“Thank you,” Malice answers, his deep timber sending a shiver down Aerin’s spine. The blood-bond writhes, an unending ache. Aerin wants to touch Malice, feel his skin under hers, reassure herself he’s fine, even when she can feel through the bond he is not.
“Great,” Vyx says, clapping her hands together. “I need the room. Everybody out.” The Corn Snake exits quickly but Malice and Emrys stay.
“Ineed to speak with Aerin first,” Malice snaps back, pushing off the wall to come to the end of the bed next to Vyx.
Emrys lets out a low growl, the hair on the back of his neck standing up.
Malice, of course, growls back. Deep and loud.
Vyx rolls her eyes and Quinn covers her ears.
“Enough!” Aerin snaps. It shuts the both of them up. She can’t deal with their posturing right now.
“Emrys, can you shift so I can actually speak to you?” Aerin asks with a huff. The Wolf chuffs, blowing warm air over her torso before giving a slight shake of his head. No, he won’t shift.
“Fine, then go lay outside the door.” Aerin snaps her fingers and points to the door. Emrys gives a light whine but gets off the bed. Standing, he is taller than the mattress at the shoulder. Emrys glares at Malice all the way to the door.
“Malice, out!” Aerin snaps at him as well. Her head hurts too much for this. Despite the rest, she’s still injured and magically depleted.
The blood-bond snaps with a sharp pain in her ribs, but Malice says nothing as he stalks to the door, shutting it hard behind him.
Aerin sighs, sinking back into her pillows. Quinn comes around the bed and wraps her in her arms.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” she whispers into Aerin’s ear. Aerin gives her arm a squeeze and gets a watery smile in return.
Aerin’s eyes drift to Vyx’s no-nonsense expression, giving the Viper her full attention.
“Your guts were practically falling out when that Dragon-Fae landed on our roof. It was a challenge for the healer, but she’s seen worse. You’ll be fine in a few days. We managed to wipe all the footage of you, the Dragon-Fae, and the Wolf in his Fae form.”
“It doesn’t seem like the Royal Guard caught onto anything because I’d imagine your father would be at our door by now if they had. As soon as the Wolf was through the doors, he shifted out of the Fae form. About gave the Boas a heart attack. The Wolf and the Dragon-Fae kept growling at each other, which was really fucking annoying by the way, so good luck with that. You’ve only been out for a few hours; it’s early afternoon.”
Aerin exhales, relieved.
“Thank you,” Aerin says to Vyx, then again to Quinn, “Thank you,” squeezing her friend’s arm. “We’ll be making that trip this weekend, as planned.”
“You’re sure? You’ll still be healing.” Quinn’s green eyes evaluate Aerin with worry. Fae heal remarkably fast, quicker the more powerful they are. Aerin is certain the “few days” the healer gave her was an exaggeration. Other than being a bit drained, in body and magic, she feels fine.
“I’ll have two growl-y bodyguards. Don’t worry, Quinnie,” Aerin jokes. “Plus, I can already tell Emrys is going to have a hard time with this adjustment. The sooner I have a reason to be walking around with a Wolf by my side, the better.”
“Does Khortland know we’re coming?” Vyx asks.
Aerin swallows, an uncomfortable chuckle leaving her throat. “No, figured I’d surprise everyone with that.”
“Oh good,” Vyx says sarcastically. “Just make sure I’m far away when those two find out.” She throws her thumb towards the door.
“Yeah, yeah.” Aerin laughs. “It will be fine. Will you let them in? I’m ready to go home.” Aerin sits up further, and Quinn helps her swing her legs around the side of the bed.
Malice and Emrys are at her side as soon as the door opens.
[Will you slow down? It won’t kill you to take it easy. Gods I should have?—]
Aerin slams down the wall in her head, shutting out Malice’s rant. He flinches but immediately steps back and straightens, tightens the way he always does: wings, fists, and teeth. The blood-bond burns. Aerin does her best to ignore the pain, and the brooding Dragon-Fae, as she gets to her feet.
“Emrys, I need you back in a Fae form to go home,” Aerin tells him, hardly having to tilt her head down to look at him. A low whine leaves his throat before he shakes his head. The head shake continues as his Fae form takes shape, standing before her on two unsteady legs.
Emrys stands as a male Fae. He’s so pale Aerin can make out the blue of his veins under his skin. In contrast, his hair is raven black and shaggy, about the same length as his fur. He is so tall Aerin has to crane her neck to see him fully. Where Malice is broad shoulders and even broader wings, Emrys is thin with long lean limbs. Aerin reaches up to cup his cheek and Emrys bends slightly to meet her. She strokes her thumb over his sharp cheek bone. His face, too, is long and narrow. Handsome in howotherhe looks. There is no resemblance to any Fae Aerin has ever seen.
Leaning into Aerin’s hand, Emrys closes his eyes as if soaking up the moment. When his eyes open, Aerin is met with the only similarity to his Wolf form: honey brown eyes that swim with emotion. Aerin tucks a piece of black hair behind his pointed ear.
