Page 121 of Never Kiss a Fae

Vox nodded. “Is she going to Fire Quad?”

“Yes.” Titus ran his fingers down my spine, causing me to shiver. “I’ll be with her all day.”

The Earth Fae snorted. “Good. That means we don’t have to worry about her.”

I frowned, unsure of how to take that. We hadn’t even met yet. Not formally, anyway. “Sol, right?”

His brown eyes met mine, a hint of hesitation in his gaze. “Yes.” No elaboration. No welcoming comment. Nothing to go on. Just a flat response accompanied by a grimace.

Great.

“I’m sorry to meet you under these circumstances,” I told him softly. “Hopefully, I can improve your opinion of me later. You know, when I don’t resemble a drowned rat.” I pointed at my head for emphasis.

Vox’s lips twitched. “It’s not your best look.”

“Thanks,” I replied, returning his grin. “But I like leaving lasting impressions. Obviously. I mean, I created that disaster of a vortex when we met the other day. Tonight, I met Sol after surviving what felt like a tidal wave. So tomorrow, maybe I’ll just go up in flames during class and burn off all my clothes. Should be fun, right?”

“Your uniform for Fire Quad is fireproof,” Titus reminded me, smiling. “But I would enjoy that show.”

Sol didn’t seem nearly as amused.

But at least Vox chuckled. “Never a dull moment with you, Claire,” he said softly.

I nodded. “Well, thank you both for, I guess, moving in.”

“Not by choice,” Sol pointed out, his arms folding across his thick chest. The fae was built like a linebacker, his well-over-six-foot height dwarfing mine.

I swallowed thickly, glancing up to meet his gaze again. “I… I can talk to Cyrus and excuse you from the guard, if tha—”

“That’s not going to happen,” Cyrus said, walking in with just a towel wrapped around his hips.

Yeah, he and Exos were definitely brothers.

Chiseled.

Perfection.

With a dusting of hair that led—

“My brother may have allowed you to make the rules before, but I can assure you, I am not Exos.” His icy gaze captured and held mine, a warning radiating from his pupils. Leaving me speechless, he shifted his focus to the others. “Sol and Vox, go grab your shit. I expect you back in an hour. We’ll go over some things for tomorrow. Titus, give Claire a bath, fuck her, do whatever it is you need to do to feel content with your mate. I don’t want to see her again until after her classes.” He gave a wave as if he expected us all to follow his orders.

And shockingly, the fae did.

Sol muttered under his breath, yanking Vox out the door without saying goodbye, and River trailed along with them.

Titus gave me a calculated look, his vexation stirring embers between us. “The sooner we find Exos, the sooner that jackass leaves.”

“It’s like you read my mind,” I replied.

“I did,” he admitted. “Now, how do you feel about starting a fire in the bedroom? One that might spread a few doors down?”

My lips curled. “Seriously, it’s like you’re in my head, Titus.” Because that sounded like a fantastic idea.

“Glad we’re on the same page, sweetheart.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “Let’s give him a shower. One littered in ash.”

“I love you, Titus.”

“I love you, too, Claire.”