I shake my head. “You were a child. It was up to others to protect you.”
She nods, pushing herself up and out of my lap so she can pace in front of me.
She’s holding herself with her arms as she turns to face me, shaking her head. “And now I’m one of those others who can protect people. And I’m going to be even stronger, able to protect even more people in my world.”
I stand. “Then let me stay beside you. Let me protect them with you so you aren’t alone anymore.” I take a step closer. “I will die if I can’t ease your pain.”
She steps in and, to my shock, wraps her arms around my neck and draws me down for a kiss, claiming my lips with her own.
Warmth shoots through me, tendrils of magical fire entwining with mine, pulling us closer as our bodies press together as tightly as we can.
Her lips open, inviting my tongue in, and I kiss her, curving my arms around her waist to hold her close.
Sheer pleasure surges through me, unlike anything I’ve ever felt. What we went through, what she told me, all of it made our bond a little stronger.
Made us able to get close.
My body is already responding as she lets out a little moan and entwines her tongue with mine. I can feel my ears lengthening despite all my suppressors.
I groan as her tongue strokes deep, as the fires curling around us pull us even tighter together.
Then, with a little gasp, she breaks away from me, and the moment is broken, the tension dissipating like so much smoke.
She puts a hand over her mouth as if shocked by herself, and her chest heaves as she stares up at me. “That won’t happen again. I’m sorry. I got caught up because you really are wonderful.”
“Then—”
“But you belong in your world, and I belong in mine. I don’t plan to settle down. I don’t want the life you’re used to.” Her eyes drop, then meet mine apologetically. “So it’s best if you just give up on me, Boreas.”
She strides back to her room, having had the last word as if she thinks that by saying my fae name, she has reminded me how different we are.
But all it did was make me long to hear it again, no matter how long it takes, as I protect her for the rest of my life.
Whatever world she is in, I will be there, loving and watching out for her.
Until there is no more frost.
13
Brett (Boreas)
“You’re going out. To a club?” I stare at her disbelievingly.
We’ve had a quiet couple days at home, watching movies, keeping enough distance that we can resist each other, though the pull grows stronger by the day.
So I understand why she is stir-crazy. She is trying hard to resist this thing between us, afraid to come close and bond.
With what she’s been through, I don’t blame her. I can be patient as long as she wants.
But a club?
“The chaos prince is still after you, and clubs are practically hotbeds of chaos.”
She looks up at me amused, dark eyes twinkling. “Why do you say that?”
“Lots of sexual assault,” I say, frowning. “People get drunk and do things more freely. Plus, it’s dark.”
She shakes her head. “I’m not going to get molested. Sure, men get handsy sometimes, but—”
I raise an eyebrow at her, grinning as I sit at the counter. “Who said I was talking about you?”
She laughs, looking beautiful in a teal pullover and black leggings, her hair tossed up in a high bun. “Wait, seriously?”
I nod. “You underestimate the allure we fae princes hold for most women.”
She snorts. “I doubt that.” She looks embarrassed as she turns away, and I can’t help smirking. “But what do you mean?”
“Just that the last time I went to one, when we were trying to adjust to humans, it didn’t go well. Our suppressors weren’t strong enough, though.”
“Well, there you go,” she says sweetly. “Problem solved.” She puts both hands in the pockets of her pullover as she leans against the counter. “I mean, you don’t have to come if you don’t want to—”
I let out a small growl, which makes her smile. “Of course I’m coming.”
“I thought so,” she says with a laugh, patting me on the arm.
I straighten because even that small touch sends a spark through me. But she’s already heading away from me and over to the fridge, rummaging for some milk.
“It’ll be fun. I promise,” she says. “These are my friends from college, or I probably wouldn’t say yes to them. But I haven’t seen them in years, and they’re in town after a conference.”
I frown because I only vaguely know what she’s saying. But I think I get the gist of it. “So they’re from school?”
“Yup,” she says, pouring milk into her coffee and walking over to curl up in her chair with her feet under her, looking cozy.
God, I just want her to be mine already.
At least I feel that we’ve gotten to be friends.
Though, my lips still burn every time I remember our kiss.
Aside from a blush here or there, she acts like it never happened.
But maybe that’s my fault for wearing three suppressors.
“I didn’t know you went to college. That’s the most advanced schooling, right?”
“Yes,” she says. “It was a good time, but I didn’t finish. I moved around a lot, having a hard time setting down roots after what happened. You know, with my mom. It ended up in papers, and I hated when people found out after Googling my name. I guess after all of it, I came back here, though. For Sally.”
I nod because we’ve gotten used to discussing such things. They are part of her life, and since I want to be a part of it too, I do my best to understand.
“This club outing, what is the purpose?” I ask, trying not to sound suspicious.
“What do you mean?”
“I thought the purpose was generally to go to these things to find a mate.”
She snorts, almost coughing up her coffee. “Oh my God, no. Well, I mean some people do hook up, and I suppose we do dance there. But…” She cocks her head. “Now that I think about it, you might be right. But whenever I’ve gone with my friends, it was just to have fun and dance with my girls.”
I frown. “But you could do that here or in any living room.”
She smiles. “But it’s fun to go out and live. Besides, I’ve been cooped up all week. And Tanner said you’re not supposed to interfere too much with my activities.”
Damn Tanner.
“All right,” I say, putting my hands on my hips. “If you want, I can go with the other fae as a separate group. That way I can keep an eye on you but stay out of your way for the most part. Then I won’t disrupt girls’ night.”
She giggles. “Hey, you might get lucky.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Seriously? Would you want me to?”
Her smile drops and I can see her try to recover, though I’m pleased by how obvious her answer is.
It’s too bad she tries to hide it.
“I mean, you can do what you want. You’re a free agent.”
I snort. “You know what I want. You know I won’t do anything.”
“That’s true,” she says, looking oddly pleased by it.
I let out an aggrieved sigh. “Though, I can’t say what will happen when women come on to me. I have quite an effect on the female sex.”
She rolls her eyes. “I know, I know. They feel an overpowering need to be with you.”
“Hey,” I say, feeling slightly offended. “It’s true. Last time we were at a club—”
She waves a hand. “I’m sure you’ll be able to handle it. You’re a big boy.”
I glare at her. “You don’t believe me.”
She sighs. “I think it’s good you have upgraded suppressors, but yes, I think you have a bit of an ego where women are involved.”
The last time I was at a club, my friend Bella had to physically attack a woman
to get her off of me, but I guess she won’t believe that either.
Why should she when she’s my soul bond and she can resist?
“It’s not ego,” I say, showing her my wrist with the three bracelets that suppress my form. “I’m holding myself back for you. You wouldn’t be able to resist me with even one suppressor.”
She presses her lips together, then mutters something under her breath that sounds suspiciously like, “I’m not sure I can resist you with three.”
I blink. “What?”
“Nothing.” She stands. “Well, if you wear all three to the club, there shouldn’t be any problems, right?”
I nod. “Though, I don’t know how many I will wear tonight. They suppress my magic, and I may want to be able to defend you quickly.”
“Quicker than sliding off a bracelet?”
I slide her a glance. “You haven’t seen a chaos prince use his wand.”
“That’s right. I saw you holding one that night you saved me. What was that?”
I flush because to say more would give too much away, and she’s already skittish. “That is something I only plan to discuss with my soul bond. And you haven’t decided to be that yet.”
“Fine,” she says. “Picky.”
I stand, bringing my coffee cup over to the sink. I run soapy water over it, washing it carefully, then set it aside to dry on the drying rack. “You can set your cup here when you’re done. I’ll wash it too.”
She’s still at the table, staring at me like I have two heads. “I still can’t get over you doing the dishes.”
“Of course I do them,” I say. “While training to enter your world, I stayed with some friends who taught me more about your customs. If I didn’t wash the dishes, who would?”
She blinks. “Uh. Yeah. That’s a foreign concept to some people.”
I shake my head. “Don’t tell me that. It only lowers my already meager respect for humans.”
She sighs, getting up and bringing her mug over to the sink. She hesitates, then sets it in front of me, a mischievous twinkle in her eye like she’s just gotten away with something.
I just smile at her because I’m happy to wash her dishes. I’m happy to do anything for her.
Like follow her around protecting her, pleasuring her… making her scream out in ecstasy in the dark.
She’s been through a lot, surviving in this chaotic human world.
“All right, well, I’m going to get dressed. I assume you aren’t going to follow me to work,” she says, eyeing me.
“Wrong. I’m following you.”
She sighs. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Just until he’s caught,” I say casually. “Or until you see the light and realize we’d be perfect together.”
She snorts. “I think I can resist.”
I shrug one shoulder lightly. “You haven’t felt the purity of our bond. Not truly.”
“Fate doesn’t just decide it for us,” she says stubbornly. “I don’t care about this bond purity thing. It doesn’t mean two people would have a good life.”
I shake my head. “But it does mean that two fae can have a fantastic life if they both are willing to work for it.”
“What do you mean? I thought it was just decided.”
I roll my eyes because, to me, this is such a simple concept that I’m not sure why I have to explain it.
Then again, I’ve been told I’m arrogant like that sometimes.
“Resonance is the potential for a bond. The stronger the resonance, the better the match and the stronger the potential bond can be. But the bond must be worked on through little acts of love and care or even going through hard things together, supporting each other.” I give her a meaningful look. “And especially through touch.”
She flushes and turns away from me, striding toward the hallway. “That doesn’t seem so different from how we humans do it.”
“But it’s easier,” I say. “Because at least we can tell from the start if we’re wasting our time or not.”
She blinks. “So you wouldn’t bond with someone if there wasn’t resonance?”
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “There would be no point in it. Neither of us would be able to magnify our magic.” I think for a moment. “Plus, the fae do believe that resonance is also an indicator of compatibility in our hearts, but then again, that’s just a belief we have. Like human soulmates, I suppose.”
She blows out air through puffed cheeks, hands on her hips. “Well, I can’t fault you for your beliefs. But I still don’t know if we’re made for each other, since I don’t feel anything like you feel.”
I slant her a glare. “Don’t make me take my suppressors off.”
Her eyes widen. “You wouldn’t use them against me.”
I let out a sigh. “Of course not. But you have to realize fae princes have a powerful sexual allure.”
“Especially when doing dishes,” she mutters softly.
“What?”
“Nothing. Go on,” she says, waving a hand.
I think I must have misheard her. “Anyway, the higher a prince’s power, the higher their allure to the opposite sex. Taking my suppressors off doesn’t mean I’m attacking you. Keeping my suppressors on means I’m protecting you from yourself. Until you’re ready to deal with the feelings you would have for me.”
Her breathing stutters slightly. “Ha! Feelings? What feelings?” But her voice is slightly nervous as she turns to walk back to the hallway.
She stops and looks over at me, thinking I don’t feel her gaze move over me, clearly as hungry as I feel.
Then she whirls and disappears down the hallway, and I groan, wondering if anything is ever going to happen between us or if I should just take the suppressors off after all.
14
Brett (Boreas)
“I do not wish to go to a club again,” Ian says, leaning back on the couch, focusing on a game he’s playing on his phone.
I know they are bored here, but until we know of another beacon being chased by a chaos prince, there isn’t much for them to do but wait as backup support.
“Me either,” Flynn says. “Human women are barbaric.”
“No, our pheromones are just extremely effective on them,” Tanner says, looking up from the book he’s reading. Something about war and how humans maintain order.
I lean forward on the chair I’m straddling, accidentally tipping it up on two legs for a second. “So would it be bad if I removed a suppressor? Avery seems to think it’s the same as using drugs on her.”
Tanner shakes his head. “No, she’s just not used to the natural feelings you are meant to stir in her. It is not our fault we are attractive to an almost dangerous degree.”
“I’m not sure we have enough suppressors for the club,” Flynn says. “I think I would want eight in order to go there.”
Flynn did have a rough time last time we went.
“It will be fine,” Tanner says, authoritative as always. “I will go with Brett. That much backup should be enough.”
Flynn and Ian seem visibly relieved.
I’m not sure why human men seem so gratified by any attention, but fae males are used to it and get worn out. We want to save our bonds for those we care about.
And having sex, or even touching someone intimately, forms a bond that’s not easily broken.
It can even form a chaos bond if done wrong.
“Based on your question, I’m guessing you still haven’t made any progress?” Tanner asks, glaring at me.
“Not since we kissed,” I retort.
“Maybe you’re wearing too many suppressors,” Tanner says, glaring at the bracelets on my wrist.
“I want her to be ready,” I insist. “She is still resisting our bond.”
“Odd,” Flynn says, eyeing me thoughtfully. “Most fae women wouldn’t hesitate to kidnap you.”
I nod. “There have been many attempts.” I shake my head. “Many have wanted to test the bond, and when rejected�
��”
“We all know how that goes,” Tanner says, letting out a groan.
Though, fae kidnappings are fairly hilarious in nature, most of the time.
It’s more of an old tradition.
A female may capture a male and hold him in her palace for a time while trying to convince him or woo him into bonding with her.
But she may not force him, and if he rejects her suit after a suitable amount of time alone with him, she must let him go.
Or end up banished to the chaos realm.
Tanner’s gaze darkens as he watches me pensively. “You know, you could remove a suppressor.”
I frown. “I don’t know if that would make me a jerk.”
“Why?” Tanner asks, leaning back with his arms behind his thick dark hair. “Your problem is that your soul match doesn’t recognize you, but you are purposely suppressing your true form by three degrees.”
I run a hand over my wrist. “But I want it to be her choice.”
“It will be,” Tanner says. “Avery isn’t an animal. Even if she feels a powerful connection, she isn’t likely to act on it unless she wants to. She’s not the type to do anything when pressed.”
I frown. “As if you know her that well.”
He just shrugs, leaving it up to me.
“You could take it off tonight for the club,” Ian says, grinning at me. “After all, jealousy is a powerful motivator.”
I glare at him. “I have no desire to make Avery jealous. Or to be touched by anyone else.”
“Even if it makes her finally see you?” Ian asks curiously.
“I don’t know,” I say. “I would not wish to make her jealous. But I do wish she could feel our bond.”
I want to show her my true self alone, not in front of other women. But I suppose I have a good excuse to take it off at the club without her feeling like I’m targeting her.
And it does make me more powerful if I need to fight.
Tanner sighs. “You are a good prince. Perhaps too good for your own good sometimes.”
I’m surprised when both Flynn and Ian nod in agreement.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, glaring at Tanner.
Found by Frost: Wings, Wands and Soul Bonds Book 1 Page 9
