by Bella Jacobs
Of course, that’s why he’s reluctant. Those were dark days for him, and he’s had enough darkness lately. We still have no idea where his father is. Hopefully, wherever that sorry excuse for a man slunk off to, he’ll stay there. Forever. Kite’s been through enough in his short life. No need to add being forced to kill his own father.
We near the head of the line and I set my purse in a bin before slipping off my sandals and sliding them in beside it. I breeze through the metal detector with a smile for the bored-looking attendant and slide over to wait for my bag, refusing to be anxious. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the past few months, it’s not to worry about something until it’s actually happened.
Luckily for the vamps, Stabby comes through with no problem. I collect my things, and the five of us stroll along the path, taking in the beds filled with explosions of late summer flowers and brightly colored glass creations in complimentary hues and shapes. We’re an hour early, so we’ve got plenty of time for a leisurely perusal of the garden and our meeting spot.
“It looks like something from a dream,” I say, smiling at a giant yellow-orange orb peeking out from a profusion of daisies. It reminds me of a startled puffer fish or something out of Alice in Wonderland.
“I shot a fashion spread here once.” Creedence motions toward the other side of the path. “Over there, by the roses and pink dildo stalagmites.”
I giggle at the description and whisper, “They do look like pink dildos. But I like them.”
“Because you’re a dirty girl,” Creedence says pleasantly.
“Filthy,” Luke agrees, making me laugh harder and jab an elbow at his ribs.
“Don’t you start, too,” I warn. “I’m not filthy. I’m open-minded.”
“And dirty,” Kite says with a happy sigh.
Fighting to keep the smile from my face, I arch an eyebrow Dust’s way. “Anything you’d like to add?”
Dust sniffs. “I was raised at court. I’ve seen truly filthy things.” His lips twitch. “And then I was lucky enough to hop into bed with a very wicked girl named Wren, and my horizons were expanded.”
They all share a manly laugh after that, to which I reply, “Fine, then I’ll do my best to clean up my act if I’ve offended your delicate sensibilities.” They respond with repeated assurances that they aren’t offended in the slightest, but I can’t help but feel a little thrown, even though I know they were only teasing.
I’ve been going with the flow, embracing what feels right—and really, almost everything feels right—but maybe I should slow my roll a little, give us all something to look forward to next summer on our one-year anniversary. It’s been hard, not having any girlfriends to talk to about this kind of thing.
But maybe Scarlett will be open to a sexy-times chat? Unless that feels weird to her to talk about sex with her younger sister. Still, we’re both adults, and from what I’ve gleaned from picking apart every minute of my mates’ time with Scarlett, she’s probably banging her bodyguard.
Which makes me even more excited to meet him. I hope Bane is lovely and kind and brave and all of the things my sister deserves, as well as not too stressed out about all the crazy shit going down in Fairy. Apparently the queen is sick, and some people suspect another assassination attempt by the same traitors who sent the group of Fey archers to assist Atlas in taking me out.
Unfortunately, those archers are now dead.
Well, fortunately, for us, because they didn’t succeed in killing us, but unfortunately for the Fey because they would have liked to interrogate one of them.
“Heads up,” Cree whispers, cutting into my thoughts.
“Looks like we aren’t the only ones who decided to come early,” Dust adds, nodding toward an archway made of rainbow glass stretched over an enchanted-looking garden filled with sunflowers and other stunning blossoms.
But the most stunning thing of all is the redhead with a big smile on her face and her arms stretched wide, just for me.
Chapter 43
Wren
I run and she runs, and we crash into each other, crying and laughing and both talking at once. Instantly, I know that we’re going to be all right. We’re still sisters, still close in a way we’ll never be close to anyone else.
Because she shares not only my blood, but my past.
And…my face?
“Oh my God, I never realized before how much we look alike.” I laugh-sob as I cup her pale cheeks in my hands. “Except for the hair and eye color, we could be twins.”
“Well, we didn’t look alike before,” she says, sniffing as she brushes my hair from my forehead. “You’ve stretched since I saw you. You were still a runt back then. I can’t believe how tall you are. My little sister is all grown up.”
I pull her close again, squeezing tight, wanting to have her to myself for one more moment before we let other people into our bubble.
And wanting to check that this drop-off is really on the up-and-up.
“Are you okay? Is there anything I should know?” I whisper into her hair. “And where’s Bane? I thought he was meeting us here?”
“Bane was called back to Fairy, but everything’s fine. I mean, Niko is an insufferable asshole, but he didn’t hurt me. And Tweedledee and Tweedledum have been nothing but sweet since we left the hotel.” She pulls back, beaming up at me. “But who cares about them? I’m dying to see your boys again and have a chance to really visit and, this time, get to know them all. And to tease Dust about how long I’ve known he was going to be your honey.”
I slip an arm around her waist as we start back toward where the others are waiting. “You knew when we were kids? Your Kin Gift was active, even with the suppression drugs?”
“Only near the end, when I stopped taking them. But I was already at the rehab facility by then, and Mom and Pops were always with us during your visits. I was trying to figure out a way to tell you everything I was figuring out, but the fairies busted me out before I could make contact. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be.” I hug her closer. “You saved my life. If you hadn’t been off pretending to be the next Fata Morgana, I never would have had the chance to grow up, let alone defeat Atlas.”
Her eyes narrow and her voice hardens as she says, “I wish I could have been there. I would have given a hand to see that son of a bitch get his. After everything he stole from us, I hope you made it hurt.”
“He made it hurt,” I say. “His whole life was a choice to hurt and be hurt.”
“Truth.” She takes my hand, giving it a squeeze. “I’m so glad you’re still with me, Wren.”
I return the squeeze. “Me, too.” We reach the four very gorgeous—and two sort of odd-looking—men standing in front of the sunflower bed, and I lift a hand. “Scarlett, may I have the pleasure of officially presenting my husbands. Hubbies, you remember this lovely one, I’m sure.”
Dust moves in, pulling Scarlett in for a hug. “Hello, love. So good to have you back and in one piece.”
“Likewise,” Scarlett murmurs, smiling up at him as he pulls away.
“Welcome back, sister.” Kite leans down, gathering Scarlett into a typically warm and generous embrace.
“At your service, gorgeous.” Cree takes her hand, winking as he presses a kiss to the back, while Luke rolls his eyes and says, “Oh, please. Give it a rest, cat.”
Scarlett laughs. “And who can forget Pretty and Prettier?”
“I’m Prettier,” Cree insists, elbowing Luke in the ribs.
My lips part, but before I can insist that they’re all the prettiest and the best, the bug-eyed, round-faced man in the red baseball cap pointedly clears his throat.
“Excuse me,” he says, in an unexpectedly high-pitched voice that makes me see why Scarlett nicknamed him Tweedledee. Or is it dum? “We need to make the exchange quickly, please. Our master has urgent business.”
“Does he?” I cross my arms at my chest. “Well, if it’s that urgent, he should have brought my sister back sooner, sho
uldn’t he?”
“They were unavoidably detained,” the man in the blue cap says. He’s also soft spoken, but with a thread of steel his counterpart lacks. “He returned Ms. Wander as soon as logistically possible.”
I arch a brow Scarlett’s way.
She shrugs, looking unimpressed. “Could be true. Or not. Niko didn’t see fit to confide in me as to why we were visiting Nepal or being chased by creepy people.”
My eyes go wide. “Chased? By what kind of creepy people? They didn’t hurt you, did they?”
“No, I’m fine,” Scarlett says, just as Tweedledum insists, “Ms. Wander wasn’t harmed. But we can’t say the same for our master if we don’t return with the relic before nightfall.”
“And why’s that?” I ask, not bothering to curb my curiosity. They stuck their nose into my business—and kidnapped my sister. The very least they owe me is a straight answer.
But I already know I’m not going to get one, even before Tweedledee demurs, “I’m so sorry, but I’m not at liberty to say.”
I sigh as I reach into my purse. “Well, I’d love to know why a vampire is in such urgent need of a super-powered vampire-killing stake, but since I’m not too concerned if they kill each other off at this point…” I draw Stabby out of my bag, holding it out to Tweedledee—because I can tell Tweedledum is in charge, and I want to fuck with him a little.
I’ve developed a bit of an ornery streak, one I’m okay with. I’m still polite to the people who deserve my best manners.
The rest of them, however…
Both the Tweedles reach for the stake, wrapping their fingers around it, but I hold on tight. “Tell Nico that if he ever comes near my sister again, I will personally make him sorry. That goes for the rest of your shiver or whatever you call it. My people are off-limits. Do you understand?”
The Tweedles exchange an odd look I can’t interpret, but finally Tweedledum nods. “Understood. And thank you. Nico appreciates your help.”
Tweedledee gives a little bow. “Have a lovely day. We’ll be going now.”
“So soon?” Creedence feigns disappointment. “But we were enjoying the blackmail so much.”
“Almost as much as the fucking runaround,” Luke adds in a more menacing tone.
“And having our sister kidnapped in the first place.” Kite smiles, but it isn’t a friendly grin.
“I’d take my leave if I were you,” Dust says. “They’re not nearly as civilized as they look. Neither am I.”
With a flustered exchange of glances with each other and wary looks in the boys’ direction, the Tweedles hightail it back the way they came, disappearing around a bend, taking the path leading to the swan pond and water feature.
As soon as they’re out of sight, Scarlett sags visibly. “Thank goodness. I was worried they were going to try something.”
I turn to her, eyes wide. “What? You said everything was fine!”
“Because they have incredible hearing,” Scarlett says, dragging a hand through her wild curls. “I’m not sure what they are, but they don’t look like that most of the time. They’re smaller and brown and bumpy all over. Nico keeps them in his luggage when he travels.”
“Personal demons.” Dust nods, as if this makes perfect sense. “I thought I smelled sulfur.”
“Personal demons?” I ask with a full-on side-eye.
“Lesser demons, still working their way up to their full magical potential. They sign up for an internship-type arrangement with vampires to speed the process along.” Dust pauses, then. I must still look confused because he adds, “The vampires feed on them. It makes the demons stronger.”
“That seems…counterintuitive,” Kite says.
Dust lifts a shoulder and says, ‘They’re demons,” as if that explains everything.
“Whatever they are, I’m glad they’re gone.” I scowl in the direction the two demons went. “And that they didn’t try anything.” I turn back to Scarlett. “What did you think might happen? That they’d go back on our deal? Ask for more stakes or something?”
“That they’d try to take me back to him,” she says, nibbling on her thumb before she adds, “Nico has a little thing for me, I think.”
I humph. “Does he? Geez, what a creep. You swear he didn’t hurt you?”
Scarlett pauses the barest beat. “No. He didn’t.”
“You hesitated,” I press. “Seriously, Scar, if he laid a hand on you, I—”
“No, no, it was nothing like that,” she cuts in, waving a hand in front of her face. “He was a gentleman. An irritating, arrogant gentleman, but he’s clearly into consent.”
“You’re sure?” I study her through narrowed eyes. “You’d tell me, wouldn’t you?”
“I would.” She reaches out, pressing a finger between my brows, smoothing away the wrinkle there with a gentle wiggle. “But there’s nothing to tell. And now I’m back, right where I want to be, with my kick-ass little sister.” She leans into me for a side hug. “I can’t wait to catch up on all your news.”
A giddy grin springs to my lips. “Me, too. I booked another room at the hotel, so we can stay up all night talking without keeping the boys awake.”
“Amazing!” Scarlett lets her gaze skim across the rest of our company. “But I want to get to know all of you better, too. I’m so glad you’re a part of our family.”
“Ditto,” Kite tells her, taking my free hand. “I say you can never have too many sisters.”
“He has eight,” I explain, and Scarlett laughs.
“I met Leda,” she says. “Amazing woman.”
“The rest of them are equally fabulous,” I assure her. “You’ll meet them in September. We’re going to throw a big party at Kite’s mom’s place to celebrate our mate claiming.”
“And still being alive,” Luke adds as we start toward the exit on the opposite side of the gardens. “We’re all pretty excited about that.”
Scarlett squeals softy. “Right? Damn, I can’t wait. It’s so good not to be afraid anymore. I swear, I feel fifty pounds lighter.” She sighs, a rush of breath that turns into a long yawn. “Sorry. I had a hard time sleeping last night. I kept worrying something would go wrong today, and then falling asleep and dreaming about corn fields.”
I laugh. “You still think corn fields are scary?”
“Terrifying,” she confirms. “Almost as scary as very still water.”
Kite chuckles. “My sister, Leda, isn’t a fan of that, either. She’ll swim in the ocean, where she could get taken out by a shark or a tsunami, but ‘trapped water’ freaks her out.”
“Exactly,” Scarlett says, like that makes sense. “Water shouldn’t be trapped. It should be moving. Speaking of moving, I guess you’re not in Seattle to stay, huh? Too many memories here?”
“Sort of,” I say.
We spend the rest of the trip back to our hotel chatting about Mom and Pops—I was right; Scarlett isn’t as quick to forgive as me, but she’s happy to hear they’re not brainwashed by the church anymore—old friends, memories from when we were girls growing up here, and dimmer recollections of life on the farm with our biological mother and father.
Back in our adjoining rooms, we order room service and have an early dinner, everyone taking turns sharing parts of the big story—the tale of how we met and fell in love and took out a bad guy along the way. We start with beer, but eventually Dust opens the Pinot he bought at a fancy wine store yesterday. And then the Pinot gives way to a Merlot he insists we try, and then a Port that’s so nutty and sweet that before I know it, I’ve drunk more than I should.
And I’m not the only one.
“Sorry, Wrenny-roo,” Scarlett slurs as I tuck her into bed with a glass of water on the table beside her. “I haven’t had human wine in years. It’s stronger than the fairy stuff, I think. Or maybe I’m just…” Her yawn is so wide I can’t help but catch it. “Tired.”
I cover my mouth, shivering as I yawn hard enough to make my jaw crack. “No worries, sissy. We’ve got tim
e to catch up more tomorrow. Love you.”
“You, too,” she says, her eyes sliding closed as I kiss her forehead.
I turn out the light and slip through the adjoining door to the other room, where things are suspiciously quiet—and dark—for only nine thirty.
I spot Kite and Creedence propped up on pillows on either side of the king-size bed, already sans shirts—and I’m guessing pants, though I can’t see beneath the covers drawn up to their waists—and smile. And then Luke comes out of the bathroom with nothing but a balled-up towel held in front him, which he lets fall as soon as he realizes we’re alone.
And, oh my, what big…eyes my wolf has.
“I see you three have some ideas about how we should spend the rest of the night,” I murmur, biting my lip as Luke prowls toward me, taking his time. But then, he knows very well I’m the kind of prey that enjoys being caught. “Where’s Dust?”
“Talking to the Resistance guards in the hall,” Kite says. “He figured, after what Scarlett said today, it was better to be safe than sorry, protection wise. But he should be back any minute.”
“If we hurry, we can all be naked before he gets here,” Creedence says, stretching his arms overhead as he casts a pointed glance at my dress.
“That would be a good idea.” I reach for the bow tied between my shoulders and miss it—twice. I giggle, arching a brow at Luke, who’s close enough for me to smell the freshly showered yumminess of him now. “A little help for the grunk dirl?”
He grins. “As long as you promise I won’t be taking advantage of you, Princess.”
I shake my head. “Nope. I know exactly what I want.” I reach down, gripping his rock hard, and oh-so-delicious cock and stroking him up and down, loving the way his lids flutter in response. “I want you. Inside me. As soon as possible.”
“Bend over, hands on the table,” Luke growls, barely waiting until I’ve obeyed before he flips my skirt up, bunching it around my hips as he strips my panties down my thighs. And then his fingers are between my legs, stroking and teasing, making me ache, making me wet.
