Perhaps I’ll need that third suppressor.
“So anyway,” Tanner says, “in our world, chaos and order are separate, and we princes guard our kingdoms when chaos tries to leak in. But chaos princes have started to find their way into this world, and we were brought here to help.”
“And you just came?” Avery pulls the black turtleneck she’s wearing up around her face, burrowing into it. “Why?”
“Because it’s our duty,” Tanner says. “And also, there are human females with latent fae blood in this world. It’s in our best interest to protect them.”
Avery blinks. “And you think I’m one of them?” She points at me without looking at me. “So will I turn into a big, hulking, armored guy too?”
Ian laughs, holding his hand over his stomach as he imagines it.
Flynn smiles.
I frown. “No. Though, it might be for the best if you could. We have been training all our lives to be warriors. As it is now, you can’t even control your magic. That’s how the chaos prince was able to paralyze you. He could grab your soul using his magic, but you couldn’t even access yours.”
I blink. “Soul?”
“The origin of our magic,” Flynn says, golden-brown eyes twinkling. If he gives her just one more look…
She sighs, slumping back on the couch. “I’m strong, but I’m not magic.”
“Brett says you were out hunting the other night. Criminals.”
She nods, looking apathetic about telling us. “I didn’t know what else to do with my strength. I kept reading the news, and I couldn’t just sit by and do nothing.”
“What if you get hurt?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I haven’t been. Until that guy tonight, I didn’t think anyone could best me.” She frowns. “What would have happened if you hadn’t come along?”
Tanner clears his throat, straightening his big body on the couch. “That brings us to our next topic. Who is going to stay with you to watch out for when he next attacks?”
Avery’s gorgeous eyes widen. “What do you mean stay with me?”
“You’re a beacon,” Ian says, brushing back his thick pale hair. “That means you will draw chaos. Though you can’t control your magic, you will still leak it. We can all sense it.”
She puts her hands over her face and rubs. “This sucks.” She takes a deep breath and sits up, and I see that magnificent strength in her come back again. “Why do they want me?”
“For your magic,” Flynn says. “Among other things.”
None of us wants to get more specific about the terrible things chaos fae do.
Avery is already overwhelmed by what we’re saying. I don’t know how to introduce her to an entire new world. It took me months of being here to understand this one.
“Someone has to stay with you,” I reiterate. “Tanner is right.”
“So you think he’ll be back?” She sits forward, rubbing her hands together. “Should I move?”
I shake my head. “There’s nowhere you could go that he wouldn’t follow you.”
“Then why isn’t he here now?”
“He’s biding his time,” Ian says. “He saw that Boreas—I mean Brett—was willing to use his wand to protect you because you’re his soul bond, and—”
She rubs her temple. “Soul bond?”
“This is a lot to go over in one night,” Ian says. “Perhaps you should go back to your place with Brett and—”
She puts up a hand. “Wait. No one is staying with me, okay? That’s crazy. I’m grateful for what you did, but why should I trust you?”
I bite my cheek, not knowing what to say in this situation. We weren’t expecting things to escalate this fast.
She stands. “I’ll be more careful, okay?” She walks over to the door as if worried we will stop her. “If I feel him coming, I’ll make sure and call you guys, and—”
She cuts off abruptly as she pulls on the handle, then notices the door is frozen shut.
She puts her hands on her curvy hips and turns to face me, and I can feel the fire light inside me again. “So what, you’re kidnapping me now?”
I shake my head, standing to walk over to her. I move forward until she backs into the door, now surrounded by frost on all sides.
I put my hand over her head and see her breath quicken, her lips part, her eyes dart away and then meet mine defiantly.
I take a deep breath. “I know chaos. I’ve fought it almost every day of my life. I’m here to protect this world and especially to protect other beacons. You don’t have to like me and you don’t have to bond with me, but I’m staying with you until we find the prince who’s after you. And that’s final.”
The shock on everyone’s face is evident, but I can’t afford to back down now.
Avery is beautiful. Bright. Strong. And far too vulnerable, with all the power to draw evil and no power to dispel it.
Someday, when she realizes who she is, she will be magnificently strong.
Until that day, she has me.
Avery lets out a sigh of exasperation. “I’m strong, but I’m not what you think I am. What he thinks I am. I’m not magic. When he realizes that, he’ll go away.”
“No, you just haven’t awakened,” Ian says from his chair, looking serious now. “He can see what you don’t see.”
“I hate this,” she says. “I just want to be alone. I’m not good at being with people.”
Flynn grins at us. “I guess it’s a good thing we aren’t people, then.”
My eyes meet hers, and for once, I try to seem gentle. “When you are able to fight him off, I will leave if that’s what you wish.”
Her eyes are tentative, hopeful. “Will I ever be able to fight him? How do I… awaken?”
I move in a little closer. “We aren’t sure exactly, since only one woman has so far. Our friend, Isabella. You could meet her sometime.”
She shakes her head. “Honestly, I just want to do my work. I’m no good at making connections.”
“That’s too bad,” Tanner says sharply, casting a dark glance over at us. “Because that’s your only shot at becoming strong.”
“What do you mean?” She looks over at Tanner.
I pull back to let her away from the door, because to be honest, my body is already too affected. It’s almost offensive how one-sided this is when I’m used to it being the other way.
“Fae beings mate through the resonance of their magic with another fae’s magic. Then they form closer bonds with contact. In your case, the bond Brett would like to form with you, a soul bond, is the strongest.”
She shakes her head, looking faint again, and I move in a bit closer to catch her, just in case.
“For instance,” Ian says. “If you were to kiss Brett, you would be almost instantly stronger. And if you went further…”
She flushes. “What?”
“Then you might awaken,” Ian says. “But it’s something you would have to feel for yourself to understand.”
She shakes her head. “I’m not interested in forming bonds. I just want to awaken.”
“It may be possible in other ways,” Ian says. “But we have only seen it happen with love.”
That statement seems to utterly shake her. “I’m not sure I’m capable of such a thing.” She walks toward the door again, rattles the handle, and sighs, turning to face me. “Can you open this? I’m tired. We can continue another time. He’s not going to come back tonight.”
Her eyes are pleading and it kills me to say no to her, but I must do what is right to protect her life.
I move closer again, keeping my tone gentle, though what I have to say is harsh. “You don’t yet understand chaos princes. They rape, they murder, and they enjoy causing pain. They feed on it.”
Her eyes widen. “I have known some chaos.”
“That is a raindrop compared to the storm coming your way,” I insist. “They are drawn to you like moths to a flame, and I swear on my life, if you just let me stay with you, I’ll protect you
and nothing else. I won’t even touch you unless you beg for it.”
“I would never,” she says, though she doesn’t look convinced. I can see her pulse racing at the base of her neck.
“You just might,” Flynn says, looking smug as he leans back in his chair. “You haven’t been around him without all of his suppressors.”
“A fae prince has a powerful allure,” Tanner says. “You will not find Brett an imposition.”
Ian grins. “You may even want to take advantage of his charms. Many other fae have wished they could.”
She shakes her head, not knowing how to take that. “This is crazy. But fine. Fine, you can stay with me. As long as you promise to keep your hands to yourself.”
“I swear it on my life,” I say instantly.
A small grin curves up at the corner of her mouth. “I guess at least things will be interesting with you around, won’t they?”
I’m not sure what she means but the others laugh, and I frown as I wave my hand, melting the ice holding the door closed.
“That’s amazing,” she says. “Will I be able to do that?”
“Who knows what you’ll be able to do?” Flynn calls out.
“Like Boreas,” Ian says with a laugh as I scowl at them and usher her into the hallway.
“Wait, I need my things,” I say, quickly ducking back inside. I grab a duffle bag and walk straight back out into the hall.
She eyes me, looking like she doesn’t know whether to be impressed or annoyed. “You had that packed already?”
“A fae prince is always prepared.”
She just snorts as she leads us up the stairs to her apartment.
I can’t help giving the other fae, who are watching from the doorway, a triumphant smile just before I go.
9
Avery
When I open the door to my apartment, I feel slightly self-conscious about the older furnishings, the worn carpet.
But Brett, despite being a prince, doesn’t seem to notice and is cheerful as he turns around in the living room, getting his bearings.
Given the fact that his main job is to fight things, I’m not sure prince is the right term for what his is.
At least, it’s not what I’m picturing.
I try to think of him sitting on a throne, wearing a crown, and it makes me laugh as I shut and lock the door and make my way down the hall to the spare bedroom.
“You’ll be the first to stay here,” I say, turning on the light and praying it’s not too dusty. I clean when I can, but I often forget to do the guest room.
He looks around, folding his arms. His tee is thin enough that I can follow the curves of his hard muscles. So masculine. So ideal. So—
He sends me a sideways glance, long-lashed lids lowered over those vivid blue irises. “I’d rather share your bed. It would be safer.”
I feel my neck heat. “For who?” I try to shove him to the side, somewhat playfully, and he barely moves.
His lips curl up at the side. “You’ll have to do better than that, princess.”
“Don’t call me that,” I say, moving forward to pull the sheets back and check that he has everything he needs. “I’m the furthest thing from being a princess.”
“I don’t think so,” he says, sitting on the edge of the bed. “A princess is strong and should be able to fight. You do so admirably.”
I walk over to sit on the windowsill, oddly comfortable in his presence now that it’s just the two of us.
Perhaps it’s because he did just save me.
Something no one has ever done.
It’s lightly snowing outside, and there’s frost on the window. “Did you do that?” I ask.
He shakes his head, and his tousled hair shines like silver in the moonlight.
I want to reach up and run my hand through it. Run my fingers over the planes of his face and see if he’s actually real.
He almost seems designed for me to want him.
I’ve never had trouble resisting anyone before.
He grins. “Perhaps I should put on my third suppressor.”
I turn away. “I don’t know what you mean.”
He sighs, looking at the window. “No, it’s just cold outside. Though, it was me who moved the snow in the parking lot. The day that we met.”
I turn to him in surprise. “You prevented the crash?”
He nods. “It’s my job to prevent chaos in all its forms.”
I fold my arms, relaxing into the coolness of the windowsill behind me. “What else do you do, other than fight chaos?”
He grins, and I feel an odd squeeze in my heart. A pulse of… something. “I do many things in my world.”
An image comes to me of him in his armor. His hair long. His features strong. His bearing regal and haughty. His ears almost sexy as they stretch out of his hair.
The way I saw him right before I passed out.
I feel like I’m hit by a shockwave, like I can barely think or breathe. It’s such a beautiful image in my head.
He cocks his head. “What are you thinking, soul match?”
I shake my head. “What does that mean?”
“It means our magic fits perfectly together. It’s why we resonate. That feeling in your heart that would pull you closer to me if you let it.” He leans back on the bed, displaying his long body.
I wet my lips, then hate myself as he clearly catches me and tries not to grin.
“It makes for a powerful soul bond when two soul-matched fae come together. It’s actually quite rare to resonate so perfectly.”
“Resonate?”
“The way our magic sings together, almost like it’s harmonizing in a perfect chord.” He shakes his head. “Though, it’s a little more complicated than that.”
I stand up from the window, taking a step toward him. I let out a shaky breath, wishing I could be less affected. Wishing I could hide how affected I am.
Because the more he talks about it, the more he looks at me, the more I realize I can feel this resonance.
I wish I wasn’t suddenly hot and aching, already imagining him entwined with me, hot and sweaty on the bed.
“What causes resonance?” I ask, though I can barely speak now for how much I want him.
He shrugs. “No one knows. But the magic in our souls recognizes its match.” His eyes run over me, languid and slow. “We would work well together, I’m sure.”
My hormones are sure as well. I bite my lip. “You said you wouldn’t touch me.”
He blinks those long-lashed eyes and stretches his arms behind his head. “Unless you begged.”
My knees nearly go weak under me. “Why is it like this? Why is it stronger every minute we’re together?”
“I told you,” he says, pushing himself off the bed to walk over to me, standing so close I could reach out and just take what I desperately want.
I want to taste him.
I want to awaken the powers inside me. I want to—
His hand reaches for my face and then falls as he takes a step back. His cheekbones are flushed, his muscles are taut, and as my eyes trail casually down his body, I see something almost too hard, too big, eagerly pressing against his jeans.
God, that only makes me wetter.
“I’m not… I’m not like this,” I say, taking a stumbling step back.
“I’m still wearing two suppressors,” he says, stepping back to sit on the edge of the bed, facing me, blue eyes still glowing in the dark. “I suppose it’s a good thing I haven’t removed them, because I wouldn’t want you to be overwhelmed.”
And suddenly, I want to be overwhelmed. I want this big, strapping, sexy fairy to take me. I want to see his tall, winged body encircle mine, want to feel the magic moving between us.
I gasp in a breath, feeling my core tighten. “I can’t believe you affect me like this.”
His eyes are serious as they meet mine. “When we bond, it will be pleasure beyond what you can imagine.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a
bracelet, sliding it on next to the other two. “But for now, I think you need more time.”
The pressure is off nearly immediately, and I sink back, fumbling for the doorknob as it’s finally easier to breathe.
Still, a part of me does miss the feeling of a moment ago. It’s almost like being suddenly numb.
I used to think feeling that way was normal, but for a moment, I felt so much more alive.
“One question,” I say before I open the door behind me. “If we bond, what does that mean?”
“There are many bonds,” he says. “Bonds of friendship and bonds of family. But the bond we would make, the soul bond, is the most series. It would mean that where you go, I go… forever,” he says.
I can’t even imagine what he’s saying.
“Well, good night,” I say, because I still feel the need to escape him. Otherwise, I’m going to throw myself on top of him on the bed. “Unless you need anything else.”
He walks over to the window and puts his hands in his pockets as he looks down at the snow.
For some reason, he seems a little bit disappointed.
But when he glances back at me, it’s with the vaguest of smiles. “I’ll be fine.”
I nod, take my leave, and walk down my dark hallway to my bedroom.
As I tuck myself under the covers, shivering slightly, there’s something that really bugs me.
Brett is supposedly a frost prince, so why is it warmer whenever he’s around?
10
Brett (Boreas)
I’m cursing myself for putting on a third suppressor when I was so close to having my soul match.
Avery wants me. Badly. I could feel it. But she fears me, and I can’t further our bond in this way.
Resonance can’t go one direction, and I won’t accept physicality without a bond.
All of us realized things work differently in the human world the first time we went to a human club. The women were very aggressive before our suppressors were upgraded, even compared to fae princesses who can be very insistent about what they want.
The problem is that humans are fragile compared to us, and we had no idea how to repel them gently enough not to hurt them when they didn’t take no for an answer.
Found by Frost: Wings, Wands and Soul Bonds Book 1 Page 6
