"He can see you," Seraphina repeats, making frantic shooing motions. "He shouldn't be able to see you!"
"Oh, that." Ivy steps closer, examining me with unabashed interest. "Shadow magic. Opens the perception. Temporary side effect." She circles me with graceful steps, then flicks my ear painfully. "My, he's even prettier up close. I can see why you've been so distracted lately, Sera. Those cheekbones could cut glass. Very Alpha."
Despite my weakness, I find myself oddly energized by this surreal conversation. "Thanks," I say dryly. "I'm also charming and incredibly powerful, when not recently cursed. Would you like to find out what my shadows can do to fairy wings?"
"Ooh, threatening me already!" Ivy cackles, darting just out of reach. "Charming indeed. Tell me, Shadow Boy, is it true what they say about Alphas with big shadow magic? That they're compensating for...smaller knots?" She makes a measuring gesture with her thumb and forefinger, barely an inch apart.
Seraphina makes a strangled noise. "Ivy, I swear?—"
"What?" Ivy asks innocently. "I'm only getting to know your mate. After all, if you're going to be taking his knot regularly?—"
"He's not supposed to see you!" Seraphina cuts her off, cheeks flaming. "The fated mate bond?—"
"Relax," Ivy interrupts. "He won't remember any of this anyway. The fever and the curse will wipe his memory of anything...unusual." She turns to me with a wicked grin. "That means me, by the way. I'm the unusual thing. Though from what I've observed, you're into some pretty unusual things yourself, Shadow Boy. Those shadows of yours get very...creative in the bedroom, don't they? And that knot of yours—very impressive size, I must say."
"Depends on my partner," I reply, recovering enough to play along. "Care for a demonstration? I've always wondered if fairies taste like honey or more like those annoying little insects they resemble."
"In your dreams, Shadow Boy," Ivy snorts. "Though I'm flattered by your interest, my tastes run more toward beings who don't brood constantly and kill people for fun. Besides, your Omega here would get jealous, and trust me—you don't want to see her jealous. I remember that maid who flirted with her first boyfriend? Still missing three fingers."
"Ivy!" Seraphina looks ready to combust.
"I'd like to know," I interrupt, genuinely amused despite my exhaustion, "if Seraphina always talks to thin air, or if I'm witnessing a special occasion."
Ivy cackles. "Oh, constantly. Long, detailed conversations. Sometimes she argues with you. She makes a terrible impression, by the way." The fairy deepens her voice comically. "'I am Malakai, I brood magnificently and make poor life choices! Worship my mighty shadows while I dramatically sweep my cape and glower seductively! My Alpha musk is very intimidating!'"
Seraphina makes a strangled noise.
"That's actually not bad," I admit, grinning. "Though I prefer to think of myself as contemplative rather than brooding. And my cape-sweeping is an art form, thank you very much."
"She also practices other things," Ivy continues wickedly. "Like what she'd like to do to you in bed—both the murdering kind and the considerably more entertaining kind. She's quite creative with those light daggers of hers. Did you know they can be shaped into?—"
"That's enough!" Seraphina lunges for the fairy, who darts easily out of reach.
"Fine, fine. I'll behave." Ivy stands closer to the bedpost. "You're no fun when you're worried. Though I must say, your concern for the big, bad Alpha is adorable. 'Oh, please don't die, Malakai. Who would I stare longingly at during council meetings? Who would knot me so perfectly?'"
"I'm not worried," Seraphina says automatically.
"Please," Ivy scoffs. "You haven't slept properly in three days, and you've been mixing potions until your fingers are raw. If that's not a worry, I don't know what is." She leans toward me conspiratorially. "She threw a water pitcher at Emmett when he tried to bring in the court healers. It was magnificent. Hit him right in the..."
"Three days?" I interrupt, looking at Seraphina with newfound appreciation. "You've been fighting this curse for three days?"
She avoids my gaze. "As I said before, self-preservation."
"So you claim," I reply softly. "Yet there was nothing self-preserving about keeping my Alphas away. If anything, their power might have eased your burden."
"Or killed us both if their magic triggered a reaction with the curse," she counters, but there's a flush creeping up her neck that suggests there might be more to it.
Ivy makes an exaggerated gagging noise. "And that's my cue to leave before this gets sickeningly sweet. You two and your mutual denial is exhausting." She floats closer to Seraphina's shoulder and whispers loudly enough for me to hear: "Remember what I told you about the potion. You've only got four days before it wears off completely, and his pretty Alpha head will be all up in your thoughts again through the bond."
Seraphina tenses, glancing at me with something like panic.
"Goodbye, Shadow Boy," Ivy calls, fluttering toward the wall. "Try not to die. Sera would be terribly put out, and she's already a nightmare when she's grumpy. Though between us, I think you'd find her even more attractive when she's stabbing you. You have that look about you—Alpha who likes a challenge."
With that, the fairy zips across the room and disappears through what appears to be a solid wall.
"So," I say into the silence that follows, "do I have a fever-induced hallucination to thank for the most entertainment I've had in days, or did I just meet your fairy friend?"
Seraphina sighs deeply, her fingers twisting the ring on her forefinger that she has worn since she arrived at my court. When she becomes aware of what she is doing, she stops. "Ivy was right about one thing. You won't remember any of this tomorrow."
