I had never seen him so lost to his element… reduced to his fire, more force than man. It was fascinating.
I longed to touch his eyelids, to feel the warmth of the flames racing beneath them, but I couldn’t cross that line. Not when he was already struggling to contain himself.
‘Fae feel it differently, you know that…’ he said after a moment, sounding a little winded.
Books really couldn’t teach me much about this—the intensity of matehood. I just hoped that we were still talking about them and not us. ‘Knowing doesn’t make it easier to understand.’
River laughed, stepping closer as if testing the waters, gauging whether he was still in control. Relief softened his smile as the flames gradually dissipated, and his eyes returned to their usual amber. ‘I’m yet to meet a fae male that would reject his mate. Let alone for acting out before they’ve even bonded. They’re not a sealed unit yet.’
Sealed? Chills spread down my spine, it sounded so irreversible. ‘And if she were to sleep around after she mated him?’
For a brief second, fire flared in his eyes again, but he quickly reined it in. ‘I’ve heard stories, mostly about interspecies pairings with witches. It’s possible to be rejected but… Once the bond’s in place for a fae, it will never go away. Are your sister’s ears like yours?’
How her anatomy had anything to do with this was beyond me. ‘What do her ears have to do with anything?’
His cheeks flushing a little, River admitted, ‘The past few weeks I’ve had a few scholars dig for research focusing on fae and halfling matings. The findings differ based on whether the person’s genetics are predominantly fae or witch.’
He really thought I would mate him after everything that happened... The realisation made me sad for him. ‘And ears tell you that?’
‘Yes,’ he hushed out, avoiding my glare like he could sense my disapproval.
The conviction that sluttiness—or lack thereof—could be related to ear shape was almost funny. ‘I find it hard to believe, but for the sake of the conversation—yes—Willow’s ears are a little pointed too.’
River stopped, watching my reaction. ‘Then she’s unlikely to sleep around after they bond.’
I laughed. ‘You really don’t know what a slut she is.’
‘It doesn’t matter; she will feel the effects of the bond more than a regular witch,’ he said, looking away. ‘Anyway, this is one of the few pine forests we have. It’s not for the faint-hearted.’
‘I’m not—’
Taking a step away, he raised his hands in surrender. ‘I wasn’t suggesting you were, Ava. Have you ever heard ofshimmering chasers?’
It rang a bell.
Chapter Seventeen
Avari
River’s muscles strained and tightened the more he put them to use. His heated jacket lay on the ground by the massive tree stump I perched on, which offered an unobstructed view of fabric on his back stretching beyond what, I thought, was possible.
The chilly breeze whipping his soft curls around his forehead did nothing to cool him as beads of sweat glistened under the vibrant moonlight. They cascaded down his neck, disappearing under the collar of his shirt.
His moist skin reflected that moonlight in the most sinful way. Or perhaps it was just him. My pride took a hit when I realised how scandalous it was to watch him, mesmerised. Suddenly, he shifted, casting me a cocky stare that made my heart skip a beat.
‘Enjoying the show?’ he winked, and I felt heat creeping up my chest.
Thank Gods I was covered in many layers of clothing, though he could probably notice the change on my cheeks.Unless I invested in a massive scarf, they would be difficult to hide.
Chuckling at my lack of response, he moved closer to me. He took one of the dark metal prongs and swiftly kicked it into the ground to make sure the tent stayed secured.
Judging by the cloudy sky, it would turn to rain at best and storm at worst. That didn’t worry me too much. If it tried to lift away, I could use witchcraft to anchor it in place.
Somehow, I couldn’t bring myself to make that offer while he worked on it.
‘May I invite you into our humble abode, princess?’ he asked cheerfully, opening the flaps.
Two thin comforters lined the floor on opposite sides. The need to dwell on the fact I never even considered we might need all of those things overwhelmed me, but then I realised I couldn’t have. Fogoya was still a mystery, not to mention my lack of strategic expertise.
