Page 218 of Never Kiss a Fae

A few of the nearby Spirit Fae laughed, clearly hearing the sarcasm in Cyrus’s commentary. Exos just shook his head. “You’re incorrigible, brother.”

“So you and my little queen keep saying,” Cyrus drawled, winking at me. “Want something to drink, Claire? Maybe a glass of mead?”

Exos’s mouth preoccupied mine before I could reply, his tongue parting my lips and capturing my undivided attention. Oh, his kisses literally removed me from this plane. I wound my arms around his neck, holding him close, and gave him everything. All my adoration. My trust. My heart. My soul.

His element stroked mine, eliciting a flurry of butterflies across my skin. I giggled as they appeared in corporeal form, their pink wings fluttering in excitement.

Several fae gasped around us, awed by the display of power.

But Exos merely smiled. “Always creating life, my Claire.” He pressed another kiss to my lips before releasing me. “Let’s have some mead before Gale drinks it all.”

Someone snorted loudly. “It’s ye brother who’ll drink it all, lad.”

Cyrus pressed his palm to his heart. “Me? Never.”

A few laughs echoed through the main square, causing Exos’s mouth to tilt upward even more. “It’s a joyous occasion,” he announced, lifting his eyes to the crowd. “Let us celebrate new life and a renewed destiny, and drink to a prosperous future for the Spirit Fae.”

“Hear, hear!” everyone cheered, the sounds of excited chatter breaking out amongst the town. It wasn’t long until the spritemead made its rounds, all the fae indulging in mugs of the potent liquid. And a fire blazed to life—courtesy of Exos’s secondary ability—in the cobblestone center.

Pixies and other fairylike creatures buzzed about, delivering plates of snacks, while a female with long blonde hair tended to what appeared to be a roasting boar above the fire.

It all unfolded so naturally, so beautifully, that I wondered how often the town’s people indulged in such festivities.

“Not regularly,” Exos whispered. “Not anymore, anyway.”

“Morale is down,” Cyrus added. “Way down.”

We sat on a wool blanket a few yards away from the flames. Other couples had joined us nearby but kept to themselves while they enjoyed the appetizers brought to them by the flickering “staff.”

“Maybe you need to do this more often,” I suggested, glancing around. “They seem to be enjoying themselves.”

It was laid-back, but the vibe felt happy, almost relieved to have a reason to socialize. I couldn’t imagine how lonely these fae were with how much loss they’d suffered over the years. And that none of them could have children, well, I assumed that only worsened the mood.

Most areas of the Spirit Kingdom were like Spirit Quad at the Academy—desolate and dead. This was honestly the most life I’d seen since visiting these lands. I wanted to see more of it, to learn more about all the fae who survived, to find a way to help them grow.

There had to be a reason the fae couldn’t procreate, some sort of lasting impact on the spirit element. My mother would know. Maybe it was good she hadn’t really died. When we found her, we could demand answers.

“A hunt?” Cyrus asked, eavesdropping on my thoughts as he was wont to do. “I’m down for that.” He bumped my shoulder. “But you still have classes, little queen.”

“I think locating my mass-murdering bitch of a mother is a little more important than school,” I muttered, staring at the flames. “She tried to kill me. Hurt Exos. Killed thousands of fae.” Each statement made me angrier and angrier. “And she’s still alive somewhere, probably plotting her next move.”

Something dastardly and evil.

I could feel the knowledge of it in my blood, the very real burn of an impending doom.

Cyrus wrapped his arm around my shoulders and yanked me into his side. “Nothing is going to happen to you, Claire. Not on my watch.”

“Or mine,” Exos added, his hand grabbing mine.

I shook my head. “It’s not me I’m worried about.”But everyone else.“She almost killed you, Exos.”

He canted his head, his lips curling. “No, baby. She didn’t come close to killing me. I’m a lot tougher than that.” He released my hand to cup my cheek and leaned in to kiss me. “And we’re mated now, princess. So you’ll never have to worry about losing me again.”

Cyrus’s lips met my neck, his kiss working its way up to my ear. “You’re stuck with me, too, little queen.”

Fire licked a path down my spine, my stomach tightening in anticipation.

Only to have a female clear her throat. “Your Highnesses,” she greeted as both men looked up at her.