Chapter Three
The warmth at Stellar’s back was a comforting familiarity.
He never stopped being aware of Taurus’ presence.
He shouldn’t have let Stygian get into his head this morning.
Two hours of no one knowing where to find Taurus and Stygian’s nonstop talk of Taurus being in someone else's bed had broken him. That was the biggest reason he had accepted River’s offer.
The move hadn’t been meant to hurt Taurus.
Sex acts were food. Stellar shouldn’t even be thinking about this.
He had River on his knees to torture Stygian with what he would never have.
Rage consumed him. Taurus wasn’t his mate.
They weren’t a couple. He had done nothing wrong, but Stygian had won this one chess match.
He felt guilty. Stygian saw too much. Knew too much.
While Stellar had always believed his true mate would end up being his best friend, Lysander, Stellar had always been in love with Taurus.
The thing was, neither of the two were his mate.
He had lived too long to keep track and hadn’t found his other half.
Maybe one wasn’t in the cards for him. Stellar hated to admit it, but he wanted a partner for eternity.
He was old. Tired. There was nothing he hadn’t done a million times.
He had reached a point where he wanted to relax and hold someone’s hand.
While Stellar would never wrinkle and turn gray, he had an elder’s mind.
He wanted quiet. Stellar wanted that life with Taurus.
Unfortunately, good sense always prevailed.
One day, a mate might very well come along for one of them.
Stellar was Taurus’ prince. Any mate Taurus found would likely stand aside to appease him.
That would be unfair to everyone involved.
Fuck, he was exhausted from having this conversation with himself.
Taurus placed his hand on Stellar’s shoulder and squeezed, pulling him from his thoughts. His father stared at him with anticipation. Stellar had no clue what he waited to hear.
Taurus saved him the way he always did. “King Cassius wants to hear about your latest escapade in the human world.”
Thank Goddess someone had been paying attention. “Of course. I was trying to think if there was truly anything to tell. I went to support Lysander during his time of need. His mate was sick. Beyond that, nothing much happened.”
His father’s shoulders fell. It was too dangerous for him to leave Faerie. He depended on Stellar’s stories to see the world.
Stellar had to fix the disappointment written in his father’s every line. “Oh, but I did get the chance to meet Lucifer’s son.”
His father lit from the inside. “You’re kidding.” Cassius sounded scandalized. “Lucifer has a son. How could the gods allow that? This could be the end of us all.”
Stellar set his hand on Cassius’ arm. “You have nothing to worry about. He’s a town healer. It seems he takes after Celeste quite a bit. He’s a kind man.”
Relief flooded Cassius’ features. “At least there’s that. We should still keep an eye on the situation.”
Stellar waved away his concerns. “Already done. The moment he came to town, Deidra fell in love. She and Jacen spend a great deal of time in his company. Plus, as I said, I met him. Nothing but pure light and kindness pours from him. He has a snow leopard mate.”
A loud laugh burst from the king. “Now that truly comforts me. There’s no way Celeste would pair anyone weak and or mean to one of Thor’s precious snow kittens. Everyone knows they’re the red pandas of the big cat world. They’re all softies.”
Stellar nodded along. “My thoughts exactly.”
“This seems like a good reason to have more wine.”
Fairies never needed an excuse to drink more wine. Unfortunately, they still had grievances to hear from their people today. He wanted nothing more than to be alone with Taurus. Maybe it was time they talked.
He needed to request a transfer. Taurus was a fire warrior.
His place was with Stellar. Always had been.
Taurus couldn’t keep doing this. Every day, he broke his own heart.
Stellar would never be his. Since Stygian had arrived, nothing had been the same between them.
Stygian was new and exciting. A challenge.
He had Stellar’s focus. Taurus was old news, and the boredom that caused made it impossible for Taurus to compete.
There were lesser fairies who would kill for a night in Taurus’ bed.
That wasn’t conceit. Taurus was a fire fairy.
Fire ran hot in every sense. His passion for everything honestly drove him a little mad.
But Taurus could find someone else. He might be addicted to Stellar, but the love and cravings he always felt were killing him.
If Taurus was so easy to dismiss and toss aside, then he should go.
He followed Stellar through the castle. His gaze never stopped moving, doing his job to keep Stellar safe.
River passed him, and his anger skyrocketed.
He had no right to be upset, but fuck. Once he saw Stellar safely back to his quarters, he would send someone else to keep watch.
Tonight would be the night he let Stellar go.
The moment they passed through the doorway, Taurus opened his mouth to say his goodbyes.
Stellar turned on him and grabbed him by the throat.
He found his back against the wall before a word could pass his lips.
“Don’t you ever think of leaving me again.
You are mine.” The growled words were all the warning he got.
Stellar’s mouth slammed down on his. The impact was so brutal, Taurus tasted blood as Stellar’s teeth collided with the inside of his lip.
Taurus licked the wound. Stellar’s blood coated Taurus’ tongue before the wound healed.
Stellar’s kiss was primal. Taurus loved every second of it.
He should have guarded his thoughts better earlier, but he knew Stellar didn’t like storming his way into other people’s minds.
Taurus had gotten too used to being free to think whatever he liked.
Still, Stellar could read whatever thoughts he pleased.
Stellar could also arouse him like no one else and claim all the ownership he liked, but Taurus did not have to take the disrespect Stellar had shown since Stygian arrived.
Stellar tore his mouth away. “Why would you think his name now?”
The hurt in Stellar’s eyes had Taurus reacting in the way he least expected.
He felt the heat blast from him as the fury hit.
“How fucking dare you? I’m the one being dismissed while you have your little stimulating banter matches.
I’m the one who has to watch someone else leave your room after you’ve spent the morning wishing it was him.
You can fuck all the way off. You’re not the one getting hurt in this situation. I am.”
Stellar took a step back. He looked at Taurus as if seeing him for the first time in years. “Get out of him.”
“What?” Even that one word sounded like he wanted to rip Stellar’s head off.
The set of Stellar’s jaw was something Taurus had never seen focused on him. He looked the way he did on the battlefield. “It’s not you I want. Stop putting these thoughts in his head. Stop using his mouth to say these things.”
Okay. Taurus had never been so confused. “What in the hell are you even saying to me right now?”
Stellar shot him an annoyed look. “Not you.” His features hardened again, but his gaze never left Taurus. “I’m talking to you: the squatter. How did you even get free?”
Taurus straightened from the wall and squared his shoulders. He had no clue why his body squared up as if he intended to fight Stellar. “I’ve had enough. You can’t even take this seriously.” Taurus took one step away to leave Stellar. His body switched course.
Fuck this. If you intend to be a pussy, I’m not.
Horror ran through him as Stygian’s voice echoed inside his head.
Like a puppet, he watched himself reach for Stellar.
This time, it was he who went for the throat.
His fingers wrapped Stellar’s neck. He pulled Stellar closer and took the kiss his heart wanted, but it wasn’t him.
Taurus wrestled for control. He was older, stronger, and more powerful than the dark fae that possessed him.
Get out!
A menacing chuckle rang through his mind. There’s no sense in fighting me. I’ve seen every thought you’ve ever had. I feel what you do. You know you want this. He’s yours. Show him what you expect—a true pairing. Put him in his place. If you don’t, you’re an idiot.
Taurus froze. He sucked in a breath. Stygian disappeared from his mind. Stellar looked dazed. Taurus took a step back. “I have him. It’s me. I’m in control.”
Stellar’s shocked expression didn’t budge. “Is that true?”
Irritation reared its head. “I just told you I’m in charge. He’s nowhere powerful enough to hold any real control over me.”
Stellar shook his head. He never looked away. “No. All the things he said about seeing your thoughts and feelings. You want me as a true partner?”
Damn. That wasn’t what Taurus thought he had meant. “No.”
“Yes, he does.”