Echoes of Fire (The Mercury Pack #4)(43)

Gwen placed her glass on the bar. “What do you think it will take for her to back off?”

“I don’t know.” Madisyn blew out a breath.

“Maybe it will be enough to know that he’s found his mate,” said Ally. “She won’t want him as a bodyguard if he’s mated. She’ll want his loyalty to be solely to her.”

“I heard she warned Shiloh away from him,” said Gwen.

“She did,” confirmed Ally. “Bracken wasn’t exhibiting any interest in resuming his pursuit of the margay, but Claudia apparently didn’t want to take any chances that Shiloh might make a move on him.”

Ally looked at Madisyn. “You didn’t need to worry about Shiloh, by the way. Honestly, she was never really into Bracken—and as an empath, I am sure of that. She liked him, was both impressed and exasperated by his stubbornness, and she might have eventually gone on a date with him. But she hasn’t been moping about his lack of contact. Doesn’t feel even a hint of longing when she looks at him. Just wisps of compassion.”

Madisyn gave a slow nod. “Good. It would have been awkward between me and Harley if I ripped out her cousin’s spinal cord.”

Ally snickered. “That it would have.”

A trio of guys approached the bar, laughing. Madisyn quickly prepared their orders, smiling her default barmaid smile. Once they were gone, she involuntarily flicked a look at Claudia and noticed that the bitch was speaking into the ear of the male at her side, her eyes on Bracken. And in those eyes was sheer cunning.

“You’re baring your teeth again,” said Gwen.

Madisyn took a long breath. “My cat wants to eat her.”

“You know, I still can’t quite believe you’re a pallas cat,” said Ally. “I watched the CCTV footage of you and the bears several times. You totally kicked ass.”

And because Madisyn had come to know the Seer well enough, she said, “You passed it on to the Phoenix Pack females, didn’t you?”

All innocence, Ally replied, “Well, I thought it important that they knew what the sows looked like.”

Madisyn snorted. “Hmm.” Her amusement fled her system when Claudia stood just as Bracken was turning the corner near her table. “Oh, she’s making a move.”

“She may not move toward him,” said Ally. “She could be going to the restroom or . . . Shit. The bitch is persistent. Walk away, Brack, just walk away,” advised Ally, even though he wouldn’t hear her.

But Bracken didn’t walk away. He stopped, giving the she-wolf his attention—the very thing she’d wanted all evening.

Madisyn’s lips thinned as Claudia rested a hand on his arm. “He’s letting her touch him. Why is he letting her touch him?” He knew the bitch wanted him, yet he wasn’t making his boundaries clear. Which just made her cat want to bite a chunk out of his face. When the she-wolf then gestured at her own table, Madisyn flexed her fingers. “If he follows her to her table, he is so single.”

“I don’t think he’ll be that stupid,” said Ally.

“I don’t know,” said Gwen, doubtful. “He’s letting her get closer. That’s stupid.”

Bracken backed up a step, and the bitch’s hand slipped away from his arm. Claudia didn’t try to cover the distance he created, but she sure looked like she wanted to.

At that moment, he fleetingly glanced at Madisyn. Claudia didn’t miss it. She tracked his gaze, and her eyes sliced right through Madisyn like a blade.

Gwen gasped. “They’re talking about you, Mads. And she does not like whatever it is he’s saying. It’s not making her back away, though. Bitch.”

“Who’s a bitch?” asked a familiar male, sliding onto a stool opposite Madisyn. Mason Grant. “Evening, Miss Drake,” he drawled.

Madisyn flashed Mason her barmaid smile, though it was strained around the edges. “Hi. What can I get you?”

“I’m afraid I can’t stay. I have to get to my club,” said Mason. “I just wanted to see how you were doing and ask if you’ve had any trouble from the bear clan?”

She blinked, quite frankly taken off guard by his interest. “No trouble.”

“That’s good. It surprises me, though.” He drummed his fingers on the bar. “The bears haven’t returned to Enigma or appealed the ban. Have they not shown up here?”

“As far as I know, no.”

“Remember to call me should they give you any problems.” When she said nothing, Mason’s mouth curved. “You won’t call, will you?”

“No.”

He pursed his lips. “Is that out of sheer stubbornness or because pallas cats don’t like accepting help from outsiders?”

“A bit of both, really.”

“That’s a hell of a bite you have there on your neck. Who’s the lucky and clearly very territorial guy? Or have you killed him for having the nerve to mark you?”

“Bracken. He’s still breathing.” Perhaps not for much longer, though. Unable to help herself, she glanced at Bracken again. He was still talking to the freaking she-wolf. His brow furrowed when he caught sight of Mason, and something dark then flashed in his eyes.

“Who is it you’re looking at?” Mason asked, glancing over his shoulder. “Ah, it’s the man in question. He seems pretty cozy with Claudia.”