Oh, shit…
“Where is he?” she demanded, jumping to her feet. “Where is that willow stump who did this to me? If I’m going down, he’s going down with me.” She stomped into the kitchen, energy swarming around her in a hypnotic wave that called to my royal blood.
Ideal mate, a part of me recognized. She’s an ideal mate.
“Tell me where he is!” she shouted in my face.
Okay. This wasn’t going to work.
I set my mug down and crowded her against the bar by placing my hands on the marble on either side of her hips. “Calm down.”
“Calm down?” she repeated with a semi-hysterical snort. “Are you kidding me? That pixie stick made me an abomination!”
My lips twitched at her adorable curse.
Which was apparently the wrong reaction because more of that delicious red fury coated her cheeks.
“Are you laughing at me? Do you find humor in him essentially raping me with his fangs and turning my world upside down?” She jabbed a finger at my chest. “You’re no better than he is, and here I thought you might have a little moral high ground as a fellow royal. Apparently not.”
I caught her wrist before she could stab me again and brought the offending digit up to my mouth for a reprimanding bite. Not sharp enough to break the skin—that was exactly what got her into this mess—but enough to assert my dominance. “I took humor with your nickname designation. Pixie stick has a nice ring to it. I think I’ll borrow it for Shade going forward.”
Some of her ire cooled, but that liquid fire in her gaze continued to burn. She reminded me of a furious Valkyrie with her waves of blue-black hair, creamy skin, and glowing eyes. All she needed were some wings.
Clearing my throat, I released her hand and reaffixed my grip to the counter beside her. “The past is already done. What you need to focus on is moving forward. Shade won’t be here for another week. If it’s any consolation, I imagine his father has some punishments in mind for him in the interim.”
She nibbled her lower lip, drawing my focus to her alluring mouth.
Aflora really was a beautiful fae. A queen with regal bone structure and a gorgeously formed figure. Fantastic tits, I thought, taking in her skewed blouse. Long, athletic legs. If she were human, I’d seduce her in a heartbeat. Bend her over this counter, tuck up that little skirt, and fuck her raw.
Alas, her Elemental Fae blood made that problematic.
Still, it could be done.
“You’re looking a
t me like I’m food,” she whispered, her fingers curling into fists at her sides. “Please don’t bite me.”
“Mmm.” I leaned into her, my mouth skimming the shell of her ear and eliciting a shiver from her in response. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. When I bite you, I won’t break the skin.” I brushed my lips against her temple for the second time tonight, then forced myself to pull away. “Let’s get your quarters sorted. It’ll provide us both a much-needed distraction.”
Because if I wasn’t careful, I’d devise a different way to pass the time while we waited for Zeph. Which would only prove the Guardian right about my proclivities and earn me a world of chastisement.
And Zephyrus was the last one I wanted a lecture from right now.
I led Aflora through the living area again. She had fallen silent once more, her hands twisting in front of her. As horrifying as this had to be for her, she appeared to be handling it well. Which told me she had an escape plan in mind. It was what I would do in her position. Unfortunately, she didn’t stand a chance.
Something told me the only way for that point to be driven home was to allow her to try and fail.
Allowing the starlight from the windows above to guide us, I turned into a hallway lined with doors. Stopping at the first one, I opened it to reveal a large space filled with more seating, pillows, books, and an array of bottles filled with potions. “This is the loft area where Ella and Tray lounge the most. They like to study here.”
“Ella and Tray?” Aflora repeated in a low murmur.
Right. She hadn’t studied Midnight Fae politics yet. Annoyance simmered in my blood, but I held it back and offered her a brief explanation.
“Trayton Nacht, also known as Tray, is my twin brother. Isabella Cinder, a Halfling, is his chosen mate.” I shut the door. “You’ll meet them next week.”
“Oh” was all she said.
I gestured to another threshold. “Tray and Ella’s room.” Then I pointed across the hall. “That’s a guest area and option number one for you.” Several more steps brought us to another door. I motioned to it, saying, “Option number two.” And finally, at the end of the hallway, I said, “This is my room.”