“You had me at ‘having a roof over my head’ and ‘not living in a car,’” I say. “As long as you aren’t planning to murder me.”
“Of course not,” Brett says. “Not unless you intend to murder me or Avery.”
“Nope,” I say, putting up my hands. “I’m a painter, not a murderer.”
“You paint?” Avery asks. “That’s awesome. What do you paint?”
“Landscapes mainly,” I say. “Some from memory, some from real life. If you want, I could paint something as a thank-you.”
She waves a hand. “Not necessary, but I’d love to see your work sometime.”
Ian takes a step forward. “If the three of you are comfortable, I can be going…”
I glance at him, and my heart aches for a moment at the thought of not seeing him.
But staying alone with him… I’m not sure if it would be too much. Not until I know him better.
“Thank you, Ian,” I say, walking over to him. I hesitate for a moment. Then I step forward and wrap my arms around him, squeezing him in a quick hug.
When I step back, he’s blushing. “No need to thank me. I just did what I wanted to do.”
“What did he do?” Avery asks. “You know, Ian is such a mystery to most of us.”
“Most of you?”
“There’s a group of us living on this floor,” Avery says. “The guys all know each other.”
“From where?”
Ian’s eyes go wide, and I get a chance to really study the color of his amazing irises. Light gray but almost reflective, with little hints of color. Like a rainbow hiding behind storm clouds.
Or perhaps I’m just tired.
“College,” Avery says quickly. “They all know each other from college.”
Ian is turning red again for some reason, but I decide to let him off the hook.
I glance up at him, wanting to hug him again. Wanting to do more to him, if I’m honest, now that I’ve touched him.
Something inside me is stirring. Has been since I met him. But I tell myself it’s just the excitement of the night.
Or the fact that he’s incredibly hot and I could feel every one of his hard muscles pressed up against my curves.
“Good night, then,” he says and ducks out of the room, shutting the door behind him as if he can’t get away from us fast enough.
I put my hands on my hips and sigh, wondering what I did to chase him away or if he’s always like that.
I turn back to see Avery and Brett facing me, their arms around each other’s waists. They look together, like a partnership, and I want something like that, I realize.
Maybe with Ian?
Hey, a girl can dream.
Brett lets go of Avery and hefts my duffel, bringing it down the hall to a room on the right and setting it just inside. “The door has a deadbolt for your safety. You have your own half bath as well.”
I nod at him. “Thank you, it’s more than I even expected.”
He steps back, but I notice Avery still watching me. She pats Brett’s shoulder, whispers something to him, and then follows me into the room, shutting the door behind her.
“So how did you meet Ian?” She leans against the door, watching me as I unpack my things.
“He just sort of… found me,” I say. “I was in some trouble and he intervened, and I guess he’s just the type of guy that can’t easily let go.”
“He’s a gentle soul,” she says. “A really good person. Why not stay with him?”
“Alone with a guy I just met?” I ask. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”
“Well, we love having you here, but should you decide you’d like even more space—because Brett can be… a lot sometimes—I just want you to know that Ian would never hurt you. He couldn’t hurt a fly.” She folds her arms. “I just thought it might help if I vouched for him.”
It does feel a little wrong, being apart from him. But I just met him, so I don’t know why.
“Thanks for the input,” I say. “And the room.”
She nods. “Let me know if there’s anything else you need. I’ll let you settle in.”
I give her a smile, and she leaves.
When her footsteps echo and disappear down the hall, I sit on the bed, shoulders slumped, and stare over at the window.
There was a look in Ian’s eyes just before he left that was almost lonely.
I think about him over there alone in that apartment.
I wonder if he’s okay.
Then again, he’s the one who saved me. Like he needs me for anything. I probably just have a giant crush on him.
But as I get ready for the night and jump in bed, he’s all I can think about until sleep finally claims me.
Ian
I didn’t want to leave her.
It makes no sense. She’s not my soul bond, is she? She wasn’t instantly drawn to me the way my friends’ mates were drawn to them.
I didn’t feel some explosion when I met her. Just a soft, urgent warmth. And an ache like I’m missing something now that she’s not here.
But she’s safer there anyway probably. Safer not getting too involved with me since I can’t give her the happy ending the other fae princes gave their mates.
But when she hugged me, it felt like something burst inside me. I could barely hold myself back from pulling her into my arms, tilting her head back in a kiss the way Flynn showed me.
Even now, as I lie in bed, an image comes to mind of us entwined, arms wrapped around each other, mouths together, tongues exploring.
I feel my body respond and tell it not to, but it doesn’t listen.
“She’s not for us,” I say aloud because, after so many years of solitude, I’m used to talking to myself.
I’m glad I could find her. I vow to protect her. It will be fun to see her develop her powers and become the fae she was meant to be.
I cover my eyes with my hand, making it even darker, removing the image of us kissing. Trying to forget the warmth of her touch.
She’s only a few doors away, and it’s as though I can feel her through the walls here.
Sense her, feel the magic in me call to her.
This can’t be happening. I can’t have a soul bond.
I’ve just been alone so long that the first person to show me kindness or interest is getting me to fall for her.
She’s beautiful, sweet, kind, and brave. Exactly what I would have wanted had I still been looking for a mate.
My heart clenches as I force my thoughts to calm and turn onto my side to face the window. Watching the stars twinkling in the dark sky always keeps me grounded.
They always did, even when I was in my tower in the fae world, though the stars were different there.
Soon, I’ll have to go back there, when Ultraviolet calls again. Soon, I’ll make the ultimate sacrifice and in some way make up for everything that my kind of fae have done.
I just kind of wish it had happened before I met Liz, because even as I try to close my eyes and go to sleep, her pretty face is there, haunting me.
I already can’t wait for the next time I’ll see her. My traitorous body wants another excuse to hold her close.
And if I’m not careful, I’m going to get ideas about making bonds and setting down roots when that’s the last thing I should be doing right now.
“Dammit, Ian, get ahold of yourself,” I mutter, pulling the blanket over my head as if I can hide from the future and the confusing feelings inside me.
4
Ian
When I hear a knock on the door the next morning, my first thought is that something happened with Liz, so I jump out of bed, grabbing my sheet to wrap around me as I stumble to the doorway, trying to keep from tripping on the fabric.
When I open the door, Liz is standing there staring up at me with those big, sparkly brown eyes, her lower lip pouting.
I let out a sigh of relief, seeing that everything looks to be okay. I got up so fast that I’m a bit woozy, but I step
back and hold the door so she can come in.
“Sorry, did I wake you?”
I don’t think she’d believe a lie at this point, so I just nod, keeping the sheet tight around me.
“My bad,” she says, taking another step into the living room. “How did you sleep?”
I feel a little odd, shirtless with only a sheet around me, having this conversation. “Okay. How about you?”
She sits on my couch, looking up at the ceiling. “Your friends… they’re really nice, but—” She shakes her head, looking embarrassed.
I grin. “Ah. They’re really… in love, huh?”
She nods, flushing as she looks over at me. It gives her deep skin more of a glow. Her curls are unruly and soft, and she looks beautiful in the morning light. “Really in love. Like once last night and again this morning.” She blinks long lashes. “Can I stay with you?”
I laugh, walking back into my room and shutting the door so I can change. I pull on pants and a gray sweatshirt and walk back out to face her. “Of course you can.”
Since her image tormented me all night, she might as well stay here where I can keep an eye on her.
Besides, regardless of how much I want to fight this thing between us, I’m not sure I can.
There’s a quick friendship every time I see her. She’s the easiest person to talk to I’ve ever met. And I feel safe around her. She’s just good, and she makes the hate and darkness in me subside for a moment.
She kind of reminds me of Flynn, I think abashedly. Though, I doubt she’s a fire fae. She doesn’t seem the type, now that I know two of them.
“Thanks,” she says, sounding relieved as she relaxes back into the couch. “I’ll go get my stuff later. I snuck out while Brett and Avery were… busy.”
I laugh. “Breakfast, then?”
She holds up a bag I didn’t realize she was holding. “I went down the street for day-old donuts.”
My body tightens at the fact that she went out without me, but there really is no reason she shouldn’t. I don’t sense chaos after her, at least not yet. And she’s staying here, but I don’t have any reason to tell her what she can and can’t do.
Aside from my rampant overprotectiveness that started the moment I met her.
She walks over and plops the bag down on the table. “I don’t know what you like, but I got some of everything. Even though they’re day-old, they taste pretty fresh.”
I raise an eyebrow at her, surprised as always by her attitude. No matter what happens, she seems to take it in stride. She also seems to attract disaster.
“So what’s your story?” she asks, biting into a donut with chocolate frosting. “Where are you from? What’s your family like?”
I’m sure I’m even paler than usual as I take a seat at the table, trying to digest her questions and figure out exactly how I should answer.
“I’ll get milk while you think,” she says, her perfect ass swishing in her gray sweats as she walks to the fridge. She’s wearing a soft blue tee shirt that sets off her skin gorgeously.
I just want to stand up, wrap my arms around her, pull her curvy body in against me—
She turns around, holding the milk, which she sets on the table as she goes to a cupboard to look for glasses. “Sorry, already making myself at home.”
“Please,” I say. “What’s mine is yours.”
“Now you really have to tell me more about you,” she says. “Because people like you just aren’t supposed to exist in this world.” She bites her lower lip. “And why are all your friends so beautiful?”
I just shrug. “I can’t really answer that one.” Because we’re fairies wouldn’t be appropriate right now.
She picks up a donut and dips it into her milk. “Anyway, I should be able to make a painting soon, if I can get some art supplies. I’ll call the gallery, see where the check is at. Then, when I finish and sell a painting, I should be able to move out.” She frowns. “Might be a month. Is that okay?”
I shrug one shoulder. It probably won’t be that long before she figures out she’s an immortal fairy and rent is not going to be a problem anymore, but she doesn’t need to know that yet. “Anything is fine. As I said, no one is using the bedroom.”
“You have a breakup?” she asks.
“No,” I say.
“You single?” She has a little speck of chocolate on her lip, and the urge to walk over, tilt up her head, and lick it away before kissing her is almost too strong to resist.
“Yes,” I say.
“Interesting,” she says. “Usually, the good ones are all taken.”
I take a donut and bite it because I have no idea what to say to this girl.
Plus, I can see Ultraviolet’s face in my mind, saying, Focus.
“So you still didn’t tell me what you do,” she says, looking up at me curiously.
I keep chewing my donut because I’m not much of a liar but hadn’t really thought of an alibi.
“You don’t have to tell me,” she says. “You’re the one doing me a favor here. Let me guess.” She puts her hand to her chin. “Bodyguard? Security of some kind?”
I laugh. “Something like that.” My heart warms at the fact that she sees me as strong or protective.
“With that body, it’d be a shame not to,” she says. “Damn, how tall are you? How often do you work out?”
I shake my head. “Do you always ask this many questions?”
She nods. “When I’m this interested.”
I shove my hand through my hair, unsure where to go from here. “I don’t have quick answers.”
“That’s fine,” she says. “I’ll just tell you about me, then, if you want.”
I nod, relieved that I don’t have to keep the conversation going. Flynn always said I was socially awkward, and right now, I’m feeling how right he is.
But Liz seems happy to carry the conversation, pushing a donut my way every few minutes as she tells me about how she grew up in foster care, then earned a scholarship to go to art school.
It makes sense now why she doesn’t have a typical support system. She’s been fighting just to stay alive pretty much since she was born.
The exact opposite of a light fae. If anything, she has more in common with Flynn.
Jealousy sparks in me at how easy it would be for him to talk to her. But then I remember he’s bonded and happy and not a threat.
Not that I should care since I can’t make this beautiful, friendly, perfect woman mine.
I feel my cheeks heat, and she grins at me.
“What are you thinking over there, handsome?”
“Just that you’re beautiful,” I say honestly.
Her jaw drops, and she’s speechless for a moment, which I can tell is a rarity for her. “Ah.” She pushes a curl off her forehead so it stands back with the others. “That’s… sweet of you.”
“Not sweet. Just the truth,” I say, feeling like words are coming easier now.
“So at least tell me about your childhood,” she says. “You can tell a lot about someone from their childhood.”
“It was perfect,” I say softly. “I had everything I could want.” Except friends. Except freedom. But I was never deprived like her. “My family was wealthy and powerful.”
She smiles. “Sounds fun.”
I shrug one shoulder. “Can’t complain, especially compared to what you’ve gone through.”
“I’m fine.” She grins at me. “Look at me now. Beautiful apartment. Nice donuts. New friends.” She gives me a teasing look. “Cute guy…”
I flush violently again, and she giggles, leaning back in her chair. “You blush so easily. It’s cute.”
“Cute isn’t what most people would call me,” I say, thinking of myself when I was sending lasers through people’s chests in the light world.
I could obliterate the earth if I wanted to. I’m stronger than I even want to be.
Cute? I don’t think so.
“Well, I’ll call you that if I want to,
” she says. “If only to see you blush.”
And dammit, my cheeks are flaming again. It’s not manly, but I’m so pale that I can’t help it.
I put a hand over my mouth, trying not to smile widely, and am saved by a knock at the door.
I stand up, motioning with a hand for her to stay put.
When I open it, Flynn is standing there, Callie right behind him, her white-blond hair wind-tossed, her green eyes excited.
Flynn looks handsome and composed, as always, with auburn hair and golden eyes that mark him easily as a fire fae.
“Oh my gosh, you found a soul bond!” Callie says, rushing in before Flynn can stop her.
He just gives me an exasperated look. “She heard from Avery and had to come over and see.”
“Heard what?” I ask as I hear Callie go into the kitchen to greet Liz. Given how friendly they are, I’m sure the two will get along perfectly.
“That you had a beacon staying with you,” Flynn says, clapping me on the shoulder as he kicks the door shut. “You know what? I’m proud of you. You were pouting, and I wasn’t sure you were going to pull out of it, but—”
“Wait,” I say, putting a hand on his chest and pushing him back. “I just found her last night. She needed help. She doesn’t know—”
“I think you were faster than everyone,” Callie calls from the kitchen, where Liz is standing with a smile on her face. The girls shake hands, and I can tell they will be fast friends.
“Faster?” I ask.
Flynn looks vaguely panicked, and I can see him trying to get Callie’s attention.
“Yeah,” Callie says. “Bringing home your soul bond the first night. Then again, when you know, you know.”
My heart starts to race like a car catching up on the track. “Wait, I don’t—”
“What are you talking about?” Liz asks, hands on her hips as she walks over.
“What kind of fairy are you?” Callie asks. “I knew I was light for a long time, but the others…” She trails off. “Oh no, you don’t know, do you?”
Liz looks as though the blood has abandoned her face. “I don’t understand. Is this chick crazy?”
I walk over to Liz, gently extricating her from Callie and pulling her over to the couch to sit down.
Loved by Light (Wings, Wands and Soul Bonds Book 4) Page 3