Page 4 of Fae Farewells

“Would you do me a favor?” I asked the group, uncaring of who answered.

Novak was in front of me before anyone could utter a word, taking my bloodied heels as he slid his index finger beneath my chin. He tilted my face up, inspecting my injuries, and I froze for a split second. Relief coursed through me when my instincts didn’t drive me to attack him for touching me when I was still on edge from fighting.

He groaned as I tangled my left hand in the silken strands of his brunette hair and swept my tongue over his bottom lip. I dragged him into the bedroom, backing him against the wall as I possessively rested my right hand over his silent heart.

Enraged heat swallowed me whole. My blood still boiled, even after the power fled my system. I couldn’t release its hold, wasn’t ready to walk away until I knew I had eliminated all the threats.

A hand touched my cheek despite the furious hellfire whipping around me. Golden globes peered into my eyes, my soul, as I yanked on the reins of the flames, unwilling to injure my mate. It was rare for the emotions to lend me control, but the power trip receded as his burned palm rested against my scorching skin.

Novak picked me up without breaking the kiss. I locked my legs around his waist as he carried me across the room. He sat on the edge of the bed, keeping me in his lap as I showed him one more clip from my memories.

The mental assault slammed into me with the force of a speeding transfer truck, knocking the breath from my lungs as my vision was stolen. Agony radiated through not only my mind but the mate bond as well. While my pain brought me clarity, his made my heart beat erratically as I searched for the cause.

Novak. He was hurting himself to stop me from—Oh, gods. I was the cause. My rage was blinding me to everything they were seeing so clearly.

“Stop, Hyde,” I called out mentally, knowing she was likely the only person here willing to hurt me to make me understand my errors. “Tell him to release me. Please.”

As the memory faded, I leaned back to study his expression, but he continued to probe through my mind. I quirked a brow at him, and he smiled despite his eyes being closed.

“What are you fishing for, Vampire?”

“The moment you fell for the fae.”

I tensed while I processed his answer. He popped one eye open to peek at me, feigning innocence as I glared.

“Here I was, trying to be romantic and shit…” I trailed off, shaking my head. “And you want to know when I fell for Vaughn?”

“I would like to know, yes.”

“Shouldn’t that be something I tell him? Why am I telling you?”

“Other than me being curious?” He sighed. “If his memories have shown me anything, it’s that he’ll need reassurances. The queen likes to break pretty things, and he’s leveled up since the last time they were around each other.”

That thought had rage burning through my limbs, causing my fingertips to tingle. My lashes brushed against my cheekbones, my eyes fluttering closed as I centered myself.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

Focus, bitch.

I listened to the water cascading in the shower, drowning out everything else for three heartbeats. Stone was in there, content while rinsing the day away. The rest of my mates were out, though I could feel them through our bonds.

“Vaughn is not an object for her to taunt and toy with. She will lose her head the moment she tries to touch him.”

“I know, Trouble. We all know, but she doesn’t. She’ll see how confident he is, and she’ll want to—

“No,” I interrupted, snapped my eyes open.

“All I’m saying is we’ve fought for Vaughn for years, even when he asked us not to risk ourselves. But there is a difference between us standing in front of a strike meant for him and you doing it. And when you step in between them—because we both know you will—she’ll test your resolve as much as she’ll test his. She won’t take news of his power growth well, and when she realizes you’re stronger than her?”

“She can try to kill me as many times as she wants; I can’t die, Novak. It doesn’t matter how many times I have to force regenerate to destroy her hold over Vaughn and the fae realm as a whole. I have no problems with undermining her in front of her court. She will know what it feels like to lose her confidence and her power. She dies. Period. Her days are numbered in the single digits.”

He held his hand up to stop my continued rant. “I’m not disagreeing with you. But I am asking you to share your memories with me, so we can all remind him of his worth when she tries to tear him down. She’ll start with his sisters until she can get to you—”

“You think she’s going to use me to break him?”

“I don’t think it; I know she’ll try that tactic. And when she attacks you, he’s going to lose his mind. She might aim to break him, but hurting you is going to royally piss him the fuck off.”

“So, either way, she dies.” I shrugged. “Contrary to popular belief, I don’t need all the blood to be on my hands. Yes, I enjoy it. But I won’t take his vengeance from him.”