I shot him a glare, but B’nar wasn’t easily intimidated by my sleep-deprived attitude. He merely cocked his head and continued to stare me down. He was the Prince Regent of Faery, and although I considered Connor my brother, Alpha, and King, there was a part of me, my Fae part, that would never disrespect him. So, although I didn’t drop my gaze, I conceded with a slight nod. “Fine. But I won’t leave her alone. Her fight or flight willkick in if she wakes up in a strange room with people she doesn’t know. And Shannon's default is fight…”
We both knew the staff caring for her would get hurt. And Shannon would probably hurt herself in the process.
“That’s where I come in, bitches.”
I leaned to the side to see Blue strut through the door, a challenging smile on her face. B’nar winced before shooting her a warning glare. Unlike me, she completely ignored him, patting him on the chest as she passed.
“Chill, Princeling. If I’m going to be stuck here in your palace for the next seven days and nights before I do my sleeping beauty impression again, then I’m making the most of having one of my friends here. So off you go. Both of you. And leave me alone with her.”
She plonked herself in the armchair on the opposite side of Shannon and raised her eyebrows expectantly. Most of me didn’t want to leave and was about to refuse when I remembered B’nar had suggested it, too. Which he wouldn’t do unless…
“I must really look like shit if you’re both here.”
Blue grinned, and even B’nar’s mouth ticked up a bit at the corners.
“You really do.” Blue’s smile dropped as she looked at Shannon. “She’s really sick, isn’t she?”
My stomach twisted as Blue gently took Shan’s hand in hers. Hating it, but knowing I needed a break, I leaned forward to kiss Shan’s forehead. The monitor beeped steadily in the background, not giving any indication she’d felt my gentle kiss or heard Blue anymore than she had me earlier on. I sighed and unfurled my fingers from Shannon's, taking care to avoid the little tube in the back of her hand. The drip was unavoidable, even in Faery. She’d been so dehydrated and undernourished that not even advanced Fae medicine could solve it without being invasive.
“Come on, lovely. I know you’re hurting, but you’ve got to come back. I mean, it’s just cruel to leave me here alone with these two Alpha-holes.”
I looked away, unable to deal with the tears in Blue’s eyes. I wasn’t close to her, but I knew enough to realise she didn’t give her friendship easily. Shannon became friends with Ember, Connor’s mate, and as Blue was Ember’s best friend, these two had formed a relationship, too. But Blue was infected with a demon enchantment that rendered her unconscious in the mortal world, so their time together was limited. In Faery, whatever magic created that enchantment was weakened by the cycles of the Faery moons. The bright orbs cycled around the skies in opposite directions, and when they aligned in the sky for the start of a new Faery moon cycle, Blue awoke. That period of consciousness only lasted until the moons broke apart. Once the pull of that magic lessened, she fell into a deep slumber.
B’nar was technically her jailer. Blue and Ember had been digitalis dealers in Faery, but between B’nar hunting them and Doherty, Shannon’s father, cornering them, they’d been caught. The human plant was like an opiate to the Fae. It was highly addictive and dangerous in large amounts. B’nar’s father had granted Ember absolution for her crimes in Faery, but Blue was B’nar’s. He’d claimed her life as his, though it seemed he was in no rush to try her for her crimes. If anything, he’d made it clear to all of the Winter Kingdom that she was under his protection. I also knew he was working hard with his team of scientists, apothecaries, and enchanters, not to mention his father, to find a cure for Blue’s curse. He’d never said why, but it seemed like they were enemies with a heavy dose of chemistry thrown in. Where that would lead them, I had no idea. I doubted they did either, considering B’nar would likely need to marry for political gain.
He didn’t look impressed by her term of address for us, though I’d hardly noticed the insult. It had seemed more affectionate than vindictive.
“Be careful of your choice of words, human, or you’ll be back in your cell before you can blink.”
Blue smiled sweetly. “What? That luxurious apartment you lock me away in? That’s not much of a threat now, is it, Princeling? I’m sure you can do better than that.”
B’nar stared down at her, his eyes glinting at her challenge. “We both know I don’t need threats to control you.”
Blue’s smile slipped, but she recovered quickly. “Maybe not, but you won’t start a war with the Shifter King over me, will you? Which is what will happen if you harm me. I’m his queen’s bestie, remember?”
“Who said anything about harm? Many punishments don’t require physical harm. For instance, pleasure can be equally persuasive in changing attitudes and behaviour.”
Blue’s cheeks flushed, and she shuffled in the chair, her eyes darting to me before she eyed B’nar more warily. “You won’t do that to me either.”
“You’ve no idea what I will or won’t do, human. You don’t know me. But insult me again, even with a smile on your face, and I’ll lock you away from your friends….”
“No…” Shannon’s rasp froze me in the chair. It took a few seconds to process that she was awake, even with the monitor beeping crazily. She tightly grasped Blue’s fingers as if that would stop B’nar from following through on his threat.
“Shan?” Seconds was all it took before my own heart rate matched hers.
Her eyes squeezed shut, and she wouldn’t look at me. Unacceptable. Gently, I placed my hand on her sticky and damp cheek and tilted her face toward me. She still kept her eyes squeezed shut.
“You can’t hide from me…”
“Yes, I can.”
If I hadn’t been so worried, I’d have smiled at the petulance in her whisper.
“Open your eyes. Or I’ll tell B’nar to lock Blue away, and you can get used to seeing only me until you’re back on your feet.” My threat was underhanded, but no one ever said I was nice. She’d look at me, or I’d make her. Hiding from me would never be an option.
“You can’t make B’nar do anything. He’s a fucking prince of Faery, you’re not.”
She scrunched her eyes even tighter, and even though it pissed me off that she refused to look at me, my lips curled at the return of her fire. Even if it was just an ember of her usual cutting attitude.
