How did he know?
I nod. “Starving actually.”
“What are you two whispering about?” East asks us as he turns away from the fridge with two small velvet bags in his hand. “And why the hell can’t I hear you?”
A small smile pulls at Arrow’s lips. “Because we’re speaking in a frequency only cyborgs can hear and speak.”
Asher’s gaze zeroes in on Arrow. “So, not only can she hear other frequencies, she can speak them, too?”
Arrow shrugs. “Apparently.”
Asher sets the handheld device down, his gaze flicking between me and Arrow. “How did you know she could do that?”
Arrow gets to his feet, the gadgets covering his body gearing up as he lifts his arms above his head and stretches. “I had a hunch and decided to test out the theory.” He rounds to the other side of the island, opens a cupboard, and pulls out a tall, bronzed box.
Asher frowns. “I was going to take care of that. We were just working up a deal first.”
“There’s no room for deals. She needs to eat about twice as much until her body adjusts to world traveling.” Arrow sets the box down in front of me, earning a nasty look from Asher.
Whatever’s in this box has got Asher’s panties all twisted up in a bunch.
That makes me smile.
East rests his arms against the countertop as he grins at me amusedly. “What’s causing those beautiful lips to smile, sweetheart?”
See, cheesy overload again.
“Oh, nothing.” My smile grows as Asher’s annoyance doubles. Then I turn to Arrow. “So, what’s in the weird metal box?”
With a trace of a smile, Arrow twists the knob on top of the box and a ray of light illuminates from inside. “Since I don’t possess a lot of magical abilities, I can’t just snap my fingers and make food appear, so I use this.” He taps the box. “All you have to do is say what you want and it’ll make it for you.”
“Wow, that’s pretty cool.” Although, I didn’t realize until now that cyborgs ate food. I slant forward in the stool, the light reflecting against my pupils. “I can say anything I want?”
Arrow nods, watching me with intrigue. “Anything at all.”
“What do you usually ask for?” I’ve never had the option of having whatever I want for breakfast, and all the possibilities … it’s almost overwhelming. Everything sounds so delicious. My belly grumbles with possibilities.
“French toast is one of my favorites,” he tells me with a tiny smile.
“French toast sounds awesome,” I tell the box. “With sausage and bacon, and biscuits. Oh, and waffles and eggs and real maple syrup and cupcakes with lots and lots of frosting.” I cringe, feeling Asher’s gaze boring into me, as if he thinks my request for cupcakes has to do with his scent, which I guess it sort of does. He doesn’t need to know that.
“And hot chocolate with marshmallows,” I continue with my ordering, my appetite growing by the second. “And coffeecake. And …” I trail off as I note the three of them staring at me with wide eyes. “What?”
East’s tongue slips out to wet his lips, then he trades a look with Asher and Arrow. Arrow’s lips pull into a smile, and East lets out a chuckle. Even Asher, the grump, looks amused.
“What’s so funny?” I demand, crossing my arms.
East simply shakes his head. “You’re absolutely adorable. You really are.”
“That she is,” Asher mumbles, his gaze relentlessly welded to mine.
Since I’m fairly sure they’re making fun of me, I shoot East and Asher a glare. “You know what? I think I’ve decided who my favorite band member is.” I lean toward Arrow with my eyes narrowed on East and Asher. “From now on, I only like Arrow, and you two can suck it.”
“Suck what exactly?” East muses, his gaze drifting to my chest. As his lips part, I hold up a hand.
“Whatever you’re about to say, don’t. Just don’t.” I shake my head as his glinting gaze meets mine.
“You’re the one who told me to suck it,” he says. “I was just going to tell you what I’d like to suck on.”
Asher whacks him in the back of the head. “All right, that’s enough. Harlynn needs to eat breakfast, and I’d like to keep mine down.”
“Like you didn’t think the same thing,” East mumbles, rubbing his head.
Asher’s gaze strays from East to my chest then to my face. The hue of desire in his eyes makes my skin flush.
I casually scratch my neck, trying to hide the bit of cleavage popping out of my tank top.
When I wandered into the kitchen after barely sleeping, I hadn’t bothered to change out of my pajamas. At the time, I didn’t care, but now … my tank top seems too thin, the shorts too short, too much of my skin showing so they can see just how flushed I am.
And the longer Asher and East openly check me out, the deeper my blush gets.
“Would you guys stop looking at me like that?” I demand. “In fact, don’t look at me at all.”
“Are we making you uncomfortable?” Asher asks, sounding strangely concerned.
I waver. “Sort of.” Not necessarily in a bad way, though.
No, I sort of like their attention. I’m just not a fan of how obvious it is that I’m blushing because of it.
“We’re sorry.” Asher collects his handheld device and motions for East to follow him as he heads out of the kitchen. “I need to talk to you privately before you leave.”
East offers me an apologetic look then follows Asher down the hallway.
I watch them go, confused as a leprechaun who was cursed with two left feet. “Why did East look at me like that? Like he was sorry for something.”
“Because he was.” Arrow sits down beside me again. “Asher was, too.”
“For what?” I twist on the stool to face him, our knees touching.
“For staring at you like they were, and for making you feel uncomfortable.” Arrow reaches for the knob on the top of the box. “I think they’re worried they crossed a line.”
“They didn’t. I just didn’t like how they could tell I was blushing,” I admit. Talking to Arrow has been easy from the start. I think it’s because his gentle demeanor makes him less intimidating. “But I appreciate them backing off.”
I’m surprised, though, that a moody, brooding genie, and a flirty, perverted faerie respect me enough to back off when I ask. Too bad all paranormals and humans can’t be the same.
“None of us ever want you to feel uncomfortable,” Arrow tells me with such genuineness that, if I didn’t know any better, I’d wonder if he was human.
But then the gadgets in his fingers crank as he moves to open the top of the box, reminding me that he’s part machine. Still, I’m more than certain his heart has to be real, along with his soul.
“Are you ready for the best breakfast you’ve ever had?” he asks, and I eagerly nod. Smiling, he lifts the top off.
A bright light flashes, and I flinch, lifting my arms to shield my eyes.
“That’s so bright.”
A beat of silence goes by, and then Arrow utters, “You can look now.”
Slowly, I lower my hands. Then excitement bursts through me.
Covering the countertop is every single drop of food I ordered, from the fluffiest French toast I’ve ever seen to cupcakes covered with mounds and mounds of glittery purple frosting.
I quickly reach for a fork and dive into the French toast. “Oh, my gods, I’m seriously having a foodgasm right now,” I moan as I lick a droplet of syrup from my lips.
Arrow’s brows knit. “What’s a foodgasm?”
“Um …” I mentally curse my big mouth. “It’s an expression used when you practically have an … orgasm over food.”
“Oh.”
Dead silence stretches between us.
That silence gives me too much time to think. About orgasms. And food. And foodgasms. About if cyborgs can have foodgasms. And orgasms …
My gaze unintentionally drifts toward Arrow’s crotch area
. Wait. Do cyborgs have mechanical penises?
Someone clears their throat, and I jolt, nearly spitting out a mouthful of French toast. Warmth floods my cheeks as East enters the kitchen, a wicked grin curving across his face.
“So, I’m not allowed to stare at the mouthwatering parts of your body, but you can stare at Arrow’s junk?” he asks wickedly.
“I wasn’t staring at his junk,” I hiss, then glance at Arrow. “I wasn’t. I swear.”
“It’s fine.” He nervously rubs his hand over his head. “I didn’t think you were.” Sucking in a breath, his gaze skates to East. “I’m going to send for a world jumper vehicle to pick us up so we can get this mission over with.” His gaze fleetingly flicks to mine before he hightails the hell out of the kitchen.
Can’t really blame him for acting so skittish after I stared at his man parts, wondering if they were mechanical.
I shake my head at myself. What in the stupid pixies is wrong with me? I swear being with these guys is messing with my ability to think rationally.
“Don’t worry. He’s probably as embarrassed as you are,” Easton says with a lazy smile.
I narrow my eyes at him as I stuff my mouth full of bacon. “I don’t know why he’d be embarrassed. I wasn’t staring at his guy parts like you implied.”
“Sure you weren’t. Just like I wasn’t staring at your girl parts before Asher made me leave the kitchen so he could lecture me on not ogling your goodies.” He slants forward and rests his arms on the counter, his wings shimmering in the light. “You know, it’s the first time I’ve ever seen a female get upset with me for checking her out.”
“That you know of.”
He laughs, his eyes crinkling around the corners. “Oh, Harlynn, how you amuse me.”
“What? You think there’s never been a time when you’ve checked out a female and she felt uncomfortable yet pretended to be fine because she didn’t feel comfortable enough showing her vulnerability?” I cock a brow at him as I pop a few chunks of coffee cake into my mouth.
A frown forms on his face. “I’ve never thought of it that way. It’s always been so natural for me to flirt. I guess it might come off as too much to those who aren’t my kind.”
“Are all faeries as flirty as you?” I ask curiously as I peel the wrapper off a cupcake.
He nods, wisps of his hair falling into his glittery eyes. “Worse even.”
I crinkle my nose. “Well, hopefully I don’t cross paths with any more faeries.”
“Considering we’re in Shimmerland, I wouldn’t hold your breath.” A crooked grin pulls at his lips. “And I highly doubt fey are the only creatures you have to worry about.”
I pause mid-bite with frosting on my lips and my mouth glazed with sugary sweetness. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
His smile broadens as he ambles around the counter toward me. “It means you’re delectably delicious, just like that cupcake, and too tempting not to taste.” Then he dips his head and licks a glob of frosting off my lips.
I remain momentarily frozen in shock. But as he moves away, licking his lips, I snap out of my daze and wipe my hand across my mouth, pretending to be deeply disgusted.
“So gross,” I murmur, which only elicits a bigger smile from him.
He snatches a piece of sausage off my plate and pops it into his mouth. “It’s cute how you pretend.”
I smile wickedly at him. “And it’s cute how you—” My eyes widen as the floor begins to quake. “What the hell is that?”
A crinkle forms between Easton’s brows as his gaze drops to the floor then zips to the hologram window. “Shit.” He rushes over to the farthest wall, lines his palm to the hologram, and whispers, “Show me the outside, but keep the blinds up.”
The forest and lake currently on the screen morph into the flowery field, lofty trees, and shimmering, iridescent sky that make up the outside. Only, unlike when I was out there yesterday, a clusterfuck of paranormals dressed in black cargo pants and matching boots and shirts fill up the space around the vehicle. In the distance behind them, dogs the size of giants drool on the ground.
“Holy crap, are those, like, super-sized werewolves?” I ask in horror.
“Worse.” The fear in Easton’s tone causes my fear to soar. “Hellhounds.”
My jaw drops. “Like the Devil’s dogs?”
Shaking his head, he glances at me. “Any creature can own a hellhound. It’s just a pain in the ass to catch and train them. But if you manage, then you can pretty much start a war.”
I swallow the bite of eggs I was chewing on. “Why are they outside your vehicle?”
“I think because we broke a law.”
I startle at the sound of Asher’s voice.
I turn around, then instantly lean back at his nearness. “How did you get in here so quietly?”
“It’s a secret.” He winks at me, but the playfulness doesn’t reach his eyes. Then he strides across the room and peers at the scene outside. A deep frown etches into his face. “We should’ve assumed that, once we figured out she was different, this would happen.”
“But we were careful sneaking her out.” East frowns. “How did they find out?”
“My bet is because of whatever she is, she registered on their radar,” Asher mutters. “We should’ve thought of this sooner.”
“But she registers as a human to Arrow,” East reminds him. “Which means she shouldn’t register on their radar.”
“You know as well as I do that their radars are far better than any magical creatures’ sensors,” Asher says with his gaze fixed on the outside.
“Yeah, only because they slaughter paranormals to build their magical supply,” East practically spits out.
He seems so irritated, so pissed off. Honestly, up until now, I thought he had only one level and that was super flirty and happy. Guess I was wrong.
Doesn’t explain who the hell is outside, though.
I snatch up a cupcake then slide off the stool and pad across the room to them. “So, who are the dudes in the combat uniforms that have you guys all worked up?”
“The Worlds Patrol,” Asher tells me with reluctance. “They’re in charge of making sure paranormals don’t leave their worlds without the proper passes and paperwork.”
“I know what the Worlds Patrol is.” I nibble on the cupcake, licking off a mouthful of frosting. “But, why are they here?”
Asher and East exchange a wary look, then Asher’s smoky eyes settle on me. “They’re here for you.”
Chapter 13
A beat ticks by as I process what he said. The Worlds Patrol is here for me? No. I must have heard Asher wrong. The longer the silence ticks by, though, the more painfully aware I become that I heard him as clearly as I see the crazy iridescent sky outside.
“But I’m not a paranormal,” I gripe. “I thought they were only allowed to arrest paranormals.”
“They are. But only because paranormals are usually the ones jumping around in worlds. Plus, we’re easier to track because we leave magical traces behind.” East crosses his arms and keeps his gaze trained on the outside. “I hate to break this to you, sweetheart; we may not know what you are, but you’re definitely not just a regular human. And I think the patrol may have caught on to that. How, though, I’m not sure.”
“So, does that mean they can arrest me for leaving my world?” I put my hand on my hip, fuming mad. “Because the only reason I left to begin with is because you guys made me.”
Asher’s gaze glides to mine. “You didn’t have to make the deal.”
My fingers twitch with the urge to smack him, but I take a deep breath, refusing to allow him to get me riled up. “No, I did, or Jason would’ve died and I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself.” A shaky breath eases from my lips as I think about Jason. Man, I miss him. Part of me really wants to go back to my world, if for nothing else than to see him. “And maybe it’s better if the patrol takes me. It’ll get me out of this deal and away from the two of you.�
�
“Two?” Asher arches a brow. “There’re three of us.”
“Yeah, but I like Arrow,” I say with a smirk.
Asher’s eyes swirl with smoke. “Did you hear that, East? Arrow is Harlynn’s favorite.”
“I never said favorite,” I correct. “I said he’s the only one I like.”
Asher looks at Easton, who grins slyly in return.
Grinning like the devil himself, Asher returns his attention to me. “After we take care of this little problem, East and I are going to punish you for that.”
“You can’t do that. We made a deal you wouldn’t harm me, remember?” My heart tremors in my chest.
Genies can be tricky little buggers, twisting words around and casting bargains with underlying meanings. What if I messed up when we made the deal that none of them could harm me?
“I said punish,” Asher clarifies with a dark smile that sends shivers across my flesh. He takes a step toward me. “Not harm.”
I instinctively step back, only to bump into East’s chest.
What the hell? When did he move behind me?
I start to skitter to the side to get out from between them, but East folds his fingers around my upper arms, securing me in place.
“What are you two doing?” I cringe at the breathiness of my voice. “Trying to scare me or something?”
The tip of East’s wing tickles a path down my arm. “Quite the opposite actually.”
I resist the urge to shudder, but faeries, oh faeries, do I want to. “If that’s the case, you’re going about it all wrong.”
Asher reaches out, I think to tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear, but instead he drops his hand to my side. I flinch as his fingers brush against mine then wrap around my wrist.
“What’re you …?” I trail off as he guides my hand holding the half-eaten cupcake up to his lips. When the treat reaches his mouth, he takes a slow bite.
“Mmm … That is fucking good …” He licks frosting off his lips with his gaze melded to mine.
Chasing Steel: Capturing Magic Books 1-3 Page 10