Page 238 of Never Kiss a Fae

I growled as his lips claimed mine. If I couldn’t feel the very real worry traversing our bond, I might have bitten him. But sensing the weight of his fear had me melting into him on instinct, my need to convince him that I was fine outweighing all the words he’d said.

Because he was right.

Going out there alone had been a really stupid thing to do.

I knew that, especially after everything that had happened.

My arms wove around his neck, holding him to me as he devoured my mouth with his own. Cyrus’s kisses were all-consuming heat and adoration, and I returned every ounce of that emotion with my tongue.

It wasn’t until I felt the others approaching that we finally broke apart, Titus’s fire a burning flame against my soul as he glowered at my water mate. “I hate when you do that.”

Cyrus wrapped his arm around my shoulders, holding me at his side. “I would apologize, but I wouldn’t mean it.”

“So much for a fun night at the ball,” Sol muttered.

My heart sank. “Oh, Sol…” I walked across the courtyard into his open arms and hugged him tight. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin our evening. I just…” I glanced backward at Cyrus. “I wasn’t thinking. I heard my name and followed it.” Which could partly be blamed on the alcohol, but also on my curiosity. “It didn’t sound like her until I was outside and surrounded by the lilies.”

“What did she say?” Exos asked, his voice holding an edge to it.

I sighed. I’d let them all down, something I secretly vowed not to do again. Not when it resulted in all these disappointed expressions. “I’m sorry,” I said again, this time to all my mates. “It was a stupid thing to do.”

“Yes,” Exos agreed. “Now I want to know what she said.”

I swallowed, glancing around, and dropped my voice to a whisper meant for their ears alone. “She told me that everything I know is a lie and not to trust Elana. Then she disappeared before she could elaborate.”

Cyrus snorted. “Well, that’s informative. I haven’t trusted Elana in nearly twenty years.”

My brows rose. “What?”

“Instincts,” he replied. “I’ve never bought into her holistic-fae approach. It’s always felt too contrived, and I swear she’s hiding something.”

“Yet you told me to accept her mentorship.” I frowned. “Why?”

“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, little queen.” He winked at me. “Remember that.”

“She’s definitely hiding something,” Exos added. “But I don’t think she’s evil.”

“What did she have you do the other day that made you so uncomfortable?” Sol cut in. “The day I picked you up from her house?”

“Can we do this inside?” Vox interjected, sounding tired. “Sound carries out here, and I don’t want to waste energy on covering a conversation that could happen in the dorm.”

I nodded and followed them all into the common area inside the dorm. Cyrus took the chair, Titus across from him in the opposite recliner, while Vox and Sol took over the couch with me between them.

Exos was the only one who remained standing. “What did Elana teach you?”

I cleared my throat and glanced at Sol, who gave me a reassuring nod. “Tell him.”

“She, uh, conjured a spirit. A dead fae.” I twisted my hands in my lap, wincing. “I didn’t…” I swallowed and tried again. “It didn’t feel right, but I thought it was just my mood. You know, with my mom and all that.”

Cyrus’s face told me my reaction had nothing to do with my mother and everything to do with Elana. “She raised the dead?” His icy gaze narrowed at Sol. “And you knew about this?”

Sol appeared just as uncomfortable as everyone else in the room. “I only knew Elana introduced her to the other half of her ability. I didn’t realize that meant raising spirits from the ground.”

“You should have told me.” Exos sounded frustrated. “That’s not how spirit magic works.”

“How would I know that?” I countered, my shoulders falling. “She’s my mentor and the damn Chancellor. She’s supposed to be good. Right?”

Cyrus and Exos shared a look, both of them shaking their heads. “Yeah, she should be good, but lately, there have been signs of her hiding something.” The statement came from Cyrus, his gaze still on his brother. “She manipulated water at the last Council meeting.”