“She’s worried about you, jackass. Of course she was calling.”
Robert shook his head. “I told you to tell her what you were up to.”
Preston shook his head. “What good would that have done? She would only blame herself again, or worse, try to do something stupid to help. I’m not letting her go, and that’s exactly what that Twizzler stick mother fucker wants.”
“Go to her. Talk to her. If you trust her, then you need to let her in,” Robert said.
Tremaine nodded. “Go on, get out of here.”
“You’re right.” He pulled his phone out and opened it up to turn it back on.
There was a list of texts. None of them snippy, but the last one said she was going to Jamie’s gym.
His brow wrinkled. “That could either be very good or very bad.”
Robert pulled the phone over to look at the text. “I’m guessing good. Go.”
“Going.” Preston stood and hurried through the door. He didn’t waste any time jumping into his car and tearing off.
* * * *
“Torture, that’s what this shit is,” Dacia hissed as she pushed the weights forward with her feet.
“At first, maybe. If you keep it up you’ll learn to love the burn,” Jamie sing-songed as she made a motion for her to keep going.
Dacia brought her legs back slowly, feeling the burn already. “Why did I agree to this hell?”
“You wanted to forget what you were worrying about.”
“What was I—” Her eyes widened as she watched Preston walk in. He looked stressed, but the moment his eyes landed on her, a smile pulled at his lips.
Dacia got the weights back into their resting position and dispersed into the air, coming back into her form to wrap her arms around Preston’s neck and kiss him hard.
When she broke the kiss, she rambled, “I was so scared I couldn’t think straight. I had to have a distraction.”
Preston set her back and raked his eyes over her sweat-stained tank. “I like this look.”
She slapped at his chest. “What? Nothing about my concern for you?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to worry you. We can talk about it, but not here.”
She looked down at herself and grimaced. “I need a shower.”
He tipped his head toward hers, and whispered against her ear, “I’ll lick you clean if you’ll let me.”
“Fuck, yes! That makes working out worth it.” She looked over her shoulder at Jamie. “Next time I’ll finish.”
Jamie laughed out loud. “Oh, I’m sure Preston’s workout will be even more intense. Make sure he gives you a good stretch.”
Preston nodded, that cocky grin on his lips. “Jamie’s right, on both counts.”
Dacia licked her lips. “Home, now.”
She slipped past him, and jumped into her car. “Race you.”
He laughed. “This time I’m fighting harder.” He ran to his car and slid in, starting it up.
* * * *
Worry for his mom was at the back of his head, but he pulled alongside the curb and hopped out to run to her door.
Dacia pulled in and climbed out of her car with a pout. “Do I still get my reward?”
“A tongue bath?” he asked with an arched brow.
She nodded eagerly.
“Oh, that’s my reward, Minx. Now get up here and open the door. I’ll take you in the shower.”
She dispersed, appearing in front of the door that opened in record speed.
Preston swung her around and threw her over his shoulder. He dashed up the stairs and set her down inside her room. Her hands were at his shirt, tugging it over his head while he rid her of the tight gym shorts and lacy thong. He dropped to his knees and pushed her against the wall before pulling her leg over his shoulder.
His tongue slid against her heat and all he could think about was her taste, and that sexy sound she made every time he licked her clit.
“Fuck, Ember, yes!” she cried out as he pressed two fingers deep inside, scissoring. She pounded one fist into the wall as she gripped his hair with the other hand. “There, right there,” she panted.
He replaced his fingers with his tongue, moving to thumb her clit as she let go. She tasted so damned good it blotted out any outside thought.
She slid down the wall, onto his knees. He pulled her tank off her limp body, revealing the animated rose, and took her mouth in a kiss. A whimper met him, but her hands trailed down his stomach to open his pants.
He flipped her to her hands and knees and drove into her in one powerful thrust as she pushed back.
“Need you. Only you, Dacia.”
“Make love to me.”
He pulled out and pushed back in, her ass meeting his hips with each thrust as she arched her back for the right angle. Her walls rippled around him, sending him over the edge with a groan of pleasure.
His hands landed beside her elbows and he kissed her shoulder blade where he rested his face. “Love you, Minx.”
* * * *
Dacia felt the desperation threaded through his soul. She rolled to her back under him, and he pushed himself up. There was pain etched into his expression.
She moved to kneel before him and captured his face. “Ember, what’s wrong. What is it?”
“My mom,” he whispered, voice cracking as his eyes shut. He stood, but took her hands and pulled until she was face-to-face with him. His arms wound around her. “Can’t lose you too.”
“You won’t.” She stepped out of his embrace, and pulled him toward the shower. Reaching in, she turned it on, taking him with her.
“Come here.”
Preston moved closer, and she grabbed the loofah and bodywash. “Hope you don’t mind smelling like me.”
“Love the way you smell,” he whispered, his eyes closing as he leaned against the tiled wall.
She aimed the showerhead and took her time washing him. “Talk to me, Preston. About whatever it is. I’m here for you, no matter what.”
“Got to promise you won’t try to be a hero.”
“I’m not much of a hero.”
His eyes snapped open, there was fire in the depths as he spun them and put her back against the wall. “You are. Might not always go as you plan, but you have done more good than you’re willing to admit. You’ve helped every time, even when you don’t realize it. Even before I met you. So stop.”
“What are you afraid of? What happened to your mother?”
He took a deep breath and placed his forehead against hers. “Remus took my mother. Tremaine says not to worry, but how the fuck am I supposed to let it go?”
She pushed him back to meet his gaze. “Who is your mother, Preston?”
“Priscilla Emrys.”
“The same woman who nearly killed my father. The only woman to nearly kill my father besides Saressa, the bitch queen.”
“Doesn’t make it any easier.” He sighed and took the loofah from her. “I’m supposed to be cleaning you, not the other way around.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I didn’t give you much of a tongue bath.”
Taking his empty hand, she guided it down her body and pressed his fingers to her dripping wet sex. “Your tongue bath left me soaked.”
He slipped his fingers into her, a wicked glint to his eyes. “So hot,” he whispered.
“Only for you.” She pulled her leg over his hip as he slid deep inside.
“Promise you won’t try to trade yourself for her. I’m begging you.”
She swallowed hard. “I swear I won’t.”
“Can’t lose you.”
Her eyes locked on his. “You won’t.”
He moved so slowly she wanted to scream at him to go faster. She held back, letting him take what he needed and was rewarded with the slow burn of pleasure building to new levels.
“Mine.”
“Yours,” she moaned as she moved against him, never breaking eye contact. “Tell me how to prove it.”
&nbs
p; “Already have.”
The world exploded into bliss as his fire danced across her skin, and her wind swept the water around them in a warm spray.
Chapter 27
Dacia lay wrapped in Preston’s embrace as the morning sun caressed over their skin. She traced the tattoo of Merlin on his arm with a soft smile. There was nothing she wouldn’t give him, and she wished she had the answer to finding his mother.
After they made it to bed, he told her everything he’d kept from her for the past few days. Knowing he was searching for her father to either put him away, or kill him, should have done anything other than make her happy, but in a sick way it did.
Once Preston woke up, she planned to show him the text she received an hour ago. It was from her father, saying he had something for Preston. Her stomach twisted into knots as she tried to come up with a way to stop him. She couldn’t, but more importantly, she’d promised she wouldn’t play a hero and had every intention of keeping her word.
If she thought it would help, she’d be willing to give herself to Gebiet, knowing Preston would save her. She also knew he would forbid that move in an instant.
Even if she went to her father, it wouldn’t get his mother back. Hopefully Tremaine knew what he was talking about. She didn’t want to know what might happen between them if her father did permanent damage to his mother.
“You’re awake,” he murmured against her ear.
She rolled over and bit her lip.
His brows pinched as he raised up on his arm. “What is it?”
Dacia reached behind her to pick up her phone and brought up the text. “Don’t freak. I’m not going anywhere, but you should see this.”
“I won’t,” he answered, but didn’t look entirely sure.
With a sigh, she showed him.
Got a surprise for loverboy. He won’t want you after this.
Preston growled, and she saw the truth in his eyes. “Bastard’s wrong. I’ll never stop wanting you, loving you, needing you. Don’t let him fuck with your head.”
“That’s why I showed it to you. I want you to know he’s coming, and he has her.”
“Why would you think I’d freak?”
“My father took your mother.”
“You aren’t responsible for his actions. Never were. Same way Robert isn’t responsible for his brother’s actions, or his uncle’s.” Preston shuddered. “Look, Dacia, I’ve seen some fucked up shit, worse than your father is guilty of, and none of that had to do with anyone but the person committing the crime. So please, no matter what happens, don’t expect me to throw us away over something that Twizzler stick monster did.”
She sat up, turning toward him. He reached up to trace his thumb over her scar. Leaning into his touch, she smiled. “You make me whole.”
He pulled her back down to wrap his arms around her, tracing a rose petal with his fingertip. “Complete. Two halves of a whole.”
“I think that’s my cue to prove it.”
* * * *
Remus pulled into the motel parking lot and strode to the front desk. The woman behind the counter sneered at him. “Yes?”
“I’d like a room,” he stated simply.
“Did you not see the sign? There are no vacancies.” She flicked a wrist toward the neon-lit window.
“This is the fifth place I’ve stopped. You can’t tell me there is no vacancy.”
“I can. I just did. Goodbye!”
Scowling, Remus stormed back to the van and cast an energizing spell to keep himself going. Luck was not in his favor. He was beginning to wonder if he’d been around the leprechaun long enough to mess with his fortune.
Didn’t matter. He had his pawn, now it was time to get his queen-to-be. There was another day’s drive ahead, and through magic he’d be able to keep going for a few more days if necessary.
He needed someone to put his sanctuary back together, sans whatever wards left behind by the mage and his daughter. It had definitely been Dacia’s magic that kept him trapped in that damned cage.
Kurtis still owed him a few favors, and he’d love a hand in Dacia’s demise after she walked out on him. He dialed the number.
“Remus. I hear you’re in real trouble. The Elder Guard is after you. Why are you contacting me?”
“After Dacia humiliated you in front of your father, I assumed you would like some payback.”
“How so?”
“You have skill with wards, and I need my Deception Pass property cleansed. Quickly. I’ll let you take your payment from Dacia.”
“Tell me what you’re expecting, and maybe we can come to an agreement.”
* * * *
Dacia sat in the living room where Robert and Preston were standing, facing each other as they worked through the details of their case.
“He’s driving cross-country. He’ll have to stop somewhere,” Robert pointed out.
Preston shook his head. “No. Most fae, especially air fae, can reenergize themselves through magic longer than mages. I could go for days without needing actual sleep.”
“Would he though?”
“Depends. He’d be able to conceal who he has in that damned van, and even change the appearance often enough we can’t track it. Depending on which route he took he could be here within two days.”
“That’s without sleep.”
“He’s arrogant enough he would do it. Besides, my mother can create illusions to dissuade him from stopping.”
“Let’s hope so. I still hate that he has her.”
“You and me both.”
Dacia stood and walked toward them. “Is there anything I can do? Anything at all?”
Both pair of eyes snapped to her. “No!”
“I don’t mean give myself up,” she huffed. “I mean, is it possible I call and we can track him somehow? I can lie and say I’m on his side? I’m willing to try anything that doesn’t put me in his hands.”
Preston shook his head slowly. “No. This isn’t your fight.”
Robert gripped his shoulders, but looked at Dacia. “You could try. It might work. You’d have to be convincing.”
She nodded.
Preston paced away, plowing his fingers through his hair. When Dacia moved to stop him, Robert gently grabbed her elbow.
“Give him a minute. He doesn’t want you in danger. It’s the same reaction I’d have to Liz offering something like that. Same reaction I’d have if Tremaine did. Hell, even Preston. I’m only looking at this objectively. A phone call doesn’t put you under his power.”
“I’m immune to his persuasion, even if I were standing eye-to-eye with him.”
Preston heaved a sigh and came back, stepping directly in front of her. Hope warred with fear and anger. “Are you sure he can’t sway you?”
“I’ll put it on speaker phone so you can hear the entire conversation. He cannot influence me. I’ll do what I can to get information from him, if he’ll even answer. It’s the least I can do.”
“Fine, okay, it makes sense I suppose.”
Before he could change his mind, she grabbed her phone off the coffee table and quickly dialed. Taking a breath, she pressed speaker and waited.
Her father’s pleased voice sent a shudder through her. “Have you finally decided to listen to me? Or maybe your spoiled half-breed fucked up?”
Preston’s jaw clenched, but he held back his comment.
She stared into his eyes and prayed he would forgive her. “He was a good time, nothing more. Isn’t that what you always taught me, Father?”
Preston’s eyes closed and he walked away, his fingers combing through his hair.
“Good girl. Now, why are you calling?”
“You want my help, don’t you?”
“Do you think I’m stupid?” he hissed.
Yes! She took a slow breath, pushing down her emotions, only showing the same cool exterior he showed unless he was pissed. “Of course not, Father. I had a Silver Council Enforcer watching my every move. I had to play a role
to keep him from you.”
“By shutting me out?”
“What would you have done if our roles were reversed?”
There was silence on the other end.
Preston flipped back around with fire in his eyes, shaking his head as he glared at the phone.
“Doesn’t matter, does it?”
Exactly, because he would have let them have her to keep them from looking into him. Expecting that, she was prepared. “No, because I know how to avoid the Silver Council and their questions.”
He laughed coldly. “That why you warded the cell? Why you threw your cursed blade at me?”
She hadn’t thought of that. “No different than you would have done to prove your loyalty to those looking for me. My only other option was to let the Council take me in under suspicion. So I did what I had to in order to cover my ass.”
“Okay, you have my attention. How can I be sure the mage is through with you?”
Her eyes locked with Preston’s, silently begging for him to understand this was all lies. “Love is a useless emotion. He believes he loves me, but I can’t love anyone.”
“Smart child. I’ll call you if I can think of anything you’re worthy of doing.” With that he hung up.
She dropped the phone and ran to Preston who lifted her off her feet as she collided with him. “I love you. I swear I do. I had to tell him the only thing he would understand.”
“Shh, I know,” he whispered before kissing her senseless. “It pisses me off that he can’t see what an amazing woman he has for a daughter.”
Robert cleared his throat, and Preston rounded on him with a grumbled curse.
Pointing to Dacia’s phone, Robert said, “See if you can trace the call. Maybe we can figure out what route he’s taking.”
“It’s prepaid through the off-grid cell company your Silver Council uses,” Dacia answered.
“Thank you,” Robert told her. “Preston can sweet talk whoever answers into giving him the information they aren’t supposed to have.”
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