“You are not as you were before,” Aerin speaks softly, though she knows the others in the room can hear her.
“Does that disappoint you?” Emrys asks back, his eyes tracking across her face. His voice is smooth, like a caress.
Aerin thinks about it, knowing the bulky blonde she shared all those days in the grove with was a figment of Elara’s desire. A shape she made Emrys into to fulfill her own fantasies. This form isEmrys. For the first time since Aerin’s known him.
“No,” Aerin says decidedly. “No, not in the slightest.” She wraps her arms around his neck and pulls him flush against her. At first Emrys is stiff and unsure, then Aerin is wrapped in his arms, lifted off her feet and held to his chest. Emrys smells like pine and sunshine to Aerin’s delicate nose. She wants to bury herself in the smell.
Instead, she leans back, still held in the air, and says, “Let’s go home.”
Emrys nods and sets her gently back onto her feet.
“I will not be able to protect you well in this form,” he informs her.
Aerin takes his hand and gently squeezes it. “That’s fine, Em. That’s what we have the big scary Dragon-Fae for; isn’t that right, Malice?” Aerin looks over her shoulder at the still brooding male.
“I would never let you come to harm by choice,” Malice grits out through his teeth. Aerin rubs her forehead, deciding to let the snide remark go. She will deal with Malice and the throbbing blood-bond when they are back home safe and sound.
29
AERIN
The walk back to the apartment is wrought with tension. Every step feels like the tick of a bomb whose timer is winding down. The blood-bond in Aerin’s side writhes and squirms, never letting her forget how unhappy it is.
Malice follows a step or two behind Aerin and Emrys, not allowing himself to come into her eyeline. Her skin pricks the same way it always does when he watches her closely. If it wasn’t for the blood-bond making itself known, she could have gone on ignoring it.
Instead, she has to focus on walking as casually as possible, very aware of the cameras posted all over the city, the eyes of a guard or even her father on them. So, Aerin chats and acts as carefree as she can. She babbles to Emrys about different landmarks and locations as they pass.
Emrys seems overwhelmed, confused at times, but he keeps it together. Aerin keeps up the façade, ensuring they won’t have Royal Guards or her brother waiting for them at her apartment door. She doesn’t completely relax until they step inside.
Aerin shows Emrys around briefly, motioning to where food is kept, and which bedroom can be his, if he wants it.Emrys seems unsure but okay enough. Malice stands stiff as a board by the front door the entire time. The blood-bond snaps occasionally, but a particularly strong lash has Aerin bringing her eyes to Malice’s.
“Emrys, we have a lot to talk about, but I need to speak with Malice, and I need to rest. You are safe inside this door to shift to whatever form you desire. But beyond this door you must be Fae, at least for now. Do you understand?” Aerin tries for authority, isn’t sure she quite achieves it until he answers.
“Yes, Alpha.”
Emrys uses the moniker without hesitation. Aerin tries not to let her shock show, but so much about this is out of her depth. What she’d done in the woods, forming her own pack, the reality of it hasn’t sunk in.
“I am going to speak with Malice now. Do not disturb us,” she warns. Aerin doesn’t want to consider what might happen if Emrys and Malice come to blows. “I’ll come find you when I am ready to rest,” Aerin says softer this time.
“Yes, Alpha,” Emrys says again. He looks at her with those soft honey brown eyes that make her heart skip a beat, and Aerin smiles softly at him.
The blood-bond snaps again.
Aerin shutsthe door behind Malice. His bedroom is cast in the hazy warmth of sunset. She takes a moment to breathe before turning to face him. In this light he seems to glow. Aerin can see the blood running through his brown wings, the spots where the muscle meet bone. Her eyes trace over them until she’s met with a broad shoulder and thickly corded arm. His hands rest in loosefists, his chest rising more rapidly than it should. Finally, Aerin lets her gaze drift to his face.
Gods he is handsome. Rugged, menacing, and undeniably beautiful. His ice blue eyes spark with some emotion Aerin can’t read as they trace across her, tracking over her body like he’s looking for something.
Aerin spins the small ring on her index finger nervously.
“You said you needed to speak with me?” She speaks in an almost whisper, a bit scared to shatter whatever is happening between them now.
“Where do I fucking start with you?” Malice snarls, running a hand through his hair. He takes a breath, and then, he roars, “Everything you did the last few days was so fucking reckless! I am so sick of being blindsided by you! A Wolf?! You could have been killed you know that? That was a mortal fucking wound! You could have—” His strength wanes. “—in my arms you could have—” His voice cracks. The blood-bond snaps.
“Okay, okay,” Aerin placates. His massive body trembles. Aerin approaches, grabbing his hands and guiding them to her cheeks, his eyes follow. “I’m okay, Malice, I’m healed. Everything is okay,” she whispers.
Malice pulls his hands away roughly, taking a step back.
“Show me,” he demands. There is not an ounce of energy inside of Aerin to argue with him. Instead, she slides off the leggings and t-shirt she wore for the walk home. She stands in only a thong and bralette that barely holds her bust.
