Chapter 24 – Aline #2
“I’d like to see him try,” Hex snarls, vibrating with fury. “You’ve done work for my network in the past. You found my fucking wife , and you didn’t think that was worth mentioning?”
“Look, man,” Bane says, tossing his palms up. “You know what a clusterfuck Faere is. I went back long enough to secure my wealth and dipped back to the human realm. I wasn’t about to turn my mate’s best friend over to you assholes with no idea where your allegiances lie.”
“I’m not your mate,” Charity grinds out, pointing toward the wyvern sleeping in the courtyard. “That’s my mate!”
“The fuck he is,” Bane growls, his eyes glowing.
“Okay, so you’re telling me this why?” I ask, still trying to get myself together.
“Because I demanded he be truthful,” Charity says disdainfully.
At the same time, Bane shrugs. “Just trying to be neighborly.”
“Have you passed on any information about Alinelle’s whereabouts to Aryndia or anyone in either the Seelie or Unseelie Court?” Silence asks, appearing at my side.
“No,” Charity blurts out. She frowns, tilting her head like she has no idea why she just spoke.
Bane’s eyes glow. He doesn’t look pleased, but he answers, “I have not.”
“To anyone in the dragon court? The royals?” Silence presses.
“No,” Bane growls.
“Do they know where you are?” Silence wraps his arm around my hip. I’m still leaning into Hex for support, because I’m a little wobbly.
“I’ve done everything I could to cover my tracks.” Bane’s head shakes. “I’ll put it this way—I’ve cut ties with everyone except a select few, who I trust implicitly. Even then, no one knows where I live.”
“You aren’t afraid you’ll draw some enemy from your past and put Charity and her son in their crossfire?” Hex asks, sounding incredulous.
“You’ve done the same work I have.” Bane’s shoulders pull back as he puffs up. “Do you? Does the orc? He’s got nearly as prolific of a body count as I have the past couple years.”
“What?” I gasp.
“You kept your first name. What the fuck did you expect?” Bane scoffs. “That poor, lovesick asshole has been offing council agents, mercs, and probably anyone that looked like they might ask you out on a date.” He scoffs. “But I’m a risk?”
“Well, he’s telling the truth about that,” Charity says, cutting her eyes toward Bane. “Not that we mind. Everyone at The Den loves you to pieces. We all know to notify Atlas if someone gets a little too close for comfort.”
I blink and blink some more, but it’s like my brain won’t process what she just said.
“This child is hungry.” Malice flies Veryn through the air as he approaches.
“And you might want to get the wyvern a pillow. Do you think they make dragon-sized puppy pee pads?” He snorts, gesturing to the courtyard.
“He’s not housebroken, and eventually, the entire area is going to start smelling like pee. ”
“Don’t joke about that. I already had Meena over here glamoring the area, so no one will spot him.” Charity grabs Veryn from Malice. “Something bad happened to him. I can feel it. He just needs some time to heal from that trauma.”
Malice bows his head, grimacing. “You’re right. My apologies. I’ll see what I can do about removing those memories, but I don’t care to work without consent.”
“Anyway,” Bane says, clapping. “Glad that’s out in the open. Thanks for patching me up. See ya.” With that, he turns, sauntering away without another word.
“To your own house this time, ass—” Charity blanches, looking at Veryn. “I’m serious, Bane. I’m not asking.”
“Not going to happen,” Bane mutters, continuing toward Charity’s.
Malice laughs as Charity heads off too. “Haven is quite entertaining.”
“Could I sweet-talk you into showering with me?” Silence asks me.
Hex grumbles, but I lean up, kissing his chin, and let Silence lead me up the stairs.
Atlas is still nude and passed out cold on my bed. It takes everything in me not to climb on top of him. What Bane said plays through my mind, but I don’t think I’m angry. Maybe a little bothered he never told me just how much he was looking after me.
“Come on, love.” Silence runs his finger over my inner wrist, pulling me into the bathroom.
I lean against the door as he starts the shower, but I’m still very much somewhere else. No wonder Haven has had such a high population of travelers go missing.
It’s kind of unreal to think that might be my fault. I’ve been incredibly stupid. I thought I was able to evade the hunters and the paranormal council, but apparently not.
Silence swipes a hand down my front, and my dress disappears. He does the same for himself before planting his hands on my hips. “Let’s get in, shall we?”
“Yeah.”
My bathroom isn’t huge, but the combined shower and tub takes up the majority of the room. It’s quite spacious for the size, and the rainfall showerhead is downright divine when you put it on max pressure.
I step into the shower and Silence stays glued to my back. He isn’t fully hard, but his cock isn’t soft either. It presses into my ass as he guides me forward into the shower spray.
My mind still wanders, running through all the information that Bane spilled during our conversation.
Silence runs his hands over my stomach, pulling me back into him as he kisses my shoulder. A shiver runs through my body as my nipples tighten.
“Malice showed you my memories when we were in the cave, didn’t he?” His warm breath fans over my skin as he speaks.
“I saw part of it, but I thought maybe it was your fear or a dream that particularly bothered you.”
“Your sister and her mates returned to Faere not long after you disappeared.” He clears his throat. “She quickly took control of the Unseelie throne. Although, it wasn’t an easy process, nor was it without complication.”
“Do you think she’s looking for me because...” My head shakes against his sternum as water cascades over my front. I’m not sure how to finish that.
Does she want me back to thank me for saving her life and to ensure I’m okay? Or is it because my power could give her an edge in unifying the courts? I don’t let my mind linger on the third option. It’s too disheartening to consider that she wants me dead.
“I don’t truly know,” he admits. “We never felt confident enough to risk placing our trust in anyone outside of the two of us.”
I spin to face him and sidestep, turning him so he’s in the stream of warm water. No one wants to stand shivering while their partner hogs all the hot water. His tattooed hands push hair away from my face, running over my cheeks.
He’s so fucking beautiful. His blond hair looks darker now that it’s wet, but it’s those striking, icy blue eyes that get me. They’re so light, like sparkly crystals.
The bond between us pulls tight as I study him. He’s grown out a bit of blond stubble, and his black tattoos go all the way up to the lower part of his neck. He’s hot in that edgy sort of way, with his lithe muscles and cutting smiles.
“Why spend all those years looking for me?” My eyes close. Nudity has never bothered me much, but I feel extremely naked at the moment and more vulnerable than I have in ages. “Why not move on? I know you had plenty of options as the heir to Spring.”
“I abdicated.” His thumbs run over my cheeks as his fingertips dig into my skull.
“Once I met you...” He pauses for so long that my eyes pop open, but his are closed now.
“I guess that’s the curse of meeting your soulmate.
No one else would have compared. It wouldn’t have been fair to them, nor could I have handled the thought of causing you any more pain than you had already endured. ”
My lip quivers as his blond lashes flutter open. His body presses into mine as my hands wrap around his forearms.
My heart races, but my knees feel weak. It’s a wild combination of butterflies in my stomach and regret that hits me so hard, it’s difficult not to tear up.
Being taught that emotion is weakness really twisted me up. It’s difficult to separate those beliefs and feelings from reality, but I don’t think showing remorse makes me less than.
“I regret so many things,” I choke out. “Most of all, hurting you and Hex. If I could change it, then I would.”
“I know,” he says easily. “As would I.”
“I don’t even know why you wanted me enough to keep looking...”
“You never wanted to rule, but I did.” My heart drops at his words, but he continues, “I saw a true queen on our wedding day and in the weeks that followed.” He brushes his lips over mine.
“Someone who puts others before herself, no matter the consequence. You spoke the truth with conviction. Trust me when I say that’s a rarity, even among my people.
Being unable to lie has perfected their methods for twisting the truth.
All of that is irrelevant, because I realized then that you were more important to me than my desire to reign over a corrupt group of people that I really didn’t like that much, anyway.
” His tongue teases the seam of my lips, and then he’s shoving it into my mouth.
My body melts into his as his cock thickens against my stomach. Cool tile meets my back as he shoves me against the wall. He’s sensual and playful while somehow devouring me whole.
“I’ve dreamed of these moments for decades,” he growls. Pastel green magic floats in the air as he lifts me, wrapping my legs around his ass. His dick bumps my sex as he kisses me, pushing me into the wall in a way that makes my impulses hum in pure bliss. “You know that you’re mine, right, love?”
“I want you too,” I whimper into his mouth. He tilts his hips, grinding his tip through my wetness, and when he’s perfectly positioned, he thrusts.
My hands dig into his shoulders as he stares into my eyes, giving me a lopsided smile that makes my stomach flip-flop.
“That’s my dirty girl,” he groans. “You’re supposed to be getting clean, but you’re letting me make a mess of you.” He nuzzles his cheek to mine before licking his way down my throat. He manages to grind his pelvis against my clit with each snap of his hips.
My head lulls around as he works me over, getting deeper and more forceful on each punishing stroke.
Mindless begging spills from me as he sucks on Atlas’s bite. “Bite me, please, Silence? I’m going to come. Slam into me harder, please?”
“Anything you need.” He pulls my hands up, pinning them above my head with my wrists in one of his large palms. His free hand tilts my neck to the side as he grinds.
I asked for it, but I’m still shocked when his fangs rip into my flesh. His bite is lower than Atlas’s on the opposite side, but the pain pulses in my clit.
Silence moans, lapping at my skin as his cock jerks violently.
I’m smacked with a wave of his satisfaction that quickly transforms into carnal bliss. His thoughts slam into me like a freight train. Either Atlas and Malice are better at blocking their thoughts or... I don’t know.
It might be because we’re fated, but I can feel his echoing pleasure at completing his side of our bond.
My cunt locks down on his shaft as he thrusts as deep as he can go, unloading jet after jet of hot cum.
“That’s it, love. Take every inch. You’re such a good girl,” he moans into my skin. “You’re my good girl.”
I nod, trembling as I quake.
“Silence,” I beg, but even I don’t know what I’m asking for.
He thrusts, working his lower stomach against my clit as I come violently. He continues murmuring soft praises the entire time.
“Next time, I’ll come all over your gorgeous tits and make a real mess of you,” he says, finally releasing my hands.
I wrap them around his neck and hungrily attack his mouth. It’s the unwavering devotion and utter contentment that bring tears to my eyes.
“I can feel you so clear,” Silence says, shuddering out a breath.
“Me too,” I agree, slamming my face into the crook of his neck. My magic pulses, reminding me why I’m here. My tongue flicks over his wound as my teeth break the skin. He bleeds a little, and I lap it up as he grunts, working his still hard cock even deeper.
“Good God, Ali,” Silence growls. “You’re truly all fucking mine. ”
I laugh to keep from bursting into happy tears. “Remember when you made a comment about Charity? Has the human realm changed your beliefs so quickly?”
“Nah, just my speech patterns,” he jokes, kissing me deeply. “Now, let me actually help you clean up.”
The smile that breaks out over his face takes my damn breath away.