Dragons Luck

“Then how do you all feel about normal, mundane humans?”

If anything, everyone seemed even more uncomfortable. Tail had lost most of his angry look and now seemed merely embarrassed. Griffen hoped he regretted his comments. Margie spoke first again, perhaps because of the accusation.

“Feelings are mixed of course. But definitely less. They are so limited, and so arrogant with it. Thinking they are so much, when they do so little. And so much of what they do is harmful to themselves and everyone else,” she said.

“Ignorant and proud of it,” Kane said.

“Blind,” Tink said, his voice so sad that Griffen was sure he was dwelling on some specific memory.

“Individuals can be respected. Individuals are capable of great glory, love, miracles. But as a whole . . . sometimes . . .” Margie said.

“What?” asked Griffen.

“I hate them,” she finished, and hung her head slightly.

Griffen cranked the turrets around and focused again on Tail. Griffen would have to consider what they had all said, but later. These were heavy concepts, but it was obvious that Tail had meant harm with his words. That had to be addressed now and not allowed to pass.

Besides, he had finally figured out what to say.

“You seem to have a bad habit of insulting women when I’m around. So are you jealous of me . . . or of them?”

“What are you implyin’?” Tail said, angry again.

“Nothing, nothing at all,” Griffen said.

His tone was full of false innocence, and no one at the table missed it. Margie looked up again, and Kane sniggered. Before Tail could respond, Griffen continued.

“But you should know that it takes more than this to get under my skin. You are just making an ass of yourself in front of everyone. Good thing Jay is your speaker, or you might be reflecting on all the other shifters.”

“ ’Cept us,” Kane said smugly.

“I—” Tail started.

“You are being an ass,” Lowell said, though surprisingly gently.

Tail stopped and looked around the table. He looked at Margie. For the most part she had remained calm, stiff but collected. He took in a long, slow breath.

“I apologize,” he said.

She nodded and looked back at her cards. Tail turned his attention back to Griffen.

“I’m used to being the biggest fish in the pond. Ain’t no shifter never who outdid me. Then you come and do nothing and get fawned over. So in that way, maybe I was jealous. I guess a part of me was hopin’ to draw you into a fight.”

Griffen was surprised once again. Tail was being honest, open, and—for him—eloquent. If this kept up, Griffen might have to reevaluate his whole situation. On the basis of a card game.

“I can understand that. But, Tail, I haven’t seen you do anything either, and I never challenged the respect you were shown.”

“Well, damn. You’re right. Guess you are better then me, without doin’ a damn thing.”

This time Griffen didn’t need a moment’s hesitation. “Not better,” Griffen said. “Just different.”

The delayed hand was finally played. Then another. It would have become nothing more than another card game. Though one where some peace was made. Would have been.

If Tammy hadn’t walked into the lobby.

She flounced in, scanning the room, about an hour after Griffen had sat down. He actually heard her before he saw her. She let out a tiny, girlish squeal when she saw him, and when he turned to look, she was already rushing his way.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you, Grif—”

She stopped a few feet from the table, eyes fixing on Tail. He and the rest were watching her. Hard not to considering her enthusiastic entrance. Griffen caught a bit of tightness around Tail’s eyes, a bit of anger that was being suppressed. But suppressed well.

“Don’t worry, girl,” Tail said gruffly. “Still don’t like that you cheated, but it’s been pointed out to me that I’ve been being an ass. So let’s forget the whole thing and start over?”

“Come join the game, Tammy,” Griffen offered, nodding to a chair that could be pulled over.

The others exchanged glances. Griffen realized the hesitation. They were still major players, and Tammy a follower. Still, a truce of sorts had been made, and no one seemed willing to break it by excluding her.

She made it unnecessary.

“Oh . . . poker. No, thanks, but would it be all right to watch?”

This time Griffen glanced about, checking reactions. He didn’t want to upset things either, now that they were settling down. Everyone seemed to have no problem with that, having relaxed and refocused on their cards.

“Sure thing, Tammy. Glad to have you,” he said.

And turned to her to smile.

Which, from the sudden light in her eyes, was a mistake. She gave off another half squeal, and as Griffen turned back to the table, he felt her stand directly behind him. At first it wasn’t distracting. Till she leaned over to look at his cards closer. Brushing his shoulder with her breast might have been an accident. Whispering into his ear was not.

“Wow, you are really . . . good,” she said, in a tone that despite his best intentions made his temperature spike a bit.

“Thanks.”