Chapter 20
TWENTY
“Leave the pin. We’ll find another object,” Mine whispers in my ear.
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that. I’ve already touched it.”
“So?”
“So she will not let us go until we agree to a bargain.”
“The goddess is correct,” the voice says as it finally materializes before us.
She has long white hair that’s framing a heart-shaped pale face. Her pointy ears peek through her hair, adorned by golden jewelry. She’s wearing a long emerald green silk dress. A thick gold necklace is wrapped around her neck, and a thin chain falls from it, turning into a golden mesh corset that emphasizes her small waist. Her arms, too, are fully adorned with golden bracelets.
She’s stunning like her wretched kind usually is. But as the thought crosses my mind, I immediately look at Mine. He better not think that.
To his credit, he’s regarding her with narrowed eyes accompanied by wariness and distrust.
Good male.
He is a decent judge of character. Of course he must be if he’s chosen to court me and I took pity on him and allowed to do so.
The faery’s glance moves toward Mine, and I note a glimmer of interest.
“He will do,” she states, taking a step forward.
Immediately, I put myself in front of him.
“He is off-limits.”
She smirks and regards me curiously.
“It is him that I want for this bargain to be fulfilled.”
“And I am telling you that you can’t have it.” Glancing back at Mine, I elbow him in the ribs and mutter, “Say something.”
“I am not available,” he adds in an amused voice.
I glare at him.
He doesn’t realize the danger we’re in, does he? The mere fact that I tried to siphon energy from an object belonging to a faery entitles her to payment, and from what I have heard, faeries drive hard bargains. They see what one prizes the most and they demand that in return.
I don’t dwell on the fact that Mine might be my prized possession. That sort of mental gymnastics is better left for another day when we’re not facing a powerful faery while I am currently powerless.
Even if you were not powerless, you would still have to play by her rules, my inner voice notes drily.
The faery race was created by the Flora Primordial and it’s almost as old as Aperion itself. The faeries were her prized offspring and she was always particular to them, going as far as to make them guardians of all plants. Before the Primordials disappeared, Flora wanted to ensure that her children would not be taken advantage of, so she bestowed on them a gift—nothing would be taken from them without something returned. But it was up to the faery enforcing the bargain to approve the item returned.
Just like the vows to the Source are unbreakable, so are the bargains between a faery and any other race—Aperites included. That is one of the reasons why Aperites hate faeries, since they can wield a power over them no one else can. It is also why we are taught from childhood to sense if something belongs to a faery and avoid it altogether.
Damn it. Yet another thing that could have been avoided if only I had my spiritual energy.
“I require a groom for my granddaughter. He is a fine male.” She points straight at Mine, her eyes moving up and down his body, assessing him as one would cattle.
Never mind that she doesn’t look old enough to be a grandmother—though I’ve heard her race ages quite gracefully over a number of hundreds of years—but to set her sights on my male?
Unacceptable.
“Yes, he is a very fine male. But he is mine. You can’t have him,” I tell her, barely in control of myself.
“You’ve heard the lady. I am spoken for,” Mine drawls as he throws his arm over my shoulder. “I do like it when you’re jealous,” he whispers in my ear. “Don’t stop.”
I take a deep breath and seek to calm myself so I don’t clobber him over the head—mine or not mine.
“This is a delicate situation. Shut up.”
He feigns a gasp.
“I am at my lady’s mercy,” he adds with a smile.
Can’t he take a hint? This isn’t a game.
“See, I could never be parted from her. I am a rather weak human who is in need of his protector. My darling Minnie has deigned to take me under her wing and I have sworn her my loyalty,” he informs the faery, and I can’t for the life of me tell if he’s joking or not.
But then his tone suddenly changes, as does the atmosphere around us. “Forever,” he adds, punctuating each syllable in a dark voice.
The faery takes a step back, her eyes slightly widening. She quickly averts her gaze from Mine, almost as if she didn’t dare look him straight in the eye.
Good male. I pat him on the shoulder. At least he knows who he belongs to. But that still doesn’t solve our current quandary.
“What else would you accept?” I ask.
“As I have mentioned. I require a groom for my granddaughter,” she says. “I will bargain for that or nothing else.”
Mine moves closer to me. The heat from his body permeates my own as he aligns himself right behind me. His chin comes to rest on my shoulder as he regards the faery with a laid-back expression.
“What does she mean by nothing else?” he whispers. “Does that mean we can be on our way now?”
I shake my head.
“It means she will not let us leave until we agree on a bargain. And trust me, she has time,” I add drily. “Time that we do not have with how fast things were evolving on the base.”
“All right. Got it. So we must close the bargain then.”
My muscles tense. I slowly turn my head around, my nose almost bumping into his.
“You are not going to her,” I tell him. “You are courting me, or have you forgotten that little detail?”
Even if he were not courting me, I would not have relinquished him. I found him first. He belongs to me.
“Me? I would never.” He feigns a horrified expression. “Don’t you worry, tiny darling, you’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
“Then what do you propose we do?” I narrow my eyes at him.
The faery is watching the exchange with great interest.
“I will accept your first male born,” she interjects.
“No.”
“Never.”
Both Mine and I burst out at the same time, and the faery lets out a soft chuckle.
Mine leans back and straightens his shoulders.
“What are your requirements for a groom for your granddaughter?”
The faery’s lips curl up.
“Handsome, of course,” she says as she continues to stare appreciatively at Mine. In turn, I glare at her. How dare she look like that at my male. Yes, he is handsome, but that is only for me to note.
“He must be strong and be able to protect her.” Her eyes linger on his muscles. I grab his arm and pull him closer, splaying my palm over his muscles so she can see they’re taken. They’re my muscles. Well, not mine, but I am the only female who can touch them.
The faery notes the possessiveness in my grip and she chuckles. Mine, on the other hand, like the good male he is, places his hand over mine and gives me a comforting pat. His eyes, too, are on me, even when the faery is speaking.
Good. Otherwise, we would have had words later on.
“He must also be faithful and loyal. He must not step out on my granddaughter.”
“There you have it, then. It cannot possibly be me,” Mine interjects. “I only have eyes for one female, and it’s this tiny one over here.”
I shoot him daggers with my eyes, though I am quite pleased with his statement.
“Hmm.” She clicks her tongue against her teeth. “Then we find ourselves in a bind, do we not?”
“I wouldn’t say so,” Mine continues. “I happen to have the perfect solution that would satisfy all your demands.”
“You do?” I blink in surprise.
He winks at me.
“I happen to know a male who is not only strong and handsome, but he is also currently unattached.”
“Who?”
“Your brother, of course.”
My mouth parts in shock.
“Molokai?”
He nods.
“But he would never agree to this,” I whisper. I don’t deny that he is a good choice. He also happens to have wronged me as of recently, so I wouldn’t mind handing him over to this faery’s granddaughter. That would serve him right. Especially since he has quite the distaste for faeries.
Well, Kai happens to have a distaste for all non-Aperite beings, but faeries are at the top of the list because when he was just a fledgling, he accidentally went to the faery realm and got lost. He doesn’t speak much of what happened there, but he’s always been vocal about his hate of their kind.
“He doesn’t have to agree.”
“I don’t follow.” I frown.
“The sigil. Whoever has his sigil can call on him, no?”
“Yes, but?—”
“Would you accept that? A sigil that can call on a powerful god at any time?”
The faery tilts her head to the side as she considers this.
“And who is this god you are talking about.”
“Mine. I’m not sure—” I pull on his sleeve, but it’s in vain as he continues.
“His name is Molokai from the House of Cryos. He is a general in the Aperite army and he is unattached. No one outside his family knows the sigil that can call on him at any time.”
“Molokai from the House of Cryos you say?” The faery’s eyes sparkle with mischief. “I accept.”
“Mine!” I pinch him. “Kai will kill me.”
“Will he?”
“Well, he won’t exactly kill me. But he will be so angry with me.”
“And you think he doesn’t deserve it after everything he’s done? I should think someone as straitlaced as him would benefit from some fun.”
“How do you know he’s straitlaced?” I frown.
“Isn’t he?”
“Well, yes, but?—”
“It’s settled. Think of it as a little revenge.”
I bite my lip. He’s right. Kai behaved abysmally with me. He will likely be enraged when he finds out, but oh well. He deserves it.
“Fine. You can have my brother’s sigil. In return, I want your verbal confirmation that I may avail myself of the energy inside this pin.”
“You may avail yourself of the energy inside the pin in exchange for your brother’s sigil,” the faery confirms.
“I need a pen and paper?—”
The faery materializes both and hands them to me.
I scribble down the sigil.
“This will only go in effect if it is drawn with blood, on the flesh of the summoner.”
The faery inspects the drawing close.
“And how will I know it is genuine?”
“I vow to the Source that this is my brother’s sigil.”
She nods. “You have a bargain.”
After grabbing the paper, the faery disappears from sight.
I release a loud sigh. That was a close call.
“What about your sigil?” Mine asks. “What is it?”
“I won’t tell you.”
“Why? I’m your male.” He pouts.
“Perhaps. But I have not agreed to be your female. Until then, you will not get my sigil.”
“Minnie!” he complains.
“Let us go now. We have a portal to find,” I say and head to the exit.
All things considered, we have resolved quite a few issues. I killed a demon, made sure Tommy’s soul went to P’asala, and now I have an item that’s overflowing with powerful energy.
“Now wait a minute,” Mine calls out from behind as I get out of the castle. I’m about to tap into the energy of the pin when he snatches it from me.
“What are you doing?” I thunder at him.
“I am not going anywhere like this.” He points to his clothes that are stained with some of my blood and demon grime. “You are not going anywhere like that either.”
I glance down at my dress and purse my lips. Whereas he only has a few light stains, I am covered from head to toe in disgusting demon bodily fluids. Alas, that comes with the job.
“It’s just blood and demon grime.” I roll my eyes at him.
“Minnie! It’s not just blood and demon grime. It’s disgusting! It smells bad too.”
“So?”
“What do you mean, so? We’re dirty.”
“I’ve had worse.” I shrug.
“I’m well aware,” he adds drily, with a roll of his eyes. “And while you might be fine smelling so foul, I am not. We need to wash and change.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No. Time is of the essence.”
“I’m not going anywhere carrying this stench with me.”
“Good thing I do not need you to come with me.” I humph and turn to go. To think that just a few moments ago I was praising him for being a good male. More like a fussy male. Who’s bothered by a bit of demon grime? Certainly not me. As I told him, I’ve had worse.
“Then I guess you don’t need this too.” He smirks and pockets the pin.
“Mine!” I tackle him to try to get the pin back, but he’s fast, dodging me at every turn.
He hops back a few steps and chuckles at me.
“Wash and you get your pin.”
“Mine! It’s not the time to joke around! The greed demon must have grown stronger already. If we return to base and he senses the energy from the pin, he might realize what we plan and he could try to stop us.”
“We’re not returning to the base.”
I cross my arms over my chest.
“And how do you propose we wash?”
“There’s a river down the hill. We’ll wash there.”
My eyes widen with outrage.
“A r-river? Have you gone mad? It’s cold!”
“You’re a goddess of ice,” he shoots back.
“Whose powers are currently on a leave of absence. I do not like the cold.”
He shrugs. “That makes two of us. But I dislike being dirty more than the cold.”
Pressing my lips together, I debate the matter in my head.
“You can wash and I’ll wait,” I offer. No matter how much I’d like to snatch the pin from him, it’s clear he’s not going to give it to me without a fight—and I’m currently too worn out to engage in one.
“No. You will wash, too.”
“But—”
“I’d like to be able to stand next to the female I’m courting without holding my breath, Minnie,” he adds with a sigh.
I nibble on my lip. He does have a point. Although… I could certainly use this to keep him at arm’s length. Though logical, I find that the idea doesn’t appeal.
“But we don’t have a change of clothes?—”
“We do. I made sure to pack some since I assumed something like this would happen.”
I gawk at him. He’s ready for everything, isn’t he? Though I’d like nothing more than to be mad at him since he clearly went through my clothes, I decide to let it slide—this time.
“Fine,” I acquiesce.
He beams at me. We go back to the car to get the change of clothes, after which he leads the way to the lake. All the while, I’m trying to brace myself for the cold I’ll encounter.
The lake is not as close as he’d made it out to be. It takes us more than thirty minutes to reach it. It’s on the other side of the hill! How did he even know it was there is beside me.
Luckily, it’s surrounded by trees, meaning that no one will be able to see us.
“You take that side, I will take this side,” I say as I dig my foot into the dirt and draw a line to delineate each half of the lake.
“Minnie!” He groans.
“And you will go in first and stand with your back to me,” I add.
“You’d better not try to leave and steal the pin,” he warns.
Well, I did not think about that, though now that he mentions it…
“Vow it. Vow that you will not steal the pin and leave. And vow that you will wash.”
I roll my eyes at him. Smart male.
“Fine, fine. I vow to wash and not steal the pin and leave.”
“Good.”
Without further ado, he unbuttons his jacket and throws it to the ground. He’s wearing a white shirt underneath that he quickly chucks, too. He’s now only in a tank top and I blink nervously at his muscles.
Is it suddenly warm?
I should turn away like I told him to do. I shouldn’t be watching him undress, especially since with every piece of clothing he removes, something vibrates in my lower belly.
He doesn’t tell me to turn, though. He’s smirking at me as he removes his tank top.
Now he’s bare-chested and my heart thuds horrifically loud in my chest. Goodness, it’s definitely getting warm.
Then his hands are on his belt, unbuckling it and throwing it to the side. The sound of the zipper going down finally punches some sense into me and I quickly turn just as he lowers his trousers down his legs.
I’m mortified but also too damn curious. It’s a battle with myself not to turn and watch him in his naked glory, something I’ve been thinking about quite a bit as of late.
Who am I kidding? I’ve been thinking about it every single night while we’ve been sleeping in the same cabin.
Only when I hear the sound of water splashing around do I finally turn.
“Don’t peek, all right?” I call out to him.
“I am a gentleman, Minnie. Of course I will not peek.”
I make quick work of removing my dress and shift. I don’t take off my brassiere and underwear, though. That would be too scandalous.
As if everything I’ve been doing so far hasn’t been the definition of scandalous.
With a sigh, I step toward my half of the lake.
Mine is still in his half with his back turned to me. He’s washing his face and hair, going underwater before resurfacing.
A shudder goes down my back.
This is going to be so cold. I can already feel it.
Bracing myself, I squeeze my eyes shut as I dip one foot in the lake.
“Oh,” I whisper in surprise. The water is lukewarm and not at all unpleasant. It’s colder outside than inside. Without giving too much thought to how this difference in temperature could happen, I get inside until the water reaches my collarbone.
I splash it over my face. Perhaps this wasn’t such a bad idea. It does feel nice to be clean.
Stepping a bit further into the lake, I emulate Mine and submerge myself to wash my hair. The bottom of the lake is slippery, and as I try to find my footing to resurface, I trip and fall further into the lake.
The water here is much deeper, now well over my head.
And there is one aspect that I did not consider.
I cannot swim.
I move my arms around in an attempt to bring myself to the surface, but just as I get a mouthful of air, I find myself being drawn under the water.
In my panic, I forget to close my mouth and water rushes in, making me splutter.
That lasts only a moment. In the next, two strong arms haul me back to the surface.
I wheeze and spit the water in my mouth, my lungs on fire both from nearly drowning and from the panic that I might drown.
“There, I’ve got you,” Mine whispers. He’s holding me close to his body.
His naked body.
As my panic recedes, I realize he’s crossed into my half of the lake. And now his naked body is next to my own and…
“Go back to your half of the lake,” I attempt to protest.
He gives me a lopsided smile. “A thank you should be in order.”
“Thank you. Now go.”
He needs to leave. Now. This is not only improper, but it is also too much for my feeble senses. It’s already bad enough that I can feel the strong muscles of his arms, and that if I leaned forward, my chest would brush against his chest and…
I redden instantly.
“My, my. You’re blushing.”
“M-me? Blushing. Of course not,” I stammer.
“Yes. You are.” He chuckles. “You’re so cute.”
“You need to let go. This is unseemly. Improper. Please,” I croak.
“What is improper about me saving you?” he asks as he angles one brow.
“What? Everything! This.” I attempt to push him off, but then I realize we’re still standing in the middle of the lake where the water is too deep.
“Stop fidgeting, Minnie.”
“Help me get over there.” I motion to the edge. “Then let go.”
“No one will see us.” He tsks.
“So? I am an unmarried lady. A respectable unmarried lady. I cannot be this close to a naked man. Especially a shovel like you.”
He tightens his hold over me and draws me closer. So close that my hard nipples bush against his warm chest. Oh my, I’m going to faint. Right here.
“Why are you still going on with that? How many times do I have to tell you I am not a rake?” His voice is different now, tighter. No longer playful like before, he’s staring at me with a dangerous intensity.
The sun shines against his tanned pallor, intensifying the green hue of his eyes. If before I’d thought he was beautiful, like this, with droplets of water clinging to his lashes and some dripping down his skin, he is…mesmerizing.
I cannot take my eyes off him, though I’m painfully aware I must.
“I—” The shift in his countenance swallows my words.
“How can I be a rake when you’re the only female I’ve ever looked at in all of my existence? Past, present, future. How?” The wind carries the last question, echoing in the valley and in my mind.
“I… That is to say… You may not be a rake, but that doesn’t mean females don’t desire you. I saw how the faery looked at you. There’s also the women at the base and…”
“And? It is out of my control if other females look at me. But what is in my control is to never acknowledge them, never look at them.”
I blink at the vehemence in his voice.
“Would you like me to be more disfigured than I already am? Say the word and I’ll do it.” He grabs my hand and brings it to his face, placing my fingers on his scar. “I can add another scar. And another. Until I’m so badly deformed no one will ever look at me. Would you like that?”
“W-what are you talking about?”
“I will do it. For you, I will do it. Just so you never think of another woman looking at me or desiring me.”
“Are you mad?” I whisper.
“Yes, Minnie, I am raving mad,” he grits out in a low voice. “If my words cannot assure you, then my actions should.” He pauses, a sardonic smile pulling at his lips. “But then the question is… would you still look at me?”
“Of course,” I blurt out without thinking what I’m admitting. “You’d be handsome to me anyway, just because you’re you.”
His lips curl up in a smile. “So you think I’m handsome?”
Damn it! I fell into his trap.
“Uhm, that is to say…”
“Your blush is confirmation enough,” he says playfully. “That pleases me.”
He leans forward and my mind blanks on me.
Is he going to…is he…
“Let go!” I shout, sliding out of his grip.
But seeing as how I’m still in deep waters, I immediately sink to the bottom.
He dives after me, grabs me—tighter this time—and he finally takes me to the shore.
Bad, bad idea.
At least the water was covering us before. Now?
My eyes widen as I look him up and down. Water drips down his muscled body, emphasizing every curvature. He looks like one of those marble statues, all hard angles and chiseled flesh. But the man before me is full of life, not an immobile statue. And as my eyes dip lower, I feel my heart thudding louder and louder.
I’m curious when I shouldn’t be.
Luckily—or not—he’s still wearing his underwear. But they’re white. And soaking wet. That means I can see the contour of something.
Why am I suddenly this feverish? Why am I both hot and shivery at the same time?
There’s something there. Something that arouses my interest. But before I can investigate further, he leans over to me.
“Minnie, Minnie.” He tsks at me. “What am I going to do with you?”
“What do you mean?” I ask slowly, confused.
He smiles.
“I wonder…will I get a kiss in this lifetime?”
“A k-kiss? You want a k-kiss?” I stammer.
My pulse echoes in my ears, both at his suggestion and his nearness.
“Not just a kiss. I want all your kisses.”
I gasp.
“All?” I repeat weakly.
“All.”
I bite my lip as I stare into his eyes.
“I’ve never done this kissing thing before,” I whisper.
“Me neither.”
Giddiness erupts in my chest.
“Never?” I ask in a low voice.
His lips are pulled up in a smile as he shakes his head.
“I’ve been waiting for the only lips I’ll ever kiss.”
Then he leans in, and I close my eyes.