“Someday we’ll be done with all this and have loads of time for fun, right?” I whispered, enjoying the feel of his pointed ear against my lip.
The moonlight painted silver along his horns, over his slightly folded wings, and along the fabric that clung to his broad chest and muscular arms. “I wish for that every day.”
Hekla walked up and tugged at her own fae outfit, an ensemble of ruby red leaves and a belt made of golden beetles. “This outfit is badass.”
I touched a beetle. “I didn’t think you’d be down for wearing insects.”
“As long as they don’t come back to life and eat my eyes, I’m good.”
“Holy shit. I did not need that image.”
Hekla shrugged. “I’m trying to fit in.”
Lucus’s mouth lifted. “By acting dramatic? Is that how we immortals seem to you?”
She swallowed at the word immortals but soldiered on. I couldn’t help but be proud. “You’re completely dramatic. And intense as hell. I mean, what’s with all of this? They can’t just turn on a TV and order a pizza? If they can make their freaking veins glow, I’d think a simple night at home would be easy peasy.”
I felt the need to explain. “They glow because they are unseelie. Dark fae.”
Hekla eyed Lucus. “Right. I remember someone mentioning that. Their dark magic is visible in their blood. But you, Lucus, you’re not unseelie.”
“I am not,” he said quietly.
Glancing between Lucus and me, Hekla pursed her lips. “Still dangerous as fuck.”
Lucus’s right eyebrow rose. “Indeed.”
Hekla started forward. “Well, I’m glad I have at least one monster on my side.”
Lucus was watching her walk away, a funny look on his face.
“What is it?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“I trust you so much more because you have a loyal, honest friend. The mages I battled in the past, they knew nothing of inspiring loyalty in their soldiers or mercenaries. Kaippa, for instance, hated the Mage Duke. He only worked for him to gain riches and blood.”
“Wait. Hekla isn’t my soldier.”
Lucus studied the feasting, his gaze sliding to Arleigh, who had just emerged from the far side of the meadow, her antlers stark in the moon’s milky light. “Are we not heading into war?”
A bitterness rose in my throat, and I swallowed.
“Is Hekla not risking her life for you and your goals without argument? She is your loyal knight, Coren. Make no mistake.” Lucus held his arm out for me, and I took it, grateful for the warmth of his touch.
How would this little war go? I shivered in the autumn breeze as Hekla sat on a mushroom beside the Binder. What would my one soldier suffer by the end of the night?
Chapter 25
Lucus and I were almost to the dais where Arleigh stood beckoning us when two drunk, male fae stumbled out of the shadows, hanging on one another and laughing.
Aurelio and Baccio.
Lucus stiffened at my side.
Arleigh joined in their laughing. “Come, brothers of our guest. Have more wine. Ah!” She turned as guards brought four people to the center table. “We have auras in ocean blue, oaken green, and the palest sunrise pink for you to enjoy.”
One of the humans, a guy in a business suit with a head of riotous bleach blond hair, said something I couldn’t quite hear and walked in a daze toward Aurelio. A woman in a slinky, silver dress trailed him, her lips parted and her hands in her hair like she was going crazy.
Aurelio looked better than I’d ever seen him. His cheeks were flushed, and he seemed to have gained serious muscle in his arms and legs.
Lucus nodded at his brothers. “I looked for you today. Though I’m glad you’re well, I am curious about where you have been hiding.”
Aurelio smiled kindly at Lucus before kissing the man’s neck and tucking the woman under the shelter of his arm. “Good to see you, Lucus,” he mumbled, his words slurring. “We’ve been enjoying the quieter side of Queen Arleigh’s court.” Aurelio’s gaze found me. “Thank you again for shattering the curse, Coren.”
I shuddered. Did these humans have the willpower to say no to this if they chose? I seriously doubted it. Aurelio was feeding on them right now, and I wasn’t doing anything about it. But I couldn’t. If I did, I’d upset Arleigh and ruin our chances to escape.
Baccio’s harsh voice interrupted my thoughts. “Don’t act as if you were truly worried for us.” He was staring at Lucus over the head of the other two humans. “We know where your loyalties lie now, brother.” His gaze slid across my throat like a knife.
My stomach twisted as I raised my chin in defiance. I refused to show any fear here. “It’s not like he had a choice, Baccio. Queen Arleigh wished to see him, and so he went.”
“Exactly so,” Arleigh said silkily, her eyes shifting to watch me.
I was a guppy in a shark tank, but I had to remember this guppy had lightning hiding behind her little fins.
Arleigh waved her hands casually, and a woman about my age, wearing leggings and a wide-necked sweater, walked forward, her lower lip trembling and her human eyes glazed over. A sick grin tugged at Arleigh's mouth. The fae queen's fingers spread wide, and magic poured from her fingers. The human woman dropped to her knees, the lure working on her just as well as it did on all of us non-fae.
"Please," the human whispered. She pulled at her sweater like she wanted to rip her clothes off.
Arleigh tilted her head, antlers casting jagged shadows over the human. Then Arleigh’s hand shot out and gripped the woman's
