Page 140 of Never Kiss a Fae

“And I’ll be right there beside him,” Zephys agreed. “I voted against this. You have nothing to lose, Cyrus. Your people have already been obliterated by the curse Ophelia unleashed upon us, but what about Obsidian’s people?”

The Earth Fae Elder rolled relaxation stones across her palm. “We have managed to stifle the illness expanded from the Spirit Kingdom. It will breed out in a generation or two.”

Obsidian didn’t like to take sides or vote and often opted out of decisions for things she felt were out of her control. She dealt with problems as they came to her.

“You should be more concerned,” Zephys growled. “This Halfling will bring about the curse again, and it could be your people who suffer.” She shrugged, which only enraged the Air Elder. “Come on, Obsidian. Get your head out of your arse.”

She narrowed ebony eyes at him. “Trying to predict the way the earth moves will not help us prepare for tomorrow. If the curse hits us, we will respond to it.”

Mortus snorted. “She’s right about one thing. We are ready for whatever comes.” His black eyes flashed with challenge. “I hope you’re keeping an eye on the Halfling when you return to the Academy, because there are others who know what trouble she’ll bring.”

There you are,I mused.

I tilted my head in mock innocence. “Is that a threat, Mortus?”

He launched to his feet. “If I was threatening you, then you would know it, you insolent—”

I slammed my hands on the table, standing and leaning toward him. “You’d what?” I demanded, wanting him to snap, to provide me with the opportunity to shred apart his soul and find my brother. “Come on, Mortus, what would you do?” I pressed on him with my spirit, allowing him tofeelmy challenge deep inside. “I am yourking,” I reminded him, my words underlined with enough power to make the entire room cringe.

My spirit wove around his, prodding, sensing for a weakness, anything that could tell me what he’d been up to. His enlarging irises told me he felt it, knew what I was doing, and the shiver that rolled across his skin said it scared him.

Good.

Unfortunately, Elana ruined the moment by sending a fine mist of water over the table as if she were spraying a herd of cats for misbehaving. Interesting timing for her to intervene, as if she sensed I was closing in on something important.

And since when could she create water? Elana was notoriously powerful in spirit, but she had no other elements under her control. A very rare state for a Spirit Fae, but a well-known fact where Elana was concerned.

Did I imagine it?Because it was already gone.Maybe it was pixie dust, not water?

“This meeting is meant to be informative,” she stated flatly. “I will not have bickering.”

“Then what purpose does this meeting truly serve, Elana?” I inquired, over the charade of this bullshit. “None of us like each other. It’s all a power play, and as I sit at the top, I’m a constant opponent.” I moved away, pushing my chair in. “If there’s nothing else of import, I’ll get back to my temporary assignment.”

She sighed. “Cyrus…”

“I understand what you’re trying to accomplish here, Elana, and I admire you deeply for it. But not everyone on this council feels the same.” I glanced pointedly at Mortus and Zephys and finally at Blaize. “You all want to condemn an innocent woman for the atrocities of her mother. Perhaps you should consider investigating the sins of your own parents to determine your ability to lead.”

My name trailed behind me as several argued my words, but I didn’t listen.

I’d attended the council as a formality and to remind Mortus of my place.

Task accomplished, I had a new item on my list.Protect Claire.

Because I’d seen the indignation in the Councils’ eyes. One slip and she’d pay the price with her life. I refused to allow that to happen on my watch.

Where are you, Exos? This power game grows tiresome without you. And your little queen is quite the handful.

Just thinking of Claire had my lips curling. Oh, she loathed me, and I, of course, encouraged it. But she needed the tough love to grow.

All this coddling bullshit would destroy the woman. She needed to realize her potential, and the only way to do that was by pushing her to achieve greatness. As no one else seemed keen to do it, I’d taken on the task.

And when we found my brother, he’d take over what I’d started.

Easy. Hopefully. Maybe…

I shook my head. There was no alternative. I needed her to be strong so I could use her to find Exos. Whatever she did with that strength was her choice and didn’t impact me in the slightest. Not even a little bit.

If I told myself that enough, I’d grow to believe it. Because she wasn’t mine, and she never would be. Exos owned her spirit, and I refused to interfere with that. But even I could grudgingly admit as I tilted my head up to observe the stars above that my brother had chosen well. I didn’t get it at first, but two days with her showed me why.