Page 27 of A Fate of Blood and Magic (Fated #2)
Chapter
Eleven
ELIAS
I stood at Niev’s border, staring past the invisible line that separated my kingdom from Tera Insaldame. As its name suggested, the land was wild with exotic plants that didn’t grow in Niev and animals I’d only read about, grazing on its fruits.
There was a sort of peace that thrummed the blades of grass that I no longer felt in my kingdom. The grief and anger that echoed from Niev’s citizens was far too great for me to sense anything else.
I stilled at the sound of Alastor’s familiar heartbeat drawing closer. Truth be told, I hadn’t expected him to meet with me. But then again, Alastor was as much a leader as I was and wouldn’t shy away from confrontation.
“Alastor.” I nodded at his approaching figure, dipping my head low as I once had done for my father and uncle.
If he understood the respect I’d just shown him, he didn’t acknowledge it. Instead, he glared at me, his onyx eyes steady while my attention wavered. My chest tightened.
“Thank you for meeting with me,” I said.
His nostrils flared, and that tightness in my chest only hardened. I tipped my chin up, forcing myself to look into his cold eyes.
“Is Ilgirth alright?” I asked.
A muscle on his jaw ticked as he dipped his head for a single nod. Relief left me with a loud whoosh of air.
“He survived,” he said.
“Good, good.” I drew in a deep breath that I held in my aching chest. “I’m sorry, Alastor. I?—”
“What is it you want, Elias?” His hard tone was unforgiving.
“I simply wanted to apologize,” I said. “To both you and Ilgirth.”
“You’ve done so.” He crossed his thick arms over his chest. “You may take your leave.”
With a jerky nod, I turned, defeated and even angrier with myself.
“Koa will go with you to the next compound,” Alastor said in my mind.
Before I could reply, the connection between us slammed shut in a way that vibrated in my mind. I looked back, unsure what I’d say, only to find Alastor gone from where he’d stood.
My head lowered, and I ran my hand over my face roughly.
Wanting to leave the day behind, I let my senses guide me to my mate. When I found her in our public library, I reached into my magic to bend space to her.
Immediately, my cheeks lifted with a reluctant smile at the sound of her giggle, and although that tightness in my chest loosened, my smile dropped.
I wasn’t surprised when I heard Ryenne laugh right alongside Teddy.
“Teddy,” Ryenne hissed .
I followed their sounds to find Ryenne on the floor cradling a book on her lap while Teddy sifted through the books on the shelves.
Stifling a laugh, Ryenne took a book from the shelf and shoved it toward Teddy. Pursing her lips, Teddy turned the book over to see the cover, but then she covered her mouth and coughed to disguise her laugh.
“ Dramione and Her Human Lover .” Teddy giggled as she read the title.
“Wait, there’s more,” Ryenne said.
I shook my head in amusement when Ryenne handed Teddy another book.
While I couldn’t read the title, I saw that the cover had a strange-looking human male kneeling in front of a toilet with an even stranger device in one hand, while his other hand gripped the toilet seat.
If I wasn’t mistaken, his ass cheeks spilled from the top of his pants.
“They did not name it that,” she said. “ Pounded by the Sexy Plumber.”
“Wait,” I said, stepping to Teddy’s side as she gasped in surprise. “I thought you had a thing for plumbers.”
Still holding her books, Teddy leaned against my chest. “Only magical ones.”
She handed me her second book and I chuckled. But was that really an illustration of a male—a lanky human male—dressed in a collared shirt and shorts that were far too short on him in the arms of a female fae warrior?
“What is this?” I asked.
“The fantasy romance section of your public library.” Teddy grinned. “I can’t believe this is what fantastical creatures consider fantasy.”
“Up until a few months ago, none of us had ever met a human,” I told her .
Ryenne stood from the floor, and with another book in her hand, she shoved it against Teddy’s chest.
“This is amazing,” Ryenne whisper-shouted.
Reading the cover, Teddy pressed her lips together to suppress her laugh. I laughed when she showed me the cover. Milking the Farmer. I held Teddy’s elbow when she almost fell to the floor in a fit of giggles. Someone shushed us, and I whispered an awkward apology.
“I’m reading this one,” Ryenne said, taking the book from Teddy.
“Really?” Teddy shook her head. “Because cowboys doing it on a horse with a gorgeous female fae are your thing?”
Someone laughed but quickly tried to cover it up with a series of coughs. Teddy held her hand to her gaping mouth. She looked so innocent and adorable, I couldn’t help myself and stole a quick kiss from her lips.
I followed Teddy to the romance section while Ryenne continued her search through the fantasy section. Teddy’s grin widened when she pulled out a book about sirens.
“Does this mean sirens are real?” she asked.
“It does,” I answered.
Her pretty blue eyes widened. “They are? Do they live in Niev?”
“With the endless winter, our waters are frozen, but they do live beneath the surface,” I told her. “They come out during our summer months. You’ll get to meet them in a few months.”
She gripped my arm, her excitement palpable. “Really, Elias? Don’t be messing with me.”
My smile came as easily as it always did around my soul-bound mate.