I rolled my eyes to let him know that I wasn’t impressed. Although, I was sure he could sense I was turned all the way on. I didn’t perfume like an omega, but I still got aroused, and he was a fae with an acute nose. “No time soon. I’m not that curious.”
His nostrils flared, taking in my scent. “Your smell tells me otherwise.” He kissed my exposed collarbone with the barest of touch from his lips, and I freaking shivered. He had that kind of effect on me. My mind instantly went back to our time by the lake, and I could feel myself dampen at just the thought.
He raised a hand before I could argue, releasing me. “We have been looking for a way to get you home. But understand that it isn’t easy.”
“I got that, but part of me feels you aren’t moving too swiftly to make it happen or that you wouldn’t be quick about telling me if you found a way.”
He walked to the couch and sat down, crossing a leg over a knee. His face was back to its poker blankness, but I knew enough to tell that I was right. He wouldn’t rush my return. Did he like my presence that much? I didn’t feel like I should be special to him. I understood the connection Xander had to me and, admittedly, me to him.
I dropped my shoulders and turned to look out of a window. I still couldn’t get those wards down. Maybe if he wasn’t an alpha fae, I’d have had better luck. My other goal of swaying Xander and Zelda wasn’t working in the right direction. Xander was never going to help me leave. The bodyguards and Zelda would never betray Yosef, so my only option was to meet another faerie. I could become such a jerk they’d want to get rid of me, but that might mean they turn me over to the court instead of returning me home. I didn’t see the unseelie rulers returning me without at least support from Xander or Yosef. I wasn’t that naïve. I had to get access to someone helpful, and the only way to do that was to leave this house.
I heard Yosef let out an exhausted sigh. “Fine, Xander will take you to a certain magic shop. My cousin is the owner. She will glamour your look and scent to make you appear as a fae. Then you can see the area, shop, lessen your boredom.”
My heart leaped with joy. This was perfect. Being in disguise was exactly what I needed to find a faerie to help me. This was way too accommodating of Yosef, and I wasn’t sure if my gloomy disposition had done that much to sway him. What was the catch? I turned, walking over to him. “Why are you changing your mind?”
He uncrossed his legs and spread them, arms laying back on the couch. He still gave away no emotion, much to my chagrin. “Trust exercise. How you behave will determine how long you stay glamoured and if you ever get to leave again.”
So, the cocky bastard actually had a heart. That may have made me like him more, although I knew this was a test. If I escaped and found someone to help me get home, I needed to succeed. Otherwise, I was sure Yosef was going to end me some how.
“Thank you.” I bent forward and caught his eyes not-too-discretely looking at my cleavage before looking back up to my face. I smiled and then laid a kiss on him. He grabbed the back of my head, and I fell into his lap. His mouth was cool against my own, the tickle of his tongue on mine sending a buzz through my body.
He pulled me from his lips, still controlling my head. His golden eyes were orbs of fire, mesmerizing me with his magic. I took another whiff of his scent and fought every instinct to bury my face in his neck and stay curled up in his lap. He was incredibly comfortable despite this dominance, which I didn’t exactly hate.
“Don’t make me regret this decision, my human.”
His human. I was not his, but some part of me wanted to be, and the confusion made me dizzy. As much as he could annoy me, and as much as I wanted to go home, I craved him intensely. So, what was more important to me? Going home or having him?
* * *
The next day Xander and I were off in his hover car to get me glamoured. I had forgotten, being cooped up, how more advanced this fae world was than the human world. I was still shocked they weren’t running around like it was the Middle ages. The movies and books had lied to me as a child.
During the day, things looked less creepy out in the countryside or suburbs— I had no idea what they were called here. I saw more houses. Some sitting in the sky amongst the trees, some on the ground. A few apartments. It almost looked like my world except for some glaring differences. For instance, the trees were skinner and taller, with gray trunks and black leaves. I saw flowers, but they were shades not typically found in the plant life in my world. Navy blue, maroon, indigo, forest green, burnt sienna. Color existed in this world but in a more muted and darker tone. Nothing bright and sparkling. Also, the sky was cloudy and gray all the time. I’d not seen one ray of sun since I’d come to this place. I’d apparently come during their spring season because the temperature was comfortable.
I expected to at least see more bright lights when I got to the city. I did not. It was a fascinating mixture of old world meets modern times. The streets were cobblestone, lined by rows of stores and restaurants that looked like old houses from the European 1700s. Very cottage style. Mixed into those buildings were a few taller buildings, not skyscraper level, but still striking against the two-story cottage buildings. They were made of black brick and, sadly, no bright colors anywhere.
Xander parked his car in a lot across from a large restaurant. There were still a fair amount of spaces as it was early morning on what he explained was a typical off day for most working fae. It was still odd to think they operated even remotely like us.
A hologram popped up in front of me as soon as I exited the car, and I yelped in surprise.
It was of a woman snapping her fingers and changing into different types of clothing with each snap.
Xander chuckled. “Just walk through it. It’s just an ad for a clothing shop.”
“You get holographic ads popping up at you while walking down the street? This place
has an interesting mix of old and new world. It’s giving futuristic Amsterdam vibes.”
He grinned, tilting his head to the left to encourage me to follow him. “I’ve not been to
Amsterdam, but I’ll take your word for it. Let’s go before someone sees or smells you.”
I followed him, still looking around wide-eyed. “Why is everything so dark in this realm?”
“It’s just the unseelie realm. Although our part of the world is brighter compared to others. I know some cities in the north only filled with grays and blacks. It’s mostly the seelie realm that has the bright colors you read about in your children’s tales. They also aren’t as advanced as us.”
He puffed out his chest when he spoke, a little pride there. Despite his tough childhood, he still took joy in his home. It was endearing to see.
We didn’t walk long, stopping in front of a tiny store that said Melina’s Magic Shop on the front. It looked closed. Curtains were still covering the storefront window. Xander knocked on the door, and it instantly opened. A woman quickly ushered us in and shut the door behind her, locking it.
