“I agree,” I cut him off. “I don't want to talk about my abused peach either.”
“Peach?” Arach asked with a chuckle.
“You've never heard that term?” I countered. “It's because, you know, the dent in a peach kind of looks like...”
“Yes, I figured that out as soon as you said the word,” Arach assured me. “I just wanted to make sure I heard you right.”
“You did. I had a friend in high school who only called it that.” I shrugged. “I think it's a good word for it.”
“Oh, so do I,” Arach grinned lasciviously. “There are so many ways I could use that word.”
“If you lick your lips right now, you won't get within biting distance of my peach for a week,” I threatened.
Arach grimaced and sat back heavily. “Fine. Ruin all of my fun.”
“Don't some humans call it a pie too?” Lugh mused.
“Yes, I've heard that before,” I admitted. “Why?”
“Well, I was just wondering what a peach pie would be.” He lifted a brow at me. “Is it an orgy? Or perhaps it's just redundant.”
“Maybe it could be used to describe a particularly juicy—” I cut myself off with a look of horror. “By the flame! Now, I'm getting pervy. That's it! No more sex talk, not even innuendos.”
Arach sighed deeply. “Again, I say, you're ruining all of my fun.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Once we were home, Arach had a meeting with Isleen and several Red Caps about escorting the wayfarer to all of the old pathways to Earth within the Fire Kingdom. While he was busy at his meeting, I went to check on our sons. The boys are at an age when they don't want a nanny, but Arach and I can't watch them all of the time and theyneedto be at least checked on. So, we have Granuaile, one of their childhood nannies, surreptitiously watch over them. Granuaile reported that Hunter and the twins had long since given up on their archery lesson, lured to the pool by the laughter of the other children. After their swim, they'd had a full day of playing in the playground I had built—and by that, I mean that I designed the thing and had other faeries build it—to the right of the castle's backdoor. This meant that by the time I found them, they were passed out in their beds, Hunter curled up beside Brevyn with his restrung bow still clutched in his little clawed hand.
My stomach clenched and fluttered. I'd barely been there a day and I hadn't spent much of it with them, but I already wanted to leave. No, it wasn't want, it wasneed. I should never have left the God Realm while Viper was missing. It was so stupid of me. No, I wasn't losing any time there nor was there anything for me to do while I waited, but going to Faerie had only extended that wait for me. I thought I'd relax here? How idiotic. It was just another place to pace and bite my nails. Another place to try to push aside my worry for a man I loved while I waited for some sign from him. Except here, I wouldn't receive that sign.
“Sons of Anarchy,” I cursed under my breath as I headed back to my bedroom. “I need to get back. Now.”
I stripped out of my faerie dress and put the wedding rings Arach had given me back in their box before getting into my human clothes and putting on the diamond ring my god husbands had given me. Arach didn't like me wearing it while I was in Faerie; his dragon needed at least the illusion that I was all his.
I'd have to interrupt Arach's meeting to tell him that I was leaving, and I didn't want to do that. Plus, he'd probably try to have sex with me before he let me go, and I wasn't in the mood. Now that I'd decided to return, every minute I waited was making me antsier. I'd just go; I'd be back before he even knew I was gone. No, it wasn't right. I shouldn't be leaving like that, but love makes you do stupid things and I have always been love's fool. So, I asked my ring to return me to the God Realm a minute after I'd last left.
I felt instantly better as soon as I was back in my bedroom in Pride Palace. I contacted Trevor first, to let him know that I'd returned safely. He welcomed me home and informed me—surprise, surprise—that nothing had happened during the minute I'd been gone. I resisted the temptation to try to speak with Viper again. Even though it felt as if a day had gone by, it had only been a few minutes since I'd last made the attempt. Instead, I grabbed my purse off the coffee table and pulled out my cellphone. Muttering to myself about being a wimp, I plopped down on the couch and texted Austin.
He texted back a few minutes later:Bodies were the homeowners. Killed by snake bites. The Chief now thinks we have a serial killer making his way through Texas. It didn't help that I told him I got an anonymous tip about the house. He called in the FBI.
“FBI,” I murmured. “That could get tricky.”
I texted:Does that make it harder on you?
Naw. They can keep an eye on the town tonight.
“Damn it,” I growled. I'd forgotten that we'd have to patrol again.
You sure they'll be enough?I texted.
Honestly, I don't think they'll strike in Lexington again.
“He has a point.”
“Who has a point?” Odin asked as he walked up.
“Austin says the FBI got called in after the bodies were found at the snake house. The bodies were of the homeowners, who were killed by snake bites. But a snake wouldn't bury its victims or squat in their home so the Chief of Police thinks it's a serial killer.”
