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Bryce narrowed his eyes on the stranger as he stepped off the foyer platform and entered the living room. The carpet silenced his steps as he approached, only to stop on the other side of the coffee table and fold his arms over his chest. He blamed his tired eyes for not recognizing the Fae man sooner. After all, he’d only seen him once, and in a glance at the club.

And yet, there was something strangely familiar about him…

“I didn’t hear you come in.” What else should he say? The guy was obviously a friend. There was nothing malicious about him. Well, if you ignored the strange swirl of earthy tones that made up his eyes. And the sheathed dagger on his belt.

“I’d not expect you to. I didn’t use the door.” He flicked his fingers and a faint spray of deep blue light flickered around his hand before vanishing. “She has been at ends with herself over you. Took much convincing to get her to return here at all. And once she arrived, took a little trickery to get her into your store. And so”—the man smiled, but a strange confliction seemed to weigh on his expression—“here you are, where you and she are meant to be. Albeit, I doubt the sofa is as comfortable as the bed.”

“I don’t want to disturb her.” Bryce shook his head and straightened up. “Who are you?”

“Thierry.” An unnatural glint flickered across his eyes. Bryce stiffened. Realization crashed over him at the same time the corner of Thierry’s mouth quirked. “Aye. ’Twas me at the bar. Worried you might get yourself into trouble. Seems you’ve taken to many a bottle over the last few months, aye?”

“You were watching me?”

Thierry shrugged one of his shoulders, his gaze lowering to Rihanna. A fierce surge of jealousy and protectiveness hit Bryce. The Fae man seemed to sense it.

“Easy, Bryce. Don’t wake her. She’s been without much rest as of late.” He stepped up to the table, dug something out of a pocket on his strangely intricate leather vest, and laid the glinting gold object on the glass top. “Shaye asked Horano to create something to protect you from the past. Whether ’twas the problem from earlier—aye, he disclosed the anomaly to Horano and myself—or its origin is rooted elsewhere, best be safe.”

Bryce eased Rihanna from his side enough for him to lean forward and pick up the leather-and-gold bracelet and settle her back into place without disturbing her. He turned it over between his fingers, noting the unusual marks in the gold pieces and the low-frequency hum of what he could only describe as magic.

“Shaye couldn’t come back?” he asked.

“He has hisanam carato tend to, as she is well into her pregnancy. Those whose souls are entwined by blood in the name of the Goddess struggle in times of separation.”

Bryce glanced down at his sleeping soul mate. His heart gave a painful thump. “How did she survive without me?”

“’Twas not easy in the beginning. Shaye tended to her from sunrise to sunset and deep into the night, nurturing herbroken soul and shattered heart. Shaye is her savior, and his love for her runs deep. Horano created numerous talismans to help clarity remain strong within her mind while her cousins utilized their knowledge of herbs to try and heal her to the best possible extent. But she never completely recovered, and learned to hide her sadness behind a mask of serenity.” That weight, Bryce realized suddenly, was sadness. A burden this Fae man carried that perhaps he shouldn’t have picked up on. It teased the jealousy that had finally subsided. “Now, she has no need for a mask. Her serenity will be genuine, her happiness true.”

“And yours?” Because something in his gut told him that this man felt more than simple friendship for the woman cuddled against his chest.

Thierry’s brows wagged once and a cocky grin wiped away the sadness. “You’ve naught to worry about my happiness. ’Tis in abundance.” He pointed his finger at the bracelet. “Be sure you wear that at all times, even if you experience moments such as these.” He flicked his hand to motion between Bryce and Rihanna. “Since we know not the source of the reaction, ’tis best to be cautious until we can learn more. Shaye intends to meet with a member of Court in hopes of learning aboutanam caraswho’ve been separated by death and reunited.”

Bryce nodded, slipping the leather-and-gold band onto his wrist, struggling to get it over his knuckles.

Rihanna shifted with a soft moan, snuggling closer. He slowly lowered his arm back to her body, but her head lifted. Her lashes fluttered. Bryce cast Thierry a sharp glance.

Thierry was gone.

“You’re still awake?” she murmured, her voice sinfully sexy, thick with sleep.

Bryce chuckled. “Watching you sleep.”

A tired smile lifted her mouth and her eyes closed. “This can’t be comfortable. Shall we retire to bed?”

To bed. To her bed. To sleep with the woman of his dreams, in her bed.

“I can stay on the sofa, but I’ll gladly carry you to bed.”

He shifted to the edge of the sofa, gathered her onto his lap, and, cradling her tight against him, lifted her as he stood. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tucked her head beneath his chin as he made the quiet trek to her bedroom.

When he laid her down, she held fast to his neck. “I fear to wake and find you lost.”

Bryce smoothed stray strands of hair from her face. “I won’t be lost. I promise you. When you wake up, I’ll still be here. Maybe even with a cup of tea for you. Trust me, you don’t want me to try my hand at pancakes.”

Rihanna laughed quietly, a musical sound made sensual with fatigue. “Then sleep here, Bryce. I’ve waited so long to feel you beside me again.”

How the fuck was he to resist? After all these years of tormenting dreams? After the last six months of torturous days and nights?

His will was not his own to mold. Not any longer. Her simple request drove deep into his heart, weakening any fragile resolve to maintain propriety.