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Was he talking about the fairy court of elders? Or the people he was under compulsion to never mention? I sighed as I trudged out with him.

“Don’t think my reaction to yer unpleasant news is a reflection on our friendship, Murray. I’m still grateful ya guarded Fiona while I fought the man-made guardians, and I’m grateful ya joined in to help take them down. Ezra’s a separate issue and I won’t hold yer news against ya. I appreciate ya looking into things.”

“And I’m grateful ya didn’t kill the messenger. Next time, I’ll set down my ale and listen more closely to Conn’s ramblings.”

My chuckle turned into a giggle. “Conn loves his drama. I think that’s why he loves Mulan. She’s walking drama in high heels and a short red dress.”

Murray looked off behind me. “Speaking of drama, I thought ya said yer guardians prized their neutrality above all else. Rasmus is looking rather murderous at the moment. I’d best be taking my leave from ya.”

“Come back when ya got better news,” I told him.

“Indeed, I will,” Murray said.

Then he leaned down and stole a kiss. I was too startled to offer a single complaint. Snickering, Murray waved a hand and popped away in a sparkle of silver mist.

I grunted at his nerve but enjoyed his reminder that Rasmus wasn’t the only male who was interested in me. It soothed my soul a little. Murray couldn’t be trusted—no fairy could—but my ego didn’t care about that detail. The fantasy of bedding him was enough to lift my sagging spirits a little.

“What did the fairy think about your statue?” Rasmus asked when he stood in front of me.

I blew out the breath I’d been holding while I waited to see what Rasmus would say. “Murray let me know his people view angel magic as a contagious illness. I don’t know where this information is written. It seems I learned nearly nothing important about fairies in school.”

“I can understand him coming to give you that information, but why did he kiss you goodbye?”

“Oh, I think he did that to upset ya. It’s what male fairies do. Just like Ezra, he wanted to make ya jealous. Did it work?” I asked.

Rasmus grunted. “Every human species on this planet loves to play games, don’t they?”

I thought of the oblivious version of Rasmus who had comforted me after my fight with Orlin over Zara. That version of Rasmus understood the trauma of my human emotions. That version had rubbed my back and held me. I gave myself a few moments to mourn his loss because now I realized it was one.

My opinion of his right to be himself hadn’t changed, no matter how mad I’d gotten over his obstinance. The surly version of Rasmus in front of me was the being Rasmus trulywas. That other one was more human in the same way Zara was now more human. Both human versions were illusions, though.

Goddess knew that the surly Rasmus was not an easy male to deal with. Yet the surly Rasmus was the version I’d eventually slept with and the one I still wanted even now. But I needed him to drop his “I’m-superior” attitude and at least try to understand why I was so upset.

I needed something more from him than pale platitudes.

I glared up at him. It was my default expression lately when he was around. “It’s comments like that one keeping ya from my bed, guardian. I’ll not share myself with a male who thinks so little of me and my kind.”

“You forget I’m not a human male. I don’t have feelings like one.”

My snort was loud. “And ya know I disagree with yer cold, scientific conclusion about this human form ya put on like a suit of clothes. Ya think as a guardian that ya don’t have any feelings but that’s simply not true. The only feeling ya allow yerself is angry arrogance and it wears on my nerves. I honestly don’t have it in me to tolerate it every day. So if ya have nothing kind or helpful to share, leave me alone.”

When all he did was frown down at me, I turned to go back into the house.

“Aran... wait.”

Sighing with frustration I stopped and turned back. “What now?” I demanded.

He eyed me with not a shred of warmth in his gaze. “We agreed to be monogamous.”

“Which, as I recall, was my idea. Did ya bother to notice that I didn’t kiss him back?”

Rasmus crossed his arms. “No. Jealousy makes me violent. I don’t think well when other men hover around you.”

“Well, I guess that’s two emotions ya count as real. Keep me informed if ya get to feeling any others, Mr. Scientist. I’m waiting anxiously for the moment ya realize that yer human body feels human emotions whether or not ya’re in denial about them.”

I waited a moment for a response. When it didn’t come, I walked away.

Chapter Six