What is going on between them?
Whatever it was, it was something that neither of them seemed to want to acknowledge.
“Axel.” Talis greeted Axel friendly enough, but there was an edge in his tone. Barely noticeable, but I was trained to pick up things like that.
From the way Axel flinched, he noticed it too. “Talis.” He smiled, but it was neither happy nor flirty. A touch sad, maybe, but he hid it quickly, turning to greet Gabriel and Rys who got out next. They were joined at the front of the car by a woman I didn’t recognise.
“Sasha,” Axel called to her, smile wide and open this time. “They finally let you out, then?”
“I know!” She grinned back at him, all dark eyes and bright red lips. Black hair tumbled down her back and the dress she wore hugged her in all the right places. She turned that smile on me. “I’m Rys’s other beta. You must be Dathal.” Her gaze flicked to Gabriel and Rys. “I’ve heard all about you.”
She was undeniably beautiful. Even more so with the warmth and open friendliness she exuded.
“I’m not sure I should ask.” I smiled back but realised with a jolt that the casual flirting I tended to greet everyone with was nowhere to be found. Instead, I had a burning urge to get inside.
Goddess help me.
Axel gave me a curious look, but I ignored him.
“Shall we?” Gabriel asked, pointing to the club. “Nick’ll be wondering where we are.” At the mention of his name, Rys slipped an arm around Gabriel’s shoulders, earning him an eye-roll, but Gabriel leant into him all the same. They set off for the club entrance, Talis and Sasha following.
I’d always found the pack dynamic fascinating. Shifters possessed a bond that, while I could appreciate its complexity, I couldn’t fully understand.
And Rys and Gabriel’s went beyond even that.
From what I’d read, their soulmate bond connected them in a way that tied their senses together.
Imagine feeling emotions that weren’t yours? Meeting someone and knowing without a shadow of a doubt that they were meant for you?
I didn’t fully understand how that worked from Gabriel’s side of things. As fae, we didn’t have soulbonds, as such, not that I was aware of anyway. We had ways of connecting one soul to another, but that involved magic. We chose to do that. Fate didn’t choose it for us.
Maybe it was different because Rys was a shifter? Did his dad have this connection with Lady Sarhin? Is that why he’d given up his pack to live in the Fae Realm? I felt a twinge behind my ribs, and my steps faltered.
Was I jealous?
Axel stopped just ahead of me and turned back, frown in place. “All right?”
I watched as the others disappeared inside, leaving Axel and me alone in the car park. “You and Talis,” I said instead of answering him. “You fucked, right?”
His eyes narrowed, shoulders straightening. “Yes. Why?” Judging by the tight set of his jaw, this was a subject he had no wish to talk about. I persisted anyway, not able to help myself even though I’d said I wouldn’t pry. He’d tell me to fuck off if he didn’t want to answer. “He’s not the first shifter you’ve had sex with though.”
He crossed his arms. “No. Where are you going with this?”
I wasn’t exactly sure. “One of the things I always admired about you was your ability to fuck someone, keep it casual, and yet remain friends with them afterwards. No hurt feelings.”
His expression turned wary. “I’m always honest and upfront with everyone I sleep with. I don’twantto hurt anyone.”
“I know. And yet…” My gaze flicked to the club, and Axel sighed.
“Talis.”
“Yes.” I waited a beat, but he didn’t elaborate.
“Is it because he’s a shifter? One of Rys’s betas?” I cocked my head to the side, studying him. “Is he your soul—”
“No!” Axel snapped, his voice cracking like a whip through the night air. He ran a hand through his hair, glancing up at the stars. “Chlah Ferath,” he muttered, echoing my curse from earlier. The words rolled off his tongue, but he looked murderous, so I didn’t even tease him about speaking fae in a public place.
Instead, I gripped his shoulder. “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business. I didn’t mean to pry.”
