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Chapter 29

Meera

I inhaled deeply, my chest rising as the crisp morning air filled my lungs. The first rays of dawn crept through the drapes, warming my bare back. Glowing embers replaced the fire in the hearth. Goosebumps lined my skin where the sheets had slipped down, the soft fabric twined around my body as my hair spilled in loose waves across a pillow.

The after-high of Faerie dust had finally burned out, leaving behind a heady, intoxicating afterglow. Even the deep winter chill that seeped into the room couldn’t chase away the lingering heat. It was almost a sin to wake up, to pull myself from this dreamlike trance.

I sighed, rolling over—only to jolt upright as shredded bits of pillow and feathers clung to my hair.

My breath hitched.

The bedding. The mattress. The sheets. All torn to shreds .

My gaze darted to the headboard, tracing the deep claw-like notches along the horizontal post. Memories slammed into me— the swirl of his tongue, the pressure as he filled me, the callouses on his hands as he caressed my skin, all the way to the moment ? —

Oh shit. My eyes dropped to the arm loosely draped over my waist. I followed it to the sleeping man beside me. My fated mate.

No lie, a significant part of me was panicking. Fae didn’t have fated mates anymore. That somehow we were? It was crazy. Utterly insane . . . but also made a strange sort of sense.

I didn’t know much about fated bonds. My parents were chosen mates. I’d never heard of people dreaming about each other long before they ever met. I doubt Vareck had either, or he would have connected the dots sooner.

Maybe it was because of the curse?

I wasn’t sure, but I knew what I felt. The truth of it went soul deep, as undeniable as the sun in the sky.

I slipped from the bed, stuffing a pillow under Vareck’s arm where I had been. A pucker formed between his brows, as if he sensed that I’d moved.

“You’re up early.” I jumped at the voice.

Corvo lay across the fur rug in front of the fireplace, warming himself with what heat the embers still had left.

I turned quickly, scanning the room for something to wear. Faux golden leaves lined the walls, twisting into decorative vines along the ceiling. Other than the bed, the only other furniture was a low-dresser and two armchairs with a small table between them.

I opened the drawers, wincing when they let out a small squeak. Each one was empty as the last. My lips pressed together. I could dress in the clothes from yesterday . . . if I wanted a repeat performance of last night.

I did, but the ache in my muscles told me it wasn’t the greatest idea. It also didn’t solve the clothes problem, because eventually we did have to leave.

“What are you looking for?”

I glanced over at Corvo and glared. “Clothes. Also, do you have to stare at me while I’m naked? It’s weird.”

He chuffed. “I’m a cat.”

“I don’t care if you’re a blue alien or the hottest man alive, it’s still weird.”

He rolled his golden eyes. “You’re so dramatic, but fine. I suppose I owe you for the whole pixie dust thing . . .” My duffle bag from the castle appeared, still unzipped with a bra hanging out.

I blinked. All right, then.

My choices were limited since none of the clothes Vareck bought me were in it. In the end I selected a pair of jeans with rolled up cuffs, a plain long-sleeved shirt, and a stylish sweater vest to go over it.

While cute, I was going to freeze my ass off if I stepped outside. “Can you get my cloak?”

“What am I? A pack mule?”

“Didn’t you just say you owed me?”

Corvo groaned. “Fine. Don’t say I never do anything nice for you.”

I snorted as my cloak appeared. I finished tying it around my shoulders, then looked at my bare feet. “What are the odds you can get me some shoes and wool socks too?”

They appeared, but he looked displeased. “I really ought to start charging you for this. I take payment in pets and tuna.”

I padded over the rug to kneel beside him, giving a scratch behind the ear. Corvo purred, leaning into my hand. “Ohhhh yes. That’s the spot.” When I stood back up, he let out a sound of protest. “Wait a minute, where are you going?”

He glanced between me and the sleeping king. If a cat could have lifted an eyebrow, he would have.

“Downstairs.”

His eyes narrowed. “I would think after last night you wouldn’t up and run away again. I mean, it was amusing the first time, but like, V will be pissed if he has to chase you down now that you both know you’re mates.”

I whirled on him, pointing an accusing finger. “How do you know that?”

“I believe I told you this before you fell out the window.”

I lifted my hands to form air quotes as I repeated, “Fell.”

Corvo rolled his eyes again. “Point is, I’ve known since you showed up.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “How?”

His head tilted. “I’m a god. Duh.”

My lips pressed together. “I thought you were a cat, hm?”

His tail flicked. “Semantics. Point is, even in this form, I still have my magic. You and V have matching auras.”

My brows scrunched together. “Matching auras? What, like spirits?”

“Did I say spirits?”

“Well, no, but?—”

“Think of it as colorful smoke that swirls around you. Everyone has a different color—but soul mates are the same.”

I twisted my lips, not sure if I believed him. I mean, he thought he was a god. Sure, he had magic, but that didn’t prove much. Most everything has magic in Faerie. Plus he was Vareck’s familiar. I couldn’t see a god being a familiar, but what did I know?

I shook my head and bent over to put on my socks and shoes. “I’m not running,” I grunted as I stood up. My legs protested, every muscle in my body begging for a warm bath and good massage. “I’m going to talk to the innkeeper about something to eat and the closest portal out of here.”

“That sounds an awful lot like leaving.”

I sighed. “I need a few minutes to myself, but I’m not going anywhere.” My eyes strayed back to the bed, where the king of Faerie slept. My chest warmed at the sight. I lingered for a moment, unable to help it. A part of me wanted to undress and climb back into that bed.

But that bitch was the thirsty ho that got us into this mess.

Still, I couldn’t bring myself to regret it. Any of it. This thing between Vareck and I . . . it was a lot to take in. There would definitely be an adjustment period. We had a crap ton to talk about given I’m technically a criminal and he’s royalty. But I would be a damned idiot to walk away from this without giving it a shot.

“Keep an eye on him,” I told Corvo.

“I’m not his keeper.” At my glare he added, “What’s in it for me?”

“I’ll ask if they have tuna.”

He perked up at the suggestion. “Sold.”

Shaking my head, I let myself out of the room, taking great care to close the door as quietly as possible. The wood creaked beneath my feet as I made my way downstairs.

No one was at the front desk, but the scent of cooked meat beckoned me forward. I rounded the stairs and followed my nose. Down a short hallway and to the right was a small eating area with a bar. I took a seat on a tall wooden stool that wiggled whenever I shifted my weight.

“Good mornin’, ta’ ya,” a fae with a kind smile and crow’s feet said. I recognized the voice from last night. He must be Farris. “I’m surprised yer up already, given the dust n’ all. Anywho, what can I do for ya?”

A blush rose to my cheeks. “You got anything to eat for breakfast?” I cleared my throat, and Farris quickly poured a glass of water from a bronze tap and slid it across the counter. I murmured my thanks, taking a long sip.

“I got pan-fried venison and roast potatoes.”

My stomach rumbled. “That sounds great.”

He nodded once, looking me over. “Should I be gettin’ one plate or two?”

I hesitated. “Two would be good. Is it okay if I take them back to my room? My . . . boyfriend is still asleep.” Boyfriend felt too casual a word for what we were, but mate was too intense, if true.

Farris quirked a smile and gave me a friendly wink. “Gimme a few.” He disappeared behind a curtain to where the sizzling of a pan was coming from.

The stool beside me scraped against the hardwood. I jerked at the sudden noise. The small room was empty, save for me and Farris. Maybe Vareck had woken to?—

The thought stopped in its tracks. Fury rose inside me, clouding out any other feeling beneath its heavy weight.

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

Lou tilted his head, a slight smirk playing on his lips. “Hello lass, good morning to you too.” Rakish eyes moved from my face down the length of my body, not that he could see much given the cloak. “Rough night? I heard about the dust. Then again, you disappeared with the king and now you smell like winter.” He crinkled his nose in distaste .

“Cut the shit, Lou. There’s no way in the nine realms that you just happened to be in Warwick at the same inn that I’m staying in. So I’m only going to repeat it once. What. The. Fuck. Do. You. Want?”

The leprechaun sighed. “All business with you. Seems getting laid hasn’t changed that.”

My hands curled into fists. I eyed the counter looking for something to stab him with. Preferably something sharp, but I wasn’t choosy. “You sent me on a job that resulted in my being held captive, then worked with my captor to put a magic binding necklace on me—one that I fucking found for you.”

Lou chuckled, seemingly unfazed. “Now, now. You got the necklace off, and by the look of things you should be thanking me for?—”

“Get to the point,” I compelled without thinking.

Lou frowned, but didn’t obey. “That’s not very nice, Meera. It also won’t work. But alas, I’m a busy man so I’ll keep it short. I got a job for you.”

I stared at him. A solid ten seconds went by before I threw my head back and laughed so hard my eyes watered. “You”—I gasped, struggling to catch my breath—”You think I would ever take a job from you again?”

He cocked his head to the side, not smirking anymore. “You’ll wanna take this one.”

I snorted. “Yeah, no. Pass. You could offer me a million bucks and I wouldn’t take it.”

Farris appeared from the back room, carrying two steaming plates of food. He set them on the table, eyeing Lou curiously. His gaze dropped the medallion on Lou’s chest, his leprechaun relic. A slight edge entered the jovial man’s expression. “What can I get ya’?”

“Whiskey neat,” Lou said, nodding toward one of the brown liquor bottles on the shelf behind Farris. “Two fingers. Actually, make it three.”

I shouldn’t judge. There had been a few days over the last few years that I’d partaken in bad choices like drinking at eight in the morning. Most of them had to do with the jobs he sent me on, but it wasn’t something I was proud of.

That said, Lou was a prick and deserved to be judged.

“What?” the leprechaun said, lifting a black brow to provoke me. “Got something to say Meera the Mighty?”

I rolled my eyes and then glanced at Farris with a polite smile. “What do I owe you?”

The innkeeper patted the counter gently. “Yer boyfriend paid me triple the room rate. We’re square.”

I nodded, thanking him for breakfast. Without looking at Lou, I got up and started to walk away.

“Take the case, Meera.” The way Lou’s voice changed stopped me cold. There was no charm to it. It lost its playful luster. Worse? He almost never called me by my name unless it was with the stupid add-on. I was usually ‘lass’ or some cute pet name.

“Why?” I bit out the question.

“Because your sister’s missing.”