Excerpt: Consequences

"Where would we find Colin?" Izzy asked Elizabeth as the older woman answered the door.

The dragon lady gave Cian and her a quick look over, one that made Cian squirm some. Elizabeth smiled slightly. "He's in the white parlor I believe," she finally answered, directing her reply to Izzy.

Izzy nodded. "Thank you madam," she said and walked inside with Cian following.

It was Cian who heard the small chuckle come from the elderly woman and cringed. This couldn't be good. It never was when she cackled like that. He was so lost in thought trying to figure out what the dragon lady was up to that he wasn't really listening to the girl beside him.

"...And I think you and I should have sex."

"What?" Cian said looking at her wide-eyed and absolutely confused.

"Apparently that got your attention.," Izzy said. "What I was actually saying is that I think the book is that same shelf as the myths are located. It would make sense. I bet Colin would know where it is..." She opened the closed door and froze.

"What is it, Iz?" Cian began and looked across the small room to where she was looking. Colin was otherwise engaged. Entangled was more like it, Cian thought at the lip-locked couple in front of him. Colin broke away suddenly from the girl with the cascade of dark black hair down her back. She glanced on over her shoulder in such a manner that even Cian could tell her blouse was opened quite a bit. "Ah, Tori," Cian deadpanned. "When did you crawl out of your hole?"

"I see you haven't changed any Cian," she said syrupy sweet to hide the nasty edge to her voice as she casually buttoned her blouse back up.

"Neither have you apparently," Cian shot back. "Still looking for that diamond?" Then he threw daggers at Colin with a look but it didn't matter. Colin's eyes were locked on Izzy's wide ones. Izzy. Damn, he forgot she was there. He looked down at her and could swear she had went white as a sheet. He tugged on her hand. "I think we can find it on our own. Come on Izzy," he said.

"Izzy? As in Isabelle Ryan?" Tori inquired.

Izzy tore her eyes away from Colin and looked at the girl instead. "Yes, why?"

"You're the one responsible for this mess?" she asked.

"Tori," Colin said.

"Mess?" Izzy inquired.

"Victoria, let it drop," Cian warned.

Tori's face lit up in a large cold smile. "You didn't know? Really? It's all over the shifter world. How a little puny human cost this clan not only a huge fine for your little stunt but they have to go back to face the inquiry. You really didn't know?"

"Vic, you really should go crawl back into the hellhole you came from," Cian said.

Izzy looked at Colin. "So it's true? That's what you haven't been telling me?" Colin didn't look at her. She turned around and looked at Cian.

"We'll talk about it later, okay?" Cian said in a tone that begged for her to drop it. "Not here."

Izzy ignored him and looked again at Colin. "You weren't going to tell me, were you?"

"It didn't concern you," Colin answered coolly.

"Didn't concern me? Now how do you figure that?"

"Because I know you can be reckless enough. Didn't that last trip teach you anything? Anything at all? My world doesn't take likely to your kind."

"You mean human," Izzy shot at him.

"Not human. People like your bigoted father. It doesn't help when Agent Ryan's daughter is out running around stirring the pot," he snapped back.

"I thought I was helping," Izzy said quietly.

"Well, you're not. I wish you'd just go back to your school and back to your old life. It'd make things easier."

Izzy looked like she had been punched in the gut but it was quickly replaced. Her face became smooth as years of practice came to her rescue. She might have felt suddenly dead but she wasn't going to give him the benefit of knowing just how much. Especially in front of a girl who apparently was enjoying the entire scene. Her eyes narrowed onto his. "I can't go back to my old life. You and my father made sure of that. But I'll be sure to keep out of your way," she said as evenly as was possible as if what he had said didn't mean a thing to her. "Bill me the fine. I do not want anything from you that you'll hold over my head." She spun around and left through the door and walked swiftly towards the main door.

"Well, she apparently doesn't have a clue exactly how much that fine was. She actually thinks she'll be able to pay it off one day?"

"Vic, shut the hell up," Cian snapped as he looked hard at Colin. "You are a fucking idiot. I hope you realize that. Better just hope I can fix it."

"Don't," Colin said. His voice carrying a soft pleading. "It's better if she went her own way."

"And who the hell do you think you are?" Cian snapped.

Colin's eyes hardened. "You know exactly who I am and you know I mean it. Let her go her own way."

Cian shook his head slightly in disbelief. "Maybe they have a point. You're sure in the hell not ready to lead if you're that blind."

"You should watch what you say to him," Tori snapped.

Cian grinned maliciously. "Just wait until Sydney gets home. Then I'll get to watch you crawl around on your belly like the viper you really are."

"Cian," Colin began and just trailed off unable to put up with the bickering between the two of them.

"What's the matter hon?" Tori asked.

Colin shook his head slightly. "I need some air," he said and began walking towards the door. Tori followed after him. Colin turned to look at her. "Alone." Then he walked out of the parlor.

Cian grinned. "Seems your claws aren't in him that deep this time, huh?" he shot at her.

"This isn't over by a long shot Cian," Tori warned.

"Nope, sure isn't," he added before he turned around and left on his own out the parlor door.

~~~~

Izzy took off for the front door. She was just a few steps from it when she heard her name being called. She didn't want to talk to any of them. They were the ones that had dragged her into this whole thing. "They should've just let me die," she whispered to herself.

"And why would we do that?" Delvin grinned as he appeared near her. She jumped startled by his voice next to her as Keegan walked up to her. "You didn't answer me," Delvin reminded her. "Why would we do that?"

Izzy shook her head. "That wasn't meant for your ears," she mumbled.

Delvin grinned. "Then you shouldn't have said it aloud," he said.

"Say what aloud?" Keegan asked.

"You know, I've got to go," Izzy said suddenly. She really didn't know how much more she could take before she did break down here. "I'll catch you both later." She started towards the door when Keegan grabbed her wrist.

"What's wrong Deirfiúr bheag?" he asked.

Izzy put on her fake smile. "Nothing's wrong. Everything's exactly how it's supposed to be," she said too brightly. Her eyes pleaded with him to let go.

He did reluctantly. "Are you sure?" he quizzed.

"Sure. Why not?" she quipped and turned around.

"What'd he do?" Delvin asked.

Izzy shook her head. She was not going to have this conversation with these two.

"Well hello there again," Tori said from behind them. Izzy took her chance and escaped out the front door.

Delvin and Keegan exchanged glances. "The bitch is back," Delvin muttered under his breath.

Keegan sighed. "I'm going to kill him myself," he muttered under his breath. Then he put on a large, barely polite smile. "Victoria, I didn't realize you were back in town," he said louder this time.

"Thought I'd drop in to see how everyone's doing," she said.

Delvin put on a gentleman's smile. "I think I'll take my leave. It's time for me to call Sydney anyway. Wouldn't want her to rush on back just on account of little ol' me."

Tori smiled. "I wouldn't worry about that Delvin. She's been given new orders actually so she'll be gone for a little while longer. It'll give me a chance to get to know you all better."

"Oh, lucky us," Delvin deadpanned.

"Yes, you are," Tori replied not missing a beat.