“There,” Zyr said, with a grunt.“Fuck in my library, and I kill you both.”
And with that blunt statement, the chair Declan had started to stand up from stopped existing.Just like that.Threat, fingers grasping at nothing, floor.And Declan laughing at the sting of his ass hitting the hardwood.
“I deserved that.”Declan pushed himself to his feet, then settled beside Antonio.“We’ll not fuck anywhere near your lands, especially the library.Mother might beat you to the murdering.Your forbearance is appreciated.”
The reassurance didn’t prevent him from pressing his knee to Antonio’s, enjoying the quiet hum of it.
“Good.”Zyr’s smirk, for Declan wouldswearthere had been a shadow of one, was gone.“It would be a waste to kill a Hollow.”
“Because being shit at fae stuff is so useful,” Antonio muttered.
“Yes,” Zyr said, as if it were obvious.Another book floated over and settled lightly on the table.“Are you ready to listen?Or do you require a break to cuddle?”
A bit brusque, his mother had said.Something of an asshole, she’d clearly meant, what with the way he watched in pointed silence as Antonio shifted closer, until they pressed together, shoulder to ankle.
Touching him, just for the sake of touch, the warm hum of it.Zyr could cope.
“No break necessary, but you’re very kind to offer,” Declan said politely, fucking with the beithir a little while his world felt like a song of sun-baked earth and lilac ink, Antonio’s fear melting to relief and the sense ofsafety.
“We were speaking of balance,” the beithir said.“Seelie to unseelie, life to death, order to chaos.There was a time when intra-court bonds were rarer than inter-court bonds are now.”
“And humans?”Antonio interjected, hooking Declan’s ankle with his foot.
“Not unheard of.”Zyr’s attention was back on the books, one of which opened itself and started flipping rapidly through its own pages.“Especially as tensions grew between the courts.Indeed, humans were a named cause for the convergence takeover.And no such bond survived past the Monarchs’ ascension.”
“Great,” Antonio muttered.
“There’s a dark bit of irony at play there,” Declan said, all bitter amusement.“Humans named as a reason for slaughter, and yet Faerie has recognized a kelpie-human bond in the style of the Solstice Kings for the last three years.”
Zyr blinked at him, the slight furrow between his brows.“Solstice Kings.”
“Oh, aye.Any attempt to remove their crowns draws blood.Even if at their own hand.”
“It would have to be a kelpie and a human,” Zyr mused as if speaking to himself.“Or at least, an unseelie and a human.And if Faerie found a pair reckless enough to invite it into their bed after so long, of course, it’s being possessive.”
“Into their…” Declan sat back in his chair, scrambling to get his thoughts in order.“Are you telling us that Everil and Bo are shagging the bloodyworld?”
“Realm,” came the answer, as if that made it any less mind-boggling.“I’ll need to speak with them.”
“Shagging the realm.”
Declan didn’t know whether to be horrified or laugh until he soiled the leather chair.A mildly hysterical giggle bubbled up until he cleared his throat.Coughed.
“More or less.Most of the literature I have on the topic is pornographic.Entertaining, but not a credible source.I believe it’s a form of mild possession rather than actual, physical manifestation.”
A few more books, all slim and flimsy, made their way to the table.Bloodyflicker books.Inside them, Declan knew, would be crudely done art of, presumably, other Solstice pairings.Holly and oak leaves lined the border of the book on top, framing a very acrobatic illustration.
“No,” said Antonio flatly, with a glance at Declan.“Not for anything.”
Zyr actually laughed at that, a low, near-vibrating rumble.“You needn’t worry.There’s only ever one Summer King at a time.And I don’t think a Hollow could channel forces involved.”
“Thank fuck for that.”
“As charming as I’m sure Faerie is, we’re agreed on the ‘no.’You didn’t give your friend enough credit with ‘kelpie fucker,’ ” Declan managed, his voice unsteady with bitten-back laughter.“How in the world did that man go from professional skeptic to tumbling Faerie?”
“Fuck if I know.Told him not to mess around with fae.‘Course I’ve moved into a glass house, there.Shit.”But Antonio grinned at Declan as he said it, bond a warm hum between them.
Zyr cleared his throat.“Do we need to return to rule one?Or can we move on?”
