Page 46 of In the Blood (The Forgotten Fae #1)

He jumped up to support me, his hands on my waist. “Let me explain, I have an apartment here—”

I cut him off. “You’re such a frequent customer that you have your own apartment !” I blanched. Pig. Rakish pig .

He chuckled, rubbing the nape of his neck.

“I don’t sleep with the women here—they’re like family to me.

Do you really think I need to pay for sex?

” He gave me a dubious look that caused my pulse to race.

“I live here because the women who work here were friends with my mother. The humans that knew her are gone, but the Fae workers remain. They took me in so often in my youth, I eventually leased a room. It’s a retreat from the castle.

The workers pass useful information to me…

whispers they hear from their clients. Like I told you before, one of them tipped me off about the Elders—a personal guard got too drunk with one of them and divulged information. ”

“The intimacy of pillow talk extends to prostitutes ?”

“Of course. They’re not that different than you and I; they were just born into different circumstances.

Most of the people working here are intelligent, kind, and willing to risk their lives to fight for what’s right.

I owe them my life more than once over. Clashes with the Queen, with Galen—I’d be dead if I hadn’t had a place to escape to. ”

“I see.” I chewed my lip.

He’d needed a hideout from Galen? How far back did their rivalry go? “How is your mother connected to the brothel?” I asked.

“She was born here—her beauty was legendary. So much so that my father decided to house her in the castle, as one of his personal consorts. He treated her well, protected her… until she died.” He glanced down at the cup of tea in his hand.

I moved closer, resting a hand on his back. We were both parentless.

“I was only two,” he continued. “I don’t have any memories of her, but I can still feel the love she imprinted on me… if that makes sense. It has guided me in the darkest of times.” We stood together, thinking about those we’d lost. And those who’d be next, if we didn’t act soon.

“Let’s get you back to the castle.” Raf dropped my hand. And with that simple gesture, we built our walls back up, brick by brick.

We crossed the drawbridge as the orange glow of dusk dusted the mountain peaks.

Galen was waiting for us, clearly worried and agitated.

I watched the two men size each other up as we approached.

If they had antlers, they would’ve been locked in a display of strength.

I was transferred from Raf to Galen, like a paper-covered parcel.

Were all Fae men this tiresome or was it just these two? Rafael disappeared into smoke and Galen led me up to my room.

“You look terrible . What happened during training?” He eyed me warily. “I’ve been waiting hours for the guards to alert me upon your arrival. I was beginning to think he kidnapped you.” His voice was dripping with disdain for his brother. And I couldn’t blame him.

“I burnt out. I let my emotions get the best of me… It wasn’t his fault.” I let him support me as we walked up the stairs. Everything hurt.

“It was absolutely his fault. I don’t like this arrangement. I’m going to find time to train you myself,” he said vehemently. His uhra flashed bright red, letting me know just how mad he was.

“You don’t need to do that—you have enough to worry about. He isn’t so bad. I wish you would try to get along.”

He dropped his supportive arm around my waste and grabbed me roughly. “He attacked me. Whose side are you on?” He held my arm, twisting, until I yelped in surprise and he loosened his grip.

“My loyalty lies with you, of course, but Louis and Raf are on my side. They’re teaching me to protect myself. Meanwhile, you’re working with the Elders. Maybe I should ask you whose side you are on.” I regretted the words as soon as they were out.

We arrived to my room and Galen silently unlocked the door before gesturing, “After you.” I hesitated, afraid of the heat I could feel emanating from him. His flames were barely contained. I took a deep breath and walked through the threshold. He slammed the door behind us and I flinched.

Pushing me against the door, his fiery eyes danced over me, lingering on the fluttering pulse at the hollow of my neck.

This is where he'd first kissed me. His heat seared into me as he pressed his body into mine—until I could feel every part of him through the layers that separated us, until we were molded together.

He kissed me deeply… possessively, marking his territory with scalding assertiveness.

He looked down at the tunic I was wearing, grabbed the collar, and ripped it… like it was made of tissue. And then he was ravaging me, cupping my exposed breasts, needing me as desperately as I needed him. He nipped at my neck, my collarbone, my breasts.

Mine , his eyes said, pinning me in place.

“I’m on your side… And I will kill anyone that lays a finger on you.

I’ll disintegrate anyone who threatens you.

It's in my nature to defend what's mine, it's in my blood . Asking me to sit back while he puts you in danger is like asking a lion not to hunt. I’ll claim you over and over until you believe me when I say that I love you, Marigold.”

I didn’t know how to respond to his declaration, so I kissed him with everything I had, then used my wind to push him onto the bed, earning a look of smoldering approval.

I hadn’t heard those words from many people and I could only imagine he hadn’t heard them often either.

I certainly hadn't expected him to say them so fast.

“I love you,” he whispered against my skin as he undressed me.

“I love you,” he growled into my ear as he kissed his way down my throat.

“I love you,” he purred between my legs as he made me climax.

And I couldn’t say it back, even though I felt it. My heart was racing for him. My thighs were shaking for him. My fingers gripped his hair as I pulled him on top of me.

I love you , he said with his eyes as we swayed together. And my heart felt as full as the moon above.