Page 43 of Bound By the Sleeper’s Harp

“What the hell was that?!” I seethed, glancing around. “Are we… Did we just teleport or some shit?”

We were in his driveway, steps from the front porch of his beautiful craftsman home.

“Something like that.” His jaw was tight. “I couldn’t take any chances moving through the crowd. The Vault’s the last place you want to be during a supernatural fight.”

“That was sickening,” I snapped, staring up at him. Glaring, really.

“Sorry, sugar.” He didn’t look sorry at all. “Why do you think I told you not to drink? Your stomach would be spilled on the pavement right now.”

I made a hissing sound of disgust. Never mind that his arm was still wrapped around me, my body pressed tight to his. For stability purposes, of course. “You restricted my drinking, but didn’t think to warn me as to why?”

“Didn’t know it would be necessary—hoped it wouldn’t be.” But the twitch of his lips said otherwise. “Come on.”

Ugh! Unbelievable.

My nausea subsided as he turned and led me up the porch stairs. The night air was a direct contrast to the loud music of the club. Crickets and cicadas chirped. A bullfrog croaked in the distance. Bats chittered. The trees surrounding his property were filled with life.

“How did you do that, anyway?” I managed, as we stepped into the house entryway. I bent to unzip my boots, placing a hand against the wall for support.

Still breathing harder than normal, I pressed my back flush to the wall as I watched him.

“Magic, obviously,” he said, shucking off his boots, leaving them beside mine. He stood to his full height, regarding me with a lifted eyebrow. A perfectly fucking shaped pierced eyebrow.

“Yes, but how?” I demanded. “I didn’t know goblins had magic like that. I thought you were fighters, warriors. And yet, I’ve seen you disappear things or whatever. You must be…”

Really powerful.

He heard the words even though I didn’t speak them. Stalking over, he invaded my space, bracing his hands on either side of me. Everything I’d felt while dancing with him returned. All the heat and arousal. It came back tenfold.

His lips twitched in that infuriating way as he said, “Impressed, sugar?”

I snorted, rolling my eyes. But truthfully? I was impressed.

“Who are you?” I whispered, breathless, before I could help myself. His face was inches from mine. There were tiny gold flecks in his green eyes. The scent of musk and citrus soap wrapped around me, filling my nostrils.

“You really want to know?” His voice was open, honest, eyes darting between mine. I nodded, not sure I could speak.

“I’m a bastard fae, sugar. Lowest of the low. My mother’s fae, father’s a goblin. That’s where I got my affinity for metals, the reason I was able to transport us like that.”

“You use metal for magic?” My eyes darted to the piercings on his face, the one in his septum, the other in his eyebrow. I’d seen a flash of silver in his mouth, too, just now. Realization dawned on me. “Your piercings? That’s why you have so many?”

“I use them to store energy.” His low chuckle sent tingles skittering across my skin. “I don’t punch pretty things into my skin for the hell of it. Though, I do dig the look. Apparently, chicks do too.”

I huffed and said, “Right. It is kinda hot.”

At my words, sparks crackled in the depths of his eyes.

I swallowed. “So…the more piercings and jewelry you have, the more energy you can store? And what, you use the energy for magic?”

“That’s the simplest way to put it, sure.”

“That sounds…”

“Extremely rare?” An arrogant smirk spread across his lips.

“I was going to say interesting. But yes, I guess it must be rare. Not that I’m an expert.” I was highly aware of our proximity, how close his body was to mine. Not quite touching, but close enough that heat spread between us.

I cleared my throat. “What happens if all your jewelry is removed? You lose your power?” He made a thoughtful sound but didn’t answer. I tried to keep a serious face and added, “I guess that’s a secret you probably don’t want to tell me?”