Page 67 of Sidhe (The Incubus Saga #3)

When it was finally time to go downstairs and face the next day, Nathan and Sasha moved as slowly as possible. Before allowing Nathan to get dressed, Sasha demanded he map out every inch of Nathan’s incubus body, just wanting, needing to touch him.

Nathan admitted he missed Sasha’s red hair, hoping it would lighten the mood, but Sasha had no like reply.

Instead, he ran a hand over Nathan’s once again human looking shoulder blades just as he was about to slip on a T-shirt.

Nathan hadn’t really gotten to see his wing tattoos, the way they looked when they were just markings instead of wings , but Sasha said they were beautiful, larger than most like they constantly wanted to sprout out of his back and be free.

That made Nathan long for another chance to fly with Sasha where he was the one doing the carrying, but he doubted they would get that opportunity today.

They kissed, Sasha’s back pressed to the still closed door they had been attempting to walk out of for minutes on end; their arms wrapped around each other, bodies flush, not yet ready to face the world, not yet ready to lose this. Finally, they had to.

Sasha walked ahead of Nathan as they made for the stairs, and Nathan wondered if it was so he could still the tears filling up his eyes.

Sasha’s eyes were dry by the time they reached the bar, but Nathan knew better and slipped his hand into Sasha’s for a quick squeeze before joining Jim and Alex at a table for breakfast.

Nathan started spreading the word early that he wanted to gather everyone together in the afternoon.

Jim caught wind of it and tried to ask what was going on at the same moment that Sasha called to them from across the bar.

Three very recognizable heads were amongst the now familiar bustle of people.

Nathan smirked at Jim, patting him on the back as he said very casually, “Figure it’s almost time to call attention to the big ol’ elephant in the room, Jim. We just needed a little more backup. Once we’ve done that…I think it’ll be a good time to call Puck.”

Of course Jim was right on Nathan’s heels when he turned to head for Sasha, following him to the main doors where Cam, Charis, and even Lindsey all had duffels for a long stay.

“Nathan, are you serious?” Jim hissed as they sidestepped various people along the way. “That’s great, but…coming clean with the seals about the fae here could be—”

“Really fucking dangerous,” Nathan said. “I know. But worse if we wait and the seals find out some other way.” He grinned over his shoulder but made it very apparent how serious he was. “Trust me, Jim. I got this.”

It took Jim a moment to steel himself over the issue, but he soon nodded.

Nathan didn’t miss that as he approached the doors, he caught the tail end of Sasha and Lindsey embracing.

“Dude, look at you .” Cam broke into a wide smile as he eyed Nathan up and down. He was just as Nathan remembered him: all bronze, tan skin, brown hair and golden eyes; his small stature clad in earth tones and jeans.

Charis’ silver eyes glittered. “Is it permanent?” she asked, looking lovely in a burgundy sundress. Lindsey stuck out like usual with his white hair, despite trying to blend in with jeans and a black T-shirt.

“It’s complicated,” Nathan said. “I’m just glad you guys were willing to come.”

“I would like to have a moment alone with you, if I could,” Lindsey said with all the timing and tact that Nathan had come to expect from the surly incubus. He didn’t look particularly homicidal though, which Nathan figured might have something to do with them being the same species at the moment.

“Uhh…sure. I think the side lounge is free.” Nathan cast a quick glance at Sasha, who smiled hopefully back at him. He and Lindsey had hugged, after all, so Nathan decided he could take this one on faith.

They left the others at the doors, as Nathan led Lindsey through the bustle of the bar area into the side lounge. Nathan didn’t bother shutting the door, but Lindsey reached back and closed it tightly once they’d crossed the threshold. Nathan tried not to let that worry him.

Awkward would have been a nice way to put how those first few moments alone felt. Nathan was about ready to burst and knew he had to say something when Lindsey finally spoke.

“I know you saved Cam’s life. Sasha’s too,” Lindsey started a little haltingly, looking more at Nathan’s T-shirt than at him.

“You risked your life for both of them in Pittsburg, from what Cam told us. You did much more when your contract with the sidhe was up. Sasha’s devotion to you…

cannot be the folly I once believed it to be. ”

Figures it would take a complete act of self-sacrifice to sway this guy , Nathan thought, but he had to smile. “Yeah, well…loving him is probably the best thing that’s ever happened to me, even if it has painted a few more targets on my back—and front—on occasion.”

Lindsey let out a small huff. “Do you know why I hate seals, Nathan? Why I have trouble trusting them, let alone any humans? Because just like Sasha, my parents were killed by a seal simply because of what they were.”

Nathan had not known that, but he answered plainly regardless. “Then we have something in common.”

Lindsey returned Nathan’s steady stare. “It would seem so. Sasha is wrong if he thinks I’ve hated him just because he wanted to be like his father. It’s hard to believe I can trust him as a seal, but he’s still one of us—even if at the moment, he’s not.

“What made me so angry back then was that he never said anything to me. Best friends our entire lives and he doesn’t bother to tell me he wants to be a seal until we’re ready to head out into the world?

I figured…if he didn’t trust me, why should I trust him?

And I know how stupid that sounds,” Lindsey said in frustration, walking past Nathan further into the room.

From behind, his white hair glowed from the light hanging in the center of the room.

“We were just dumb kids and we lost so much because of it. Maybe it’s all simpler than I want to believe.

Maybe it isn’t a trick. Maybe you really do love him as much as I feel from you…

and there really are seals out there who only want to help.

” Lindsey turned back to Nathan, surprising him with how wet his acidic green eyes had become.

“But I won’t put the people I care about at risk.

Even seeing you as one of my own now, I will always have one eye on you. ”

“Fair enough,” Nathan said, “just as long as you give Sasha more of a benefit of the doubt than you give me. He’s really missed you.”

Nathan saw a corner of Lindsey’s mouth twitch. “Will you give him something for me?”

“Why don’t you give him whatever it is yourself?”

A deep sigh fell from Lindsey’s lips, but his harshness had vanished, and Nathan thought he was finally getting a look at who Lindsey truly was.

“Because I want you to do it,” he said, almost childishly indignant.

“Later, when you’re alone with Sasha. He’ll make a big deal over it and…

I’m not ready for all that…” Lindsey made a weak gesture at the air like he was trying to stir up the rest of his sentence.

“All the crying and hugging and sappy crap?” Nathan said.

This time Nathan was certain a corner of Lindsey’s mouth curved.

“Exactly. It’s nothing big,” he said, and as he did he reached into his back pocket for his wallet.

“I was supposed to give it to him…a long time ago. Never got the chance.” He pulled out what looked like a small bit of paper and handed it to Nathan.

A grin broke out on Nathan’s face as soon as he saw it. “Okay, you definitely made the right decision if you want to avoid the mushy crap. I’ll give it to him when the time seems right.”

“Good,” Lindsey said. Then with some difficulty he added a low, “Thank you,” while redirecting his gaze. “I assume I don’t have to tell you that if you ever hurt him…”

“Wrath and carnage. Got it. But, uhh…you’ll still let me buy you a beer some time, right? You know your wife thinks I’m adorable.” He smirked.

Lindsey narrowed his eyes. “Perhaps.”

“All I’d ask for.”

They returned to find the others gathered around a table not quite big enough to fit them all, so they each chose to join the group by standing behind their better halves.

“You all know as well as I do how pointless it is to talk to those people,” Sasha was saying as they walked up. “They’d probably watch the whole world burn and not even shed a tear over it.”

“What’s up?” Nathan asked.

Sasha had an angry expression that Nathan was not used to seeing. Then he realized that amidst Sasha, Jim, Charis, Cam, and now the twins at the table, Shiarra had joined them as well.

“I’ve managed to arrange a meeting with the High Council,” she said.

“Both to request pardon for Sasha and to allow him to once again return to the Veil when he chooses, and to request their direct aid in the coming battle. The king and queen of light fae have no say over our people. You’ll need to speak with them directly. ”

“Awesome,” Nathan said, since more help sounded fantastic, especially if it had the benefit of letting Sasha return home when he wanted.

Sasha didn’t look as convinced though. “I get that it will be a difficult conversation judging by the drawn faces, but this affects them too. I’m sure I can sway them. How long do I have before the meeting?”

Shiarra leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. Her hair was long and wavy as always about her shoulders, a rich black that matched Sasha’s now, though she wore a more utilitarian outfit than usual, in jeans, a fitted T-shirt, and a canvas jacket.

“Half an hour,” she said.

Nathan gaped. “Half an—! How are we supposed to get there?”