5. Kols
“A year?”The gorgeous Earth Fae spun in my arms. “That’s a cruel joke, right? Tell me you’re kidding.”
“I thought most females fancied the truth over lies, but if it’s a lie you prefer, I’ll happily give you one.”
She shoved away from me, her petite form proving to be stronger than one would expect. I could subdue her in less than a second but opted to give her the space she required. It was the least I could do considering her circumstances.
While, outwardly, I might have appeared unapologetic, inwardly, I felt for the poor girl.
“You mean the bite that was against my will? The one he forced on me before taking me captive?”
Her admission was on repeat inside my mind. I hadn’t expected her to say that. Most women fell at Shade’s feet, all of them adoring his bad-boy persona. Yet it appeared this one hadn’t been a willing subject in his attentions at all. Unless she’d lied to me, but I doubted it. She’d glowered at Shade with a similar contempt as the glare in her gaze now.
Not the look of a woman smitten over her betrothed.
Nor one that seemed to care for me all that much.
Well, I deserved that. I hadn’t exactly been kind to her.
“Are you hungry?” I asked her, walking through the living room and to the open area of the kitchen toward the back. Windows lined the walls, overlooking the courtyard out back. Flickers of lights drew my attention to the fire gnats buzzing about the forest below. I’d have to warn Aflora to stay away from those. Dangerous little buggers.
Aflora didn’t reply to me, her feet apparently glued to the runner in the foyer. She glanced up at the cathedral ceilings, took in the skylights showcasing a star-filled night, and then looked at the ample seating room. Three couches, two recliners, and a massive movie screen. Perfect for entertaining, which Tray and I did often during the school year.
Well, I did.
Tray tended to hide in his room with Ella.
Pulling open the refrigerator, I found it empty. Idiot. We hadn’t been here all summer, and I just learned two hours ago that I needed to bring Aflora here.
Using my wand, I muttered a few incantations to create tea mugs. That would have to do until I could arrange for an Academy food delivery.
Or Zeph could handle it.
I set the mugs on the black bar counter that hung over into the living area, and slid my phone from my pocket.
Where are you?I typed, hitting Send.
Packing, was the immediate reply. Your Highness, came a second later.
I rolled my eyes. Don’t be a dick.
Just doing my job,Zeph replied.
Of being a dick?
I’ll be there soon. Surely you can find something to do with her until I get there. She’s a female fae, right? You like those.
I snorted. Who set your boxers on fire?
You did.
My eyebrows shot up. Not in a few months, if I recall right.
Fuck off, Kolstov.
Not what you said to me the last time we met up,I sent back.
No reply.
Not that I expected one.
With a smirk, I slid the phone back into my pocket and looked up to find Aflora watching me from the other side of the bar.
“Girlfriend?” she guessed.
“I don’t do girlfriends,” I replied, leaning over to rest my elbows on the counter. “So don’t get any ideas.”
She scoffed. “Don’t worry. You’re not my type.”
Liar, I thought. I recognized the attraction in her eyes earlier, and I could taste the lust in the air when I had her in my arms. She might not want to admit it, but the Earth Fae Royal definitely found me appealing. And the feeling was very mutual.
“I conjured you some tea,” I said, nodding to the mugs. “Once Zeph arrives, we’ll figure out how to find food.”
She didn’t touch the mug or reply, instead choosing to gaze out the windows. As I hadn’t turned on any of the lights, she could see everything with clarity, including the gnats glowing below. But it was the Academy beyond that she seemed to be studying—the endless sea of gothic architecture.
“It’s several blocks wide,” I said. “The living quarters are spread throughout. In case you were curious, Shade resides on the opposite side of campus, which is about a fifteen-minute walk.”
“I wasn’t curious.”
Maybe not, but I caught the glimmer of approval in her expression.
Yeah, she definitely doesn’t like him.
“Zeph will give you a proper tour tomorrow, and once you have your schedule, I’ll help you map out your courses.” I picked up the mug closest to me and took a sip of the warm, minty liquid.
Perfection.
If she chose not to touch hers, then I’d help myself to it next.
After another swallow, I dove into an explanation of her future. “You’ll have four days of classes, then two days off, then three days on again, followed by three days off. The cycle repeats after that. So twelve days total. There will be a longer break in the middle of the year for the Solstice, but otherwise, the schedule keeps.”
“And what will I be learning?”
“You’ll have a mixture of dark arts courses, physical training, and likely a political course.” Because apparently she knew nothing about the five Midnight Fae bloodlines. Well, technically six. But only five were still in existence today.
“I’m an Elemental Fae, not a Midnight Fae.”
“An Elemental Fae who was bitten by a Midnight Fae, thereby introducing you to the dark arts. It’s in your blood now.” Or that was what Chern had hypothesized. Given what I’d observed so far, he was likely very wrong. Without her access to the elements, Aflora seemed as harmless as a human.
Hopefully, she remained that way. Then this could all blow over. She’d return to her realm, Shade would be punished for his transgressions, and all would be right with the world again.
I met her wide gaze as I took another pull from my drink and noted her ashen cheeks. My brow furrowed. “What?”
“I… It’s…” She swallowed. “His bite infected my blood?” Her small hand went to her throat as she took a step backward, her expression falling. “A… abomin… I’m a…” She collapsed onto the sofa, and her head fell to her hands.
I frowned at her. “You hadn’t pieced that together already?”
No reply.
Only a hitch of her shoulders as she fought off what sounded like a sob.
Fuck.
Crying women were not my thing. I didn’t know how to handle them or how to calm them. Did I walk over there and pat her head? Offer condolences? Lie to her about the inevitable?
I palmed the back of my neck. “I, uh, I’m sor?—”
“I’m going to kill him!” Aflora snapped. Her tear-filled eyes captured my gaze, her cheeks red with emotion.
But it wasn’t sadness or self-pity.
Aflora was livid.
And those weren’t tears.
No. Her bright blue irises were aflame with power.
Oh, shit…
“Where is he?” she demanded, jumping to her feet. “Where is that willow stump who did this to me? If I’m going down, he’s going down with me.” She stomped into the kitchen, energy swarming around her in a hypnotic wave that called to my royal blood.
Ideal mate, a part of me recognized. She’s an ideal mate.
“Tell me where he is!” she shouted in my face.
Okay. This wasn’t going to work.
I set my mug down and crowded her against the bar by placing my hands on the marble on either side of her hips. “Calm down.”
“Calm down?” she repeated with a semi-hysterical snort. “Are you kidding me? That pixie stick made me an abomination!”
My lips twitched at her adorable curse.
Which was apparently the wrong reaction because more of that delicious red fury coated her cheeks.
“Are you laughing at me? Do you find humor in him essentially raping me with his fangs and turning my world upside down?” She jabbed a finger at my chest. “You’re no better than he is, and here I thought you might have a little moral high ground as a fellow royal. Apparently not.”
I caught her wrist before she could stab me again and brought the offending digit up to my mouth for a reprimanding bite. Not sharp enough to break the skin—that was exactly what got her into this mess—but enough to assert my dominance. “I took humor with your nickname designation. Pixie stick has a nice ring to it. I think I’ll borrow it for Shade going forward.”
Some of her ire cooled, but that liquid fire in her gaze continued to burn. She reminded me of a furious Valkyrie with her waves of blue-black hair, creamy skin, and glowing eyes. All she needed were some wings.
Clearing my throat, I released her hand and reaffixed my grip to the counter beside her. “The past is already done. What you need to focus on is moving forward. Shade won’t be here for another week. If it’s any consolation, I imagine his father has some punishments in mind for him in the interim.”
She nibbled her lower lip, drawing my focus to her alluring mouth.
Aflora really was a beautiful fae. A queen with regal bone structure and a gorgeously formed figure. Fantastic tits, I thought, taking in her skewed blouse. Long, athletic legs. If she were human, I’d seduce her in a heartbeat. Bend her over this counter, tuck up that little skirt, and fuck her raw.
Alas, her Elemental Fae blood made that problematic.
Still, it could be done.
“You’re looking at me like I’m food,” she whispered, her fingers curling into fists at her sides. “Please don’t bite me.”
“Mmm.” I leaned into her, my mouth skimming the shell of her ear and eliciting a shiver from her in response. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. When I bite you, I won’t break the skin.” I brushed my lips against her temple for the second time tonight, then forced myself to pull away. “Let’s get your quarters sorted. It’ll provide us both a much-needed distraction.”
Because if I wasn’t careful, I’d devise a different way to pass the time while we waited for Zeph. Which would only prove the Guardian right about my proclivities and earn me a world of chastisement.
And Zephyrus was the last one I wanted a lecture from right now.
I led Aflora through the living area again. She had fallen silent once more, her hands twisting in front of her. As horrifying as this had to be for her, she appeared to be handling it well. Which told me she had an escape plan in mind. It was what I would do in her position. Unfortunately, she didn’t stand a chance.
Something told me the only way for that point to be driven home was to allow her to try and fail.
Allowing the starlight from the windows above to guide us, I turned into a hallway lined with doors. Stopping at the first one, I opened it to reveal a large space filled with more seating, pillows, books, and an array of bottles filled with potions. “This is the loft area where Ella and Tray lounge the most. They like to study here.”
“Ella and Tray?” Aflora repeated in a low murmur.
Right. She hadn’t studied Midnight Fae politics yet. Annoyance simmered in my blood, but I held it back and offered her a brief explanation.
“Trayton Nacht, also known as Tray, is my twin brother. Isabella Cinder, a Halfling, is his chosen mate.” I shut the door. “You’ll meet them next week.”
“Oh” was all she said.
I gestured to another threshold. “Tray and Ella’s room.” Then I pointed across the hall. “That’s a guest area and option number one for you.” Several more steps brought us to another door. I motioned to it, saying, “Option number two.” And finally, at the end of the hallway, I said, “This is my room.”
I twisted the knob because I needed to find her some temporary clothes. Making them with my wand would likely result in something too scandalous for her to actually wear. While appealing, I couldn’t risk the temptation. “I’ll grab you something to wear, if you want to stay here.” I pointed to the spot just inside the door, then ventured into my Academy sanctuary in search of my walk-in closet, which existed on the other side of my spacious bathroom. The familiar, warm brown tones caused my lips to curl, the scent of mint and spice still lingering from my last visit.
Mine,I thought. At least for another year.
Sifting through my wardrobe of Academy-sanctioned outfits, suits, and casual items, I found a plain black shirt and a pair of flannel pajama bottoms. Then I grabbed some boxers just in case the pants didn’t fit.
Aflora stood in the entry, stiff as a board.
“Never been in a man’s room before?” I teased.
Her lips curled down. “I’m not an innocent, Kolstov. I have a boyfriend. It’s your bedroom I don’t want to enter.”
Amusement touched my chest. “Keep telling yourself that, sweetheart. Maybe you’ll convince us both.”
She snorted. “Are all Midnight Fae as arrogant as you and Shadow?”
“I prefer sexy and confident, at least in the description of myself,” I said, winking at her. “Now which will it be, option one or option two?”
Her blue eyes rolled. “As if I care.”
“Well, option one is across the hall from Ella and Tray, so you’ll probably hear them fucking on occasion. Option two is between both our rooms, which means you’ll get to hear me entertaining as well as Tray and Ella fucking. Therefore, perhaps you’d prefer the second option so you can think of me when you’re alone at night? Picture yourself between my sheets instead of whomever I’ve chosen to indulge that evening?”
Aflora’s full lips parted on a gasp. “What a crude thing to say.”
“Better get used to it,” I replied, crowding her against the wall. “This is my territory, and I won’t be changing my habits just to suit your prudish ways.”
Her nostrils flared. “I’m not a prude.”
“Prove it,” I dared, walking a dangerous line.
A muscle ticked in her cheek as she clenched her teeth. “I don’t need to prove anything to you,” she finally said after a beat, turning on her heel. To my utter shock, she marched off to option two as if to make her point. “I’ll sleep here.”
She opened the door.
And proceeded to slam it behind her.
The shift of her lock echoed in the hallway.
“Well, she has spirit,” a deep voice drawled from the opening of the corridor.
My heart skipped a beat as my one weakness stepped beneath one of the skylights, his striking features glistening beneath the stars.
“Hello, Zephyrus,” I greeted, my confidence seeping from my veins.
“Prince Kolstov,” he returned, formal and direct. “I’ll take the other guest room. Then you and I are going to have a long talk.”
Two hits in one sentence.
Not only was he denying a night in my bed—which we both knew I’d be more than happy to accommodate—but he also wanted to have a discussion.
Discussionswith Guardian Zephyrus never went in my favor.
I should have volunteered myself for the role of introducing Aflora to the Academy rather than allow my father to delegate the task to Zeph. The selfish part of me had rejoiced, while the practical side knew better.
Unfortunately, my selfish half had won.
And now I would pay the price for it.