Chapter Eight
To say Stellar’s mind was a hot mess would be a vast understatement.
His wings had never burned so brightly. His mates had him distracted.
The pair had been given to him. They were all he could think about.
He didn’t want to come up for air. Unfortunately, he still had the issue of River and Bodhi.
The problem was he couldn’t stop watching his mates kiss.
Their combined thoughts were dirty as hell, and Stellar was right there with them.
Stygian rolled, his mouth covered Stellar’s.
Stellar felt Taurus’ hot gaze on them. He hated knowing duties waited.
Obviously hearing his thoughts, Stygian pulled away.
He stroked Stellar’s hair as he held Stellar’s stare.
“Someone has to be the level head. As fairies, you two will never make the choice to leave this bed. It’s time to handle business.
Once word spreads of River being found unconscious and in a comatose state, all eyes will be on you. ”
Stellar groaned.
Taurus stepped in. “He’s right. If people think there’s something out there harming people, they’ll panic. We should go to Frost. Maybe he’ll tell us more than Celeste did.”
Stygian looked thoughtful. “Why was she so cryptic? She didn’t tell us anything about River or anything, really. If you think about it, all she really did was distract us by giving me a body.”
Stellar had to add a point. “Don’t forget she also paired poor River with a dark druid.”
Stygian waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t worry about him. He’ll be elated since he thinks Bodhi is hot.”
Stellar blinked.
Taurus blinked.
How did Stygian know River thought Bodhi was hot?
They stared at Stygian, probing his thoughts.
Stellar broke first. “You had River seek out Bodhi for you. River? He’s a soft, airheaded twit. You’re lucky he wasn’t killed.”
Stygian shrugged. “I wouldn’t call him an airheaded twit, per se. He’s closer to a clueless fool who’s in love with love.”
Taurus shook his head. “I can’t believe you convinced him to make me jealous. You double could’ve gotten him killed.”
“No one murdered anyone. It’s fine.” Stygian sounded annoyed by the lecture.
Stellar realized that they had hurt Stygian. Stygian saw what he had done as fate that led them to each other.
Taurus obviously felt his withdrawal as well. He raced to fix everything. “That’s all in the past now. Every time you toss a pebble into the water, it causes ripples. This is the same. The entire fiasco is a moot point. Your manipulation brought us to one another.”
Stellar nodded. “Agreed.” He rolled out of bed. Stygian and Taurus joined him. “Let me fix the mess we’ve made.” He waved his hand, and they each wore the clothes of royalty. “Now, let’s go see the healer.”
Taurus’ halberd appeared in his hand. “Should I call for more guards?”
Stellar dipped his chin. “We’re too early in the stage of our mating and are easily distracted. While I know you’re more than enough and I, too, am a warrior, there’re powerful beings in that clinic. We should be smart.”
Taurus gave a short bow before heading for the door.
Stellar laughed. “You no longer bow to me, babe.”
Taurus tossed a smile over his shoulder. “Habit.”
Stellar shook his head. He couldn’t stop smiling. His gaze slid toward Stygian. He caught Stygian staring at him in a way that took Stellar’s breath. His black eyes held so much hunger mixed with love that Stellar was completely captivated. He couldn’t look away.
Later.
Stygian’s mouth lifted in one corner into a smirk at Stellar’s promise.
Four guards appeared in full armor. They tapped their halberds once, signaling their readiness.
“Let’s go.” He unfurled his wings and flapped. The motion shot tiny stars and opened a doorway between realms.
Taurus swept his arm, as if swiping open a curtain, and Frost’s clinic awaited. The guards surrounded them on all sides as they stepped into the human world. An alarm blared the moment the first foot hit the grass.
Stellar sighed. With a single thought, the sound was silenced.
“Holy shit. That was sexy. Your eyes turned a lighter shade.”
Taurus glanced Stygian’s way at the comment. “I know, right?”
Stellar rolled the eyes in question, but there was no stopping his smile.
Vampires swooped in, looking poised to fight. A large vamp with the look of a Viking stepped forward. “Prince. What can we do for you?”
Stellar eyed him, attempting to read him. There was nothing except a stone wall blocking him. “Odd. Not even a name came through.”
A smile exploded across the vampire's face. “My name is Leif. It’s a lot politer to ask.”
“Apologies. I’m accustomed to knowing everything. We're here to seek Frost’s assistance in a matter of health.”
Leif waved an arm toward the door. “Then welcome. The doc is in.” Leif’s gaze slid Stygian’s way. “Maybe not you, though. What are you?”
Stellar went completely still. His fury hit the roof. “He is my mate. That’s what he is, and you’ll treat him with the same respect afforded to me. You may not answer to me, but make no mistake, my powers could shake this whole damn town to the ground.”
Leif didn’t look cowed in the least. “Did you know your eyes changed color for a second?”
He felt Taurus' and Stygian’s smiles. “It’s hot, right?” they said simultaneously.
Leif chuckled and shook his head. He stepped out of their way. “I don’t believe Frost is busy at the moment.”
Stellar dipped his chin.
As a group, they headed for the door. Inside, a demon sat behind the desk. He glanced up. His eyes widened. His body leaned forward as if drawn toward their scents. Fairies attracted most species. They dripped sex and stirred desires. “Now, how can I help you?” His voice dripped with innuendo.
His closest guard responded on his behalf, sparing him from having to converse with a demon. “The Prince is here to see Frost.”
“Frost!” The horny demon shouted the name at the top of his lungs.
Lysander’s mate, Stone, appeared at the mouth of the hallway, looking annoyed.
“How many times have I told you—” Stone stopped dead as he realized who waited.
“Prince Stellar. What brings you…” Stone’s gaze fixed on Stygian.
Rage twisted his features. “You. How dare you step into this clinic? Why aren’t you restrained? ”
“You’re in no danger from me.”
Confusion flickered in Stone’s light blue eyes. However, the giant Scotsman didn’t move from his fighting stance.
Frost slipped around him, catching Stone off guard. “What brings you by?”
Stone tried snatching Frost in an obvious move to force the doctor behind him. His arm slipped right through Frost as if he were no more than smoke. That was enough to shatter what little control Stone retained.
“Goddamn it, Frost. He’s—”
Frost turned slightly, cutting Stone short. “Please return to the duty assigned to you. That’s where you’re needed right now.”
Frost’s reminder obviously triggered something in Stone. “Heard and understood.”
Stellar’s curiosity piqued. He tried to read the pair. He could no more hear them than he could Leif.
What magic is this?
Taurus’ question mirrored his thoughts.
Power of the gods.
They simultaneously looked Stygian’s way at his mental words.
You know I can hear all three of you, right? I’m the son of Lucifer. Nephew to Celeste.
They focused on Frost.
Frost stared at Stygian. His gaze moved over him. “Nice collar. Let’s go to my office.”
As a group, they followed Frost to an examination room. Stellar didn’t like anything about this. There was no real protection here. He had brought his mates along. Stellar hoped he hadn’t made the dumbest move of his life. They were all at risk.
Frost closed the exam room door behind them. Taurus was stuck in full alert mode. They were in danger. He would not allow harm to come to his prince. His mates. Taurus wasn’t afraid to die for them.
“For fuck’s sake. No one is dying. Well, possibly River, if you three keep up this worry circle jerk. It’s honestly kind of annoying how little you trust me. Why bother to come here if you think you have to protect yourselves from me?”
While Stellar might have not been able to read Frost, Taurus understood body language. They had misstepped. Taurus did his best to smooth things over.
“We trust you. That’s not our issue. We’re too newly mated to be reasonable. Our instincts aren’t working at the moment.”
Frost’s expression cleared. He chuckled. “Yeah. That’s what happens. I went from having no idea any of this existed to finding myself married to a snow leopard. It was a bit discombobulating. We should go to River so I can get a good look at what we’re dealing with.”
Taurus touched Stellar’s back on the sly, before realizing it was dumb to try to hide anything from Frost. He used the magic he had borrowed from Stellar’s wings to open a doorway to their bedroom.
Frost joined them. He didn’t even look around as he stepped into their room. The healer was an odd one.
Stellar motioned toward the hall. “This way.”
Frost didn’t move. His eyes were locked on Stygian.
Stygian stared back as if transfixed.
“There’s something about you.” Frost took a step forward.
Two guards closed ranks, blocking Frost, except just as with Stone, Frost walked right through them. He took Stygian’s hands.
Tell me.
The demand rang through Stygian’s head. Taurus heard it as loudly as if Frost had spoken outside.
Stellar’s fixed expression said he had heard too.
There’s nothing to say.
Frost glowed slightly. Tell me. The words were a compulsion. They were so powerful, Taurus worried he would start revealing secrets. He felt Stygian’s resistance fall.
They don’t know me. Not really. They don’t love me as they do each other.
I’m a shiny new toy. That’ll fade. Then they’ll realize I’m still the same dark fae they imprisoned.
It’s in my nature to destroy. When they come to their senses, they’ll realize I’m not good like them. I’ll be rejected and tossed aside.
Taurus’ chest hurt. He felt as if his heart might deflate and wither into nothing. The combination of all their hurt at the confession had Taurus fighting for breath. He couldn’t say a word.
No. Frost’s denial was strong and clear. Pairings don’t work that way. Celeste put the three of you together for a reason. She sees what we can’t. No matter what you think of yourself, you can’t deny her power. This isn’t the real issue, is it? You think you’re dodging me. You’re not.
Stygian chuckled. It was a wicked sound. “I think that’s just my general vibe you’re feeling. I’m not that deep.”
Frost closed his eyes and glowed brighter. “You asked River to do something.”
“No.” The denial sounded pained and desperate.
Frost looked puzzled and sounded confused when he spoke. “You asked him to pick flowers from the sacred hill to give to Bodhi.”
Taurus’ eyes fell closed. He swiped his hand across them.
Stellar didn’t hesitate to stand strong at Stygian’s side. “That’s nothing now. Bodhi is under my command. I’ll send someone to find the flowers and bring them back. Crisis averted. Let’s go see our patient.”
Frost still looked baffled, but he didn’t press for more. Truthfully, his presence felt diminished, as if he had burned all his juice for the day.
Stellar dismissed the extra guards and then led the way to the room where Bodhi and River were being held.
He stopped short as he crossed the threshold.
Everyone else nearly collided behind him.
Taurus was tall enough to see the problem.
Their magic cell was empty. Stellar turned. His face was pale.
Frost’s gaze jumped from person to person. “Okay. I think someone needs to explain to me what’s going on right now.”
Taurus would never reveal their secrets.
It seemed Stygian had no such qualms. “Flowers from the sacred hill can only be picked by the purest of heart. That’s why I sent River.”
“And?” He felt Frost’s irritation growing. Taurus felt Stellar’s defenses fall.
Stellar squeezed the spot between his eyes. When his hand fell away, he looked defeated. “Those sacred flowers can be used to create magic mirrors. All Bodhi would need was one or two and he could create all the mirrors his heart desired, unleashing literal Hell on Earth.”
Frost’s eyes were wide. “Or storm Hell to get to Lucifer.”
“That too.”
At Stellar’s confirmation, Frost tossed a quick glance around—like a trapped animal. “I have to get to Dad.” He turned and swiped open a door, showing exactly how powerful he was.
Stygian’s arm shot out, stopping him before he could step through. “It’s not Lucifer he’s after. It’s you.”
“Me?”
Stygian nodded. “You’re his blood. In his mind, he still has to save you from your father.
He is obsessed with getting you away from here.
Bodhi is convinced you’ve been brainwashed and he can fix you.
One of the many things he sent me to do is spy on you until he could make a solid plan.
He needed to learn about your security weaknesses. No one knows that as well as Stone.”
“Shit. I have to get to my husband and daughter.” He dipped through the veil and vanished.
Taurus and Stellar exchanged looks. This was bad, and—thanks to Stygian—it was their mess to clean.