Page 98 of Never Kiss a Fae

“You want to use her as bait.”

“She’ll have guards.” I looked pointedly at him. “Right?”

“You’re really not going to take no for an answer, are you?”

“I only accept viable responses,” I told him. “Nois not reasonable.”

He pulled out his hair tie and shook out his long mane of dark strands. Then fixed it up again. A nervous tell, one he seemed to be using to buy time while he puzzled over a response. We both knew he’d already made up his mind. Why else would he be curious about the dynamic between me, Claire, and Titus?

Oh, they might not have an initial bond yet, but their powers had already begun dancing around each other. “You’re interested,” I said, amused. “You just have to embrace it.”

“It’s complicated.”

“Yes. And fun.” I pushed off the wall and glanced up at the star-dotted sky. “Our elements drive us, Vox. Listen to your air, see how it feels, go from there. But in the interim, I need your help in setting up a trap.”

“What kind of trap?” he asked warily.

“One where we entice the guilty party to come out to play, then nail his or her ass to the ground. You game?”

His pupils dilated. “You’re giving me a choice?”

“No, I just want to know if I need to make this a command or not.” Because he would help either way. But I’d prefer him willing. If he had a stake in this game, he’d care more, and I needed to surround Claire with those whowantedto protect her.

Vox considered me for a long moment, his expression radiating a mixture of uncertainty and concern. Then he sighed and resolve settled over his features. “All right, Royal Fae. What do you need me to do?”

“So you’re in?”

He gave me a look. “I think it’s pretty obvious I joined whatever the hell this is when I showed up at the Spirit Quad tonight.”

I smiled. “I knew I liked you.”

“Yeah, yeah. Tell me what you need.”

“For you to whistle around a rumor,” I replied simply. Then gave him the words I wanted him to repeat. “Tell everyone. Or better yet, say it in front of Aerie and let her weave the web for you.”

“That’s one hell of a tale to be telling.”

“It’s what convinced you to venture over to the Spirit Quad, right? A rumor about Claire’s upcoming expulsion?” I hadn’t actually spread that one, the students doing it for me. But when I heard the rumor flying about, I wondered how Vox would react. And he had sought me out, as I’d hoped he would, proving he cared and wanted to protect Claire.

“You did that?”

“No, I was too busy caring for Claire. But I was aware of the comments flying around, and I saw the panic in your expression when you arrived. You thought the Council voted to expel her.” Which wasn’t the case at all. We hadn’t even convened yet. Although, a few of them were definitely sending notes of wrath and consequence through the air.

“That’s what I heard, yes.”

“And you rushed over to proclaim her innocence.” Not a question, but a statement. Because that was exactly what he’d done.

He stared at me for a long moment, then laughed without humor. “You’re good, Exos. I’m not sure if I like that skill or fear it.”

“Stay on my good side and you’ll have no reason to fear it.” End up on my bad side, well… that’d be another conversation entirely. “So you’ll spread the gossip?”

His lips twitched. “Yeah, I’ll get it to the right ears and meet you at the gym tomorrow.”

“Excellent.” I clapped him on the shoulder. “Good to have you along for the ride, Vox. I think you’ll make a fine air mate for Claire.”

“That’s not—”

“Spread the rumors elsewhere, Vox. We both know the future here, and there’s no sense in denying it. But good luck with your inner fight. I give you a week, tops, because you will cave.”