Page 15 of Fae Farewells

Briggs chuckled. “Freya is going to love him.”

I shook my head. “I don’t know if I’m flattered on Freya’s behalf or insulted on my own.”

Vaughn and Sarge shared a look, and then the dragon shrugged.

“I feel the residual bond between us, so I know they’re her mates. But I didn’t pick them.”

“Him,” Levi corrected. “Not them. Don’t group us together.”

“Sorry.” My fae frowned. “Vex—I mean, Alania—tried to force a mate on me with some kind of warped magic. It felt wrong, though. So, I walked away. I’m still hesitant with my sisters. You never know who’s manipulating things behind the scenes. But if you can feel remnants of the bond, then they’re true.”

“Alania?” Sarge repeated. “What about Vex?”

“She’s dead.”

The dragon sighed. “I can tell that’s a long story for another day. As bad as it sounds, Freya will be relieved.”

“Wait a fucking minute,” I snapped, holding my index finger up. “Are you telling me this bitch tried to make you seal a bond with some other bitch?”

“Yes,” my fae replied uncertainly.

“Can I kill her?”

“Alania?” he clarified. “I thought that was part of your plan already?”

I tilted my head, wondering when he lost track of this conversation. “No. That is the plan, but I’m talking about the other bitch.”

“What? No.” He stared at me, his eyes wide like he was waiting for something to click. “She didn’t want to go through with it either, but she couldn’t walk away from her queen’s command. It would have been a death sentence for her.”

“Are you sure?”

Vaughn pinched the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes shut. “I’m not sure if I should answer yes or no here. You can kill Alania. We’re not killing the other woman.”

“Can we kill your exes?” Stone volleyed.

“She isn’t an ex,” my fae countered.

“We’ve already had this conversation,” I reminded my demon. “I didn’t really date, and Novak killed the only other person I would call an ex... unless you want to kill your best friend?”

Stone glanced at York. “Nah, not right now.”

“Are you good, Barbie?” my wolf asked, gripping my right hand as he watched me through his peripheral.

I grinned, though I knew it looked forced to my mates. “Great. Why?”

“You’re more ornery than usual,” he casually told me. “That’s all.”

“I’ll be on my best behavior,” I promised.

He wasn’t totally wrong, but I wouldn’t tell him that.

“We’re here,” Sarge said just as Levi whispered, “That’s frightening.”

Vaughn mumbled something to the dragon before snatching my hand away from Briggs. He pulled me toward a thin cobblestone footpath, leading me into a denser part of the lush forest.

“Where are we going?”

“Somewhere quiet.”