“I wish I’d never let it happen. I should’ve just…”
“There was no other way.”
I look up at him. “Does it make me a horrible person that I think, after this is over, I still might kill her?”
“I think it makes you fae,” Bree admits, slowly moving closer to the bed, though he won’t touch it. “I believe Lorcan would worship you even more than he already does were you to ask him to murder her on your behalf. He has the skill to make it look like you were never even involved.”
It shouldn’t feel as good as it does, I’m sure of it.
Thankfully, Bree distracts me. “There is another matter. Something urgent.” He takes a deep breath. “My father is here.”
My furrowed brows must clue him in to my lack of comprehension. He sighs, ears drooping. “He… he also has the gift of charm.”
I reach out, meaning to draw him into a hug, like I would anyone else wearing such a vulnerable expression, only to stop when he stiffens before I can make contact.
“Bree… Is he—” I cut off sharply at the pain that glazes his eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. If you think I should be wary of him, I’ll take you at your word.”
“He’s a powerful fae, and a damned fine bard.” Bree runs his hands over his arms. “But he’s also a liar, a cheat, and a weasel. Before today, I assumed he was dead because there was always some bounty hunter or another after him. If he’s here, it’s because Eero has paid him good money to be, and that’s not a good sign.”
“We should warn the others,” I say. “I know you said it takes focus to resist, but is there any way I could learn?” Otherwise, he could charm me into using my powers for anything.
With Danu’s bottomless well of power at his disposal, there are almost no limits to what he could accomplish.
I’d rather die than have the realm at the mercy of whoever put that haunted look on my mate’s face.
“It takes decades of practice,” Bree replies. “Your best bet, if you ever find yourself face to face with him, is to charm him first. Nothing massive or invasive,” he hastily adds, noticing my moue. “Just a simple request that he not use his magic on you.”
“How will I know what he looks like?” I don’t want to accidentally charm the wrong male, and with fae glamour, he could be anyone.
“He’s too vain to use a glamour.” Bree reads my thoughts. “If you see another púca with long dark hair, assume it’s him.”
Grimly, I nod, and the two of us lapse into silence.
“Bree, I—”
“Did you want him because he’s Jaro, or because you’re horny?” The question is so unexpected that I blink for a second, trying to figure out how to respond.
“Both?” I answer, confused. “You’re not interchangeable to me, but I feel…” Heady. Needy. And being around them doesn’t help. Even without my fever, I want them. “Perhaps it was the wine.”
“More likely the nightshade around your neck,” Bree replies. “It’s an aphrodisiac.”
“I’m not sure I can blame it all on the flowers.” I glance over to where the wreath is glimmering in the moonlight. I pause. “I’ve been thinking…”
“About?”
“You still stiffen when I touch you.”
He opens his mouth to object, but I raise my hand until my fingers are barely brushing his lips.
“I don’t mean it in a bad way. I just don’t think what we’re doing is working. Would you… Would it be better if you touched me instead?”
He swallows, throat moving as those piercing green eyes stroke up and down my body, taking in the rumpled tunic I wore beneath the breastplate and the way the neckline has fallen open to expose my cleavage.
“Dragonfly, I…”
“It’s okay,” I rush. “I shouldn’t have said—”
His hand takes mine, pulling it away from his lips, thumb rubbing over my knuckles as he thinks through his next hesitant words. “It’s not that. I want to. It’s just been so long since I chose to touch anyone, and even longer since I wanted to. I’m not sure I even remember how.”
