I realize that I care for this fae male, even after all he's done. He is flawed, as we all are.
As if sensing my thoughts, he gives me a small smile and kisses me gently before he leans back and finds his release deep within me, throwing back his head with his mouth opening on a silent yell.
Afterward, he relaxes against me, pulling me close and cuddling me but doesn't pull away. He holds me as if he cares deeply for me.
I’d stay like this forever if I could, I think.
But we only have a few moments before we hear a commotion out in the main part of Gwen’s house. I tense, and so does he. Have those men come to finish the job? The fae?
But when the door opens, it's Morgan. He looks thunderous. Jak is behind him, appearing equally as furious, and I wonder for a breath if I wouldn’t prefer my enemies instead.
‘Bryn,’ he mutters on a breath like a prayer. ‘Thank the Gods.’
‘Locke found me,’ I say, suddenly glad beyond measure that they’re both here as well.
They’re safe. We’re all safe.
‘We know he did,’ Jak says through clenched teeth, and I frown at him.
Whyarethey both so angry?
But he steps into the room and looks me over with a healer’s eye before relaxing minutely, not glancing at Locke even once.
‘Are you well, Bryn? Do you…need anything from Morgan or me as well?’
My eyes widen. He thinks I’m in bed with Locke because Ineededhim to fuck me, I realize.
‘No, I?—’
'We’ll speak on this later,’ Morgan interjects. ‘Now, we need to go.'
Locke shifts.
'Wouldn’t it be safer to spend the night here and go back to Halsford at first light?' he asks, sounding oddly calm in the face of his two friends’ turbulent emotions.
'No,’ Jak answers, eyes still not straying to Locke. ‘Lia found us while we were searching for Bryn. We aren't to go back to the village.'
'Why not?' I ask.
'A bird returned from Kitore. There’s a festival there that begins tomorrow. The biggest of the year. Thousands will be inattendance. It’s believed to be the one Fiana’s agent spoke of. We’re to go there.'
He raises a bag in his hand. ‘She gave me the supplies we’ll need, and coin to buy whatever else we lack.’
I pull from Locke's embrace, ignoring my state of undress. ‘Tonight? Where is Kitore?’
‘Far from here. Across the mountains. But we’ll go via the Breach.’
Morgan’s eyes traveling over me, over the new marks left on my skin. His eyes narrow, but he says nothing. Instead, he takes two giant steps across the room and pulls me close, his breath shuddering.
'I was worried for you when you didn’t return, my little human,' he murmurs.
I sigh, wrapping my arms around him.
‘Where were you?’ he asks.
'I found her by the river. Brought her here,’ Locke says, still sitting on the cot.
‘You were hurt?’ Morgan rumbles.
