Chapter 6
Zadriel
Before Dother’s Death
Zadriel cracked an eye open, cringing against the throbbing pain in his head. His lips were dry, throat parched—gods, he needed water like he needed a breath of fresh air. The musty, earthy scent of his room—Brennan’s pantry—had his nose curling.
Violet shifted beside him, though she was mainly on him, the mattress barely large enough for Zadriel alone.
She yawned, stretching her legs and snuggling closer, sliding her soft hand up his naked torso.
The scrape of her nails traced over his sweat-slicked abs, before she pressed her palm against his muscled chest. He sank further into the lumpy mattress, wincing as she straddled him—memories of the prior night flooded his mind too quickly, pushing against his aching skull.
“Good morning, Fae,” she whispered against his throat, nipping playfully at his skin.
Zadriel twisted away from her teeth. “Don’t,” he hissed, rubbing at the small ache. His arms may have been marred against his will, but no one would mark his throat. Not unless he asked for it. Not unless he found someone whose soul sang a song only he could hear.
The Fates were unlikely to grace him with such a thing. Nor should he want it.
To subject his mate to Brennan...
Zadriel took a deep breath through his nose. It was a thought he couldn’t bear.
“Don’t the Fae like to bite?” Violet asked. Her dark hair was disheveled, cheeks flushed as if they’d fucked minutes before.
Perhaps it hadn’t been long? There was no window in this room, barely a trickle of light crawling through the crack in the door leading to the kitchen.
He turned his head in an attempt to peek at the clock on his bedside table.
No wonder the ticks were muffled—it had fallen over in the night, face down on the raw wooden tabletop.
He sighed, pressing his head back against his hard pillow.
“Oh, we do,” he said, running his tongue over a canine’s sharp point.
He could almost imagine it, marking someone in the throes of passion; sealing their bond and entwining their souls irrevocably.
He exhaled, a pleased rumble in his chest as his cock hardened, the thought alone enough to make him want.
But not with Violet. “We only mark our mates.”
She pouted. “Can’t we pretend?”
Mischief sparkled in her bright green eyes. They reminded him of maple leaves unfurling in early spring. Like the first glimpse of green after the earth slept for months. Even if he hadn’t witnessed her gently coaxing plants to life around Eden, Zadriel would have known she was a Naturalist.
She grinned when his hands found her hips, but Zadriel shifted his weight, flipping her onto her back. Leaning closer until their noses touched, his deep voice was firm when he spoke against her lips. “I said no.”
Pushing against the mattress, he began to rise, intent on finding something to soothe his aching head.
It had been a mistake, joining Cillian for a night of drinks.
Downing every strange liquor his brother handed to him and bringing a woman back to Brennan’s home—he shook his head, silently admonishing himself.
The pantry doubled as Zadriel’s bedroom, but many reagents lined the shelves.
Brennan was a secretive man—he wouldn’t be pleased to discover a woman from the village this close to his things.
Though, it had been a long while since Zadriel had indulged his baser instincts. And he’d enjoyed himself. Hopefully, the Fates would be kind to him for once, and Brennan would never discover what he’d done.
Violet grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back down. “Please don’t go.” She licked her lips—Zadriel’s dark gaze followed the movement, unable to deny the desire brewing in his core.
Wrapping her legs around his waist, she ground against him, already coating his hard length with her wetness. “I need you.”
Mother help me.
He bit his lip, his focus caught between Violet and the pantry door.
Zadriel drew nearer, his weight sinking back into the mattress. What was a little headache, anyway? He pressed his lips against her collarbone. “Still hungry for me, Violet?” he murmured, his breath tickling her skin.
She giggled as she nodded, a new splash of pink painting her face so beautifully.
Just as it had the night before.
Zadriel’s knuckles knocked into his clock as he reached for a small box. He peeled the top off with his teeth and grabbed a lamb-skin condom, quickly slipping it over his shaft. Then, his hand found her thigh, long fingers trailing over smooth skin until he reached the curve of her rear.
He knew she wanted him because he was Fae. Some exotic creature for her to experience; a conquest to share with her friends. It wasn’t the first time a Halfling grew curious. Nor would it be the last.
The emptiness of these connections left him wanting... but it was better than nothing, and the best he could hope for, given his circumstances.
“And what, exactly, are you hungry for?” He pulled her closer so she could feel every hard inch of him, shifting his hips to slide over her sensitive flesh. She jerked beneath him, her lustful whimper making him chuckle. “Have you no words for me?”
“You know what I want.” Her voice was a breathy plea.
He nipped at her earlobe, then whispered, “I’m going to need your words.
” Nuzzling her cheek, he hummed as he inhaled deeply.
She smelled divine, like roses and lavender—it surprised him how much he liked it.
There was something enticing about that aroma.
Something... almost familiar, though not quite.
“I... want...”
He chuckled. “You want what?”
Her eyes were half-lidded, kissable lips parting so prettily. “I want you,” she whined.
Zadriel reached between them to wrap his hand around his cock, notching himself at her entrance. He remained perfectly still, torturing them both as he raised a brow. “You want me to...?”
“For the love of the gods, fuck me, please—”
He surged into her, groaning as she clenched around him. “Is this what you wanted?” he asked, smirking when she moaned. Another hard thrust and the bed slammed against the wall. Zadriel should have cared, but he couldn’t be bothered.
“Yes!” she hissed, her legs curling tighter around his middle. She bent her neck to the side, savoring his ravenous kisses, or maybe she was hoping he’d change his mind and bite her—wishful thinking on her part.
Zadriel doubted she understood the implications of such a thing.
“Holy fuck!” She panted for breath as he drove into her, nails digging into his shoulders, her breasts bouncing with each thrust of his hips. Begging for his attention. Zadriel began to trail his tongue over her hardened nipple, when his door slammed open.
“Get up and pack, Zade, we’re leaving for—” Azure eyes widened before glittering with amusement. “Hello, Violet.”
Of fucking course.
Light flooded the small room, spilling onto the floor from the kitchen and beaming on the two of them—there was nothing Cillian couldn’t see.
“I’m a little busy,” Zadriel grumbled. He grabbed a threadbare blanket to cover them, frowning at the holes peppering the thin material—they were barely hidden, but it would have to do.
Cillian smirked. “I can see that.” Leaning against the doorframe, his smile widened as he rolled a pear around in his grip—the bastard wasn’t going anywhere. “I wondered where you’d wandered off to last night.”
“Gods help me.” Violet covered her eyes, the beautiful flush on her cheeks darkening as it spread across the entirety of her face.
Zadriel couldn’t help the hint of a growl when he exhaled.
So much for indulging.
He hated pulling free from her. Hated the loss of her sinfully wet heat.
“Can’t this wait?” He gave Cillian a look meant to send him running, but all his brother did was snicker and bite into his pear.
“No.” Cillian pushed away from the doorframe and wandered to the shelves lining the wall, his gaze roving over the jars and vials Brennan stored there.
“I’m certain Violet understands some things are more important than a meaningless fuck.
” His bright eyes were piercing when he looked over his shoulder at her. “Don’t you, Violet?”
He didn’t give her the chance to respond.
Sinking his teeth into the pear, he held it in place while he moved baskets around.
Juice slipped over his chin, drops splashing onto his off-white tunic.
Normally, he would have cared, but when Cillian wanted something, he approached it with a single-minded focus.
Glass clinked, liquid sloshing as he searched. Zadriel groaned, the headache he’d nearly forgotten returning with a vengeance.
He was careful not to expose Violet as he slipped free from the blanket. At least Cillian had the decency to look away when Zadriel tore the condom off his dick. He reached for his breeches, pulling them on quickly before tossing Violet’s orange summer dress onto the bed.
Zadriel offered her an apologetic look, then moved to Cillian’s side, cool tiles greeting his bare feet. Each graceful step silent.
Sweat gleamed on his broad shoulders, slipping over the cuts from Violet’s nails. Cillian chuckled when he saw them, until the flesh began to knit back together. Then he watched with keen interest.
It tickled, the feeling akin to the branches that often reached for Zadriel, their thin ends sliding gently over his skin. Zadriel rolled his shoulders, grimacing at the sensation. He wanted to scratch but knew better. Thankfully, the wounds were small and healed quickly.
Pulling his pear free of his teeth, Cillian spoke around a juicy mouthful. “That never ceases to fascinate me.”
“I’m well aware.” There was a bag by the door, already stuffed with clothing. Zadriel raised a brow. “Why are we in such a hurry?”