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Chapter 30
“He’s using you.”
Nayome stopped, half way to the washroom. She had been lying awake in Ceana’s guest bedroom for hours, trying to get to sleep. Nature had finally called and won the battle for her attention. Wynn had decided to stay on the couch, not wanting to leave Nayome with Ce alone. Nayome had crept as silently as possible down the hallway, hoping Wynn had long since fallen asleep.No such luck.
Turning, Nayome brushed a wayward strand of hair that had fallen out of her messy top knot out of her face, regarding the woman sitting up on the couch. Wynn sat, leaning back against the armrest, legs stretching the full length of the couch. As Nayome’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, she could see Wynn was still dressed in her full leathers. The worn, comfortable looking pajamas Ce had laid out were still stacked neatly on the coffee table. And she was holding something that gleamed in the moonlight. A knife. Wynn was sitting there in the dark, sharpening a wicked looking knife. Like a psycho.
“What are you talking about?” Nayome snapped, exhausted.
“Bal. He is using you. You’re shiny and new, a novelty. We don’t get many of those around here.”
“Whatever.” Nayome turned back to head into the washroom. She didn’t need to hear her own fears being thrown back at her in Wynn’s spiteful tone. So what if it was true? This was a novelty to her too, maybeshewas the one using Bal? How could she be sure her feelings were about him, or about the magic he had helped her discover? It was all muddied together, probably for both of them.
“We have arranged marriages here, you know. To protect the bloodlines. Bal is promised to another. Has been since his birth,” Wynn said, her tone casual and smug.
That had Nayome pausing, breathing in a deep steadying breath. She could almost see the cruel smile blooming on Wynn’s face as she continued speaking. Nayome somehow knew what was coming next.
“Guess who the lucky lady is?” Wynn taunted.
Nayome watched silently for a moment as Wynn rolled the knife between her fingers, moonlight shining off the blade on each rotation. She felt herself getting cold, and kicked herself for the reaction. Nothing was going to happen between her and Bal, anyway. She had already made the decision. This just made their reality even more clear. She had been right to keep her walls up, to protect herself from getting involved with him. And yet…some traitorous piece of her must have been holding out hope, because Wynn’s words stung.
Nayome moved silently into the washroom, Wynn’s soft laughter following as she shut the door behind her. Leaning her head back against the door, she gave herself a minute to feel everything. She felt herself release all the confusing, half-formed feelings and unrealistic fantasies she hadn’t realized she’d been hanging on to. Angrily swiping some tears from the corner of her eyes, she resolved that this would be the end. She would go back to New York, forget about Bal, forget about all of this.
But my magic brought me here, doesn’t that change things?
* * *
Bal sat strapped into his narrow seat, gazing out the small round window as the clouds passed beneath their small jet. The footage they had retrieved from the FBI safe house replayed in his mind over, and over. Nayome was, without a doubt, one of them. He already knew that, of course, but he felt more determined than ever to make sure everyone else did too.
This was a miracle. Nayome should be welcomed with open arms, embraced like a long-lost sister of their race. She was incredible, the way she had controlled the magic. She was learning so quickly. Her time in the library had done her well, teaching her the importance of focus. She was progressing faster than he would have thought possible, given how in the dark she had been to their world only a month ago.
Now that the rainforest had drawn her back, maybe she would see it too. That she belonged with them, with her people.With him.
Sighing out a frustrated breath, Bal checked his wristwatch for the time. Minutes were crawling by as they journeyed home.
“You seem agitated, Balfor,” Gabe observed. He had tied his icy blond hair back at the nape of his neck, highlighting his harsh features. He occupied the seat across the aisle, his larger frame seeming to take up half the plane. They designed the jet with their size in mind though, so the seats were spread out to give maximum leg room. They each had a small table bolted to the floor in front of them. One of the household fae was serving up breakfast and fresh coffee.
Bal stabbed his fork into some eggs instead of responding.
Gabe chuckled in response, not offended by the slight. “That girl, she has you tied up in knots. I have never seen you thus.”
“So what if she does?” Bal challenged, washing his breakfast down with a mouthful of coffee, cursing when it scalded his tongue. He set it back down on the table with a heavy thud and leaned back in his chair, eyes closed.
“I think it is a good thing.”
Bal opened his eyes and peered at Gabe. “Really? You know what challenges we would face if I were to pursue this.”
“It is too rare for us to find genuine affection among ourselves, especially with our dwindling numbers. When it happens, it is a cause for celebration, not doubt.”
Bal blinked at Gabe a few times, considering his words. “Do you think we would stand a chance? Wynn—”
“You cannot concern yourself with the others in this thing. You must decide the course of your heart. Nayome is of our race. That should be enough to pacify the elders. It is enough for me.”
“So…” Bal trailed off, a smile tugging at his mouth, “you are giving us your blessing?”
“If that puts your mind at ease, then yes. I will bless this match.”
“You know what Gabe, I think it does put my mind at ease. Thanks for the support.” Bal was smiling now, feeling like something warring inside him clicked into place. He hadn’t realized how big of a barrier his people’s approval had been to a serious pursuit of Nayome. He knew he had wanted her. Their attraction was undeniable. But had he really thought they could work beyond the short term?
After seeing how Nayome had coped with all the chaos, all the unknowns…he knew she was the type of person he wanted to be with. He respected her, and it had nothing to do with her magic.Bal glanced back out the window, watching scenery fly by far below the cloud line. For the first time in a long time, he felt optimistic. He was excited to get home.
And yet, a small slice of unease warred within him at the thought that one of his own people may have been involved in the FBI mess. Who would be reckless enough to risk their people’s exposure like that? And for what? Felix had come up with no leads so far.
