Chapter 2
Iexpected the groupies being a problem, but I’d somehow deleted the fawning staff and his fucking agent.
Not surprising, because Amethyst is a grade-A cunt and I’ve never liked her.
My team has strict instructions to never listen to her, only Rev, and she still tries to command the security as if she has a say.
Fiadh is going to smash heads with her every time she slithers up to convince the Prince of nonsense.
We need to be very watchful because Amethyst is powerful and has no scruples.
“By Zeus’ chafed cock, Rev. This place is like a goddamn testament to overindulgence,” Fiadh says as she looks around the interior of the be-spelled tour bus. “I feel like I’m subjugating the masses just standing in this fucking thing.”
Khol snorts, shooting a look at the Fae as if they had a bet. It’s likely they did; the basilisk adores making people put their money where their big mouth is. “Someone owes me a Benjy,” he sing-songs in a far too cheerful tone.
“I believe I’m owed as well,” Dezi says, and I whip my head around. The vampire playing nice with the snake isn’t common, but maybe he’s trying to fit in.
Stranger miracles have happened.
“Bets aside, I should probably tell you that Revelin didn’t design this bus. The palace and his PR people created and branded it for him it.” My gaze moves to my friend, who simply shrugs. He enjoys riling our girl up too much to defend himself when she’s headed into a tirade.
“As if that makes it less egregious,” she mutters before walking through the outer living area to the kitchen. “Though this area would have delighted Fer.”
“You know you can always have Rev poke the pixie if you need to,” I say as I come behind her, pulling her close to my chest. She doesn’t realize how much touch will soothe her because of mating with shifters yet.
I haven’t discussed it because she’s getting used to having people give her affection, much less constant physical touch.
A sigh escapes her lips, making me hide my grin in her hair.
Her head falls back a little, and the tension seeps out of her frame a bit more.
“I could, but it’s only been a few hours.
Both of us need to learn to depend on others.
It’s not easy, but we’ve been so trauma bonded because of our parents’ death and the people in Briarvale.
It’s not entirely healthy. This trip will help. ”
Khol arches a brow at her. “What fucking therapist did you get that shit from?”
“Are you saying I’m wrong?” Knuckles challenges as she glares at him.
“Nope. Khal and I heard similar shit after our folks died… from a fucking therapist. So I wondered when you, of all people, spoke to a headshrinker. It’s not your style, Sassy.” He grins, eyes glittering as he adds, “You’re more the smash and bash therapy type like me.”
Fi’s face turns bright red as we all look at her and she pulls away to stomp further into the bus as she responds, “I did research, okay? I was worried about my sister.”
Mmmhmm.
“Nothing wrong with that.” I give them all a look that says ‘drop it’ so she doesn’t get even more irritable.
As much as our girl is letting us in more than she did previously, she’s got a mountain of baggage from their past. Letting her unpack it at her speed is the best way to make sure she doesn’t fall back into old habits.
We don’t need her blocking us out because she’s worried about looking weak.
Revelin saves the day by following her back to the bedroom area.
I was concerned about that part, so I’m more than glad to let him fucking handle this shit.
I made certain the staff cleaned this place from stem to stern during the two weeks we prepared to start the tour, including replacing damn near all the furniture and linens.
Fiadh may not have the sense of smell some of us do, but hell if I was going to let the previous party atmosphere get noticed by any of the others.
It would have been disrespectful, and that’s not how cat shifters work.
“What the hell, Revelin?!”
Yep, she found it.
Khol and the vampire look at me, and I shrug. “Just wait.”
Knuckles strides out with the sheepish-looking Fae in tow, her eyes narrowed. “And you didn’t think to tell me this was how your… boudoir… was set up?”
“Honestly, no,” he admits as he rubs the back of his neck. “You’re not a wilting flower, lass. And you work in…”
“That is not the point.” Fiadh crosses her arms over her chest, glaring into the room as if the rest of us were in on this. “Tier, you had to know.”
My lips curve up, and I shrug. “Wasn’t my place to say. They didn’t know and the Prince should have warned you about all this shit.”
Rev shoots me a menacing look that promises payback later, but I’m not worried.
He should have told her about the staff, the bus, the accommodations, and more well before she walked into his realm again.
I’m sure there are a thousand other things he should have mentioned as well, but he’s used to having women fall at his feet without questioning him.
It’s a good lesson to learn now rather than later.
“Fiadh, darling, it just didn’t occur to me,” he says soothingly. “I wasn’t hiding it…”
The vampire scoffs, stepping forward with an amused look on his face. “Yes, yes. We get that you’re a thousand plus year old child. Not surprisingly from Fae royalty, but can we move on to the part where someone tells the snakelet and I why she’s so angry?”
Despite his haughty words, I grin and raise my hand. “Not it.”
Rev groans as Knuckles continues looking irritated, then finally gives in. “It's a bedroom slash playroom meant for me, so there’s an enormous space, but one giant bed. And perhaps… a lot of things for adults to play with.”
The confused frown on Dezi’s face makes me laugh and I have to cough to cover it while he struggles to find words.
Once he does, his voice is calm, but puzzled.
“Witchling, I’m afraid I don’t understand your ire.
You work at Cocktails and likely are quite experienced with all of his equipment. Besides that, you have three mates.”
I roll my eyes at his leaving himself out—the coward—but walk over to my friend and our mate.
“Perhaps she’s simply struggling with added dimensions to existing relationships she’s still coming to terms with?
Pair that with a situation where she’s now relegated to sharing a sleeping space with someone she’s not sure how to deal with and it’s making her express her trepidation through anger. ”
Khol snorts, shaking his head. “Now who’s been to fucking therapy, kitty cat?”
That actually gets a small laugh out of Fi, and she blows out a long, slow breath. “Fine. Fine. I’m an absolute wreck of a witch and a damaged person. I admit it. That’s why I don’t let people in, but you fuckers wouldn’t go away.”
I rub my hands over my face, suppressing the urge to laugh again.
She’s adorable when she’s trying to figure out how to deal with things that aren’t anger, but saying that will only piss her off more.
Her self-deprecating statement has all of us quiet as we try to work out what to say that will help, but not be interpreted as patronizing.
I’m surprised when Rev goes first—he’s usually not the most self-aware being on the planet.
“Lass, you couldn’t have pushed me away with a goddamn missile. That’s just not how this works,” he pauses, tilting his head. “And if you think you’re the only supe on this bus with issues—you’d better think again.”
Raising his hand, Khol smirks as he points at each of us, starting with the Prince.
“Daddy issues.” He moves to me. “Rage issues.” Dezi is next, his eyes narrowed at the basilisk.
“Guilt and trust issues.” When he points to his own chest, he grins wider.
“Psychopath. Dead parents. Attachment issues. Rage issues…. well, the whole subscription, really.”
This time, the vampire laughs, shaking his head. “It seems our scaled friend had a talented doctor, indeed.”
I nod. “I’m calm as fuck most of the time because I had to learn to control my rage when my animal came. That’s why I’m always trying to be the peacemaker. I don’t know how he figured it, though.”
Rev sighs and nods. “The King is the worst. You met him, so you get it. But the hissing idiot is right. We all have our shit and we’ll learn to help each other carry it.
Yours isn’t any worse than ours, just different.
Stop thinking you have to pretend in front of us—we know how strong you are. Nothing you show us will change that.”
Our girl looks between us, studying our expressions as if she’s looking for something, then murmurs, “Truth.”
Dezi squints at her for a second, then his eyes light up. “She can… feel it. Truth or lies. It’s a power she’s developed. But obviously, she doesn’t want anyone to know about it, which I don’t blame her for.”
I arch a brow at my mate, then turn to do the same at the vamp. “I probably know why she hasn’t told us, but why would she need to hide it?”
“Truth tasting isn’t normal for witches,” Revelin says. His face is a mask of shock and I still have no idea why the hell this is such a big deal. “It often is a primary sign that someone will gain the sight. Seers are incredibly rare, sought after, and um…”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Princeling, don’t dance around it.” Dezi walks closer, staring at us. “She will not break when she hears it. I believe she suspects something she hasn’t shared with anyone—even her sister—because it worries her.”
I cross my arms over my chest, a low rumble of irritation echoing out of it. “Spit it out, Rev.”
He sighs and ruffles his hair. “It’s not a witch trait.
It’s not even something wizards or mages inherit.
No full-blooded, terra-bound magic user gains the sight.
Only Fae and a few mythicals shifters have it within their bloodlines.
Since it’s been so long… no one knows for certain who those lines belong to.
We haven’t had one in Faerie since I was born for sure. ”
“Has there not been one, or have they been hidden?” Dezi asks curiously. “Because I know of at least one on the other side of the Veil. But contacting them is a maze of various methods and the wait is over a half century before you hear. There’s probably a reason for that sort of secrecy.”
“You mean like the bad guys who run shit would use them for awful stuff?” Khol shakes his head.
“My uncle’s a dick and he’s always said there must be seers somewhere, but no one knows who or where they are.
I’m putting my money on the time corresponding with the middlemen or women verifying the person trying to find them.
They must not want their powers to fall into the wrong hands. ”
“Can you blame them?” Knuckles asks softly. “I didn’t know any of this, but I definitely realized having people know I can tell without error who’s lying and who isn’t made me extremely valuable to very bad people.”
Unfortunately for her, the new information is even worse for her safety.
“Maybe this is why you and your sister have been marked, Sassy.” Khol tilts his head as he looks at us.
“Between her legendary fur and this power, their lines may be targeted singly, but together, it’s far more dangerous to the evil fuckheads in charge.
Maybe that’s why their parents convinced them they were both bad witches rather than something else. ”
And that’s even worse—until we find out what the hell happened to their parents, we have no idea what to expect.