He shifted, darting away from her shaking finger. But his casual tone seemed to just fuel her fire.
“I should have drained you—I should have sucked your chi down to the core.” Her voice kept rising, and now everybody was staring at them.
I tried to sidle out of the way, not wanting to draw her attention, but that was a hope gone to hell in a handbasket. As I stepped back, I accidentally bumped against one of the guests, and in trying to keep from knocking him over, I shifted too far the other way and promptly ended up losing my footing. I wavered, teetering on one foot, and then—in slow motion, like in the movies—I went careening into the pool, gasping as I was submerged into the chlorinated brine that masqueraded as water. As I bobbed to the surface, shaking my head and sputtering, I saw that every head had turned to stare at me.
Alex was staring at me with an incredulous look on his face. Then, before I could make a move to get out of the pool, he began to laugh, slapping his thigh. “Oh, Shimmer, bless you for breaking up this little tête-à-tête. I needed that laugh. Get out of there, woman, and dry off.”
Glenda gave him a seething look. “How dare you ignore me?” The clap of her hand against his face echoed through the air.
Alex stopped laughing. His eyes turned a dangerous shade of crimson and he let out a low hiss. “Don’t you ever strike me again, Glenda. Not if you value your life. I put up with your tantrums for too long, but no more. Hit me again at risk of your life. Do you understand?”
Ten seconds flat to turn him from an easygoing ex-pat Aussie to a deadly predator.
Glenda’s eyes widened as she took a step back. “This isn’t over, Radcliffe.” Then, she suddenly turned my way as I swung myself out of the pool and began to wring out my hair, the scent and taste of chlorine making me queasy. “And you . . . you’d better hope we never cross paths. I blame you for this—you got your hooks into him. I knew from the start that’s what you were out to do.”
I stared at her, a cold rush washing through me—and it wasn’t the fact that I was soaked through and the wind had picked up. “You need to rethink that little threat, Glenda. You may be a succubus, but let me remind you that I am a dragon.”
She locked my gaze for a moment, then snorted. “Yeah, a neutered one. You can’t even change shape when you’re out of water.”
I was about to make a retort when Chai showed up. Over seven feet of gorgeous, muscled golden body, with a high ponytail—jet black—and seafoam-colored eyes, the djinn cut a formidable figure in his formfitting V-neck tee, and the jeans that he had assumed as his clothing for the day. I envied him his ability to create a wardrobe out of wishes—he could wear anything he wanted without worrying about the cost. But right now, clothes were the last thing on his mind.
He leaned over Glenda, and she actually cowered back. “If you ever threaten my little sister again, I will personally stuff you in a bottle, seal it shut, and toss you out on the Ocean of Agony. Do you understand?”
Glenda let out an audible gulp, fear washing across her face. “I was just about to leave.”
“Then, may I suggest you go now?” Chai’s voice, which could boom so loud, was barely above a whisper but somehow it seemed a far worse threat than if he had been yelling.
Glenda whirled on her stiletto heels and marched off, not saying another word. Alex and Chai watched her, both with grim expressions on their faces. I shivered as Ralph handed me a towel. Bette was hurrying her way over with Dent by her side.
“Are you okay, Shimmer? I’m sorry you took an unexpected dip.” Dent seemed perfectly amiable, if a little bland. “I don’t know if I have anything that will fit you, except a terrycloth robe, but if you want to change into that, we can wash and dry your clothes while you wait.”
I ran the towel over my hair, squeezing out as much water as possible. “Thanks, I’d appreciate that.”
Alex touched my elbow. “I’m so sorry about Glenda. She’s a real . . . well, she’s got a temper on her and it looks like she’s decided to blame me for the breakup. But why now?”
“I know why. She found out we’re together. She doesn’t want you, but she doesn’t want anybody else to have you, either.” I shook my head. “She’s a real winner, that’s for sure.”