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Damn territorial olves When they traveled in a pack, even out-of-towners acted like they owned the place

I ignored her and walked toward the bar

She was in front of ot halfway across the room Her nostrils flared as she sized me up in a few sniffs She bared her teeth--not a very irowled "I said it’s a private party"

"Do I look like I’estured at my ruined dress

She didn’t look at my outfit She stared at the sword in my hand, the one I’d taken from the Old Ones

Oh, that Well, yeah, I could see how that ht be interpreted as a threat

I didn’t have a sheath for it, so I stuck it under erous I stepped to the left, intent on getting around her "I need to talk to Axel"

She growled again and dropped into a fighting crouch Jesus, the fullinto feral overdrive

"You want to challenge me? Fine" I dropped ht hand, ready to use it I wouldn’t have ht with a olf, but I wanted to teach her soe through your purse for a dagger at the start of a fight

We circled each other So inof ot between us

Axel isn’t a guy you can easily ignore Especially when he’s wearing his pissed-off expression

"No fighting" The olf tried to dodge around hiht, you’re out No refunds"

She pushed against his ar athis hands on her shoulders A low, threatening sound issued from his throat All at once, the olf relaxed She dropped her arround, and backed away

Axel’s not a olf, and he may not say much, but no one can beat him in a display of dominance

The room remained silent for a few seconds Then someone called out, "A toast to Kiana!" Other voices joined in: "To Kiana!" "To Kiana!" "To the bride!"

The ho’d challenged lasses to her She lifted her gaze frolass "Let’s have so started up, loud, with a heavy bass line I could feel through the floor The yrated, the feood tiotten into a bar braith a olf bride on the eve of her wedding Another day in the life

Axel was back behind the bar, filling a row of plastic flutes with chane

"Axel, I need to talk to you It’s important" I had to shout to be heard over thebut nodded

"Juliet--"

A redheaded olf in a green halter dress glared at ne fro Even with thea bulletin about Juliet’s escape to everyone in the rooht be out-of-towners, but they didn’t need to know Juliet’s business

I cli there, cupped both hands around Axel’s ear He popped another chane cork and poured as I spoke I tried to sum up the situation as quickly and clearly as possible

"Juliet’s in trouble The Goon Squad had her in custody in connection with that murder in DC A couple of powerful super-va to kidnap her She was chained to her cell with a silver shackle, and they alrab her She’s hurt, and she’s not healing like she should She needs a place to hide"

Axel stopped pouring "Here?"

"I couldn’t think of anywhere safer"