While, outwardly, I might have appeared unapologetic, inwardly, I felt for the poor girl.
“You mean the bite that was against my will? The one he forced on me before taking me captive?”
Her admission was on repeat inside my mind. I hadn’t expected her to say that. Most women fell at Shade’s feet, all of them adoring his bad-boy persona. Yet it appeared this one hadn’t been a willing subject in his attentions at all. Unless she’d lied to me, but I doubted it. She’d glowered at Shade with a similar contempt as the glare in her gaze now.
Not the look of a woman smitten over her betrothed.
Nor one that seemed to care for me all that much.
Well, I deserved that. I hadn’t exactly been kind to her.
“Are you hungry?” I asked her, walking through the living room and to the open area of the kitchen toward the back. Windows lined the walls, overlooking the courtyard out back. Flickers of lights drew my attention to the fire gnats buzzing about the forest below. I’d have to warn Aflora to stay away from those. Dangerous little buggers.
Aflora didn’t reply to me, her feet apparently glued to the runner in the foyer. She glanced up at the cathedral ceilings, took in the skylights showcasing a star-filled night, and then looked at the ample seating room. Three couches, two recliners, and a massive movie screen. Perfect for entertaining, which Tray and I did often during the school year.
Well, I did.
Tray tended to hide in his room with Ella.
Pulling open the refrigerator, I found it empty. Idiot. We hadn’t been here all summer, and I just learned two hours ago that I needed to bring Aflora here.
Using my wand, I muttered a few incantations to create tea mugs. That would have to do until I could arrange for an Academy food delivery.
Or Zeph could handle it.
I set the mugs on the black bar counter that hung over into the living area, and slid my phone from my pocket.
Where are you? I typed, hitting Send.
Packing, was the immediate reply. Your Highness, came a second later.
I rolled my eyes. Don’t be a dick.
Just doing my job, Zeph replied.
Of being a dick?
I’ll be there soon. Surely you can find something to do with her until I get there. She’s a female fae, right? You like those.
I snorted. Who set your boxers on fire?
You did.
My eyebrows shot up. Not in a few months, if I recall right.
Fuck off, Kolstov.
Not what you said to me the last time we met up, I sent back.
No reply.
Not that I expected one.
With a smirk, I slid the phone back into my pocket and looked up to find Aflora watching me from the other side of the bar.
“Girlfriend?” she guessed.
“I don’t do girlfriends,” I replied, leaning over to rest my elbows on the counter. “So don’t get any ideas.”