I’d snuck out of the infirmary just before dawn so that I could beat them here. I knew they wouldn’t stop by my room before leaving, not after my conversation with Kael. They knew I’d try to talk them into letting me go, and they wouldn’t give me the chance to make my case.
But I wasn’t asking. I was going, whether they liked it or not.
Kael’s face paled. “Norah, I thought I told you last night that you’re to stay here and rest.”
“You did.” I shot him a brilliant smile. “I listened to your advice and thought about what you said. And then I decided to come anyway.”
Liam let out a low chuckle, but Kael shot him a sharp look. “Don’t encourage her.”
“Kael.” I strode toward him and took his hands in mine. He softened, despite himself. “I know you’re just trying to keep me safe, and I doubt I’ll ever be able to express how much that means to me. But this is my journey. The Redcap girl attacked me because of me, because of what was done to her in order to keep me safe. Regardless of the fact I didn’t choose this, it’s still my responsibility. I’m going with you.”
But it was even more than that for me. This was my chance to right a whole lot of wrongs. There were others out there, suffering just like Shai and her friends. Some were too far gone to cure, but there would be others out there that I could help. And the only way I could do that was to find them the Winter Starlight.
I needed to go not just for myself but also for them. Somewhere in those Winter lands, I would find enough of the cure, bring it back, and then help as many of the infected as I could.
Rourke must have seen the determination in my eyes because he gave me a nod instead of arguing. I knew he wanted to keep me safe just as much as Kael did, but we’d been through hell and back together. Rourke knew my strength. He’d seen first hand that I could handle myself. And he’s also seen first hand that I was determined to do so.
Rourke clapped my Winter prince on the back. “It’s not like she’s going alone, Kael. We’ll all be there with her to keep her safe.”
“It’s not her safety I’m worried about,” Kael said in a tight voice. “She’s been injured. A Redcap attacked her only days ago.”
“I feel fine,” I assured him.
The truth was, I really was fine, as strange as it was. I still carried some pain around with me, but it wasn’t bad enough that I couldn’t push it aside. Finding this Starlight was too important.
“Alright,” Kael said with a hesitant grumble. “We’ll all go together, but the second Norah looks unwell, I’m bringing her straight back here to the Academy. I’ll throw you over my shoulder if I have to.”
Not exactly the worst image I could conjure…
The five of us set off across the rolling hills. Without access to the magic that could shift us from one end of the realm to another, it would be a long journey up north. We would trek the entire length of the free territory before even entering the Winter lands. And then we’d need to climb even further, crawling our way up the side of the mountains where the Winter Starlight could be found. It might take days for us to track some down. Or even weeks.
By then, I knew it might be too late to stop the beast from taking hold of my mind. At least I was fae, I had to remind myself. I would be immune to the worst of it, though my time spent in the human realm might have weakened my resilience. Regardless, the beast would be inside of me. Always there. Always hungry.
Always eager for flesh and blood and bone.
Kael led the way down the winding path. Near dusk, he found us a small inn along the way. I’d expected us to camp out in the wild as we’d done before. It prevented rumors from circling about our travels, and it kept obvious targets off our backs. The Wilde Fae often ransacked the inns along the road, and I was a valuable target in their eyes.
“You need to sleep in a bed,” Kael said for the fifteenth time since we’d stepped foot inside the inn. We’d gathered downstairs and sat along a long wooden table, drinking bitter ale from tankards that looked as though they’d been used for centuries. “You won’t get the rest you need if you’re forced to sleep in the wild.”
The barmaid swung by our table and handed out plates full of home-cooked food. My stomach growled as I eagerly eyed the cut of meat, the roasted potatoes, and the gravy that had been poured generously over it all. I had to admit, this wasn’t a terrible way to travel compared to the hard ground and stale food we’d taken with us on our last trip.
I thanked the barmaid and tucked in my food, letting my mind drift to the minstrel’s song. He danced and played and sung a tune I’d never heard before, a beautiful song that made my heart feel light and my soul feel strong. It made me feel as if I belonged, and I was reminded again of how sucked into my own little world I’d been until now. These were the kind of things I needed to experience to truly understand and appreciate Otherworld. I needed to sit at the table with the local fae. Hear their songs. Eat their food. Know what their lives were like. The Redcap girl had a point, I had to admit. I was hidden behind ivory walls. My worldview was so limited to my training and my studies. If I was ever going to understand this place, I needed to do so much more.
Finn shifted in front of me and blocked the minstrel from view. He held out a hand and smiled. “Would you care to dance?”
I grinned up at him and slid my hand into his. “Of course I would.”
The two of us moved across the room until we were standing within a small square space that had been cleared beside the minstrel. Finn tossed him a coin, and the minstrel gave a nod. The slow, melancholy tune dropped away, replaced by a lighthearted jig that made my body want to move.
And so I danced. My feet sprang into motion, tapping and stomping along with the rhythm of the song. Finn held my hand, twirling me under his arm and spinning me around the floor. I tipped back my head and laughed, the lights of the room blurring at the speed of our dance.
The song changed, and we kept moving. My head filled with the sound of it, and my heart swelled from a kind of happiness I’d rarely felt in my life. Finn pulled me close, wrapping his arms around my waist. My breath caught in my throat at the look in his eye. A look that was hungry and passionate and terrifying all at once. Our feet began to slow, and our stomps and whirls morphed into nothing more than the sway of our bodies side to side.
His fingers dug into my hips, and my forehead pressed tight against his. Everything within me sparked to life. No more pain. No more fear. Just Finn.
His lips caressed my ear, and then he whispered. “Would you like to spend the night with me?”
My lips on his was the only answer I needed to give.
Chapter Thirteen
I was suddenly very nervous. I’d built up this moment with Finn in my mind for so long that I didn’t know how to handle myself now that it was finally going to happen. He held my hand and led me upstairs to the room we’d all rented for the night. Liam, Rourke, and Kael stayed downstairs, giving us knowing smiles. It was almost as though they were giving us this moment together, a moment I sorely needed tonight.
My heart banged in my chest as Finn quietly shut the door behind us. He was so tall and so handsome, his gorgeous golden skin glistening even in the dim light of the room. He moved over to the fireplace and stoked the flames to life, and all I could do was stare at the way the orange glow kissed his skin.
“I thought you wanted to wait,” I whispered as he slowly stood and turned toward me with that hungry look in his eyes.
“When that Redcap attacked you, I realized I didn’t want to wait anymore.” He took a step closer, wrapping one hand around my waist. “Us fae may live very long lives, but we are not invincible. We are not indestructible. We never know how long we have to do everything we want with this life. We need to make the best of it while we’re alive. I would never forgive myself if I never took the chance to show you just how much you mean to me. I want you to see that I am yours. I need you to know exactly how I feel when I look into your eyes.”
; I breathed in the scent of him, the deliciously sweet fragrance of spring: wildflowers and fresh grass. Staring deep into his brilliant green eyes, the entire world dropped away. I pushed up onto my toes and wrapped my arms around his neck, holding tight and never wanting to let go. Finn was magic. He was the sunrise after a long brutal night. He was the sound of the chirping birds in the trees. He was the sweet soft caress of grass against bare feet. He was the laughter in the air and the brush of a warm breeze against my face.
He was all of that and more.
“Kiss me,” I whispered to him. And so he did.
Our noses brushed as his lips found mine. He tasted of berries, of coconut, and of vanilla. I sighed and closed my eyes, tightening my hold around his neck. Finn let out a light laugh and pulled away, his green eyes searching mine. I was desperate to pull him back.
“I knew it.” He winked, his face lit up with that dangerous smile of his. “I was right all along.”
“About what?” I breathed.
“About you fancying the pants off me.” He grinned, and even though I rolled my eyes, I didn’t push him away. Still, I swatted his arm and gave him a mock frown.
“I think you’re confusing me with yourself. You’re the one doing the fancying the pants off.”
He let out a low growl and lifted me from the floor. A yelp of surprise sprang from my lips, and a flicker of delight made my gut churn in excitement. Leaning closer, he nipped my ear with his teeth.
“You aren’t wrong about that, you naughty little thing.”
He strode across the room and dropped me onto the bed, the mattress squealing underneath me. My heart roared in my ears as he climbed over me, bracing one hand on either side of my head. His eyes were hungry, and my heart was, too. With a smile, I hooked my leg around his back and pulled him closer to me.
But I pushed one hand against his chest, making him wait just a little bit longer. “I thought we were going to do this outside.”
“Why is that?” he murmured.
My hand fell away when I caught the look in his eye, and he moved in close within an instant. His lips dropped to my neck. Sparks lit up along my skin.
“Because of the flowers.”
“Just you wait,” he murmured against my mouth, his tongue teasing me in a way that made my heart run wild with desire. “First, let’s get rid of these pesky clothes.”
Finn took his time undressing me, slowly and carefully prying each layer off my trembling body, his pupils dilating with each and every second that passed us by. Soon, we were both naked. My chest heaved with my belabored breaths as my gaze wandered over every inch of him. Because Finn was perfect. In every way imaginable, he was perfect. I’d always thought he was tall and lithe, but there was a strength in him I hadn’t seen until now. His chest was full, his abs ribbed, and his arms were chorded with some serious muscle. He looked as though he could throw me against the wall if he wanted to…and I certainly wouldn’t stop him if he tried.
He gazed down at me, his finger tracing a circle around my belly button. My hair fanned out on the soft pillow where I lay, the covers pooling around my bare legs. I felt so vulnerable like this, but it didn’t feel wrong. It felt right. It felt good. I wanted Finn to see me. I wanted him to see every single part of me.
Smiling, I reached up and slid my fingers into his soft hair. He leaned into the palm of my hand, closing his eyes. My heart thundered in my chest at the affection that rose up inside of me. How had I gotten this lucky? Not just to have Finn but to have them all?
“How do you feel about our situation?” I asked in him a whisper, almost afraid to hear his answer.
“I can’t complain.” He opened his eyes and smiled down at me as he began to move his hand further south. “Although I can think of some ways we can improve upon it.”
I shivered and bit back a moan. His fingers were now dangerously close to my thighs.
“I don’t mean this.” I gasped when his finger slipped an inch lower. “I mean the situation between the five of us. You didn’t sign up to the Academy to become part of a…part of a…”
“A harem,” he finished for me.
I blushed. Furiously.
He let out a low chuckle. “I didn’t sign up to become part of a harem, no, but I wouldn’t have it any other way now. It feels right in the way that Alwyn always told me it should feel when I met my mate. Nothing else in the world matters more to me than being with you. And making you as happy as I possibly can.”
“So, you don’t mind…sharing? It doesn’t make you jealous?” Because it would certainly make me jealous if it were the other way around.
“It doesn’t make me jealous or angry or annoyed or upset or anything negative at all.” His fingers slowed, and his gaze turned earnest. “I’ll admit, I don’t think it would feel right if you fell for someone else other than Rourke, or Liam, or Kael. The five of us feel like we fit together. We’re the pieces of a perfect puzzle. Just like you and I.”
My heart grew so large that it felt as though it might explode from my chest. I shifted against him, gasping when he finally slid his fingers between my thighs. He slipped against my wetness, his gaze going hot when he felt just how much his touch had electrified my need.
And then his finger pushed inside. Pleasure shot through my core, and white hot desire ripped through me. Stars dotted my eyes as I moved my hips against him, my need overtaking my mind.
“Norah,” he said in a rough voice. “Norah, please.”
I cracked open my eyes to gaze up at him, confusion flickering through me. His face looked so pain; his entire body trembled. With a shaky breath, he slid his hand up my body and cupped my chin.
Heart trembling, I pushed up onto my elbows to meet the intensity of his gaze. “Finn. You’re scaring me. What’s wrong?”
“Oh, Norah,” he said a whisper. “Nothing is wrong. I just...”
I reached up and traced a finger down his cheek. “Tell me Finn. Do you not want to do this right now?”
“I want nothing more.” He let out a shuddering breath. “I love you, Norah. I love you so much that I can barely think straight.”
My heart pounded in my ears, and my breath stilled in my lungs. Finn had just told me he loved me. The lighthearted joking fae who I’d never fully been sure cared for me. Sighing, my lips widened into a smile so big that it hurt my face.
“I love you, too, Finn.”
His eyes lit up so bright that they was blinding. With a growl, he pushed off the bed and slid his arms around my hips. He pulled me into his arms, lifting me off the sheets. My breath caught at the look of hunger in his eyes. And my body clenched with desire as he carried me over to the wall and pushed my back against the wood.
My hands laced around his neck as he drove himself inside me. I dropped back my head against the wall, my body slamming hard against the frame with every thrust. I clenched tight around him, the pleasure building up faster than I ever would have dreamed. Finn loved me, and I loved him. We’d tried so hard to stay away from each other, but we just couldn’t do that any more.
And now, I wanted to feel him like this for as long as I lived.
He grabbed my wrists and pinned them against the wall, holding a tight grip as his thrusts grew faster. Sparks dotted my eyes, and a sweet, sweet sensation built slowly between my thighs. I wanted to make this last. I wanted to hold on. But I couldn’t. Finn felt far too good for me to hold it back.
I screamed as the earthquake shook through me. Tremors echoed through my core, and my heart raced as I clung on tight to Finn’s neck.
Slowly, he stilled, murmuring sweet words in my ear.
“Did you enjoy that?” he whispered, his tongue darting out to lick my neck.
I shivered, still holding tight even though my body was spent. “That’s a silly question. Can’t you tell?”
“It certainly sounded that way,” he said with a devilish grin. “And lucky for you, I’m not done yet.”
Excitement swirled through my gut, th
ough I could barely breathe after the friskiness against the wall. I needed a break. Or at least I thought I did. Finn kept his arms tucked around my hips, and he slowly lowered me onto the floor. He gently placed me on my back, gazing down at me with an expression that made my heart soar in my chest.
Finn began to tease me with his hand once again, tracing circles on my skin until my body begged for more. When I arched toward him, he laughed and slid his slick body over mine.
“Are you ready, my love?” he asked gently as he twisted a strand of my hair between his fingers.
I nodded. “I will always be ready for you.”
He slid inside of me once again. This time, he moved much slower. He took his time, his brilliant green eyes locked on my face as he moved his body against mine. I wrapped my arms around his back and dug my fingertips into his skin. Electricity coursed along my body, and a sweet perfume filled the air. In the distance, I swore I heard the chirping of birds, and I felt the sun on my skin. I’d never before felt anything like this moment.
It was magic.
“Look,” Finn whispered, slowing just enough to gesture at the floor around us.
I shifted my gaze away from his handsome face and gasped. There were flowers. Everywhere. They sprouted from the floorboards, stretching their colorful bulbs toward a ceiling that glowed with the golden brilliance of the sun. Night had been transformed into day, and the entire world was full of the sounds of spring.
My breath caught as I stared at it all, my love for Finn and for this world amplified by the life that bloomed all around us.
“Don’t stop, my love,” he said with a smile. “Let’s see how much more we can grow.”
I awoke with a start. Something was terribly wrong, but it took me a moment to reason through my sleep-addled state and process what was happening around me. Finn’s arms were draped across my chest as he slept by my side. The warmth of his body seeped into mine, soothing my heart and my soul. I craned my head to see my other mates scattered throughout the room. After Finn and I had drifted to sleep, the others must have come up from downstairs. Rourke and Liam had taken the other bed while Kael slept on the floor.
A Touch of Starlight Page 10
