Slowly, I push the magic away from me, towards Verys who’s watching Broadway with sharp eyes.
I push the spear of magic out and out and out, not running out of power. It’s exhilarating. I’ve never been able to do that! Softly, I touch Verys’s shoulder. I can feel it and not feel it—like the echo of the feeling. He stiffens, whipping around, and his magic slices down on mine with a crack! That reverberates inside me. A yelp flies from me, startling a few of the tourists that are also sitting on the fountain, and the sound draws the eyes of every one of my mates.
I see Verys figure out what happened, and he’s by my side in a second. “That was you?” His smile is relieved when I nod, and he pulls me in to kiss me in a way that’s completely inappropriate in public. I love it, melting against his body. Verys has yet to kiss me like this, and if this is a sign of things to come, then I’ll absolutely take it.
“That was very good,” he says, and I’m gratified that he sounds just as breathless as I feel. “But keeping that magic contained right now is the best course. She already wants you for your own magic. Add Cerys’s magic to that…”
Shit. I hadn’t thought of that. “And I probably shouldn’t startle you when you’re already on the lookout for danger, huh?”
He chuckles. “That too, but I think I’m going to like teaching you to play with magic.”
“You’ll teach me?”
“Hell yes.” His eyes are fierce. “We shouldn’t be the only ones that get to have the fun. And I want you to be able to defend yourself.”
That’s perfect—I need to learn more about magic and the echoes it leaves. I hadn’t thought about the fact that maybe the Goddess’s magic would only make me a more appealing target. But what little I know about Ariana, that is probably true. And I’m not about to let her catch me off-guard another time.
Verys kisses me. “I should go back to guard duty.”
“But this is more fun,” I say, pulling his lips to mine. Before I can consume him the way I’m really wanting to a voice echoes loudly across the plaza. “Kari?”
I look, and see Odette frozen in shock, and behind her is Emma. They’re only still for a moment before they’re running towards me, and Verys wisely gets out of the way. My friend—blonde ball of energy that she is—almost tackles me into the fountain. I hug her back, even though I can’t breathe. Especially when Emma jumps on me too.
The tourists are looking at us like we’re crazy, and maybe we are. But It feels so good to see them. Deep, aching emotion hits me all at once. I can’t believe how much I missed them, and how many things that I need to tell them right now. Odette stands, and she doesn’t keep her voice quiet. The expression on her face is no longer joyous. It’s murderous. “Where the fuck have you been? We thought you were dead.”
Emma takes her turn to hug me now without tackling me. Quietly, but no less fierce. “She’s right. We’ve been out of our minds. No word from you for two weeks and you show up looking like you went on a beach vacation, kissing one of the hottest men I’ve ever seen? What the hell, girl?”
I cringe. “You guys have every right to be pissed at me. But I’ll explain everything, and you have to tell me shit too. But maybe not in front of the tourists.” The last thing I need is for my story to end up on the internet. “Got some time to kill?”
“Absolutely,” Odette says without hesitating. “Diner?”
“That’ll work. But we’ll have company.” My men have gathered closer, and I point behind them.
Emma raises an eyebrow when she sees them. “Did you suddenly stumble upon a tree that grows beautiful men?”
“Just one part of the story.”
She laughs. “Then let’s go, because I have got to hear this. And I’m starving.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
________
KARI
Odette and Emma thread their arms through mine, and they don’t let me go as we head to the nearby diner that we’ve always loved. It’s the kind of diner that only people who live in Manhattan visit. Small, cramped, with a menu that serves everything from breakfast waffles to pastrami. We must look like some kind of celebrities, with four fae males walking around us like bodyguards. But it’s nice to know that if anything is going to come at me, they’ll see it first.
At the door to the diner, Brae stops me. “Take your time,” he says. “We’ll stay outside.”
“Are you sure?”
He smiles softly and kisses my forehead. “You deserve some privacy with your friends. You know if you need us we’ll hear you.”
“Okay. Try not to make it look like this is a mob hangout.”
“We’ll do our best,” Aeric says, smirking, and stealing a kiss. “No promises.” I know he’s doing it because my friends are watching, and their eyes are bugging out of their heads right now.
It’s like they’ve never seen a flirty conversation or a kiss before, and I suppose that’s fair. In the time we’ve known each other I’ve rarely dated. And even when I did date I didn’t talk about my boyfriends or our sex lives. They’re going to lose their shit when I tell them that I’m now involved with five men. At once. Hell, I’m still losing my shit about it.
“Let’s go.” I lead them into the diner and manage to snag the corner booth that we used to frequent when we were all in the corps together. Emma curls her legs up onto the bench seat beside her and stretches her foot against her hand. “Rough day,” she says. “Feet are killing me.”
“Trade me,” Odette says. “I’ve been bored out of my mind.”
Emma rolls her eyes. “Give it two more weeks, and you’ll be fine, Odette.”
I look at my friend. “No. You got it?”
Odette blushes. Ever since she was a kid she’s wanted to play The Swan Queen in Swan Lake. It’s not often that you get to play your namesake, and even though she’s a principal now, it’s early to be given a role like that. But her blush tells me that she did. “Holy fuck, congratulations!” I throw my arms around her as best I can in the booth. “That’s amazing.”
“Thanks,” she says. She’s being modest. Odette is an amazing dancer and watching her in Swan Lake is going to be magnificent. “But we have all the time in the world to talk about that. If you don’t start telling me why you disappeared for two weeks and show up with body guards that look like they belong at New York Fashion Week, I’m going to scream at the top of my lungs.”
“No you’re not,” I say, as the waitress approaches us.
Emma gives me a look. “She really will. I’ll be right behind her.”
We all order. The two of them omelettes and me waffles, and then Emma gestures. “Go on.”
“It’s a long story,” I warn.
“Good thing I’ve got,” Odette pretends to check a watch even though there’s nothing on her wrist, “all fucking night.”
“Okay.”
It takes a while, and I start at the very beginning, from the time that I felt the strange burst of magic in the shop to putting on my dress and texting Odette to the attack. The frenzied journey across Allwyn and all the sex. I watch their eyes go wide as I describe what happen, and I have to look down at my plate of waffles and avoid their eyes during some of it. And they interrupt to tease me about Kent, because both of them know how hard I’ve been crushing on him for years.
I weave the story through the Crystal Court and through the final moments at the temple, and even through the attack at the mansion, the fact that I have mates and that I now have the magic of a Goddess living under my skin. The looks on their faces when I’ve finished are ones that I expected. They believe me, but even I know it’s a story that pushes the boundaries of reality. I did skim over the exact details of some of the sex, because I don’t even know how to describe what happened earlier today. But I think they get the gist.
“So they,” Emma points to the windows and outside where Verys is standing in our line of sight, “are your mates?”
“Yeah,” I say. “It’s kind of hard to believe.”
“I’m really sorry for disappearing,” I say. “I wanted to see you guys get promoted.”
“At first we thought that it was the gala,” Emma says. “Figured that you got cold feet, didn’t want anyone to talk about you, and decided you couldn’t do it.”
Odette takes a sip of her water. “But then you weren’t answering our texts. And after more than a day of not answering, I knew something was wrong. Especially when I went to the shop, and it was closed. And you didn’t answer your at your apartment. I even used the spare key.”
“The police are bullshit, by the way,” Emma says, tucking her feet up under her again. “We reported you missing, but since there was no sign of struggle at either place, they basically dismissed it. Said you’d probably gone to Vegas or something. That they’d look into it, but I don’t think they did.”
I open my mouth to say that I’m sorry again and Odette holds out a hand. “And don’t apologize. You didn’t exactly have a choice at the time.”
“I know,” I say, reaching out and grabbing that hand. “But I’m still sorry that you guys were worried. If I’d been able to get a message to you, I would have.”
Emma pulls her dark hair back into a ponytail and grins. “Everything is forgiven, but you’re going to have to give us more details about the sex.”
My face turns bright red, and I can see the corner of Verys’s mouth turn up into a smile outside. The bastard can hear us. I know he’s not trying but being fae gives you advantages like that. “No fucking way.”
“Lots of fucking, apparently,” Odette retorts, and they both laugh while I drop my face into my hands. “You guys are the worst.”
“Actually I think we’re the best,” Emma says. “And does this mean we can come visit you? I want to spend some time in a house that does my laundry, thanks.”
“Yes,” I say. “Absolutely. Not until I know that you’re not going to get attacked by just being around me, but I want to show you everything. It’s so fucking beautiful. You have no idea.”
While she’s stealing some of the leftover syrup off my plate, Odette smirks at me. “If I’m visiting the Carnal Court am I going to be able to…you know…partake of the fun?”
Emma collapses into giggles and I cover my face. “Yeah, I don’t see why not? They’re all about it, as long as everyone is consenting.”
“Fuck yes,” Odette says, grinning. “Literally.”
“I hate you both.”
Emma leans over and rests her head on my shoulder. “You love us and we missed you. So are you going to introduce us to your boy toys?”
My eyes raise into my hairline. “I doubt they’ll like being called that, but sure.”
“They’ll never know that we call them that.”
I press my lips together to hide my smile. “At least one of them can hear you right now, so they’ll definitely know.” Emma’s eyes go wide, and I smile wider. “Fae.”
“That’s going to take some getting used to,” she says.
“You’re telling me.” I roll my eyes. “You guys want to introduce yourselves, Verys?”
He turns outside and winks before heading for the door. I swear that the entire diner goes silent when they walk in together. Everyone looks at them, because they stand out.
“I’m really jealous of you right now,” Odette whispers.
“For once in my life I’m not even going to say that you shouldn’t be.”
She laughs as the approach, but Emma is the first one to stick her hand out to them. “I’ve heard some pretty good things about you guys.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet Kari’s friends,” Brae says, reaching out to take it. We do quick introductions, and I’m blushing because given what I just told them, I know they’re imagining all the sex that we’ve had. But they barely blinked about the fact that these men are mine, and that I’m theirs. Probably because that’s not even the strangest thing that I told them today.
“Did you have a good rehearsal?” Urien asks them, and suddenly Emma is the one blushing. She nods and ducks her head.
“You know about our rehearsal?” Odette’s voice is filled with shock.
Verys reaches across the table and takes my hand. “Kari mentioned that you were dancers.” That simple act of taking my hand makes my stomach drop. I haven’t…been in public with them. Not really. Because we’re here in my world it feels more real, and more right.
Brae nods, and meets my eyes briefly. “When we arrived in New York and encountered Kari, we were on our way to a dance performance. And she’s spoken about her own history. For obvious reasons, dancers hold a special place in our hearts.”
I hadn’t heard that, and Verys squeezes my hand gently.
“Okay, move,” Emma says, standing up on the bench seat and literally climbing over me. She drops down and pushes me, forcing me towards Verys while I laugh. “We’re not joined at the hip, Emma. I can sit away from them.”
“Are you kidding?” She says, giving me one last shove. Verys helps her, scooping his arm around me and pulling me the rest of the way into his side. “I want to see this.”
“We never saw her with any guys,” Odette tells them, whispering. “Now she has five. It’s like the best form of people watching.”
“I can hear you, Odette.”
“So you’re who we come to when we want the good stories?” Aeric asks. It’s so strange to see him with a human skin color. I can’t wait until we’re alone and he’s back to normal. My new magic can sense that something isn’t…right with him and Urien. Like a nagging itch whenever I look at them.
“Yes,” Emma says. “One hundred percent. We’ve got all the stories.”
“There will be no stories!” I protest and glare at my friends. “None. Zip. It.”
Verys kisses the back of my head in silent solidarity, but everyone else is laughing. “There will definitely be stories,” Odette says. “Like the time She got locked out of the ballet dorm in nothing but her toe shoes.”
“Odette—”
“We definitely want to hear about that,” Urien says, cutting me off.
I sigh. “So this is how it’s going to be? Everyone is just going to gang up on me?”
“Get used to it,” Verys whispers. “We outnumber you.”
“So unfair,” I mutter.
Odette leans forward on her elbows. “How long will you be here?”
Before we left Allwyn, they tried to ask me how long I wanted to stay, and I didn’t have an answer for them. It seemed so important to get back here, to feel something normal and real, and this has been perfect. I think I needed to see that everything was still here the way I left it.
“I’m not sure,” I say. “I need to get some things from my apartment—”
In one movement, all of my mates swing their heads around and look out of the diner, and the feeling hits me a second later. It feels like an ache. Displaced nausea swelling in the direction that they’re looking. All the magic I have strains away from it, trying to escape even the barest contact, and the waffles I just ate threaten to re-appear. But it’s not her. It’s not the feeling. I know that. But that sensation grows and sharpens and I can’t breathe.
My fingers are gripping the edge of the table so hard that my fingers are white. Emma and Odette go silent immediately. “What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure,” Brae says.
My voice is raspy. “It’s not her.” All the eyes focus on me now, filled with appraisal and concern. “That’s not her magic.”
Aeric shakes his head and stands. “But it’s not a coincidence either.”
“What is that?” I ask. “That feeling.”
“Dark magic,” Urien says. “We’ll go see what it is.”
They all stand and I do too, and I see them getting ready to make me stay. “No. We’ll be safer if we’re all together. You guys come too,” I say to Emma and Odette. I’m not leaving them here to suddenly be vulnerable as soon as
we leave.
Aeric stares at me hard, and I think that he’s going to push. But he clenches his jaw. “Stay back.”
That, I can do. A wave of darkness spirals outward from that intangible place, and Verys pulls me out of the booth and towards the door quickly. I don’t even have time to wonder where Urien got the stack of bills that he leaves on the table to cover our meal.
My friends are close beside me, quiet and tense. I don’t know how to describe what’s happening to them, but I’m grateful when they stay by my sides, watching to make sure I don’t sway on my feet.
Walking isn’t the easiest with that queasy feeling invading my mind. I’ve never had this kind of…awareness. Is this what it’s like to be fae? To have things completely outside of you able to cripple you completely?
Urien trails behind us, but the other men lead the way. Their hands are hovering at their sides. It’s so easy to forget that they’re armed, though I know full well that they’re lethal even without weapons.
Walking up Broadway feels like wading through black sludge. My mind feels like a dirty window that I can’t scrape clean, and it’s only getting stronger. Sirens sound behind us, swelling in volume to the piercing wail caused by echoing off skyscrapers. One firetruck, and then two. They pass in a haze of shrill noise and screech around the corner just ahead. A corner that’s very familiar to me, even through the fog of magic and nausea.
The reality hits me all at once, and I don’t keep my promise. I start to run, passing Aeric and Brae, ignoring their calls for me to stop and pushing myself around the corner. The wave of dark magic is so strong, and the stench so powerful that I fall to my knees. The last pieces of my world seem to be falling around me.
My shop—the whole building—is entirely engulfed in flames.
CHAPTER TWELVE
________
KARI
“Kari,” Verys’s voice manages to penetrate as he pulls me to my feet. “We need to go.”
I can’t think. Can’t breathe. The only thing I can do is watch as the place where I re-built my life burns. It’s not a natural fire. I can feel the darkness pulsing from it as the fire consumes the building far faster than it should be able to.
Euphoria: A Reverse Harem Fantasy Romance (The Carnal Court Book 2) Page 8