He clicks his tongue. “Right. You believed I was mining your thoughts earlier when I mentioned her. Yes, we’re…friends. I believe that to be true. I care a great deal about her, at any rate.”
He says as much so simply, so tenderly. I’m not sure what to make of it.
The fae can’t lie.
Whywouldmy Zahrabe friends with a lunatic likehim? Because of thisXiosguy? Don’t tell me this is ahusband’sfriend is my friendsort of thing? Is Zahra safe? Is she dealing with her own faerie menace? Or is this pure, uninhibited delusion? A misconception between human and faerie understandings?
“You’re shocked. Why?” my kidnapper asks.
Why?
What’s a good diversion for that question?
Opting for a stray few tears, I let my voice crack. “I’ve been trying to reach Zahra. You know her. She’s my only friend.”
“Only?”
My chest tightens, and I brace myself for another bout of violent possession that insists he is also my friend.
It doesn’t come. Instead, he hums. “I’ll not tell the hatchling. She seems rather fond of you at a friendship level…”
Oh. Right. Well. “I didn’t mean…” I don’t know why I’m explaining myself. Maybe on the off chance I need consistencyto help me later? “Frelsi’s only been around for a few months. Zahra’s been my only friend for years. Can I see her?”
He murmurs, “She’s not entirely happy with me right now, I don’t think.”
“What?” I whisper, frail and insipid. “Why not?”
Good on her. She knows insanity when she sees it. I knew this had to be ahusband’s friendsituation. Poor Zahra… I hope her husband isn’t a lunatic, too. But if he is a faerie, probably we’re both stuck.
“It’s not important right now.” My kidnapper waves the matter away. “What is important is getting you adjusted, comfortable.” Turning, he reaches through the bars of my cage and drags the backs of two fingers down my cheek. “It’s growing late. Would you like to prepare for bed, my feather?”
Fear spears me through the chest.
“What’s wrong?” Softly, he strokes my pulse with the pad of his thumb. “You shouldn’t be afraid of heights even if you are unused to sleeping aloft. You’re welcome to sleep in my bed if it suits you better. Sharing so soon is unexpected…but given the pacing depicted in much of my research, I wouldn’t be surprised if you craved it.”
I crave a little personal space. And, you know what? Actually, on second thought, this cage isn’t so bad as long ashe’son the other side of it. Anxiety and fear dance inside me, leaving me speechless.
He chuckles. “I am quite entirely joking, love. If you prefer my bed, though, it has also been made safe for you. I can sleep here.”
He can…what? Is he suggesting that it’s okay for us toswapbeds? He’s offering to sleep in the cage? What in the world is he talking about? What doesmade safe for youmean? Opting once again forfrail afraid miss, I whisper, “Notsharing is an option? You…you didn’t meanprepare for bed…as in…”
“Gracious.” His smile falls as he pulls his hand back. “No, love. I’d prefer you far more desperate for me prior to that sort of thing. Ideally, we’ll be begging for each other. I know I am…socially…out of practice, but I do hold some valuable knowledge concerning how to interact with people. Women love consent. Does…that bring you some peace?”
Yeah, um. You know what? Sure.Sure. Let’s pretend it’s comforting to know that this man wantsdesperationin his intimacy… I’m excellent at pretending. If my mother only knew how excellent, she’d have been selling me to Hollywood next.
“You are not responding in a way that exhibits peace…” he murmurs.
“What?” I squeak. I’m smiling, still, aren’t I? I have been, for the past however long he’s been in here rambling.
“Your heartbeat is frantic. You smell of nerves…and…” Breath leaves him. “Poor frightened creature… What has the world done to you?” Rising, he opens my cage door. It is painfully silent; not a single creak would alert me if he were to change his mind about joining me in here overnight. Offering his hand, he murmurs, “Come.”
Disobedience never results in anything good…
Heck, look where it’s gotten me this time.
Lifting my hand to his, I rise out of the position I’ve not moved from for too long, and stumble toward him.
He catches me, draws me gently in, and kisses my forehead, my cheek. “Shh… I’ve got you.”
