His adorable face splits into a bright smile. “You’re welcome, Knuckles. Unlike me, you’re not used to the spotlight this will put on you. Even if Rev hasn’t formally announced you yet, your presence, along with the other two, is going to attract attention immediately. I want you to feel as comfortable as you can with that fact.”
Snorting, I tip my head back on the cushion and blow out a slow breath. “I don’t know if that will ever be something I’m totally fine with, but for now, I need to figure out how to play nice.”
“If you become a badass witchy woman like we think, you’ll draw attention of your own.” His eyes dance as he gestures like he’s casting. “And people will flock to you like they do him.”
“Fucking hardly,” I mutter as I shake my head. “The most powerful magic wielders aren’t nearly as famous as a Fae royal rock star. That’s like horses and unicorns, buddy.”
“Do I detect a hint of bitterness in that grumble?” Tiernan rolls to his feet, padding over to drop down next to me, and pulls my legs onto his lap. His powerful hands find my feet and I have to swallow a groan as he massages them like it’s his job.
My eyes flutter closed and I enjoy his touch for a moment before I answer. “No… definitely not. I donotwant to be a super famous fucking idol people twitter about as I walk by. I mean, look how manyfake friends and suck-ups and shit Revelin has. If he stopped being that guy for a month, they’d all disappear in a flash. It’s hard enough to find trustworthy people to allow into my life without that shit.”
A rumbling chuckle vibrates against my legs as Tiernan considers my words. “It’s true. Give someone a wee whiff of fame and a few misguided followers… then watch their ego expand until it’s about to pop. Rev’s always been good about allowing a few people like me in to keep him from letting it go to his head completely. But chicks like Amethyst or that odious Khorinea feed off the deluded masses. They believe their proximity to talented people and the power they hold over smaller fish makes them untouchable.”
Looking at him through half-open eyes, I shrug. “If you’ve been kicked around most of your life, you don’t base your self-worth on what others think of you. Those women and even some guys in Rev’s group are terrified people will find out they’re dreadfully dull and siphoning all the glory from the truly talented one. That’s why they scream constantly about everyone being a ‘hater’ or plotting to steal their shit. Look closely at everything they say and you’ll find them committing the sins they accuse everyone else of.”
“Awful deep for a sex bus road trip, witchling.”
My eyes pop open, and I roll them up to look over the top of my head. “I don’t care if you’re a fucking vampire. I will put a goddamn bell on you, Dezi.”
He grins, and for a moment, the ice that surrounds him melts a bit. “On a collar, I suppose? I don’t think you’ve thought this through. After all… you’re the one wearing mine currently.”
I’m about to shoot a sarcastic response at the smug shit when Tier digs his thumb into my arch. It releases a cramp I didn’t know I had and the moan I was holding back escapes. “Shiiiiit.”
“My, my. Does she have a foot fetish, leopard?” Dezi looks incredibly amused when I feel my face go hot and I glare at the damn bloodsucker.
“Absolutely not!” I wiggle my feet out of Tier’s grasp, wrinkling my nose as I shiver. “No shade to those people, but I donotget off on feet.”
“Dude, she was relaxing… way to fuck it up.” My laid back cat makes a frustrated sound as he grabs at my legs, trying to settle me again. “She likes massages period because she runs around your fucking bar dressed in skimpy tight shit and bad shoes all the time. I’m trying to keep her from getting foot problems, but it’s taken a month for her to even let me touch them, dumbass.”
Dezi’s eyes widen, looking at me for confirmation, and I duck my head. I’m weird about feet; I know that. Feray spent years convincing me to finally get a pedicure and I have no ideawhyI’m so freakish about it. Tier’s been on me to do stretches and shit to help some of my aches from the long, difficult bar shifts. He’s convinced I’m going to wreck my frail, little humanoid body. Since Fer explained shifters get weird about their mates and self-care, I let him do it.
Far be it for me to cause him distress because I won’t let him pamper me. It seems like a waste.
“Why does that make you so nervous, witchling?” When I shrug and refuse to meet his eyes, the vampire comes over, joining us on the large sofa so they’re boxing me in. “You have a fascinating myriad of quirks and traumas, you know. It’s hard to watch you struggle to manage them all while you hold everything else together as well.”
“Lucky for you, I only have myself to worry about at that moment,” I say with a frown. “Hopefully, I’ll handle that without being too weird and quirky.”
“Fi…”
I make a frustrated sound at Tier’s soft warning, knowing he’s trying to tell me I’m being an ass for no reason. “Okay, okay. That was rough, and you didn’t deserve it. I’m just… adjusting to not being in charge of shit for the first time in years. Feray’s off with her men and they sure as fuck better be keeping her safe, but I’m here with only myself to manage.”
“Not true, witchling.” Dezi’s eyes flash red as his lips curve up. “You’ve been not-so-subtly managing your coven on this bus from the moment we arrived. Even if the Fae’s handlers are telling us where to go and when to smile, you are still the last word for us. The Prince would defy his orders should you ask… though I do not think you believe that.”
Arching a brow at him, I smile a bit. “Dezi Ruby, I think you might be handlingmeright now.”
“You are a perceptive woman, Fiadh. I would never presume to control you, even if I could.” There’s honesty in his tone and I realize he’s trying to tell me he won’t use his gifts to push me even if I need it.
That’s a reassurance I sorely needed and didn’t want to ask for.
Tiernan clears his throat, squeezing my knee as he gives me a proud look. “Where do you think we need to look in Autumn Court? Our first stop is on the outskirts, which I think is our best bet to sneak off on a sleuthing adventure. Once we get close to the capital, the crowds and fans will watch all of us far too close for comfort. Sometimes, in the bigger cities, they have tracking apps they crowd-source to keep tabs on him and the band.”
I flop back against the cushions again, groaning in irritation this time. “That shit is going to make mecrazy. You all realize that, right? We’re going to be lucky if I don’t nut punch some dude and get us thrown out of fucking Faerie.”
“While I won’t use my powers on you, witchling, I won’t hesitate to do so on a well deserving idiot. And the snakelet is actually much more likely to lose his temper in public. After all, it’s his typical M.O.”
“I heard that!” The voice rises over the sounds of the shooter gamehe’s playing with Revelin, and I chuckle. “I’ll have you know I can behave just as easily as you, mosquito. I simply choose not to.”
“Oi,” I mutter as I look at Tiernan. He grins again, and it makes my stomach flutter. The longer we’re together, the more his small, private glances and looks affect me. It’s like someone pours warm honey over my insides and I have no idea how to deal with that. “Maybe he’s right about my having to manage everyone.”
