Chapter 3
After the guys dropped the ‘chosen one’ bullshit on me, my brain practically fritzed.
So I sniffed out Rev’s liquor cabinet, grabbed some of his stupid Fae booze, and locked myself in the Leather Lounge to figure out how to deal with all the things swarming inside of me.
None of the guys were happy, but luckily, they had things to do to settle us in while the caravan got under way.
I didn’t expect to be glad we’re headed for the stupid Harvest Court for the first set of shows, but I am.
I need to be alone to think—and drink.
Peeling the weird wrapper from the neck of the fancy bottle, I frown when I realize the goddamn thing has a fucking cork.
Who stocks booze with corks on a tour bus?
Revelin is a certified rich boy pain in my ass, and not even in the good way.
I close my eyes, praying that I can accomplish this bit of magic to get this damn thing open so I can get funked up.
It’ll help me lower my walls enough to really look at the possibility that Fer and I have some weird ass destiny or that I’m trapped for months on this rolling bordello with men I’m expected to let into my heart.
“Son of a bitch,” I whisper as the cork finally pops out and flies across the room. “At least one thing worked today. Everything else has been a personal torture designed by whatever demon is going to monitor my pit in the underworld someday.”
A flitter of amusement touches my bond and I groan.
Of course, those shitheads can sense what I’m feeling.
I add learning how to block them to my list of ‘Shit Fi Has To Accomplish On Her Own’ during this damn trip.
I’ve never been afraid of teaching myself to do things, but magic is my sore spot.
A childhood full of people laughing at our failed attempts makes it hard to try things, especially when I know someone else can see.
Damn it, Rev’s been great about helping me without being a prick.
“Okay, fine. They’re not all that bad,” I mumble as I take a swig from the bottle.
The sparkly pink liquid tastes like happiness, and my eyes widen.
No wonder people want to get their hands on Fae liquor so badly.
It’s expensive and scarce in our realm because this shit would make a monk addicted.
At least, this bottle is and I can extrapolate.
My lips curve up as I lay back on the bed, looking up at the mirrored ceiling with a snort of laughter. “Who wants to see their ass while they fuck? People are so weird looking when they have sex. This is the dumbest shit in the Universe.”
Another quick burst of laughter comes across the bond and though I’m not sure it’s the same person, I wonder why it made one of my men laugh.
I knock back another swig of the sparkle juice and my limbs relax even more.
Rolling my head to one side, I look at the equipment on the outer wall side of the room.
A swing, a small St Andrews, and a luxe looking bench/chair—nothing I haven’t seen or used before.
“This isn’t so bad,” I sigh as I turn to look at the inner wall.
There’s an enclosed yet somehow see-through shelving thing with a fuck ton of toys, a rack of various restraints, and an armoire that I assume has clothing in it.
“None of this is a hard limit, thank fuck. If he had things that creeped me out, this would be so much harder.”
I don’t have a lot on my ‘no-no’ list, but what is there is not up for debate.
There’s a knock on the door and Rev clears his throat as he says, “Sparkles, even the bloodsucker doesn’t allow the things in your head right now. He says it’s not hygienic.”
His words make my brain spin a little and I giggle. “He lets people drink blood and fuck everywhere. How is that stuff less hygienic than biohazards?”
“Because while I do not judge those who indulge in certain kinks, I also have the right to set boundaries that make me comfortable in my club,” Dezi says in a voice that is full of suppressed laughter.
“They can visit the Devil’s Playpen for that sort of thing.
The Lenoir family runs several niche clubs that cater to the things I do not wish to host.”
Squeezing my eyes closed, I let the swirly things in my head flow through me.
The stupid fairy alcohol was actually a pretty good plan because I’m feeling a lot less tense already.
It’s taking the edge off of all the stressful thoughts about having some big future where I’m responsible for the world or figuring out how I’m going to trust these guys not to fuck me over like everyone but Feray has.
In fact, I’m not even worried about how much stupid shit Revelin is going to spend money on or how ridiculous I feel rocking up with these damn rich dudes pampering me.
The inner Fiadh who fuels so much of my anger and fury is blissfully quiet—I don’t know if that’s happened since our parents died.
“Knuckles, are you okay in there?” Tier’s voice is cautious, like he’s worried I’ll bite his face off for asking.
That makes me frown because he’s easily the nicest, most accommodating man I’ve ever met.
He doesn’t expect me to be anyone but me and has learned how to make me feel safe without making me feel smothered.
I don’t want him to think I don’t care about him; he shouldn’t be afraid of asking me a question.
At least, not something like that… it’s not like asking me to stay behind in the car or some bullshit.
Licking my lips, I focus a little so I can answer. “I’m a wee bit smashed, but I’m okay, kitty cat.”
There’s a garbled discussion on the outside of the door that I scrunch my face until the sharper shifter hearing kicks in.
“… she grabbed something from your liquor cabinet…” Tiernan.
“Shit. Do you know what? That thing is filled with…” Revelin.
“Man, do you have illegal shit in here?! Look at this haul!” Khol.
“Don’t be ridiculous, snakelet… laws…. different…” Dezi.
Oh, they’re worried now. Tee hee.
Ignoring them, I knock back another gulp of the magic drink with a big grin.
I’m enjoying the lack of shit weighing on me, even if I might be imbibing something highly forbidden.
I’ve been carrying an enormous load on my shoulders for so long I forgot how to put it down.
No one forced me to do that, but I knew my sister and I needed someone to be jaded so the other could be free of all the bad shit.
Being older by a few minutes—at least, that’s what they told us—made me the best candidate.
I made sure the whole burial ritual happened.
All the bullies dealt with me. I got our housing settled along with jobs when we had to sell the house to cover things.
I made sure we budgeted and occasionally had enough for some fun.
I kept the bad folks away and let Feray keep all her daydreams and romantic notions because I was the realist.
Plus, I beat the shit out of anyone who dared to hurt my sister… gladly.
But maybe… maybe that left me with so little time left for me that I didn’t live beyond the adrenaline of bar fights and fucking.
I’m so rigid and defensive that I have people I mated with that I’m worried about abandoning me.
Fiadh Morgenstern never let herself dream about meeting one, much less four, people who gave a rat’s ass about her for more than a hump and a wave. I’m not equipped to deal with this.
“Witchling, we’re going to open this door. You’re talking to yourself out loud and the conversation concerns your feline.”
I… what? Oh, shit.
The door opens slowly, revealing Tiernan changed into his relaxed gray sweats and a tight black tee that makes him look delicious.
I blink as he comes in slowly, followed by equally dressed down Rev and Khol.
My mouth drops open when Dezi follows, shutting the door to this weird ass den of inequity behind him—also changed into sweats.
“You… all… match?” I frown again, studying the matching pants but vastly different shirts.
There’s a sliced up old band tee for my rockstar, an armless punk rock looking thing for the basilisk, and a tight, expensive looking compression thing on the vampire that shows off a body built by fucking Michaelangelo. “Holy fuck waffles.”
Tiernan snorts as he comes over to the bed, sitting down at the edge. “Knuckles, you’re high as a fucking kite, babe.”
I am? Yeah, I definitely am.
“So? I’m an adult. I’m allowed to drink away my problems.” I give him a dirty look as I cross my arms over my chest. “None of you fuckers can stop me.”
Revelin gives me a brilliant smile as he walks around the other side of the immense bed and climbs on. “Maybe we don’t want to? You are pretty hilarious when you have no idea you’re talking out loud.”
“Mmm. But also stupidly wrong,” Dezi offers. “You were spouting a load of factually inaccurate tripe, too.”
My gaze narrows as I look at him. “And who asked you, fang face? I could fill a thimble with what you know about my life.”
His grin is both smug and predatory as he moves closer, tucking his hands in his pockets.
It somehow makes him look even fucking hotter, and I can barely focus on his face as my skin heats.
“Because, witchling, I’ve tasted your blood.
You’d be amazed at how much access that gives a vampire as old as me, even with the small amount I was given. ”
“You what?” Khol hisses as he slithers behind him, putting Dezi in a tight headlock before any of us even know he’s moved. “You know the treaties state you cannot do that without permission and I know Sassy didn’t give her boss permission.”
The protective BS is annoying, but also kind of hot, so I roll to my side clutching the almost empty bottle of magical booze.
I watch the elder vamp smirk, not concerned by the angry basilisk at his back in the slightest. Tiernan sighs as he looks at them like naughty children, and Rev scoots in behind me while we’re all distracted.
“What if I said I sort of allowed it?” I ask curiously. “I mean, it was kind of a ‘no-no’ at first, but then… it wasn’t. And it wasn’t much because he got all freaked out and fluttered off like a damn drama queen into some secret passage.”
Rev snorts, burying his face between my shoulder blades. “Seriously, man? You’re older than all of us. How are you fucking bad at this?”
I giggle as Khol arches his brow and loosens the hold slightly. He leans in, still hissing a bit as he asks, “Is that true, mosquito? Did you bitch out?”
Dezi rolls his eyes to the ceiling, and it feels like he may regret his choice to accompany us on this stupid magical bondage bus. “Yes. But not because of what you children think.”
“Why would you suck her blood and run, then?” my leopard asks as he leans back on the bed, propping himself on his elbows. “Cause it sounds like you bitched out, Rev’s right.”
“I…” The vampire starts, then sighs as he pauses.
“I knew what she was, and it was jarring. I prepared myself for a life where that wasn’t an option, and yes, I have had some horrendously poor endings to relationships.
I’ve been running the bar and indulging without concern for more than physical pleasure for a very long time.
Suddenly, everything changed, and I did not handle it well. ”
I blink, tilting my head before I swig the last of the sparkly juice in the bottle.
Tossing it to the floor, I let out a huge belch and my eyes go wide.
All the men laugh uproariously, and I roll my eyes.
Being female doesn’t mean I have no bodily functions, for fuck’s sake.
Once they shut up, I whistle loudly, getting their focus back on me.
“You’re saying you bitched out, Ruby.” I grin like a madwoman. “And I kind of like that. ‘Cause I’m not very good at this shit, either.”
“Why is that, witchling?” he asks in a low voice. “You’re attractive and smart, with a good sense of humor. It seems like you shouldn’t have such a problem with men wanting you.”
I squeeze my eyes closed, wrinkling my nose as I mutter, “Because I’ve never actually dated anyone before. One and done, no strings, and no contact. If you never see them again, they can’t betray you.”
The room is so silent you could hear dust settle, then Khol releases Dezi. He jerks his chin at him and the vampire nods… which I assume means they’re cool. Both of them come over to join Tier and Rev as they surround me on the stupidly large mattress that takes up half the fucking bedroom.
Did I mention this bus is so wide it would never fit on real goddamn roads? Because it is, and Faerie is so damn weird.
They all look at me—the bonded and unbonded—with sincere expressions and because I’m full of Fae booze, it doesn’t make my ass clench.
“Mates are forever, Knuckles,” Tiernan says as he lays his cheek on my leg. “You’re stuck with us and even if the vamp has a pole up his ass, he’s in, too, because he’s here. But you can take the time you need to adjust. You’ve been doing well so far, haven’t you?”
I look back at Rev, then over at Khol, and at Dezi for a moment before coming back to Tier. “I think I have. But I’m worried I’m so fucked up I’ll hurt one of you and… that sort of matters to me now. So you have to tell me if… I’m fucking up.”
His smile is brilliant. “You won’t fuck up and you’re doing fine. And you’re cute as fuck when you’re off your tits on Rev’s magic sauce.”
Well, duh.