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My nerves are bloody shot. I don’t know how the others are managing it, but I’m not. Not at fucking all.
Having my mate out of my sight when our bond is still so fresh is painful. Fine, not physically. But emotionally, it’s pure turmoil.
I nod at the closing bartenders and aim for the storeroom. I found a nice little passageway that gets me from Venom over to The Den without having to see anyone.
I’m not sure if this is purely the fatherly instinct taking over, but I’m utterly fucking petrified to be away from my mate.
We’ve not had the opportunity to fertilize the clutch Hex implanted.
I’m not the only one who grumbled when Ali woke up this afternoon, insisting she get back to work.
After the old witch visited yesterday, Ali immediately fell back to sleep for another nearly fourteen hours. However, she woke this morning, starving and in good spirits. We were warned she would likely sleep for extreme periods over the first week.
“Hey,” Malice says, stepping out of the shadows as I’m about to take the curve back toward The Den.
I jolt, slamming my fist into his gut, and grimace. “Uh, sorry about that.”
“Motherfucker, I knew I should have manifested slower,” he groans. “The look on your face almost made that shot worth it. My kidney feels differently, but—”
“Did you retrieve them?” I ask, suddenly on high alert.
“I did.” He manifests Ali’s bracelet and necklace, holding them out with a shadow. “There’s something fundamentally off about that bracelet.”
“I know,” I agree, sighing heavily.
“It never caught my attention in the dream realm.” He frowns. “Now that you’ve pointed it out, it’s clear asfuck. It’s toxic.”
“I need to examine it to see if I can pick up any memories associated with its creation or the intent related to giving it to her right before her sister was attacked.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Malice agrees, grabbing my arm. We spill through the shadows, ending up in the corner of Ali’s office. She’s resting with her head on Hex’s shoulder. He’s stretched across the small couch, studying her face like a total fucking creep.
I ignore the fact I spent several hours doing the same while she hibernated after Hex planted our clutch of eggs. I don’t care if I can’t produce eggs. Those babies will be as much mine as they are his. Sure, it’s a genetic impossibility at this point, but any child Ali carries will be mine.
“Hey.” She pops up, giving a soft smile when she spots me.
My feet propel me forward, and I don’t stop until I reach her. Bending down, I give her a tender kiss.
“So, are we doing this? I’m not going to lie—this piece of jewelry gives me the creeps,” Malice says, drawing my attention.
“Oh, you got it.” Ali perfectly echoes my earlier sentiments.
“Indeed.” Malice drops it on the coffee table. “The necklace is lovely, though. I’m quite fond of seeing you in it from your dreams. It’s also not a dangerous artifact.”
“Might as well try it now.” I kneel at the edge of the table, hovering my hands over the bracelet. Pastel green shimmery magic spills from my palms as my eyes close.
My eyes dart around as I attempt to determine where I’ve landed.
I’m in the Unseelie keep; it’s clear by the chill in the air and the table I look upon. It’s full of faces I recognize.
Ali’s mother sits at the head of the table, with her council seated around her. Aryndia sits at her mother’s left, but Ali is clearly not privy to this meeting.
“You’re sure it won’t hurt her?” Aryndia glances away from the bracelet Ali has worn for so many years.
“Not outside of tempering her magic,” Davick says. He’s the High Chancellor of the Unseelie.
I’ve been convinced for many years that he had a hand in the attack.
The years Aryndia was gone from Faere, Davick ruled in place of the royal family, but it’s clear that hasn’t happened yet. I’m sure this meeting is prior to our wedding day.
