Page 86

“Hi!” The hand waved.

“No, no, no, no, no!” Croygen paced in a circle, his head wagging, before turning back. “No!”

“Yes, Captain STD.” Sprig crawled out of the pocket to the top, and I noticed this time he didn’t have the underwear, but a tiny backpack on instead. “You Neanderthal fae forget the mighty power of us sub-fae.” He stood up, his hands on his hips.

“Don’t do it.”

“Behold…”

“Don’t do it.”

“Ta-da-da-da…”

“Do. Not. Do. It.”

“Suuuuper Sprig! Coming to your rescue!”

“You did it.” Croygen blinked up at the ceiling.

“You know you need me.” Sprig held up his fingers, spreading them out. “Magic hands!”

“Oh, my gods.” It dawned on me what he was getting at. I never had that much interaction with sub-fae, but I was aware they had qualities typical faeries didn’t. Some might call them a weakness because sub-fae had far less magic than fae. Limited. Because of that, they were neutral to some magic. Like fae locks. “You can get through a spelled lock, can’t you?”

“Duh. That’s why I’m calledSuperSprig.”

“Holy shit. You are a godsend.”

“Hear that, assbuckler? I’m godsent. Ohhhh, speaking of godsent. You don’t happen to have any honey in your tits, do you?”

“Huh?”

Croygen groaned, though a smile slipped over his mouth.

“Is that only aBheanthing? I praise her honey tits all the time. The Viking and Scurvy King over here do too.”

“I’m sorry?” My head shot to Croygen.

“We don’t have time for this.” Croygen stepped up. “If you’re here to help, then help, fur-ball, or I’m gonna use your honey bag as a muzzle.”

Sprig hopped on my arm, motioning for me to hold him near the lock.

“Is that a Winnie the Pooh backpack?” I stared at the bag in the shape of a honey pot with the goat’s head sticking out.

“Pam prefers riding in there.”

“I can’t believe you brought her,” Croygen grumbled.

“You know how mad she gets when I leave her.” His eyes widened like she turned into a fire-breathing monster. “In contrast to you, I like to please my woman.”

“He’s got you there.” I shrugged.

Croygen’s dark eyes shot to mine, sparking with heat, causing my lungs to slow, his kiss still searing my body. The intimacy in his look was daring me, challenging me. I knew perfectly well he could not only please a woman, but he would shatter them into pieces.

Not able to hold his gaze, I went back to Sprig as Croygen huffed at his win.

“Almost there…” Sprig worked the lock, his brow furrowing in concentration.

A door slammed from below, tensing both of us.