Chapter 17 #3
“Well, I wish ya luck on your travels, lass. And be careful of them woods. Ran into a few of those nasty critters on my way here. They call themselves Free . . .Free something . . .”
“Freebeasts,” Orelia and Vade said at once, glancing awkwardly at one another.
Elshar snapped his fingers. “That’s it. Little buggers took my coin, and one of ‘em gave me that cut on my wrist.”
“The mighty Elshar couldn’t handle a few pigs? Have you grown soft, friend?” Vade’s lips quirked.
“Soft like that prick in your pants?” Elshar reached under the table and threw a fist at Vade’s groin, but shadows stopped him.
Elshar grunted. “Damn Myrker, always suckin’ the fun outta everythin’.”
Vade chuckled. “Fucking Lysa.”
Orelia enjoyed the sight of the two of them speaking like old friends. She didn’t think Vade capable of having any, or that anyone would choose to withstand him for any length of time, but Elshar didn’t seem to mind at all.
“Well, I best be on my way,” the giant of a man said as he rose from the table.
“Don’t want my woman waitin’ long.” Elshar drained his mug and slammed it on the table, belching.
He smacked Vade’s shoulder with a force that would have knocked her flat on her ass.
“Good to see ya. Keep yourself alive so I get to see ya again, you got it?”
Vade nodded.
“And you, little witch. It was a pleasure to meet ya.” He lifted her fingers with his and placed a chapped lip kiss on the back of her hand.
Orelia smiled. “The pleasure was all mine. Your intended is a very lucky woman, Elshar. I can only hope I find what you have someday.”
The light-wielding fae threw his pack over his shoulder, standing tall and proud.
“If this asshole knows what’s good for him, he’ll claim ya too, sooner rather than later.
” Knowing blue eyes slid to Vade before Elshar winked at her.
“Take care you two.” Heavy boots crossed the room, and the mountain man ducked under the door as he stepped out into the muck.
Vade took a long drink, nearly finishing his mug.
“What did he mean by ‘claiming’?” she asked.
He let out a deep breath and looked like he’d hoped she wouldn’t ask. “It’s a thing fae do when they find a partner they want to be with long term.”
Heat coursed through her body. “Oh . . .”
“And it’s the reason you aren’t leaving my sight tonight. The group that was in here earlier scented I hadn’t claimed you, and if I know those assholes, at least one of them will be waiting for a chance to get you alone just to spite me.”
She fiddled with the emerald on her necklace, the heat inside her increasing, and not just from the ale. “They can scent that?”
He nodded. “Once the claim is accepted by both parties, there’s some kind of connection that happens.
No one really knows how it works, but it must be accepted honestly and willingly by both parties.
If someone tries to enter a claim falsely, the scent won’t stick, and once a claim is made other fae are forbidden to pursue that fae’s partner. It’s the only law we really abide by.”
She wondered if he had ever claimed anyone before. Immediately, the ridiculous thought dissipated. He only cared about himself, and she already knew his thoughts on how trite he believed love to be.
“Why would you care if someone claimed me?”
His lips pursed. “They’ll do nothing but use your body for their own pleasure, then leave you in the middle of the night.”
“You mean like you do with pleasure girls?” The snarky comment surprised even her.
Vade’s onyx eyes bored into her. “You don’t even know them. And trust me, you don’t want to.”
The ale gave her confidence. “They didn’t seem so bad. Maybe I could flirt with Balor, get him to wait for me until after we get this spell reversed, then see if mountain life is for me.” She flashed a teasing grin.
“No.”
“It’s my choice. You don’t get to control everything I do, or don’t do.”
Vade finished the rest of his drink. “Yes, I do. And I’m not letting you near any one of them.”
Orelia swayed slightly, letting the liquid confidence come to the forefront. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were jealous.”
He scoffed. “Jealous of a hypothetical situation you just made up? I don’t think so.”
“Fine, then I’ll go find Balor and test out my flirting skills.” Orelia stood, not having an actual plan in mind, but Vade didn’t let her get far. He grabbed her arm and yanked her back down.
She fell into her chair with a squeal.
“You’re staying with me, and I won’t say it again.” He released his rigid grip, watching her intently.
Orelia rubbed her arm. “I was just joking. Relax.”
“Your safety isn’t a joke to me.” Possession laced his words, and she swore there was more than concern for wellbeing in the look he gave her. Trying to understand him was like trying to harness the wind. Impossible.
She brushed off his incomprehensible emotions and pictured Elshar happily headed to the love of his life, ready to declare his intentions and wondered if she’d ever have a connection like that again.
Vade pulled the tracking stone from his pocket. She didn’t bother looking at the name.
“Finish your ale,” he said. “I can’t let you out of my sight anymore. You’re coming with me for this one.”