Then he cleared his throat and tightened his hold. “Let's go.”

He attempted to lead her around the women, but Layla stood firm. “Well?” she sharply prompted. “Let's hear what makes you so damn special.”

Unfazed by being called out, Idelle confidently raised her chin. “First of all, there are two of us and only one of you. And frankly, sweetie,” she added, motioning to Layla's cloaked body, “you don't seem too worried about keeping Quin's eyes on you, which tells me you're not too worried about keeping him satisfied.”

Layla was seething, but she fought hard to keep her actions from reflecting her anger. “You're mistaken, Idelle, so you and your friend need to move on to another conquest. This wizard's spoken for.”

Jenny rolled her eyes. “Why don't you let him speak for himself?”

“I already told you,” Quin interjected, “I'm not interested, not even tempted. Find someone who is.” He didn't wait for a reply before leading Layla around them, but they felt the need to respond anyway.

“She must have sent him to obedience school,” Jenny scoffed.

“Apparently,” Idelle smirked. “I mean, she has a pretty face and all, but she wears that cloak like a condom. I bet the poor guy doesn't even get to see it when he makes love to it.”

Layla halted and took a deep breath, using both magic and meditation to cool down. She was determined to remain calm, but she was also determined to force the witches' catty words back down their skinny, little throats.

“Come on, love,” Quin insisted, but she didn’t budge.

Once she had her emotions in check, she removed his arm from her shoulders, but she kept his hand as she turned, pulling him around with her. “Hey,” she called, getting the witches’ attention. Then she took another deep breath and vanished her cloak.

Uncomfortable with the entire situation, Quin watched Idelle and Jenny while waiting for Layla to say what she needed to say. When the witches’ arrogant expressions melted and their mouths dropped open, he had no idea why.

He glanced at Layla’s face, finding it calm. Then he did a double-take, his own mouth falling open as he took a step back and scanned her body. His breath caught in his chest as his throat swelled shut, and even though he was touching her, his heart became his own for a moment, stuttering, then stopping, then slamming against his ribs.

She was always stunning, and the outfit by no means made the woman beneath it, but it enhanced the natural glow she always possessed, and it unveiled personality traits she usually hid, busting open her shell and exposing everything beautiful about her. No one in the world, let alone the crowded clearing, could compare to her radiance when she let it shine. She eclipsed them all.

“Suck on that bitter lollypop,” she said, staring down the stunned witches, “and maybe it will humble you. You shouldn't be so quick to judge, and you should learn to take no for an answer. Obviously he's not going to accept anything from either of you while I'm around, and I’m not going anywhere, so I suggest you move along before you make me angry.”

Quin smiled, surprised and pleased she was sticking up for herself, and the witches blushed as they diverted their eyes and walked away.

Layla impatiently waited for them to move out of earshot. Then she looked at Quin and flashed a smile. “Can you believe that? I just made two topless witches blush. Brietta would be proud.”

“Hell yeah, I am,” Brietta called out, and Layla jolted.

“Now
that
was entertainment,” Weylin noted, lounging on the ground. “And Bann owes me fifty bucks.” He looked up at Banning, who sat on the edge of the raised platform. “I told you she’d fight fire with fire. Just because she's an angel, doesn't mean she'll let another witch target her wizard.”

Layla looked around, realizing their family and dozens of strangers were watching, and she burned with a full-body blush as she turned back to Quin. “Damn it. And I was doing so good.”