Page 9 of Twist of Fate

Out of the corner of his eye, Connal caught a glimpse of a man floating down the magical moving staircase. Humans couldn’t fly, but they could enchant stairs. Confounding.

But this human⁠—

Connal’s stomach fluttered in a way it hadn’t since he’d faced his first battle against a Dullahan. The headless beast fought with a dragon’s spine as its whip, and Connal had taken a few hits before he’d taken the beast down.

His heart pounded and heat rose from his middle to his neck. The annoying sounds in the airport dimmed, replaced by the staccato thumping of his heart.

What was this? Was this the magic they sought? Did the port of air have some strange human power Connal hadn’t uncovered?

Connal glanced to his sigil, but it remained dim. He quickly raised his gaze once more and found the man who’d captured his attention. He appeared human, without the telltale glow of magic other fae possessed. Connal couldn’t look away.

Then, the man reached the bottom of the floating steps. Connal had never witnessed such beauty, such perfection in male form, such⁠—

The man moved his eyes, so subtly none other than a warrior of Connal’s immense skill would have noticed. Was that the slightest flash of fear? The look disappeared before Connal could attempt another interpretation. Humans truly were confounding, even if they contained beauty richer than the sands of the Lady’s lake.

Connal’s protective instincts flared to life. He must protect this human, must fix whatever problem he faced, must slay whatever put that look into his perfect green eyes. Connal started toward the man, holding back a purr of satisfaction when his human looked around again. This time, his look was one of curiosity, not fear.

Good. He had no need to be concerned with Connal at his side. In fact, his human would never fear again.

Before Connal could reach him, though, his human moved, flowing into the crowd surrounding them. Not even one bumped into him as he made his way through one of the many long tunnels that led out of the port of air.

Unlike Connal, who nearly lost a toe when a group of women wearing strangely shaped dagger shoes stepped on his foot. One glared at him, barking some obscenity or other. Connal once more withheld a growl—the Consort assured him that humans didn’t respond to the sound with the sense of fear it should have conveyed.

Damned humans.

As if some ridiculously pointed shoe dagger would have any chance against Connal. One, the weapon was in plain sight, and quite frankly, looked extremely painful to wear. Two, the straps that held it in place meant by the time the woman reached for her weapon, Connal would have already struck.

Connal moved her aside, ignoring her squawk of displeasure, and followed his human. A scent caught his nose, so clear amidst the normal overwhelming aromas of sweat and perfumes the humans usually exuded. No, this one was sweet, musky, perfect. And he’d slipped into one of the many taverns in the port of air.

It was as if he’d read his mind. Connal wouldn’t mind a nice pint of ale. Then his human glanced around again, his gaze taking in their surroundings differently from the other humans Connal had encountered.

The look triggered Connal’s need to protect even further. Something in that sweet yet intense look alerted him to danger in their surroundings. Connal didn’t have to understand it to know it as true. Then, praise to the Goddess, his human’s gaze landed on Connal.

And stopped.

Connal smiled, unable to help himself. Of course, his human would be able to pick him out of the crowd. He was safety in a world of danger. What impeccable instincts this glorious man possessed. Connal paused at the thought, then hesitated for a moment.

Was this magic?

Could he be under a spell?

If so, he would never hear the end of it from his brothers. But no, surely his sigil would warn him of such danger.

His human returned his smile, and Connal’s heart pounded. Before Connal could find his breath, the gorgeous man stood before him, the sweet scent of him surrounding Connal in its bliss.

“Hello, hu—err, man.”

His human’s smile widened. “Hey, man.”

His voice was a song, a balm to Connal’s warrior heart, a…wait, his words implied Connal was a simple human. Connal grunted. He was no mere man. He was a warrior of the Queen’s Guard, feared by many and revered by many more. His feats were legendary.

“Cat got your tongue?”

“Why would a cat…” Connal froze when his human’s smile brightened. Humor flashed in his eyes, as if they held the magic of the realm in their depths.

Why would such a thought even cross his mind? Had he turned into a romantic sap spending so much time around the King and his Consort? Silenus and Cosmo were besotted with each other and clearly their condition was being transmitted like one of the so-called viruses Connal heard ran rampant among the humans.

“You aren’t from around here, are you?”