12. Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Zelyah
I don’t know much about Faerie, but I’ve heard it’s a beautiful place that lures you into your death. Stories warn that those who enter risk getting trapped in its illusions forever. Thinking about crossing into that mystical realm makes me tremble slightly. The legends say Faerie can ensnare even the strongest-willed if they falter. I have no plans to let that happen to me. But now circumstances are forcing my hand. I fought Agent Cooper because I didn’t want to accidentally get stuck in Faerie. With my luck, that’s something that would likely happen to me. The fewer people who see me, the better. Yet lately, I’ve been meeting way more people than a Succubus should. Can’t a deadly Succubus get some ‘me time’ around here without constant witnesses?
This won’t work long term. I don’t need anyone remembering my face, especially if I gotta skip town in a hurry. Witnesses recognizing me would make a speedy getaway tough. And we can’t have that now, can we? It was easier when I spoke to no one and had no attachments to anyone besides my abuelita. I formed a bond with Nick, and I ended up killing him. Attachments are too dangerous for a Succubus who could snack on someone during a friendly encounter. Nope, solo living is the way for me. This recent need to be a social butterfly has to stop now.
I don’t get a chance to appreciate my hair, makeup, and long, revealing dress before Agent Cooper barges into my room.
“Are you ready?” he demands without looking up. His eyes stay glued to his watch as I stand waiting.
“Yep, all ready,” I say as I take one brief look at myself all done up.
When he finally glances my way, he stumbles and catches himself on the wall. I bite back a smile. Well, well, it seems my outfit managed to crack that hard exterior. Cooper recovers quickly, but I caught that unguarded moment.
He turns abruptly and walks out. “Let’s go then. We’re late.”
I’ve never gotten this glam before, even for my birthday. I tried my best with cheap makeup and fixing my locks with tools that didn’t want to heat up, so my hair was lacking, but this—it’s like I’m a whole different person.
I look at myself briefly; my hair is in long waves with some added blue glitter that makes my copper strands sparkle. I try to touch one of the curls, but it’s held firmly in place. My dark blue lips and rosy cheeks make me look exotic and sultry. The dress is gorgeous. It’s black with shimmering blue specks. It has a small train in the back, and the neckline plunges into a deep, wide V shape all the way to my belly button. I even have some of that shimmer on my breasts to make them pop more. Dark blue pumps complete the outfit. I just hope I don’t have to run for my life there because I’d be screwed. The team did such a great job.
“Make sure you tip them well,” I add, knowing it’ll get a rise out of him.
His lip curls up slightly in a faint smirk. “For the amount of money I tipped them, they told me that they’ll drop their other clients if we ever need them on short notice.” I look at myself one more time, and I can feel the heat of his gaze burning a hole through my dress. When I look back, he’s already turned away. “Come on, we can’t be late.”
I walk behind him, wondering how we’re going to get to Faerie. We step into his bedroom. This is the second time I’ve been in here, and I’m wondering if we’re making a pit stop. I glance around his room, admiring its light, ocean-toned colors. Just like his eyes, everything in here reminds me of the sea.
I don’t get to examine it further because he’s pushing a bookshelf to the side and something that I can only describe as a portal shines through. What the fuck? I never thought this was possible.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell people that there’s a portal here?” I don’t actually know how many gateways to Faerie there are. It wasn’t something I was ever interested in, but now I’m more curious than ever.
“You won’t tell anyone,” Agent Cooper states matter-of-factly.
I scoff. “How do you know I’m not going to tell my friends?” I cluck my tongue.
“You don’t have friends, Zelyah,” he says bluntly.
“How do you know I don’t have friends?” I don’t know why, but the truth in his words makes me feel defensive, maybe because it hits way too close to home.
“Because they would have already tried to save you,” he replies easily.
Fuck. He has a point. “Well, how do you know I won’t tell your whole neighborhood?” I threaten weakly.
He looks at me like I’m an annoying child. “Do you want your freedom?”
“Yes.” I don’t think twice about this one.
“Well then, I know you won’t do something stupid like tell people I have a portal in my room.”
“How do you have a portal in your room? I thought there were only portals in designated areas?”
He smiles wickedly, which leaves me wondering who the hell this guy is and what makes him so important. Before I can assault him with any more questions, he grabs my hand, and I ignore the tingling feeling that shoots up my arm. It takes less than a minute for me to touch the ground again. I’m not sure what to think about going to a different realm. Agent Cooper releases me and a hollow pang hits my stomach. But the feeling is quickly forgotten as I take in the sight before me. I’ve never seen so much vibrant greenery. Emerald grass sways gently, dotted with wildflowers in every vivid color of fiery orange, sunny yellow, and royal purple. The trees form a leafy canopy overhead, branches rustling with whispered secrets.
“The stories were true. This place is beautiful,” I breathe.
“It is,” Agent Cooper agrees, the casual words confirming I spoke aloud.
Something catches my eye, but it moves too quickly for me to decipher what it is. If you look closely, it’s almost as if the trees are whispering to one another. Although beautiful, this place seems strange.
I start walking, determined to spot whatever flits at the edge of my sight. But Agent Cooper’s hand encircles my bare waist, pulling me back. At his brazen touch, heat explodes across my skin. My heart pounds, and my wet, needy heat throbs to life deep in my core. Fuck! I’m just glad he’s not a shifter, or he’d smell how instantly wet that got me. What is wrong with me? I hate this guy. Yet my traitorous body arches toward him, craving more contact. This intense attraction makes no sense. I need to get control of myself.
He brings his lips close to my ear, sending delicious shivers down my neck. “Zelyah,” His tone is seductive, and I wonder if his power to seduce with his voice is amplified because we’re in his homeland now.
“Please, call me Zel,” I say in a low voice.
“Okay, Zel, don’t ever try to walk this place by yourself. It may look beautiful, but looks are deceiving,” Agent Cooper warns.
He releases me, and I turn, gasping involuntarily. Beautiful but deceiving, just like him. His turquoise eyes shine brighter, and his skin seems smooth and flawless. His pointed fae ears are fully elongated. He looks impossibly perfect—almost irresistible.
“Zel.” Fuck, and when he talks, moisture keeps pooling between my legs. I need relief—now.
As Agent Cooper steps closer, I retreat unsteadily. His citrusy scent envelops me, and my core aches to be filled, to have him take me here among the flowers. This is a bad idea. I should’ve fought him harder to stay behind.
The sound of squeaking wheels approaches. My body tenses instinctively, ready to defend myself. I should have brought a knife. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. I should’ve come armed, especially walking into a foreign place. I don’t have to sweat it too much when I see a carriage. Wait, a carriage? Yeah, that’s certainly a carriage coming our way.
As our horse-drawn ride comes to a stop in front of us, he frowns at my hesitation. I’m skeptical, and it’s not because I feel like we’re in the 1800s. Nope, it’s much bigger than that. I don’t know how I’m going to control my Succubus nature, when being a couple feet apart from Agent Cooper has my Succubus libido going into overdrive. Everything is enhanced. My Succubus wants to feed on him. He looks so damn sexy.
I need some air.
“You’re outside,” he says.
Shit, I spoke that out loud again.
“Wow, is this how they pick everyone up in Faerie?” I ask randomly, trying to focus on anything other than the desire coursing through me.
“Only for very important faeries.” He chuckles, and it’s like honey to my ears.
I arch a brow. “And I suppose you’re important?”
He shrugs. “Maybe only a little.”
That does nothing to calm my nerves, it heightens them even more. Who the hell is this fae? I thought he was only an agent, but he seems to be much more than that.
“Come on, get in,” he says, placing one hand on my lower back. The gesture feels possessive, is he feeling the same way I do? I need something to distract me from his closeness. I walk up the three steps and sit on one side of the carriage. I’m relieved when he sits on the opposite side.
Is it really better, though? All we’ll be able to do is watch each other the whole time.
“How long is the . . . uh . . . drive?” I’m not sure what to call this.
“The portal is a mile away from our destination so that people can’t just portal into this territory unchecked without having to pass security measures first.” He fixes his collar like it might be too hot for him here. I’m no vampire, but I can see how quickly that vein in his neck is pulsing.
I bounce my knee up and down, but it shakes the whole damn carriage, and I’m afraid of breaking it and having to walk in these insane heels. Remembering I hid a pack of gum, I slide my hand down to my thigh, feeling the soft fabric of my dress against my skin as I retrieve a stick of gum from my garter. His eyebrows raise, silently questioning my actions as his gaze lingers too long on the exposed curve of my leg.
“You want gum?” I ask, assuming that he’s shocked I hid it in there.
He swallows hard before answering, “Yeah, I’ll take one.”
I hand him one, being extra careful not to touch him, but the carriage hits something, maybe a large rock, and I’m thrown toward him. An intense, electric sensation shoots through me, like a jolt of lightning. My skin tingles, and for a moment, I feel like I’m drowning in the intensity of it. He doesn’t move, and when I look up, I can almost see blue swirls in his vibrant eyes.
Is it hot in here? This carriage needs some air conditioning.
“We don’t have that type of technology here.”
Well shit, I spoke out loud again.
“But maybe we should.” His voice is strained, and I’m happy I’m not the only one who’s affected by whatever the fuck is going on here.
We hit another bump, and my body moves even closer. I’m now sitting on his lap with no clue how I got there. My body tenses, wanting to release, wanting to feed. It’s a strain to hold it back, but I have to. I have no choice. If anything happens to me here, I can’t escape. He’s right about Faerie being beautiful but dangerous, and I’m more likely to be captured here than back home.
Agent Cooper is chewing on his piece of gum quite fast, and I can’t help admiring his strong jaw moving up and down. My gaze focuses on his lips.
“Prince Valerian,” the driver announces.
I freeze. Prince? This arrogant FBI big shot is secretly royal? That explains the superiority complex. It seems like I’m not the only one keeping secrets. This FBI agent is keeping a couple of his own. I have so many questions now. What am I willing to risk to uncover this prince’s secrets?