The woman snorted. “Well, you’ve got to get up earlier then so the Captain and the Lieutenant can eat before work.”
“Ah, yes, got to get Xander fed.”
I cocked a brow, glaring at her over my teacup. “Just Xander?”
She jutted her chin out at me, accepting the plate of food Zelda offered her. “Figure out a way to unclaim me yet?”
I growled, already growing frustrated with her despite having gone down this road with her many a time. “You know the answer to that, my human.”
She stomped over to the table, her upper lip turned up in a silent snarl. “Well, then, yes, just Xander. And stop calling me your human. It pisses me off.”
“Well, then, I’ll keep at it.”
Zelda shook her head and headed out of the kitchen. “You two are children.”
Lila pointed her finger at me. “You were in my dreams last night. We talked about this.”
I gave a wide yawn, very far from tired. In fact, I was more playful at the moment. Getting under her skin was better than having her ignore me. And the fire in her eyes always turned me on. “I recall you talking, but I don’t remember you telling me to stop giving you the dreams.”
Of course, she wouldn’t. I knew she would never admit that she liked them, and so I felt no need to stop. Entering her dreams wasn’t something any alpha could do, but I was fae and had additional magic that could unite us. So, I might have abused our bond to give her what I hoped was a very pleasant dream. I leaned back in my chair, biting my lip. “What did you dream about last night? Did it excite you?”
I could see the barest hint of warmth hit her cheeks, and she lowered her head, her glamoured white curls hiding her face. “Shut up. You know what you’re doing.”
Actually, I didn’t. I could give her an enticing dream, but the downfall was I wouldn’t remember it when I woke up. “Humor me.”
She let out a breath of exasperation. “The sex dreams won’t make me change my mind about you. I still don’t like you.”
I blew a breath, directing the wind to touch the claiming mark on her shoulder. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she arched her chest toward me. I could see her nipples pebble beneath the thin fabric of her blouse, and I hardened at the sight. I lowered my hand to my lap, adjusting myself but satisfied at my effect on her.
She opened her eyes and tossed a piece of jelly-covered toast at me. “Stop that. It’s really unfair that you get to mark me and then do all this stuff. Where are my rights? If I was an omega, I could get you back, but a beta doesn’t have that magic, and you’re taking advantage of it.”
I brushed the crumbs off my shirt and put the piece of toast on the table. She was right. It wasn’t fair, and I was taking advantage of that. But to play fair would mean no connection with her, and I was desperate for it. “Throw everything at me if it means you’ll forgive me.”
“You can forget that.”
Of course. “Well, if I gave you some news about the wizard, would that make you happy?”
She adjusted in her seat, eyes widening in curiosity. “You could have started the conversation with that.”
I smirked, tossing a hand to the side. “But where’s the fun in that? Anyway, his name is Nigel.”
She scrunched her face up. “Nigel. What a stupid name.”
“Well, his name is not the issue. He’s connected to a noble family and does a lot of magic work in the realm.”
“I thought you guys didn’t like humans.”
I ran my eyes over her body, a slight smile on my lips despite the subject we were discussing. “We make some exceptions.”
She huffed. “Stop with the sexy eyes.”
“Does it make you uncomfortable?”
She dismissed me with a hand. “So, he’s tight with people in power. And I’m sure the unseelie could care less about the politics of our magic covens. But I’m also assuming if I go and kill him, there might be some angry fae on my back if they are getting his magic services.”
I tilted my head in her direction, glad she was getting the particularly sticky situation we were in. “The dark mages aren’t a problem to us, and until they are, we won’t care about the human witches infighting, like you said. In fact, it’s even more dangerous for you if this Nigel were to find out who you really are. His allies here might help capture you on his behalf.”
She dropped her shoulders, and her normally strong exterior cracked slightly. I could see the concern in her bright lavender eyes. “So, I’m assuming you’re going to say it’s better I stay low-key and not get too noticed in case I draw his attention.”
