Page 129 of Wicked Magik

Helpless human.

"We didn't want to overwhelm you," Veylor said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I thought it might be too much to tell youabout my feelings, my desire to be part of you and Oryx’s relationship and that we were all destined to be with one another."

I blew a raspberry and walked across the room.

“Please, being in this realm is enough to make me want to pull my hair out. Why not add something else. You already told me I’m not fully human, and now I find out I am a fated mate to the both of you? I’ve read fictional stories in my world about it, why would it seem so strange here? I wouldn't be surprised if paranormal creatures and fated mates exist on Earth.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Anything is possible. I’ve learned to let go of logic because there are walking corpses on the property as we speak.” I flung my arm outward, gesturing at the absurdity of it all.

Oryx hung his head. “Our pet has a point.”

Veylor rubbed his hands down his face, looking more human than the stone-looking fae he once was. “I cannot win with this woman.”

I bit my lip and smiled.

Poor thing.

"Maybe that explains why I wasn’t as deathly afraid of Oryx the moment I saw him, or why Veylor's whole dark-and-dangerous act never quite landed with me."

Veylor's hands clenched into fists at his sides. "You weren't afraid of me?" His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "I command the Under Shadows. I can tear spirits from the veil with a thought. I am the darkness incarnate—a lich who has mastered death itself."

I twirled my hair around my finger. “Yeah, that doesn’t bother me. I’ve been around dead things all of my life.”

"Which makes her perfect for us." Oryx's voice rumbled like distant thunder as his tail coiled around my waist, drawing me closer. "Even with all I've witnessed through Veylor's eyes, withhis memories of who I once was, I feel there could be more. And that is you."

I realized that this strange and twisted dynamic between the three of us was more complicated than I had initially thought. As Oryx pulled me closer with his tail, I could feel a strange sense of belonging, as if some invisible thread had been connecting us all along.

Veylor's eyes held a mixture of longing and uncertainty, as if he was afraid to fully embrace what fate had apparently decided for us. I could see the conflict in his eyes, the battle between his dark, powerful persona and the vulnerability that seemed to be creeping in.

Veylor cleared his throat. “We don’t know much about mates. The higher classes did not learn about them, but I will investigate them thoroughly. What the signs are, what it means—”

“How to complete the bond…” Oryx interrupted.

Veylor sucked in a breath. “If you both wish.”

My lip curled into a smile as I saw Veylor clear his throat.

What was going on in his head?

“If you wish for me to find out exactly how to complete this bond, I would have to go to an old friend. We can make a date of it. Go to a play while we are out?”

Oryx’s ears perked up and I couldn’t help but smile. “A play? Really, we are going on a date?”

I tried to contain my laughter as Veylor tried to show emotion he wasn’t used to…enthusiasm for Oryx’ sake.

“Yes, my love. A date.”

Oryx groaned. “No one will let me in, not looking like this.” He waved his hand down his body. “Not when people have seen me kill their livestock, they find me more animal.”

Veylor placed his hand on his hip. “I have an idea. Please don’t be angry with me as I show you.”

Oryx tilted his head as we trailed behind Veylor to the rear of the lab. The torches flickered as we moved through the light. When we reached the forbidden door, I stepped back and took cover behind Oryx. I refused to be cornered against the wall again and have Oryx take me again in the hallway.

I mean, I wouldn’t mind that much, but this was important.

Oryx tapped the side of his head with his claw while observing Veylor as he waved his hand over the lock. The door opened magickally, and as it creaked open, we were all stunned by what we saw inside.

On the opposite side of the wall hung a portrait of a man with long golden hair, green eyes, and sun-kissed skin. He was a strikingly handsome fae, dressed in a green coat with gold trim. Despite being a painting, he wore a smile that showcased his dazzlingly bright teeth.

However, the most startling sight in the room wasn't anything else; it was the body draped with a sheet up to the neck. Onlythe head was exposed, with long golden hair fanned out over a pillow.