I roll my eyes at his leaving himself out—the coward—but walk over to my friend and our mate. “Perhaps she’s simply struggling with added dimensions to existing relationships she’s still coming to terms with? Pair that with a situation where she’s now relegated to sharing a sleeping space with someone she’s not sure how to deal with and it’s making her express her trepidation through anger.”
Khol snorts, shaking his head. “Now who’s been to fucking therapy, kitty cat?”
That actually gets a small laugh out of Fi, and she blows out a long, slow breath. “Fine.Fine. I’m an absolutewreckof a witch and a damagedperson. I admit it. That’s why I don’t let people in, but you fuckers wouldn’t go away.”
I rub my hands over my face, suppressing the urge to laugh again. She’s adorable when she’s trying to figure out how to deal with things that aren’t anger, but saying that will only piss her off more.Her self-deprecating statement has all of us quiet as we try to work out what to say that will help, but not be interpreted as patronizing. I’m surprised when Rev goes first—he’s usuallynotthe most self-aware being on the planet.
“Lass, you couldn’t have pushed me away with a goddamn missile. That’s just not how this works,” he pauses, tilting his head. “And if you think you’re the only supe on this bus with issues—you’d better think again.”
Raising his hand, Khol smirks as he points at each of us, starting with the Prince. “Daddy issues.” He moves to me. “Rage issues.” Dezi is next, his eyes narrowed at the basilisk. “Guilt and trust issues.” When he points to his own chest, he grins wider. “Psychopath. Dead parents. Attachment issues. Rage issues…. well, the whole subscription, really.”
This time, the vampire laughs, shaking his head. “It seems our scaled friend had atalented doctor, indeed.”
I nod. “I’m calm as fuck most of the time because I had to learn to control my rage when my animal came. That’s why I’m always trying to be the peacemaker. I don’t know how he figured it, though.”
Rev sighs and nods. “The King is the worst. You met him, so you get it. But the hissing idiot is right. We all have our shit and we’ll learn to help each other carry it. Yours isn’t any worse than ours, just different. Stop thinking you have to pretend in front of us—weknowhow strong you are. Nothing you show us will change that.”
Our girl looks between us, studying our expressions as if she’s looking for something, then murmurs, “Truth.”
Dezi squints at her for a second, then his eyes light up. “She can… feel it. Truth or lies. It’s a power she’s developed. But obviously, she doesn’t want anyone to know about it, which I don’t blame her for.”
I arch a brow at my mate, then turn to do the same at the vamp. “Iprobably know why she hasn’t told us, but why would she need to hide it?”
“Truth tasting isn’t normal for witches,” Revelin says. His face is a mask of shock and I still have no idea why the hell this is such a big deal. “It often is a primary sign that someone will gain the sight. Seers are incredibly rare, sought after, and um…”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Princeling, don’t dance around it.” Dezi walks closer, staring at us. “She will not break when she hears it. I believe she suspects something she hasn’t shared with anyone—even her sister—because it worries her.”
I cross my arms over my chest, a low rumble of irritation echoing out of it. “Spit it out, Rev.”
He sighs and ruffles his hair. “It’s not a witch trait. It’s not even something wizards or mages inherit. No full-blooded, terra-bound magic user gains the sight. Only Fae and a few mythicals shifters have it within their bloodlines. Since it’s been so long… no one knows for certain who those lines belong to. We haven’t had one in Faerie since I was born for sure.”
“Has there not been one, or have they been hidden?” Dezi asks curiously. “Because I know of at least one on the other side of the Veil. But contacting them is a maze of various methods and the wait is over a half century before you hear. There’s probably a reason for that sort of secrecy.”
“You mean like the bad guys who run shit would use them for awful stuff?” Khol shakes his head. “My uncle’s a dick and he’s always said there must be seers somewhere, but no one knows who or where they are. I’m putting my money on the time corresponding with the middlemen or women verifying the person trying to find them. They must not want their powers to fall into the wrong hands.”
“Can you blame them?” Knuckles asks softly. “I didn’t know any of this, but I definitely realized having people know I can tell withouterror who’s lying and who isn’t made me extremely valuable to very bad people.”
Unfortunately for her, the new information is even worse for her safety.
“Maybe this is why you and your sister have been marked, Sassy.” Khol tilts his head as he looks at us. “Between her legendary fur and this power, their lines may be targeted singly, but together, it’s far more dangerous to the evil fuckheads in charge. Maybe that’s why their parents convinced them they were both bad witches rather than something else.”
And that’s even worse—until we find out what the hell happened to their parents, we have no idea what to expect.
After the guys dropped the ‘chosen one’ bullshit on me, my brain practically fritzed. So I sniffed out Rev’s liquor cabinet, grabbed some of his stupid Fae booze, and locked myself in the Leather Lounge to figure out how to deal with all the things swarming inside of me. None of the guys were happy, but luckily, they had things to do to settle us in while the caravan got under way. I didn’t expect to be glad we’re headed for the stupid Harvest Court for the first set of shows, but I am.
I need to be alone to think—and drink.
Peeling the weird wrapper from the neck of the fancy bottle, I frown when I realize the goddamn thing has a fucking cork. Who stocks booze with corks on a tour bus? Revelin is a certified rich boy pain in my ass, and not even in the good way. I close my eyes, praying that I can accomplish this bit of magic to get this damn thing open so I can get funked up. It’ll help me lower my walls enough to really look at the possibility that Fer and I have some weird ass destiny or that I’m trapped formonthson this rolling bordello with men I’m expected to let into my heart.
“Son of a bitch,” I whisper as the cork finally pops out and flies across the room. “At least one thing worked today. Everything else has been a personal torture designed by whatever demon is going to monitor my pit in the underworld someday.”
A flitter of amusement touches my bond and I groan.Of course, those shitheads can sense what I’m feeling.I add learninghow to block them to my list of ‘Shit Fi Has To Accomplish On Her Own’ during this damn trip. I’ve never been afraid of teaching myself to do things, but magic is my sore spot. A childhood full of people laughing at our failed attempts makes it hard to try things, especially when I know someone else can see.
Damn it, Rev’s been great about helping me without being a prick.
“Okay, fine. They’re not allthatbad,” I mumble as I take a swig from the bottle. The sparkly pink liquid tastes like happiness, and my eyes widen. No wonder people want to get their hands on Fae liquor so badly. It’s expensive and scarce in our realm because this shit would make a monk addicted. At least, this bottle is and I can extrapolate.
My lips curve up as I lay back on the bed, looking up at the mirrored ceiling with a snort of laughter. “Who wants to see their ass while they fuck? People are soweirdlooking when they have sex. This is the dumbest shit in the Universe.”
