Her eyes are an onslaught of emotion, flitting between vulnerable, nervous, and settling on hard determination. I watch as she wars with herself before coming to a decision, and despite the fact that I asked, I’m not sure I can handle many more revelations.
“You’re right.” She tugs us off to the side into someone’s empty front yard off of the sidewalk to speak low without people overhearing. “Like Dorian pointed out, I soak up human adoration and attention in a similar way as when I go home to recharge. Now that I haven’t been working at the club, I’m only able to feed off of you three. I want to actually last the three days before having to cross over again, and Lucien’s been so busy with work, that I’m poking the bear a bit to get his attention.”
Her eyes are hard, already preparing herself for being yelled at and admonished, but deciding to be honest anyway. All that ‘attention whore’ garbage the fae drilled into her head has really messed with her, and the way humans regard people that constantly try to be the center of attention isn’t much better. The fact that she’s admitting it to us though, and waiting to see if we’re going to condemn her in the same way, stings a bit. I thought she realized by now that we aren’t those kinds of people.
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
Still guarded, she side-eyes me warily. “What was I supposed to say that wouldn’t come off as needy and annoying?” She’s lashing out, trying to defend herself, yet no one is attacking her. I just wish she could see that as clearly as I do.
“Exactly what you just did. Now that we know, we can help.”
She blinks at me a few times and Lucien reaches out to gently stroke a knuckle down her cheek. “It may be unconventional, but Dorian was right to urge us all together. I get so lost in my own head sometimes that I don’t see when I’m being an asshole. I’m glad you had them to give you what you needed while I was busy, but I’ll try to do better. Alright?”
Cambria just stares, dumbstruck and thrown off kilter, the conversation not going the way she anticipated. Dorian bumps his hip against hers to snap her out of it.
“It’s just like having a succubus for a roommate, and I don’t know about the other two, but I am one hundred percent here for it. Suck me dry as often as you need,” he teases and we start heading back into the crowd, veiling our words more just in case.
Cambria smiles softly, the icy armor she wrapped herself in thawing rapidly. “Noted. When we get home, I’ll jump online and see what I can find.”
“Huh?”
She turns to wink at me over her shoulder. “I take my roles very seriously, good sir.”
As she shares a look with Dorian, I put two and two together, guessing they do some pretty weird role playing behind locked doors. Though I doubt the kinky little thing ever locks them; she’d likely not bat an eye if one of us decided to join them.
Not the time or place for those thoughts, Atlas.
Cambria curses suddenly, practically shoving us between two stalls. I stumble at the abruptness before getting my wits about me and start scanning the area for threats.
“What is it?”
“Fae. I should have expected it,” she sighs, annoyed.
Lucien peers out behind the edge of the tents. “You think they followed you here? We should head home.”
He’s already reaching for her, but she puts a hand on his arm to calm him down. “I’m not that important, Luce. It’s a festival. A good chunk of fae refuse to ever set foot over here, but there’s just as many that come to fuck shit up or get fucked, remember? Events like this usually draw a few interested ones to the area.”
Dorian grimaces, his previous excitement drained away. “Should we, I don’t know, try to fence off the clearing so no one else stumbles through the ring that shouldn’t?”
I snort. “We aren’t the supernatural police, D. We have enough fae on our hands to deal with already. We don’t need to get involved with anyone else’s business.”
Cambria voices her agreement. “And I hear tales that I’m a handful as it is.”
“Isn’t that the damn truth?”
I really should have expected the kidney shot she gives me for that one.
“Like you have any room to talk, stalker. It’s your fault you’re in this mess in the first place,” she reminds me.
“You say that like I regret it.” I kiss her cheek and her anger deflates.
Lucien clears his throat. “Still, it might be better to head home before they see Cambria and start something. I wouldn’t put it past a fae to reveal themselves and find a way to blame us for it.”
I scratch the back of my head. “Sucks, but you’re probably right. Votes?”
Cambria releases a tired breath. “Yeah, let’s go home and call tonight a wash.”
Dorian interlocks their fingers as we start heading home. “I have a better idea, come on.”
