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He smirked and scooped a handful of gems from behind him. The swirling tattoos over his body lit up as he tapped into his powers and infused his magic into the stones before sliding them onto cords and offering them to me.
CHAPTERTWENTY
LIRA
The Naga wasnothing like the one we’d met the day before. He was massive with thick, tattooed muscles and sharp eyes. He shifted his gaze to me, and I stumbled back a step, tripping over a stone. I blinked, and when I opened my eyes, I no longer stood on the riverbank. Tangy cinnamon and the warm, crisp smell of fresh cookies, rich with butter and sugar, filled the air. I stumbled again and pressed my hands against the counter to steady myself.
This was Dawson’s family’s bakery in Madalia.
It made no sense, and my heart raced.
The Naga shifted out of the shadows in a corner and opened the sack Sai had given him before popping a diamond shaped hand cake into his mouth. He chewed and after swallowing, spoke. “It is an unusual day that I meet an adult fae I don’t know.”
My hands trembled, and I stepped behind the counter to place something between us. It was rude to go where only the owners should, but the shop stretched hauntingly empty, not so much as the echo of horses’ hooves from the street outside.
When I didn’t reply the Naga continued. “I suppose it would make sense being that you grew up in the human realm. What an interesting situation.” A shiver coursed over me as it felt like fingers peeled through my mind, shuffling through memories and feelings, hopes and dreams. I wanted to clamp my thoughts closed and push him out.
“You can’t, dear siren. Even Sai, with his extensive years of training around wards, cannot stop me from finding my way into his thoughts.” He burst into a laugh and shuffled his bag behind him. “Oh, but you compelled him. That’s lovely. I’m only sad to see that event from both of your memories rather than watch it play out in real life. That must have humiliated him.”
I ran my finger through a layer of flour on the counter, creating a streak against the wood. “I’m sure that’s not true.”
“It is, though. His attraction to you doesn't help his pride, either. He was very satisfied last night, however. His highest sexual experience. Must have been notable, no?”
Heat rushed across my cheeks. “I… I don’t know.”
The Naga darted his forked tongue out, and my skin crawled. “You don’t need to tell me. I’m able to perceive it all, remember?” He sighed. “I wish to spare you, siren. You’re about to find yourself disillusioned.”
I stared at him. He couldn’t mean with sex? I wouldn’t discuss it with him. These were my private thoughts, and he had no right to rifle through my mind.
“All fae who come here know I’ll read their thoughts. If your fairy companion didn’t tell you to expect that, then perhaps you should direct your frustration at him. It will not be the first time he disappoints you.”
“What do you mean?”
The Naga uncoiled and slithered across the floor. He seemed larger as he stood close enough to touch me. “I am supposed to be impartial, you see. I serve all four of the fairy courts and they patronize me.”
“Wait… there are four courts?” I knew of the Seelie and Unseelie—Prasanna, rather. I bit my tongue. If I was considering finding a place for myself with them, I needed to stop using the derisive title.
“There were four courts. A great war happened a century ago that badly damaged the Froh fairies and wiped out the Alegre court. Or so that’s believed to be the case. A prophecy foretells a shifting of powers.”
“Okay,” I whispered. I had minimal interest in fairy politics and didn’t know why he bothered sharing this with me. Fairy wars were nothing I had any hand in.
The Naga chuckled and moved closer so that I could see my startled reflection in the black slit of his pupil. “If only that were true, dear siren.”
“I… I’m nobody. I’m not even a fairy.”
The Naga’s eyes glimmered, and he gave his head a shake. “I’m afraid we’ve reached the end of what I’m able to say without showing partiality. Back to the topic at hand. I like Sai a great deal.”
I wasn’t sure that feeling was mutual.
“Oh, it’s not.” The Naga smirked. He swept his finger across the flour and popped it into his mouth before grimacing. “Sai is imperfect, however. I hate to see the fall he’s soon to take. This is some river awful stuff. Is this what humans call sweets?”
My mouth gaped. Sai would fall? It had to be related to this heist. Several of his group members seemed hesitant about it. Maybe he should cancel.
“He won’t do that, sweet siren. Not with the Prince’s reputation on the line.”
Sai was loyal.
He was good.
