Flynn grins over at me. “It means you won’t even use what you have at your disposal to win your soul bond, but you’ll complain constantly about the imaginary moral quandary you are forcing on yourself.”
I scowl at him. “That was intelligent. Are you sure you’re a fire fae?”
His eyes narrow. “Are you sure you don’t want to be incinerated?”
“I’d like to see you try,” I retort, my fuse short from built-up tension.
Tanner glances at me harshly. “Both of you, stop it. I understand there are rivalries between your kingdoms, but—”
Flynn points a finger at me. “Your kingdom hides rapists.”
I stand, furious. “What?”
Flynn’s golden-orange eyes narrow. “You heard me.”
Tanner sends him a glance of warning. “That’s a serious accusation against his family, Flynn. Take it back.”
“I won’t,” Flynn says, turning his back on us.
I haven’t the least idea what he is talking about.
“Take it back,” I growl because I know we would never allow that, at least in my kingdom.
Flynn glares at me over his shoulder. “You think you’re so perfect and equitable. But there are things your people do in the dark when they think no one is watching. Things they feel are right because they are at the top. Because their judgement is perfect. But you don’t know how it feels to be on the receiving end of those things.”
I frown. “Did someone from the ice kingdom try to take you? If so, they should be killed.”
He turns back and away from me. “It doesn’t matter. It was reported to the proper authorities. But let’s just say whoever it was is still out there.”
I furrow my brow, trying to figure out what he could mean. Was Flynn attacked by someone pretending to be part of my kingdom?
If so, he will be avenged.
“I’m sorry if anyone hurt you, Flynn. When we get back to my world, I will see they are punished.”
“They didn’t succeed,” Flynn says, looking disgusted. “There is a reason I was chosen for this mission. I’m not so weak that I would be overpowered by some fae who is enslaved to their bonding desire.”
“Then you should tell me more so I can—”
“Forget it,” Flynn says because it’s still clearly a difficult subject. “It’s not something we need to worry about right now. Right now, we’re protecting Avery.”
“I just don’t get it,” I say, folding my arms as I sit on a chair. “I thought my kingdom had perfect order.”
Flynn’s shoulders are rigid. “You only think that because you farm out your chaos to everyone else.”
Ian sits up indignantly. “I don’t think us high born should be accountable for what chaos fae do, even if—”
Tanner grunts. “I kind of get what he means. Your kingdoms fight the chaos princes and also eject those who do ill. But where do they go? Straight to us on the way back to you. We deal with the darkness, as it were, so you can have your bright, shiny kingdoms.”
I let out a shaky breath. “I had never heard of this before.”
Tanner laughs darkly. “Of course not. Too busy ruling the world and having your fancy duels where everyone can watch you beat down the strongest, most obviously evil fae. Meanwhile, you don’t see the rot far away from you. Or not too far, as it happens, since the chaos fae might well find ways in without going through the Blur.”
I shake my head. “I suppose, since you all stop the lesser chaos fae before they come to us, I haven’t grasped the sheer amount of—”
“Not even close,” Flynn says, flipping around on his chair. “Besides, do you think the chaos realm is a great place for anyone? You send people there without a second thought.”
“No,” Brett says. “Only those who have given up on their ability to bond.”
“Yes, but you banish those who manifest chaos, and they easily escape the Blur and hide amongst us. You highborn fae don’t even communicate with us. Oh, and just so you know, some of the ones who seem pure aren’t, and they’re better at hiding it than you think.”
I blink, wondering if that’s true or Flynn is just jaded.
For so long, I’ve seen myself as a protector at the sparkling pinnacle of our world.
And it’s true I’m the strongest. But I’ve been missing some of the struggle far below me, it seems.
It makes me think of what I saw a few nights ago with Avery.
“Do we have domestic violence shelters?” I ask quietly.
They all flick their eyes to me. “What?”
“Nothing,” I say, going back to my room to change. “Don’t worry about it. Anyway, I should head back up because Avery will probably be done getting ready soon.” I glance at Tanner. “Can you be ready to leave quickly?”
Tanner nods. “You know, there is one other solution.”
“To what?” I ask. I glance at Flynn. “By the way, we will have this conversation again later, fire fae. I would not wish harm to come to anyone. If there is a way we can improve…”
Flynn just waves a hand. “You’re so naive, Brett.” Then he gives me a wry grin. “But I guess that’s what I like about you too.”
“Thanks, I guess.” I turn to Tanner. “Now, what do you mean by another solution?”
“You feel guilty, right? About taking a suppressor off?” He holds up his wrist with just one suppressor. “You could give me one of yours. If she asks why it’s gone, you could tell her there weren’t enough.”
I blanch. “That’s a lie.”
“No, it isn’t,” Ian says, getting up to go to the drawer where we keep the spare ones. He slides four onto his hand. “Oh no, look. There aren’t enough.” He grins. “You’ll have to give one to Tanner.”
Tanner smirks at me. “Oh no, going to the club with only one suppressor. Whatever will I do? Is there a brave, powerful ice prince somewhere who can save me from brutal attacks against my person?”
I stare at them all in confusion, then break into laughter as I realize their intent.
I hand a suppressor to Tanner, shaking my head at this ridiculous plan.
But as I think about what Avery might feel about me once she sees me, what might start happening between us as she feels the resonance of our bond, I can only be grateful to my friends.
Perhaps they’re right and rules are a little more flexible than I thought after all.
15
Avery
“Avery, let’s dance,” Mona whines, grabbing my arm and trying to pull me off my stool where I’m very comfortable with my piña colada, thank you very much.
“You go ahead. I’ll keep an eye on you,” I say, gesturing for her to join the other girls who are already jumping wildly on the floor to a popular song.
“You never dance with us,” she says. “Come onnnn…”
“Fine,” I say, letting her pull me out onto the dance floor. The music is pulsing, the lights are flashing, and with just a little bit of alcohol, it does feel good to let loose a bit.
I let my body flow to the music, raising my hands over my head. Mona dances around me, turning around and giggling as she pretends to get up on me.
Our friends surround us, and for a moment, I’m back in college, a time when things were simple.
Well, as simple as following my friends around to make sure they didn’t get assaulted could be when I was still permanently traumatized by my childhood.
I wish I could see the world in the innocent way some of my friends do. I wish I wasn’t looking around every corner, wondering when darkness will strike next.
But once you’ve been hurt by chaos, it’s hard let your guard down.
Mona notices my mood change and looks up at me. “What’s wrong, Avery? You wanna rest?”
I nod, and we head back to the bar. I like sitting there because I can watch drinks for people.
Paranoid? Sure. But when companies are making straws, coasters, and nail polish that try to detect rape drugs that are put in drinks, I do
n’t think it’s too off the mark.
Mona sits next to me, and our other friends are following behind, looking exhausted but happy and flushed.
They really went in on that song, considering we’ve only been here fifteen minutes.
I check the clock on my phone, wondering when Brett is going to show up.
It’s not that I miss him, I think as signal for another piña colada. I’m just concerned as to why he hasn’t shown up when his whole life’s goal seems to be to stalk me lately.
And to be honest, I guess I already miss him. It’s been nice the past few days, having someone in my life.
At first, I thought it would be good to get out, get away from him.
Calm the hormones that make me crave him almost constantly.
It’s just good that I’m able to keep him from seeing that fact.
Because I’m still not ready to get involved with someone. Though, if anyone, it would be him.
“Oh. My. God.” Mona and the rest of my friends suck in a gasp as they turn toward the doorway.
It’s almost as if I can feel a ripple through the club, awareness and whispers, as I turn to see two men walking inside.
My jaw drops as my eyes lock onto Brett.
He and Tanner are here and a perfect contrast to each other. Brett is wearing a short-sleeved button-up in a light-colored print that shows off his broad chest, cut arms, and narrow waist.
His handsome face lights up the darkness, his unusual hair glinting and brushed to the side, his light-blue eyes glittering. He’s wearing jeans, a belt, and fashionable boots, plus two bracelets on his slim wrist, emphasized by muscled forearms.
He’s so handsome it almost hurts to look at his face. His long-lashed eyes are sensual. His straight nose comes to a hint of a point at the end. His full lips are gentle rather than pursed and stubborn.
He looks like a walking dream.
Lady boner alert.
I take deep breaths, trying to calm myself as the sound in the room comes back to me. The women around me are excited, whispering. The sounds are getting louder.
Even my friends, like Mona, are starting to push their way over to the door.
Tanner is also looking nice today in a black jacket over a casual tee shirt, plus jeans and sneakers. His dark hair falls over his forehead, and his five-o’ clock shadow only lends to his dangerous appeal.
Next to Brett’s icy beauty and imperious bearing, he looks mysterious and dark.
The women, however, seem more drawn to Brett.
I narrow my eyes at Tanner’s wrist, but he’s wearing a coat and I can’t see the number of suppressors.
But I know Brett is wearing only two.
He sends a doubtful glance at Tanner as human women grab him by both hands to pull him into the crowd, but Tanner just gives him a friendly shove, watching him go.
The door shuts and the bouncer motions for everyone to move back, and the lights dim over the floor, making at least most of the women go back to what they were doing. Brett is clearly occupied for now.
I can see him in the middle of the dance floor, looking around—probably for me—with a charmingly befuddled expression on his face as the women around him try to dance with him.
He gives each a patient smile, trying to move them backward, only to find another in their place.
Then his eyes meet mine, and when they soften in relief as he sees I’m okay, he’s only that much more beautiful.
Somewhere in my heart, fire lights up. It reaches out toward him in a place I see only in my mind, intertwining with fire from him, but then, maybe I’m drunk.
I turn away, avoiding his eyes, and feel myself snap back to normal.
As I reach shaking hands toward my drink, I realize I’m practically panting. Damn, that was close.
“You’re just going to leave him out there?” A deep voice cuts into my thoughts, and I look up to see Tanner standing next to me, leaning on the bar and ignoring the women coming up to him by putting up a hand.
I snort a bit at how rude he looks, but I can’t really blame him at all.
He’s just a straightforward person.
As another woman nearly runs into his hand, he sighs and takes a seat on the stool next to me.
The rest of the women waiting to talk to him slowly turn and walk away.
I shake my head, though a part of me definitely wants to go to Brett. I wonder if I have a wand, because right now, I want to use it on the women who are trying to touch him. “He’s fine,” I say, reassuring myself as much as Tanner.
Tanner just laughs. “You would think so, but once you find your soul bond, the touch of any other is repulsive.”
I sigh. “He hasn’t found his soul bond. He just thinks he has.” I glance over at him. “He can do better. Find some princess that wants to live in his world. I just want to stay here. In the dark. Fighting jerks.” I sigh. “You know that wouldn’t be good for him.”
“I think he knows what’s good for him,” Tanner says. “And he knows his soul bond, even if you don’t.”
I frown because if I’m honest, I can feel something. But the thought is almost too scary to entertain.
I’ve been on my own for so long.
“We aren’t right for each other,” I say, sipping my drink, not knowing why I would even talk to Tanner about this when Mona is probably out there dancing on Brett.
Mine.
I blame the alcohol alone for thinking that.
Tanner’s watching me, ignoring the women who try to tap him on the shoulder. “Are you sure you don’t want to go to him?”
I glance at him. “You’re handling the attention just fine.”
He laughs. “I don’t blame the women for trying. You know, fae women sometimes kidnap princes in courtship.”
My eyes widen as I glance over at Brett, who seems to be allowing women to dance with him but looking very put out with it, arms folded over his chest.
So maybe Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes doesn’t live in a perfect world after all. “Huh.”
“Don’t get me wrong,” Tanner says. “I don’t think most of the warriors mind it. It is nice to be desired and given separate attention while considering resonance apart from any others.” He glances over at Brett. “But when fae women do it, it’s a little more civilized.”
I snort. “Kidnapping is civilized?” Okay, I’m definitely a bit drunk.
He nods. “It’s within our rules.” He raises a hand to wave off another woman. “Some of the fae, like Flynn and Ian, are intimidated by the approach of human women because they aren’t used to it. How physical it is. But they don’t understand that generally, that’s how human men want them to show affection. Whereas a fae male would rather get to know someone first.”
I blink. “Yeah, that’s pretty opposite. A lot of guys my age just want to watch porn and won’t look at a woman unless she’s willing to give it up to him first, no feelings involved.”
“Give what up?” Tanner looks confused in that way Brett is sometimes.
It’s kind of adorable.
“Sex,” I say. “They expect nudes. They send dick pics. We live in a very sexual and emotionally detached world.”
Tanner grimaces. “That sounds terrible.” He looks over at the dance floor. “Speaking of which, wouldn’t it be a good time to rescue Brett right now?”
“He can handle himself,” I say, trying not to look over at him because I don’t know what I’ll do with my jealousy if I see him surrounded by women again. “He’s stronger than me, so I don’t have to.”
“But don’t you want to?” Tanner asks, pushing up against the fire that keeps lighting inside me no matter how I try to push it down.
I shake my head.
Tanner sighs. “I know the women don’t mean any harm with flirting, so I’m not worried about him. After all, life often results in a million tiny bonds, whether we like it or not. I just thought since you seem to want him—”
I snap my gaze to Tanner, who clearly sees too muc
h. “Why would you say that?”
He laughs. “You think I can’t see resonance? Or the look in your eyes when you watch him? Your magic flares.”
“My magic? Can you see it?”
He shakes his head. “No, it’s more a forceful pulse I feel from you. None of us will know what power you possess until you awaken.”
I sigh. “Which may be never.” Against my better judgement, I look back over at Brett, who has let himself be pushed onto a stool at the edge of a dance floor by a woman who seems to be climbing onto his lap.
As he pushes her back, trying to be gentle, I finally lose my patience.
She’s touching what’s mine, and he’s probably going to spend too much time trying to explain common decency to her to stop her.
So I guess that’s my job.
I roll up the sleeves of my red sweater as I head over there, ignoring Tanner’s muttered, “Told you so,” as I march out onto the crowded floor.
16
Brett (Boreas)
I can withstand this.
I am a prince of the kingdom of frost, defender of the innocent, warrior of my people…
And I have no idea how to get this female off of me.
Inconveniently shoved onto the stool behind me so that she can press herself close, I’m left with no escape other than utter bluntness.
“Please remove yourself,” I say flatly, wondering how out of line I would be if I gently pushed her shoulder to move her back. “No.”
The woman ignores me, attempting to run her hands down my chest as I wriggle away from her.
I don’t want to hurt her or draw attention, but with the surge I just felt in my soul bond when I locked eyes with Avery, it’s almost painful to be touched by anyone else.
I close my eyes, wondering if taking off a suppressor was a terrible mistake after all when—
“Get off him, you weirdo.” A voice cuts in, and the woman is pulled away, revealing an angry-looking Avery who steams at me for a moment before turning to face the woman with folded arms.
“You got a problem hearing the word no?” Avery asks, backing the woman up as she stumbles, tripping on the edge of the dance floor and falling on her butt on the ground. Avery crouches down to glare at her fiercely. “I have no trouble beating up another woman if she’s going to act like a rapist.”
Found by Frost: Wings, Wands and Soul Bonds Book 1 Page 10
