Probably. Both would follow duty, as would she. But still. What about Fate? “There has to be some choice here, Niall.”
His eyes hardened. “There is none. We ten were specifically created for this. We’re few in number, and if we have to return to this plane permanently, we have to make ourselves as strong as possible. This is the first step.”
A chill took her, and she forced a smile. Her entire life she’d been taught that her duty was to the Fae as a whole. Maybe this was part of that duty. No matter how wrong it felt. “We’ll see.”
A knock on the door had her jolting upright in bed in the present.
Logan leaped free and was at the door in less than a heartbeat. “What?” he growled, his body one long line of ticked-off male.
“Brought you a present, buddy. Get your ass out here,” Adare said cheerfully.
Logan turned to look at her, his hair mussed, his face in a frown. “Get dressed.”
Well. Bossy in the morning, wasn’t he? She used the attached bathroom, brushed her hair, and borrowed the same toothbrush and lip gloss. Then she waited for Logan, and they entered the living room together.
She halted. “Sandy?”
Her best friend sat on the sofa by the fireplace, her hands bound with rope, her hair a wild mess. While her eyes were both blue, they were very different shades. One was aqua, while the other was the deep hue of the bottom of the ocean. “Hey, Mercy. How’s it hanging?” Sandy eyed Logan from head to toe, and her eyebrows rose. “Sorry to interrupt.” Her smile flashed twin dimples.
Until mating, it was fine for the Fae to have dalliances. But she didn’t have to look so delighted, did she?
Mercy moved farther into the room, her head spinning. Her back teeth ground together, and her palms dampened. She glared at Adare. “What did you do?”
He rubbed his hands, which were covered in red welts. They went up his arms and were visible on his neck to his ears. “She was following me, and I stopped her. Then she started yelling about you, admitted she was a fucking fairy, and I brought her here. It’s that simple.”
“Well, I did try to teleport him to Iceland, but he stopped me.” Sandy’s eyes lit up, the intelligence there obvious. “Did you know they could do that? Stop a teleport?”
Mercy nodded. “I don’t think all of them can. But yes. Kind of sucks, right?” She cocked her head in question.
Sandy winked at her, catching her question easily. “Wanted to make sure you were okay.” Excellent. Sandy was the best. She could still teleport.
Logan stepped closer to Adare. “Jesus. Does that hurt?”
“Yes, and it fucking itches like you wouldn’t believe.” Adare scratched the back of his neck. “Damn mating allergy. This is what happens when you do a favor for your brother and mate a human. A human,” he growled, his fangs glistening.
So it was true. Mercy believed the lore, but she’d never actually witnessed a mated immortal’s reaction to prolonged proximity to a member of the opposite sex who wasn’t their mate. The hives looked horribly painful. “How long will that last?” she whispered.
“Dunno,” Adare muttered. “It’s different for each male, and this is the first time I’ve experienced it.”
“Your mate is a lucky female. Yes, she is,” Sandy chirped.
Amusement took Mercy, and she covered a laugh with a cough. If she could get close enough to Sandy, she could get out of there. Her heart hitched at the thought of leaving Logan right now, but if she was going to find Ivar and Sam, she had to meet with Niall. She also needed the president’s permission to try to negotiate with the Seven. It was time they all worked together. “I’m sorry they caught you.” There was a bit of truth in that statement because now she had no choice but to go. “Are you all right?”
Sandy grinned. “I’m great. Talked Bud into a big wedding. He’s so not happy about it.”
It was nice to see her friend happy. Talk about opposites attract and enemies to lovers. Theywerea romance trope.
Logan cleared his throat. “Glad you’re both so cheerful. Contact your leaders and let them know we have you. I want Sam and Ivar back. Now.”
“He’s kinda bossy,” Sandy said, craning her neck to check Logan out. “Cute, though. You kiss him yet?”
Mercy nodded. “Yes. Good kisser. Very.”
Logan growled. Low and deep.
Sandy jerked her head toward Adare. “I really am sorry about the allergy.” She leaned to the side. “But I told you to leave me alone. You should’ve just listened. Why don’t they ever listen, Mercy?”
Mercy shrugged. “It’s a mystery. It truly is.” She inched closer to her friend.
