“Yes, my lord.”
“Good, remember that.” Deveron considered asking Herlenkis if he had ever known of a human who could see the fae, but dismissed the notion. He had no intention of telling anyone his plans, yet. If the girl could see them, she’d expose her abilities within the hour. Then he could have some real fun. But not with Cassie as he’d intended. With Alicia instead.
Herlenkis looked after the two girls, turned to Deveron, bowed low, and then vanished.
In fact, it didn’t really concern Deveron if Alicia knew what he was. Because she had anointed him with sticky sodas, she was all his to do with as he pleased. Didn’t matter if the queen had forbidden him to trifle with the human girls.
This one had declared war on him. To think she hadn’t even apologized, just stood there trying to suppress a giggle as her blue eyes sparkled with pixie mirth.
He looked back at the stucco Spanish-style hotel as the sunlight glinted off the red tile roof. When his reinforcements arrived, he’d see if she thought the situation was truly that funny any longer.
He smiled, dove under the water, then vanished.
***
Alicia tugged off her oversized T-shirt as Cassie took her shower first. The salt and sand felt grimy on her skin and hair, and she couldn’t wait to wash it all off.
Cassie sang some nonsensical tune at the top of her lungs. Alicia shook her head and smiled.
But then her smile turned bitter.
More than anything, she wanted to stop the fae from hurting her friend. But how could she? She had no idea where Deveron was taking Cassie for lunch even.
Maybe she could find out before they left. Then she could follow them. Maybe.
Cassie walked out of the bathroom with a white towel wrapped around her head, the rest of her dressed in a pale green dress, her feet still bare. “Your turn.”
Alicia glanced at the door to their room. “If he comes before I’m finished showering, let me know where you’re going to lunch.”
“Worry wart.”
Alicia frowned at her.
“All right. Get cleaned up. I promise I’ll tell you before I go.”
Would the fae distract Cassie enough so she didn’t remember to tell Alicia? That’s what worried her. She hurried into the shower, intending to take the quickest one she could.
The whole time the peach-scented soap slipped over her skin, she listened for the sound of Cassie speaking, or the fae’s dark voice penetrating the quiet.
Nothing.
She turned off the shower, then quickly dried her skin. Then she realized all she’d brought into the bathroom was a change of panties and bra and the long T-shirt she wore to bed.
She threw them on, then hurried out of the room.
Cassie raised a brow. “You’re going to bed?”
“No.” Alicia couldn’t help the annoyance in her voice. “I forgot to take a change of clothes in there.” She yanked on a pair of jeans shorts, then as she pulled the nightshirt off, a knocking on the door sent her heart skittering.
Before Alicia could pull her nightshirt back on or dart for the bathroom, Cassie yanked the door open.
But Deveron’s eyes didn’t focus on Cassie. Instead he concentrated on Alicia, who covered her lacy bra and dashed into the bathroom, cursing under her breath.
She swore she heard the fae chuckle. But what was worse, two blond-haired males accompanied him. What had he intended to do to poor Cassie?
Luckily, though she saw the others as clearly as she saw Deveron, she had the foresight not to look directly at them. Still, the notion he’d brought reinforcements disconcerted her.
“Alicia wants to know where we’re going for lunch, you know, in case my parents call while I’m out,” Cassie said to Deveron as Alicia paced across the bathroom tile floor.
She had no shirt to cover her at all now and was stuck in here until the fae and his friends left.
“She’s not going with us?” Deveron asked, his tone of voice surprised.
Why would he be surprised? She knew he hated her for what she’d done to him. And surely he didn’t want her to tag along. Or did he?
Sure, for revenge after what she’d pulled. After all, he was a royal fae, and she was certain not too many would have risked insulting him by dousing him with very ice cold sodas.
“Well, I thought that you wouldn’t care for her to join us,” Cassie said. She sounded irritated.
“No, have her come along, too. I have a friend who will meet us at the Mexican restaurant.”
A friend. Hmpf. Another fae.
But then again, if she went with them, she could try and keep Cassie safe.
Only she had to get rid of Deveron for now so she could put a shirt on.
Cassie knocked on the bathroom door. “Did you hear that Alicia? Do you want to go?”
“Sure, but have Deveron...” She almost slipped and said something about his companions. “Have Deveron step outside of the room so I can get dressed.”
“Oh, oh, sure.”
With a voice as smooth as heavy satin, Deveron said, “I’ll be waiting in the lobby.”
“Okay, fine,” Cassie said, sugary sweet.
When the door clicked close, Alicia yanked the bathroom door open, intending to get a change of clothes—and nearly died.
Standing in the center of the room watching her, was the first golden-haired fae she’d seen on the beach. His blue eyes narrowed as she faked looking right through him. And pretended to herself she was totally dressed and not exposing her bra-clad breasts to an immortal faery.
Jeez, her whole body heated with embarrassment.
They had no earthly feelings, she reminded herself. He sees you as nothing more than a dumb dog.
She dug through her garments hanging in the shared closet as goose bumps covered her arms, and her heart beat rapidly. Did the dark fae realize she knew they existed and this one was left behind to test her?
She was certain that was the reason.
This afternoon, she would have to put on the performance of a lifetime. Unfortunately, acting wasn’t something she was good at.
As nonchalantly as she could, she pulled out a simple blue dress, smiled at Cassie, then stalked into the bathroom and shut the door.
“I was surprised he wanted you to go with us,” Cassie said as she leaned against the door.
“Yeah, well, you heard him. He has a friend who needs to be entertained.” The thought soured her. Sure he figured she’d be totally entertaining. Watch her squirm as she tried to pretend she couldn’t see the other fae.
When she walked back into the room, the fae was sifting through her undergarments in one of the drawers in a chest.
She could have screamed. And she knew that’s just why he was rummaging through them—to get a reaction from her.
He looked up in the mirror at her. Again, his eyes narrowed.
She quickly leaned down to slip on a pair of heeled sandals.
Grabbing Cassie’s arm, she said, “Ready to go?” She worried her face appeared as red as chili peppers because her cheeks were so hot.
“Hungry?” Cassie asked as they stepped into the hall. Then she closed the door to their room.
Alicia had been, but for now, she was way too keyed up to be hungry at all. “Sure.”
Footsteps sounded behind them, but she refused to look back. If whoever it was proved to be the fae, he’d realize for certain she knew he existed because she could hear the movement of an invisible fae, when she shouldn’t be able to.
When they arrived at the lobby, palm tree and ferns nearly hid the fae from her sight. In fact, when she saw the dark fae, she imagined he felt right at home among the lush greenery.
Deveron’s gaze took in her blond hair, blue dress, and strappy sandals as he crossed the white marble floor to greet her. He barely looked at Cassie. Was he already trying to form a rift between Alicia and her friend?
He glanced at the fae she imagined stood behind her as she could feel his warm breat
h touching her bare shoulder.
Deveron smiled.
Had the blond-haired fae told Deveron using some kind of facial expression that she was indeed startled to see him in her hotel room? Could they telepathically communicate?
Maybe going out with Deveron and his cohorts wasn’t such a great idea after all.
He motioned to the lobby doors. “Your carriage awaits, ladies.”
He stepped in between Cassie and her, only his hand rested on Alicia’s lower back as he guided them outside. She resented it, but when she tried to step away from him, one of the golden-haired faeries drew close so she couldn’t move in any direction without running into him.
An invisible fae could slip right through her, giving her a strange tingling feeling like when her foot would fall asleep. She avoided bumping into faeries for that reason.
But when the fae began to speak, she blinked hard. She’d never heard an invisible fae speak before. Was he doing it for her benefit? To see her reaction?
“I believe your concern is warranted,” the fae said, not speaking to Alicia, but to Deveron, though his blue eyes studied Alicia as he walked backward in front of her.
She tried to control where she looked, but avoiding looking at the creature could prove that she saw him, too.
“She’s wily, my lord.”
Deveron nodded. She figured he couldn’t speak to the fae or confuse Cassie. So in a way, the dark fae was forced to playact also.
Good.
She was certain he was dying to ask the blond-haired fae more, but couldn’t.
The other stood slightly shorter and had green eyes. He didn’t pay much attention to either of the women, just led the party toward a black Ford Taurus.
She wondered when the royal fae had learned to drive a car.
Neither of the other two wore gold medallions. She assumed they served their lord, as the one had called him. That they were not members of the royal family. Or maybe they didn’t always wear them in the human world.
Deveron opened the car door for Cassie, while Alicia yanked the back door open for herself. Before she could slide into the leather seat, the fae with the blue eyes slid in first and sat where she planned to.
She hesitated.
Deveron raised his brows at her when he shut Cassie’s door.
Alicia groaned inwardly. No way did she want to sit on the fae. Her whole body would tingle all the way to the restaurant.
“Something wrong?” Deveron asked, his tone amused.
“No, nothing.” She climbed on top of the fae and hoped she squished him good. As soon as she sat on him, she felt as though millions of nettles touched her skin, not painfully, but with an odd sort of prickling.
Deveron mouth curved in a small smile, then he shut her door. She was afraid he knew that she could see the fae.
When they arrived at the Mexican restaurant, Alicia played her cool role for all it was worth. After Deveron opened Cassie’s car door, Alicia allowed him to open hers. And she purposely didn’t jump out of the car, but took her time, though she was dying to get off the blond fae’s lap.
Again, the dark fae’s eyes and lips smiled at her in that devilish manner that seemed to be his trademark. His gaze shifted to the blond fae she knew stood behind her. What secret communication passed between them this time?
Had the blond fae enjoyed her sitting on his lap? Again, she felt her cheeks flush.
Deveron’s hand drifted to the small of her back as he escorted them inside the restaurant. Smooth...really smooth. She attempted to slide away from his touch, but the blond fae from the beach appeared in front of her, giving her barely room to walk without stepping on his boot-clad heels.
A hostess seated them immediately due to the early lunch hour. Lively Spanish tunes played overhead as the smell of grilled beef scented the air conditioned room. Alicia’s stomach rumbled.
Colorful sombreros, and cowboy boots decorated some of the walls, while others pictured murals of cactus and Spanish cowboys riding the range. But when she shifted her attention back to Deveron, she found he studied her still.
Cassie was already looking at her menu. Did she not notice the interest Deveron was paying Alicia? She could have kicked him for trying to upset her friendship with Cassie.
At the bare table, another blond fae, this one brown-eyed, joined them. He first looked at Deveron who nodded, then motioned to Cassie. “This is Cassie.”
Then he took Alicia’s hand. “And this is Alicia. Meet Micala, my cousin.”
Was Micala truly Deveron’s cousin? The family resemblance was there, Alicia had to admit.
The new faery took in her appearance, just like Deveron had, but then he did the unexpected. He moved his seat closer to Cassie and began to talk to her low, so Alicia couldn’t hear their words.
Cassie glanced at Deveron, who smiled broadly back at her. She must have felt he didn’t mind if she talked to Micala. So Cassie turned her attention to him while Deveron faced Alicia. She imagined Deveron targeted her because she endangered him.
Now she was sure the inquisition would begin.
“Where are you from?” Deveron asked her.
The other fae watched her while Micala continued to distract Cassie.
Were they trying to figure out how she came to know they existed? She felt like a goldfish in a glass bowl with a lethal audience. The golden lion guard and the dark fae panther watched her, waiting for the right moment to pounce on her and eat her up.
“Sacramento, California.”
“Who are your parents?”
She folded her arms. She wasn’t about to put up with the third degree. “Who are yours?”
Deveron’s dark brown eyes sparkled with amusement as he grinned. But the gold that ringed his eyes shimmered like iridescent faery dust, so she wasn’t in too much danger...at the moment. Yet, she assumed he wouldn’t want to reveal who his royal parents were and seemed amused she’d counter his question with one, too.
He sipped his water slowly, never taking his eyes off her. He was challenging her to a duel.
Slip up once and he’d have her terminated.
“How much do you know about us?” he asked.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
He set his glass down on the table. “Ahh, but you do.”
He motioned to the blue-eyed faery, then held up the water glass to him. The faery moved close to Deveron and leaned over to hear his words spoken privately.
In response, the faery grinned, lifted the water glass, and then walked over to Alicia. He began to tilt it toward her lap.
Immediately, she grabbed it from him and sat it back on the table.
“You weren’t bothered by a floating glass of water?” Deveron leaned back in his seat. His eyes twinkled in the soft light. “Most would have been upset, but you saw Herlenkis carrying it toward you. Instead of observing him, you watched me. Why wouldn’t you have watched the glass of water?”
“A magician’s trick.”
He smiled. Then he leaned forward against the edge of the table and pinched his dark brows together. “You will tell me everything I want to know. First and foremost, who your parents are. Or...” He glanced at Cassie, who was talking to Micala about the glorious beaches in Padre Island. “Your friend will. Your choice.”
Again, a roguish grin creased his face as a glint of malice reflected in his dark eyes and the gold circle around them glowed brightly.
Chapter Three
Alicia sat taller and crossed her arms. No dark fae, royal or otherwise, would intimidate her with vague threats. But before she had time to tell him off, a female fae appeared next to him. The transparent edges of her body indicated she was invisible to humans like the two blond male faeries who hovered around the table.
Ice blue silky sheers covered an opaque shimmering gown that reached the female faery’s ankles. Her hair coiled on top of her head like rich satiny brown rope and golden clasps decorated in sapphires held it in place. Her brown eyes were the same d
ark color and almond shape as Deveron’s. But she had a small, pixie-sized face, rather than the handsome square jaw like Deveron had. She, like Deveron, wore an embossed gold medallion featuring a lion’s head at her breast.
The whole time she only considered Deveron, ignoring his female human companions and the blond faeries as Deveron scowled back at her.
She quickly leaned over and whispered in Deveron’s ear.
His eyes widened.
She nodded.
He took a ragged breath, then rose from his seat. “Ladies, business calls. I will drop by later to see you.”
The female fae said, “You will not, Deveron.”
Alicia’s brows rose in amusement as he glanced at her. So the tough, ever-in-control Deveron could be ordered about by a female royal fae?
He pulled two twenties from his wallet and dropped them on the table. “Enjoy lunch.”
“You don’t think you can return after you take care of your business?” Cassie asked. She looked terribly disappointed.
Alicia sighed, deeply relieved the dark fae was leaving.
Micala kissed Cassie’s cheek, and she smiled. “Later,” he said, echoing Deveron’s sentiments.
Deveron grasped Alicia’s hand and squeezed. “I will know all about you, my faery princess.” His dark eyes gleamed with mischief, warning her he wouldn’t be trifled with.
“In your dreams,” she said, her voice icy.
“I never sleep.” His lips curved up at the corners slightly, then he hurried out of the dining area with Micala and the other two fae males.
The female remained behind and studied Alicia. She ignored Cassie, but Alicia assumed this was because the faery was of the royal house and only Deveron’s interest in a particular human female would raise the dark fae’s ire.
Was the fae his girlfriend then?
“Insipid human,” the fae snarled.
“Jealous faery,” Alicia responded back. Then her whole body warmed as the faery stared at her with her mouth partly dropped open. The golden rings around her dark brown eyes weren’t glowing yet though. She must have been in shock to hear Alicia speak to her, and certainly Alicia was shocked that she’d let the words slip off her tongue.
Faery Realms: Ten Magical Titles: Multi-Author Bundle of Novels & Novellas Page 81
