I loved him.
“Holy shit,” I whispered.
“What's that?” Thor had started to eat, but he stopped to look over at me.
“Nothing,” I said as I looked up. “I just realized what time it was. We need to get back to the Intare soon.”
“All right,” Thor gave in. “I want to be here when the Squad returns so I'll trust you to fetch the Intare quickly.”
“Thank you,” I said automatically, but part of me was annoyed.
Was it just me, or was Thor a little domineering? I thought back over our marriage and realized that he was. We'd had a few arguments over his attitude, but I'd eventually learned to just let him be possessive. Thor thought he was showing me that he cared, and I'd reasoned that it was the thought that mattered. But now, I was reconsidering. I looked over at Kirill and knew that his love would never be possessive or patronizing. Kirill gave me respect, and I knew that even when he stood up to me, he would do so with that same respect. Thor wasn't faring well by comparison.
But that was unfair. Whatever was going on, I was married to Thor in this life, and I needed to be true to my vows. No more kissing other men.
Sure; no problem,Al scoffed.
I didn't respond, but that in itself felt like an admission of guilt.
Chapter Eighteen
After breakfast, I kissed my husband goodbye and went with Kirill to the tracing room. I took Kirill's hand, smiled up into his amazing eyes, and asked the Aether to take us home. I don't know what I was thinking; the words simply popped out of my mouth. It was stupid; I was already home, and even if I hadn't been, the request was much too general for the Aether. As soon as I uttered the words, I knew that I'd fucked up, but I expected the Aether to take us to my old place in Hawaii if it took us anywhere at all. Where we actually ended up was far more spectacular... and far more frightening.
“Vhere are ve?” Kirill whispered as he looked around.
We stood within an ancient forest. A roundabout dirt road was directly before us, with an offshoot that led to an intersection. The forest pressed in around the pathways; its trees taller and wider than any I'd seen before. Strange sounds came from the lush growth beneath those trees, and the scent of life and death permeated the air. Somehow, both aromas were beautiful; they blended together and became a heady fragrance.
“Are the trees moving?” I asked.
“I zink zey are breathing,” Kirill said with wonder. “Zis is your home?”
“No; I have no idea where we are,” I said.
“You're in the Faerie Realm,” a voice came from behind us.
I spun around to find a man leaning against a tree that even larger than the rest; I think we may have traced through it. He was handsome in the most ethereal and dangerous of ways. His sharp features were accented by a sprinkle of blood red scales at his temples. Those scales matched the straight hair that flowed down to his wide shoulders. He was a touch slimmer than Kirill, but still obviously muscular, and just as tall. His loose, medieval clothes couldn't hide his athletic physique. There was no way that he was human; the scales and his canary-yellow eyes did away with that possibility. And the fact that his pupils were slit like a snake's. Or a...
“Dragon,” I whispered.
His eyes widened in surprise as he pushed off the trunk and strode over to me. “You got that in one go,” he said in a deep, sexy voice. “How interesting.”
Kirill stepped up beside me and growled; low in his throat.
“Down, kitty,” the redhead said as he narrowed his eyes at Kirill. “You don't want to start something with me. It's been ages since I've had a good hunt, and my faeries would love to chase a lion.”
“Faeries?” I asked as I continued to stare into the man's eyes. “There are dragon faeries?”
“Alas; I am the last of my kind,” he said it dramatically, but I could hear the real pain in his words.
Are you sure about that?The voice that entered my mind this time was female and a little snarky.
Both the redhead and I flinched at the sound of it.
“Faerie?” The man asked with wonder.
Hello, Fire King,the voice went on.Yes, yes; you're shocked that I'm speaking again. Get over it fast because we have shit to deal with; starting with our girl here. Now, hurry up and introduce yourselves so we can get on with it.
“Can you hear her too?” I asked the redhead.
