by Nicole Hall
Finally, the glow disappeared, and Zee let her arms drop back to her sides. “He’s a tricky one.”
“Is he going to be okay?”
Zee met Maddie’s eyes. “Yes, but he’ll rest for a while longer. Probably until mid-day tomorrow.” She stood and stretched.
“Did you heal him?”
“No. He’d already healed himself, but I checked him thoroughly for more injuries. He made it hard because his nature is to obscure. Every time I tried to look closely at something, my magic shifted away. Very like the wards placed outside this cabin. Tell me, how did you find him?”
Maddie stayed seated next to Aiden, even though her position meant looking way up to talk to Zee. “He found me. Then he saved me. Twice.”
Her gaze sharpened. “Saved you? What were you in danger from?”
Maddie weighed her words very carefully here. Too much information and Zee would try to take over, too little and she’d get suspicious. “Mostly my own bad choices. Also, some kind of giant magical lizard. I’m fine, clearly. Does Aiden have more injuries?”
Zee studied her for a second, then relented. “No. He’s simply recovering from overexerting himself. You have feelings for this creature.”
Insult flared at Zee’s casual dismissal of Aiden as a person. “He’s not a creature. Okay, yes, I have feelings for him, but we’re not bound or anything.” She’d heard the stories from her brother, but considering her part in them, she’d tuned most of it out.
Zee’s face softened. “There are worse things.”
Maddie swallowed at the sudden lump in her throat. Zee had heard her story too. “I told Sera, but I’m going to tell you too. Torix is still out there causing trouble. Be careful because he’s pissed.”
She nodded and crossed her arms again. “You’re going to go after him, but you shouldn’t go alone.”
“I’m not alone.”
Zee let her eyes fall to their joined hands and sighed. “Very well, then I have information for you.”
Maddie winced. “What will this cost me?”
“Nothing. The information and the healing, or lack thereof, are my gift to you.” She held up a hand when Maddie tried to argue. “Don’t test me. Accept it and say thank you.”
Maddie definitely didn’t trust handouts from the Fae. There was always an ulterior motive. She gritted her teeth and ground out a thank you. Zee didn’t seem to care that the gratitude was forced.
“Torix wasn’t always a Dark Fae. He earned that title because of his actions against humans a long time ago, but before that, he was one of us. We all have skills we excel at, but his was more unique than most. In fact, I’ve never heard of another Fae with his ability.” Zee crouched again, so they were closer to eye-level. “He could use other forms of magic.”
Maddie blinked. Just like her. How much of him was inside her? Suddenly, she wanted to tell Zee everything and beg for guidance. The power she held made her scared and excited at the same time. Part of her wanted to hold it tight and claim it as her own, but more of her was terrified of the price she’d pay. Would she become like Torix? That fear distanced her from the magic and gave her a damn good reason to keep it locked away.
Zee watched her with hooded eyes, and Maddie stopped her freefall of thoughts, landing on one important realization. This was a test. Zee wanted to see how much Maddie knew, always playing an angle. But Maddie wasn’t in the mood for games. As strong as Zee’s mental abilities were, Maddie trusted her shields absolutely.
Zee would learn nothing from her thoughts. Her face, though, was probably saying a lot.
Maddie stroked Aiden’s hand and attempted to adopt a nonchalant expression. “What you’re telling me is that even without his magic, Torix is dangerous? So, the exact thing I was just telling you? That’s really helpful, thanks.”
The intensity left Zee’s eyes, and she scowled. “Your brother’s right. You are a brat.”
Maddie shrugged. “I’m the same person I’ve always been.” At least in the last year.
Zee shook her head. “Okay, it’s late, and Ryan’s waiting for me. I respect that you don’t want to give any more information than necessary, so for time reasons and in the interest of staying on Jake’s good side, I’m going to assume you know more about Torix’s abilities than I do. I don’t know what he’s planning, but he’s always had a plan. When you confront him, and I know you will, you need to keep in mind that Fae magic will always be his strongest, so he’ll reach for that first.” She nodded to the bag on the couch. “I brought you another gift. It belonged to my second before she took over as leader, and I think it’ll help you combat Torix’s abilities. Use it to channel all the magic at once. Even he shouldn’t be able to defend against that.” She eyed Aiden’s prone body. “Provided you can survive long enough to use it.”
Her tone dripped with doubt, but Maddie ignored it. Zee had given her a lot in the last hour without demanding payment. The time she’d spent with Ryan, or maybe Ryan himself, had mellowed her. Maddie hoped Ryan got as much out of the relationship. Couldn’t be worse than you. She was going to strangle her inner voice.
Maddie sighed and let go of Aiden to stand. “I’ll try my best. Let’s get you home to your stud-muffin.”
Amusement and love filled Zee’s eyes at the thought of Ryan, and Maddie felt a pang of jealousy. Not for Ryan, but for the strength of Zee’s feelings for him. She wanted someone to look at her the way Zee had just now at the thought of Ryan. Her eyes drifted to Aiden again, and unbidden, she remembered the look he’d given her before the kelpie had attacked. Maybe she wasn’t paying enough attention.
Maddie escorted Zee back out past the wards. She had to pull Zee through them again, and the crossing wasn’t any easier than the first time. Once outside, Zee looked back and shook her head. She waved and muttered about researching wards as she walked into the trees.
Aiden and her clothes waited for her inside, but Maddie lingered in the garden. Zee, with all her knowledge, didn’t know what Torix planned. Maybe if she’d shared the whole truth… No. Besides, Zee seemed to know that Maddie wasn’t powerless. She’d brought a weapon of some sort, after all.
Channel all the magic at once. Easier said than done. Maddie wasn’t even sure if she could channel one type of magic. The phantom warmth of the enchanted troll flames licked her skin, and she conceded the point. She’d channeled other magic before, weaving elemental and Fae together so she could walk through fire. No reason to think she couldn’t do it again.
Resolved, she left the garden to its slumber and went inside. It felt wrong to take Aiden’s fantastic bed while he slept on the floor, and the exhaustion had passed anyway. She sank down next to him and picked up his hand again. The touch reassured Maddie. Something Zee had said about Aiden came back to her.
“Your nature is to obscure. I get that. It’s a lot easier to hide than let people in.”
Aiden squeezed her hand and spoke without opening his eyes. “Not from you.”
Maddie’s heart sped up. He didn’t look entirely conscious. What had he meant by that?
He shifted slowly, pulling her down next to him until she lay against his side with his arm wrapped around her. Aiden grunted contentedly and seemed to fall back to sleep, but his hold didn’t loosen. Maddie smiled as she tucked herself more firmly against him and closed her eyes. While the floor wasn’t ideal, she wouldn’t trade her current position for anything.
The wards would protect them, and Aiden rested warm and healthy next to her. Maddie relaxed and let herself fall asleep.
10
AIDEN
Aiden came awake with his face buried in Maddie’s hair. She lay half-underneath him on the floor of his living room, and though his shoulder ached mildly, he wasn’t eager to get up. The last thing he remembered was putting himself between her and the kelpie, then intense pain. He frowned. Maddie had yelled to open a trod. He must have done it, but how had she gotten him home?
She shifted, rubbing a leg against his, and he
let the concern go. Her even breathing told him she slept. Maddie hadn’t gotten much rest the last few days. Especially since she’d apparently taken care of him after his injury.
He took a deep breath and filled himself with Maddie’s luscious scent, a combination of his soap and a unique, bright spark he associated with her. His hand pressed into her lower back, and the soft cotton he encountered there made him realize she’d changed her clothes. A careful glance down revealed bare, toned legs intertwined with his. The hem of one of his shirts ended at the top of her thighs. What was she wearing beneath it?
He closed his hand gradually, gathering the fabric, and watched it inch upward. All the playing they’d done up to that point, and this slow slide might kill him. He was hard and aching, and he had to stop.
She trusted him enough to sleep in his arms, a comfort he hadn’t had since Lexi, and he wouldn’t take advantage of it. At least, not more than he already had. He forced his hand to relax and dropped his head back down next to Maddie.
“Why’d you stop?”
Aiden’s gaze shot back to her face. A half-smile greeted him, and he met the heat in her eyes. “I thought you were asleep.” He tried to prop up on his elbow, but his shoulder twinged with pain, and he winced.
Her sharp eyes followed him as he eased back down. “You’re still hurt.”
“I’ll be fine in a minute.” He traced her collarbone along the edge of the shirt. “This is suddenly my favorite shirt.”
Maddie batted his hand away and sat up to examine his shoulder. “Mine too. Let me see.”
He laid down fully on his stomach, sadly, without her underneath him. Her fingers smoothed over his skin, leaving a trail of fire behind. “You scared me. Your shoulder was torn up, and I didn’t know what to do.” She smacked him lightly where the bite had been. “That was stupid. I can take care of myself.”
Aiden disagreed. Not about taking care of herself. Clearly, she could take care of both of them when she had to. But he didn’t think his actions were stupid. That kelpie could have killed Maddie, and he’d taken the hit for her instead. He’d do it again in a heartbeat.
“I said I’d protect you.” He couldn’t see her, but he heard the soft indrawn breath.
She tugged at his ruined shirt. “Take this off.”
He rolled over onto his back, ignoring his healing shoulder, and pulled her on top of him where he wanted her. The shirt rode up, but not high enough for his liking. “You first.”
Maddie braced herself with both hands on his chest and sat up. She straddled his lap, her hair wild and her cheeks flushed. His hands slid down her sides to rest at the curve of her waist. His cock nestled tight against her, and it took everything in him not to hold her in place and thrust upward. As if she’d read his mind, she rolled her hips, and he groaned.
Her fingers dug into him through the fabric over his chest. “I want to be very clear here.” Another long, slow roll, and he grit his teeth to hold himself still. “I’m thankful for what you did, but in the future, you are not allowed to sacrifice yourself for me. Got it?”
Aiden almost lost his grip on his self-control. He flipped them around, settling between her thighs, and pulled her wrists above her head in a loose grip. Her eyes blazed into his. “What I do with my life is my choice. This is yours.” He released one wrist to trail his hand down the sensitive skin of her inner arm. Her breath hitched when he reached her breast, and she arched up with a moan when he brushed her hard nipple.
He let her take more of his weight and leaned down to put his mouth against her ear. “Make your choice.”
She pulled her remaining wrist free and wriggled underneath him until she’d yanked the shirt over her head.
Nothing. She was wearing nothing under his shirt.
Her eyes captured his again, and her voice came out low and sure. “You. I’ll always choose you.”
A thrill of pleasure went through him, and he let go of the last vestiges of restraint. He’d wanted her for what felt like forever, and she lay open and eager in front of him. The fire inside him demanded he take her now, but he forced himself to gentle his touch. He slipped his hand into her hair, stroking her cheek with his thumb. Her skin was so soft, everywhere. He kissed her, light and sweet, and she sighed against his mouth.
The kiss quickly deepened. His mouth grew hungrier, his tongue demanded everything from her until she arched into him. Her hands tore at his shirt, his pants, anywhere she could reach. Their fingers tangled together to remove his ruined shirt, and Aiden backed away for a second to kick off his pants and grab a condom from his abandoned pack.
She raised a brow, naked and utterly confident on the floor. “You came prepared.”
He grinned and couldn’t get back to her fast enough. By the time he was finally—finally—naked against her, neither could catch their breath. She dragged her tongue across his chest and nipped the muscle there.
Aiden wanted more.
He gathered her hair in his fist and brought her mouth back to his. Maddie wrapped a leg around his hip and used the leverage to rub herself against him. The deliberate, slick pressure urged him on. He nudged her opening, slowing her when she would have rushed ahead.
“Aiden…” The breathy plea of his name struck something deep inside him. A sense of possession. A claim.
He lifted his head to watch her eyes as he pushed forward. Watched the satisfaction move across her face with a smile. Her nails dug into his bicep, and he welcomed the pain.
“More.” Her demand sang through him. He pulled back, then plunged in, and she gasped. Maddie moved with him, and they surged together feverishly, all heat and need.
Her muscles tightened, her eyes dark and glassy with passion, and she whimpered. Aiden drank the sounds from her mouth and splayed his hand behind her hip to change the angle. She fought release, clinging to the peak of her pleasure.
“Let go, marenkya.”
Maddie clenched around him, and her head fell back with a moan. He buried his face in her neck, buried himself in her, and let the wave take him too.
Aiden stayed there, breathing her in, until his heart stopped pounding in his ears. He knew he was heavy, but Maddie didn’t seem to be in a hurry for him to move. She trailed her hand up and down his back with a light touch. Two could play that game. He kissed her neck and teased her with his tongue, tasting the sweat on her skin. Her breath hitched, and he vowed that in the future he’d take the time to taste every inch of her.
His hand tangled in her hair, so he tilted her face toward him and took one more long, drugging kiss. He retreated far enough to lightly rest his forehead against hers, and his cock twitched inside her. If he didn’t move soon, they’d never get off the floor. Not a bad idea, actually.
Aiden groaned, levering himself up and away. He stood and offered Maddie his hand. She let him pull her to her feet, then stretched like a cat, completely comfortable in her nudity. He took care of the condom, but he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Red marks marred her skin, and Aiden felt a twinge of guilt for taking her against the hard wood. The wide smile on her face made him think she didn’t mind too much though.
She didn’t say anything when he grabbed her hand again, only raised a brow in question. He backed toward the bathroom, drawing her with him. “Interested in a shower?”
“I already took one, but I’m happy to scrub your back.”
They lingered in the shower until the hot water ran out. Maddie went back to the living room while Aiden pulled on cargo pants and a long-sleeve shirt. No point wearing armor inside the wards. He’d gear up again before they left.
Maddie had dressed in another pair of black leggings and a black long-sleeve shirt when he rejoined her. Her previous clothes were wadded-up in a pile with the green shirt she’d been sleeping in earlier. He’d never be able to wear that shirt again without thinking of her.
Hands on her hips, she frowned down at the pile. “These all need to be washed, but I didn’t see a washer or dryer around here.”
Aiden chuckled. “That’s because I don’t have one. I go to the laundromat like a normal person.”
Her gaze shot to his, disbelieving. “You do not.”
“I do. For the normal clothes. The magically protected ones have to be cleaned separately.”
She sighed in disgust. “Well, I guess I’ll try really hard not to get these clothes bloody.”
Aiden wanted to reach for her again, and after stopping himself out of habit, he realized they’d blown past the time for restraint. He crossed the distance between them and wrapped an arm around her waist from behind. She relaxed back, and a sense of rightness came over him. She belonged there.
He pushed the thought aside and brushed a kiss against her ear. “I knew you were going to be a distraction.”
“You started it.”
“Did I? I seem to remember waking up with you underneath me.”
“Semantics.” She turned in his arms and linked her hands behind his neck. “Honestly, I’m all for taking a day and spending it in your big bed, which I haven’t gotten to try yet, but kind of a lot has happened in the last couple of days. We should probably come up with a game plan.”
Aiden deposited her on the part of the couch not covered in clothes. “Fill me in on what happened after the kelpie bite, and I’ll make breakfast.”
She tilted her head as he walked into the kitchen, tucking her leg under her and sitting sideways so she could watch him. “Why don’t we start with what the hell happened with the kelpie bite?”
“Kelpies are venomous. Their bite, like the salamander’s, will knock the victim unconscious. Unfortunately, the victim is usually in the water when the kelpie bites them, so they drown soon after.”
Maddie shuddered. “Well, that explains why you passed out so quickly. At least you were able to call the trod first.”
He frowned while pulling eggs and milk out of the refrigerator. “I don’t remember doing that, but the last bit is pretty fuzzy. How’d you get me back here?”
