Elizabeth looked at Ronan, who was standing at the open door, watching people go in and out. He caught her eye and sent her, not a smile, but a reassuring nod.

A little warmth wound through her heart. Elizabeth would make him pay a bit for so obviously giving her his "permission" to dance with Ellison, but it was nice to think that Ronan was there for her. If she was going to have anyone stand up for her, Ronan was a good person to do it.

Meanwhile, she had fun dancing with Ellison. For the first time since the robbery, Elizabeth relaxed. She realized that no one was going to come into this bar and threaten her or try to kill her, not with Ronan on guard and this many Shifters in here. Marquez or whoever he sent wouldn't make it a step inside the door.

Strange to think that in a Shifter bar right outside of Shiftertown, she was safe. She decided to enjoy the feeling while she had it.

The bar closed at two, but when Elizabeth finally stopped dancing at midnight and sat down, she was exhausted.

"Mabel, let's go home. I mean, to Ronan's house."

Mabel looked at her in surprise across the table. "Are you kidding me? The night is young."

Mabel, at least, was good about not drinking too much. She enjoyed a beer or two, but she liked talking to people and dancing more.

"You lazed around all day," Elizabeth said. "I need some sleep."

"Go, then. Connor or Liam will get me home. Or Glory."

Mabel had adapted to Shiftertown quickly. But then, Mabel had always liked Shifters.

In the end, Andrea and Sean walked Elizabeth home. When Elizabeth said good night to Ronan on the way out, he stopped her and drew her into his arms for a big hug.

Ronan's arms were strong and lifted Elizabeth off her feet, but as he'd been at the house earlier that morning, he was as gentle as gentle could be. Elizabeth found herself looking into his big face, at his scarred nose and his warm brown eyes. She felt not only safe in his arms, but right. As though she belonged there.

He touched a kiss to her lips--brief and tender, almost chaste, but the spark behind it held heat.

"I'll be home soon, Lizzie-girl," he said.

"Good," was all Elizabeth could think to say.

Ronan set her down and gave her another brief kiss. "Go on, now."

Sean and Andrea waited a discreet distance away. When Elizabeth caught up to them, she saw that both of them looked amused.

"Is something funny?" Elizabeth asked, annoyed.

They started walking through the field that led to Shiftertown. "No," Andrea said. She was a wolf Shifter, Ellison had told her--like Ellison himself. A Lupine. She had gray eyes, as Ellison did. She was very pregnant, but she walked swiftly and strongly, as though she barely noticed her condition. "Ronan's a good friend."

"And a good man," Sean said, his Irish lilt like music in the night. "He's done me many a good turn. Now he's doing you one."

Elizabeth nodded. "I know he is."

Sean merely looked at her, his eyes speaking volumes.

"Wait a minute," Elizabeth said in amazement. "Are you worried that I'll hurt Ronan? Well, you don't need to be. He's helping me out, and I'm grateful. When this is over, I'll pay him back. That's all."

"That's not what I'm seeing," Sean said. Moonlight shone on his sword, a weapon, but one of great beauty. "I'm seeing a lonely Shifter looking at a woman like he might have a chance at some happiness. If you're not looking like that back at him, tell him now. Put him out of his misery."

"I only met him last night," Elizabeth said. "Give us a break."

Andrea said, "It can happen fast. You look at each other, and you know." She rested her hand on her abdomen and shot a look at Sean. He caught it. A lover's look, exchanging secrets without exchanging words.

"You two need to be alone?" Elizabeth joked. "Seriously. I like Ronan. I have no plans to hurt him. I might not be able to have a relationship with him, but I won't hurt him. I promise you that. I like him too much."

Sean's eyes glittered. "Why can't you?"

"Why can't I what? Have a relationship with him, you mean?" Elizabeth shrugged, her shoulders tight. "I don't know. Things don't always work out. I haven't been very good at relationships in the past. In fact, I suck at them."

"You hold people at arm's length," Sean said. "Don't look surprised, lass. I see you doing it. Even with your sister. But I'm glad to not hear you say, Because he's Shifter."

"He being a Shifter makes it more of a challenge," Elizabeth said. "But obviously, it can be done. Liam and Kim. Ellison says the waitress Annie is going out with a human. And all those groupies sure want it to happen."

"So, why not, then?" Sean asked. "Everyone's bad at relationships until you find the relationship worth fighting for. Or maybe you're already married? Is that the big secret you don't want to tell Liam?"

"What? No," Elizabeth said forcefully. "No, I never married anyone. That I can promise."

"Then what?"

"Sean," Andrea broke in. "Leave the poor woman alone. Not every female has to fall for the hot, sexy, alpha-male Shifter."

Sean blinked. "Why not? I thought we were irresistible."

"You're a comedian, Sean Morrissey," Andrea said.

Sean dropped the subject, and Elizabeth walked without speaking after that, enjoying the banter between the other two. She'd never had that kind of bantering fun with a man--except, she realized, with Ronan.

Sean and Andrea walked her all the way to Ronan's house, where Elizabeth said good night. She had to say good night the Shifter way, she realized, when Andrea gave her a warm, cushy hug, and Sean caught her around the shoulders one-armed and pulled Elizabeth hard against him.

Andrea didn't seem to think it unusual that her mate hugged another woman. They walked off together, very close, but not touching--alert to fight if necessary?

Rebecca was still up and told Elizabeth cheerfully that there was supper still hot in the kitchen. Elizabeth found a gigantic soup pot half full of thick beef and barley soup, a huge loaf of bread, and jars of five different flavors of jam to go with the bread.

Hungry, Elizabeth ladled soup into a bowl and threw a piece of bread on top of it. "How does Ronan afford to feed all of you on a bouncer's paycheck?"