“You would have thrown yourself into my arms, and my bed, happily reunited with the man you fell in love with at first sight.” A cocky grin plays across his too-perfect face, without so much as a glimpse of the nerves he’d had seconds ago. He speaks flatly as if reading them off a script.
“I wouldn’t have just wanted a physical connection; I would have wanted something emotional too,” I admit. It’s not like I’ve never had a hookup before, but he pales in comparison to the monster waiting for me at home.
“I can, Iwillbe patient. I understand all of this has been unexpected,” he says softly, “And, for the record, I am sorry. In truth, before you suggested this deal, I had a mind to let you go, even if it did mean I’d be a laughingstock.”
Like hell he did. I know his type; he’s just trying to find the right pretty words so that I’ll let my guard down.
“Focus on the dating profile,” I urge and damn. I miss Moth.
Magnus’s smile falters, and for a moment. our eyes meet. I’m struck by the undeniable sadness that’s heavy in the hues of purple. How long has it been since he’s let someone in?
“So, it won’t do to charm them with my title and good looks?” he asks, a little more pouty than I would have expected.
“It might get you some dates but, if you really want to date mortals, wait—” I groan. “Have you ever actually dated anyone?”
“Are you suggesting—”
“That your romance experience is mostly flings and grand balls?” I interrupt. “Am I wrong?”
“You’re not.” He hums thoughtfully tapping his chin “And you think I won’t perform well?”
“I think we’re starting at square one.”
“That settles it,” he says, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the doorway. To my surprise, when he’s the one who pushes on the door, it ripples like it’s laced in portal magic.Interesting.
“Where are we going?” I shout, digging my heels into the ground.
“To practice.”
I have to admit, I’ve been curious about the Dragonfly Court ever since Holly mentioned the giant lily pads. I have to say, it doesn’t disappoint.
Magnus and I sit atop an oversized lily pad in the center of a lake; weeping willows stretch across the sky, their mossy ribbons creating curtains that divide the lake into different rooms. We are in the middle, where we can be seen by all; when the server flies to our table with menus in-hand, I can feel all eyeballs turn to us.
When he said he was going to take us out to dinner, I thought it would get me closer to the mortal realm, but this… this is more of a fairytale setting than Queen Plume’s castle.
“It is one of my favorites,” Magnus says, lounging on the lily pad as though it’s a picnic blanket. “I think you might like it too.”
“Oh, shut up.” Of course I do. I mean, there are tea lights and flowers floating in the water.
While my present company leaves little to be desired, it’s fucking magnificent.
“So, this is your court then…”
“My mother’s,” he corrects me, and there’s a break in his usually masked expression. So… half dragonfly fae, half vampire?
“But you don’t have wings,” I say. With the way he raises his eyebrow, I realize that was probably rude. But no, I’m not going to worry about being a jerk to the guy who kidnapped me—whether or not it was accidental.
“So, you shift too?” I ask.
“What do you meantoo?”
“Well, in the mortal realm, I just kinda suck my wings into my shoulder blades, I guess?” I say. “I’m sure you guessed I was human before.”
“I had my suspicions there was something …uniqueabout you.” He laughs. “It was one of the many reasons I was drawn to your presence. You see, most people of the winged courts have a distinct pattern and a name to go along with it.”
I frown. It’s something I’ve noticed and googled after our first trip to Eclipsica. The bugs that exist in my world have patterns shockingly close to the wings that adorn the backs of my new family and friends—even Moth. Though, I think his pattern is softer than the Death’s-head hawkmoth,prettier too. Still, it’s made me wonder if the patterns represent the magic that bleeds across the realms.
“I thought you’d be a Luna by the coloring,” he muses studying me with an intensity that makes me shiver. “But the pattern is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
