Page 24 of A Song of Air (Fae Elementals #4)

W eylyn paced back and forth the next day, keeping his hands clasped tightly behind his back. He stopped, stared at the clearing, and when no one came, resumed his pacing.

If that ice cold Fae of a woman reneges our deal, I will make her suffer.

Draped along his shoulders was Ryker’s familiar. He couldn’t seem to rid himself of the beastly thing. Especially not now, when he wanted her around even less. Because he could feel her claws digging into his shoulders and her amused voice flitter through his mind.

You are very entitled.

Don’t chastise me, feline. He had the urge to chuck her from his body and let the wild animals have their way with her.

She purred with amusement. The Elemental does not belong to you.

“She does,” he said aloud. “She is mine. ”

No. She is Everett’s.

Weylyn sneered at the mention of the human’s name. The fucking rat bastard... The way he draped his arm over Bryson as though he owned her. The way he kissed her like she was his, and relished in doing so in front of Weylyn.

The only reason he hadn’t ripped his entrails out the asshole was because Bryson seemed taken with him, and he did not want her to despise him for such violence just yet.

“I’ll not let some pathetic, sniveling human keep her from me.” He resumed his pacing. It was the only tell of agitation he would show. “Besides,” he continued, “I already know everything about her.” He smiled, content with his magic and the ability to dig deep into his mate’s mind and know her every dark secret before she even told him. “He is not enough to sate my mate.”

The cat rolled her eyes, and Weylyn’s feet stopped when he heard the sound of approaching footsteps. He whirled, his anger building as Iona emerged.

But she wasn’t alone.

Trailing after her were Shula Azzarh and Corvina Rhian.

He cut a glare to the ice Elemental. “What is this?”

She looked at her companions then back at him unapologetically. She was pissed, and he could read her hatred from her body language without having to dive into her mind. He knew he had frightened her the night before, but he did not care.

She’d deserved it.

He had tried to ask her in an amicable way, but when she’d proved difficult, he’d been forced to call in on their deal. So, she would suffer the consequences, and he would feel no remorse if she failed.

“You never told me I had to keep it a secret.”

His teeth gritted as he imagined her whispering the words to Julius. Their whole party would know by nightfall, if they didn’t already.

“You also said you need my help to ‘conquer’ Bryson’s heart. Well, I’ll need reinforcements if we’re going to make you seem even the tiniest bit likable.” She sneered at him, and he fought back a chuckle at her obvious disgust.

“Be careful where you pass your judgment, Iona Wylde,” he warned. “I have seen your mate. If there is anyone with questionable taste, it is you.”

Iona snorted. “Fuck you. Now, let’s get this over with so I can get this thing off my arm.” She went and perched herself against the edge of a large boulder.

Shula followed, casting wary glances at Weylyn as she passed. He fought the urge to hiss and frighten her on purpose, to scare her just a little more. As Corvina passed, she paused, smiling tentatively at him.

He returned it with one of his own.

“Now.” Iona clapped her hands together. “How do we get this heartless, creepy bastard to make Bryson fall in love with him?”

The wind fluttered.

The trees swayed.

The cat stretched.

Weylyn was met with silence.

“Well, you’re doomed.” Iona made a move to stand, and Weylyn narrowed his eyes. Immediately, the magic of the binding deal responded, burning against her arm and making her cry out.

“Ahem,” Corvina interrupted. He reeled the magic back and turned towards her. Her golden curls coiled down her shoulders, and she nervously plucked at the ends. “Did you have a plan of your own?” she asked in her mousey voice. “You know, to win her over?”

Weylyn gave a single nod. “Yes.”

“Can I ask what it is?”

He smiled. “I plan on killing her lover.”

Simultaneously, the three women dropped their mouths open.

“That...” Shula began. “That’s not a plan.”

“You’re fucking insane,” Iona snapped. “What the fuck, Weylyn? You can’t just kill him because you feel like it!”

He shrugged his shoulders, appearing careless and confused, though deep down he felt a burning anger. “I will not let a sniveling human who smells like fucking weeds take what’s mine.”

“She’s not yours, though,” Iona argued. “She can reject the bond whenever she wants.”

His gaze snapped to hers. “Well, you’re here to ensure that doesn’t happen.”

“I can’t predict the future!” Iona threw her hands in the air. “What if she rejects you anyway?!”

“Then you are of no use to me.”

Iona screamed, dropping to her knees as the pain began to consume her. Shula dropped beside her, but Corvina stood, waving her arms. “Stop,” she pleaded. “Weylyn, stop.”

The magic immediately settled. Iona heaved a breath and Shula helped her stand. When they faced him, he glared. “It is only because of my High Lady that I take leniency on you.”

Corvina took a breath, and he avoided her gaze purposefully. He didn’t want to see the way her opinion of him changed, the veil ripped from her eyes as she realized what a monster he truly was when she esteemed him so.

Shula, however, glared his way. The depths of her ember eyes sparking with hatred and fire. “You’re such an asshole,” she growled.

He didn’t blink or contradict her. He knew very fucking well what he was and didn’t need her to tell him.

“You will help me,” he repeated.

Iona glared and snow swirled at her feet. His lip twisted up into a smirk that said, ‘Try me.’

After releasing a breath, she let her magic go and gritted out, “Fine.”

The women joined together again. There was a stretch of silence as they looked at him. It was Corvina who broke the silence first. “So, the plan...”

“If I cannot kill the pathetic human, then what do you suggest I do?”

Iona chortled. “Have you thought about getting to know her? You know, like a normal person?””

He hadn’t considered that as an option.

Fool, the cat purred into his mind.

He tilted his chin up. “She is mine,” he said firmly. “It’s been declared. There is no need for anything else.”

“If you think that then you’re doomed to fail before you even begin,” Iona snapped.

Before he could respond, Corvina cut in. “What if you offer her your help with a task?” she suggested softly. “Become friends with her in that way.”

“Why would that be necessary? We are not friends. We are mates.”

Her bent, scarred fingers played with the ends of her hair. “You don’t know her story.” Her voice became a touch sorrowful. “You don’t know what kind of hurt she’s been through. If you persist, you could do more damage than good.”

She was surely thinking of her own terrors at the hands of that sniveling cowardly human. If he were alive, Weylyn would have cut his gut open and carved his insides, just to hear him fucking scream. He deserved that and more for the offense.

Clay had missed an opportunity when it came to him.

Anyone who put a hand on his mate would find themselves without their fucking hands. And then without their life.

He wondered though if what Corvina said held merit. Was that what his mate wanted? To get to know him before she accepted the bond?

He shook his head back and forth. Fucking stupid, foolish advice, he wanted to growl. Because he was a monster. One only had to look at him to realize the truth of that. And he wasn’t sure he wanted to subject anyone, least of all his mate, to what darkness lived within his depths. Regardless, she belonged to him now.

And if she had hurts? He would take them away and ensure anyone who harmed her died a slow death. And he would fucking take her. Conquer her.

He would insert himself so deeply into her life that she’d be forced to accept the bond. It didn’t matter how long it took, there was one thing for certain.

She would be his.

His gaze cut up to Iona’s. She must have seen something in him to make her take a fearful step back. “Your advice is worthless to me.” She screamed as the pain consumed her. She fell to her knees, cursing him. And Weylyn turned, leaving her there for a few steps before he released the magic of the deal.

Her whimpers died down as the golden leaf disappeared from her skin.

“You asshole!” she called out.

He didn’t turn around, but he acknowledged the truth to her words.

He was an asshole, but he was also worse than that.

But he didn’t need to explain that to them.

They’d know it soon enough.