“Maybe touching is even more so,” she replied, for one of the only times in her life, purposefully accessing her succubus side. Normally, she only used it when she was overdue and needed a top up, in hindsight, that was probably something to do with the bond that had already been formed with Josh. This time, she wasn’t in need. She just wanted something, and was willing to do just about anything to get it.
“That’s not going to work on me,” he said, though his voice was laced with lust. He was breaking, she was sure of it.
“Are you certain?” she whispered breathlessly, having her succubus so close to the surface making her that bit more turned on anyway.
“The same reason I couldn’t hypnotise you if I tried to.”
She cocked her head to the side, unsure what he meant. She’d heard the rumours about older vampires being able to bend people to their will, but she wasn’t sure how true it was. “You can’t?”
He shook his head. “No. You’re my mate, Eira. It isn’t possible to influence you in that way. Just like it’s not possible for you to do the same to me.”
“Damn it,” Eira muttered. She wasn’t really mad, it just meant she knew for sure that the three of them wanted her, but it made things more difficult now. How on earth was she going to get Rueben to kiss her when he refused and her powers didn’t work? Hell, what was the point of being a damn succubus if she wasn’t able to use it.
“It’ll be worth it, Eira.”
“It better be.” She could really do with some reassurance. It wasn’t sitting well having one of her mates refuse to kiss her.
“Oh, trust me, it will be,” he said stepping in so that he was crowding into her, and leaning in so that his mouth was close to her ear. “When I’m inside you, with my teeth pressed against your neck, and you’re whimpering my name, it’ll be like nothing you’ve ever experienced before, Eira. And that’s when you’ll know it’s all been worth it.”
She let out a small whimper, just about stopping herself from uttering his name already. Damn, she wanted that. Not some distant point in the future when he decided it was the right time. “Now,” she whispered.
“No, Eira,” he said, his breath fanning against the shell of her ear, filling her with intense need.
“Please.” Damn she really hated begging, but if it got her what she wanted then it would be worth it, or at least she hoped so.
“Not now. It’s not the right time.”
“Screw the right time. Screw me instead.”
He chuckled throatily. “Not happening.”
“You’re a terrible tease, Rueben.”
“Maybe. But you’re worth it.” He stepped away from her and moved away, walking down the corridor and away from her flat.
“You’re leaving?” She couldn’t believe he was going to wind her up like that and then just abandon her. That was just wrong.
“I have to,” he said from his spot further away. Too far away if anyone asked her. “If I stay, I’ll see what you’re about to do, and I don’t think I could resist you then.”
“What I’m about to do?” she repeated his words, confused by what he meant.
“Tell me you’re not going to go in there and jump on them.”
She folded her arms across her chest, before thinking of how to deny that. Maybe she would do just that. Maybe they’d both satisfy the need that Rueben had ignited within her. Though maybe it was unfair to Leth for their first time not to just be the two of them alone. Maybe she should talk to him about that. Especially considering how tasty a fae and witch sandwich sounded. “No.”
He laughed. “Somehow I doubt that. I’ll see you later, Eira.” He finished walking away, leaving her standing there, as frustrated as if she hadn’t had sex within the past few days.
“Stupid vampire.” She cursed him as she made her way back into her flat, throwing her bag down on the sofa. Leth wandered over, handing her a steaming coffee which she cupped in her hands. She appreciated the warmth, blowing across the top as the two of them looked on.
“Didn’t go well then?” Leth asked.
“I doubt it, she’s throwing off fuck-me-vibes like it’s Valentine’s day,” Josh replied on her behalf.
“It’s November,” she deadpanned, looking him straight in the eyes with a disbelieving look on her face.
“Doesn’t change the vibes you’re throwing off, E.” He shrugged.
“I thought they weren’t supposed to work on you?” she asked, thinking back to what Rueben had told her just a few minutes ago.
“They don’t,” Josh said, striding over and taking the coffee from her hands. Damn, she’d been looking forward to drinking that. “Doesn’t mean I can’t sense them. Just like I could every other time you’ve tried to use them on me.”
“You noticed those?”
Josh laughed. “It’s impossible not to.” He wrapped his hand around her waist, pulling her towards him. “It’s kind of hard to ignore when a beautiful woman is begging me to sleep with her.”
“He’s got a point,” Leth added, from where he seemed to have perched himself on her dining table. At least it wasn’t the windowsill.
“Some people seem to manage it,” she muttered, still a little bitter that Rueben had managed to walk away, particularly after he’d teased her mercilessly. It was like promising someone chocolate cake then giving them an apple. Or not giving them anything at all more likely. Stupid vampire. She’d get him back for this too. Maybe she’d even reassign Leth’s awful task to Rueben. It’d serve him right to keep her waiting.
Or maybe she’d go one worse. Maybe she’d make him watch her with Josh, or Leth, or both, and not let him join at all. Now there was an idea worth exploring...
“He’ll come around, E,” Josh reassured her, breaking her out of her fantasy.
“He’d be a fool not to,” Leth added, smirking slightly.
“We can always prove how irresistible you are,” Josh whispered, and she was shocked to discover just how close his lips were to hers. Close enough for her to touch if she wanted. Close enough to feel the pressure of him against her. Damn, if she wasn’t careful, she was going to end up losing all her time to fantasising about kissing them. Though maybe she could convince them to spend that time actually acting on that.
“You’re not the ones acting as if I’m not.”
“Let me talk to him,” Josh said, his arms loosening as he stepped away from her, and she let out a soft whine, already hating that he wasn’t touching her anymore. She really was in trouble if she couldn’t cope with even a moment without them. Though maybe it would be better once all three of their mating bonds were sealed. She could hope. Going through life being unable to be apart did seem a little like hell. “Don’t worry, E, I’ll be back soon, but don’t tell me that the two of you couldn’t do with some time alone too?” He gave her a knowing look, and she tried to feel embarrassed, but just couldn’t. Where was the need when Josh knew what was going on anyway? He’d already accepted that Leth was as much hers as he was. He pressed a chaste kiss to her lips, before walking out the door with a short wave.
“So, Frostie, what have you got planned for me?” he asked once Josh had left.
“That depends. Are you going to deny me too?”
“Never, but we probably need to prepare you for visiting a Fae Court first.”
“A Fae Court?” she asked, feeling excited already. He’d mentioned it in passing, and said he’d let her know, but when she’d not received any texts earlier, she figured there’d been no movement on it.
“Yes, there’s a ball, on Saturday, I thought you might want to come with me?”
“You can take me to that?” She frowned, that seemed odd. If he couldn’t talk about his family, then it stood to reason that he wouldn’t be able to take her to a formal event.
“I can bring anyone I want.”
“And Josh and Rueben?” He nodded in response and she felt the smile spread across her face. “I don’t think I have anything to wear.” Panic
built up inside her. Saturday was in two days, and she had shifts on both of them, certainly no time to find something to wear. And what did she even need to wear to a Fae ball? She imagined the rules were completely different to those other paranormals had. Not that she’d ever been invited. Maybe that would change now she had a witch and a vampire she could go with. Though having three men in tow would probably cause a stir, never mind play havoc on her dance card.
“That’s okay, I’ll find you something,” he said softly, making his way over to her. “But first, do you know how to dance?”
“Erm...” She could sway her hips if that’s what he meant, but somehow, she doubted it. Leth laughed.
“I’m going to take that as a no.”
“I’ve never had reason to,” she protested.
“Of course. But that’s fine, it means I have to teach you.” He pulled her into his arms, his right hand resting on her waist. “Your left hand needs to go on my shoulder,” he told her, taking her right hand with his left.
“Like this?”
“Yes.” He let go of her hand briefly and snapped his fingers. To her surprise, a tinkling melody filled the room, and she found herself humming along even though she didn’t know the tune. “Okay, so counts of four. Step back, together, left, together, front, together, right, together...” He kept up his instructions, turning her as he made them and she attempted to follow. Badly. Even so, he persisted.
“Do we really have to do this?” she asked, after stumbling for what felt like the hundredth time and breaking hold. She was never going to manage this at the rate she was going.
“Yes, you’ll be expected to dance.”
“Why?”
“Tradition.” He refused to meet her gaze and she wondered if there was anything in that, but didn’t pry. If he wasn’t telling her, then the likelihood was that he couldn’t. Which sucked, but at the end of the day, there was very little she could do about that. “Again, Frostie.” She sighed, and placed her hand back on his shoulder, preparing to go again. She would get this, mostly so she didn’t make a complete fool out of herself, but partly because she believed that it would make him happy, even if he wouldn’t tell her that was the case. Above all she wanted that.
Twelve
She was equal parts excited and exhausted. It was the night she got to go to the ball, even if Leth had kept her up well into the night on Thursday and then again on Friday, though not for any fun reason. More because he was determined to teach her how to dance. And she definitely wasn’t any good at it. Then, after they were done with that, he’d moved on to how she was supposed to address royalty, and her head was still spinning from that, especially as he seemed unable to tell her anything about how to greet the Fae Queen of Summer, other than she had to curtsy. Turned out that he was even more confused because of who she was. She wasn’t fae, and she was only mated to a halfling, well quasi-mated, they still hadn’t slept together, meaning that their bond probably remained unsealed. If only they hadn’t spent the evening before dancing. But anyway, her position with the fae was complicated, especially as she had the powers of one. Well, some of the powers, apparently there were other things that the Fae Queen of Winter could do, but Leth wouldn’t expand on exactly what they were.
She could tell it was November. The air was crisp, even if there was no frost, and darkness had begun to fall even though it was still early. She began to make her way home, walking through the dimly lit streets. It wasn’t far, and she made the trip most days, but something about today felt different. She shivered and summoned ice to her fingertips. Maybe not that much of a weapon maybe, but she’d make do.
Listening intently, she continued walking down the street, the only sound she could make out was the clicking of her boots on the pavement, but that was doing nothing to soothe the uneasiness that was following her. Something was up, but she didn’t know what it could possibly be. Normally, she’d listen to music while walking home, or text Izzy, but today that felt wrong.
She turned a corner and made out the frame of a tall man leaning against one of the walls. Her heart lifted while calming slightly as she recognised Rueben’s broad frame, and she started to give him a wave. She hadn’t seen him since he’d walked away the other night, though he had text to check that she was okay. She’d been of half a mind to completely ignore him, but had soon had the better idea of sending him as many suggestive messages as she could. It seemed to have worked, as after a few weak protests, he’d relented and joined in. She smiled at the memory, knowing that there was going to be some serious fun for her in the future.
The man moved towards her and everything changed dramatically. As he stepped more into the light, his features came more into focus, and she could see that it wasn’t her vampire coming towards her. Though it was a vampire, and one she recognised at that.
“Well, well, we meet again.” His voice was almost emotionless, like he didn’t know or care what he was doing. Eira racked her brain, trying to remember the man’s name, and failing. She knew it was the same person who’d fought with Rueben in the club, but she’d been focused on other things, and hadn’t managed to remember it.
“Hi,” she said instead, trying to skirt around him and continue on her way home. She had a ball to prepare for after all, and she didn’t want anyone getting in the way of that. “Please excuse me,” she added, trying to remain calm and polite, after all that’s what she’d been taught since she was a young child.
Instead of letting her pass, the man reached out and grabbed her arm, his grip tighter than was comfortable and restricting the blood flow. She’d have a bruise there tomorrow, she’d just have to hope that none of her men would realise, otherwise that could end badly. She could just picture how protective Josh would get, and Rueben was teetering on the edge due to his stupid decision to deny himself her.
“Let me go.” Coldness seeped into her tone as she channeled her powers through it. Well, kind of. It’s what she pictured herself doing, but really, she had no clue if it’d work, she had experimented much with her abilities, though maybe she should change that. Now she had some other paranormals to practice with, she may have a chance of sorting it out. Maybe Josh would even be able to direct her more, using his witch powers as a guide. Or Leth. Her powers were fae after all. Eira pushed the thoughts away. Now really wasn’t the time to be thinking complicated thoughts. Now was the time to get the man off her.
“No,” he responded. “I can’t do that. Eira is it?”
She frowned at him, unsure how he knew her name.
“The witch used it.”
At least that answered that question. “What do you want?” she asked, trying her best to remain calm and not just scream out for her mates. That wasn’t desirable at all. Or it was. But not like this.
“You. You smell delicious.” He licked his lips, revealing a pair of sharp fangs that repulsed her, in such a complete contrast to how seeing Rueben’s made her feel. The act triggered a memory in her mind, reminding her of the man’s name.
“Let go of me, Edward.” She ground her teeth together. She could feel the ice and snow building inside her, and knew that it would only be a matter of moments before it exploded in his face. She couldn’t even decide if that was a good or bad thing. Exploding in public was probably bad, but it might get him away from her at least.
“Ah, so you do remember my name. I was worried that Rueben would drain the sense out of you.”
Eira shuddered. That didn’t sound good. “Rueben hasn’t touched me,” she half-lied. While he had touched her, he hadn’t in the way that she was sure Edward meant.
“Excellent, means you’re unspoiled for me.” He tugged her towards him, and bent his head, bringing his mouth closer to her neck. Hell no, that wasn’t happening if she had anything to do with it. Focusing on her ice, she pulled it towards the surface and sent it down to where his hand was gripping her skin. He growled a little in response but didn’t let go. Damn, that wasn’t good. “That’s not going to work on
me, little fae.”
“Fae?” she repeated, too shocked by the reference to actually think about what she was saying.
“Yes, you reek of fae. Autumn if I’m not mistaken. Or Winter with a hint of Summer. It’s an interesting combination, that’s for sure.”
At least that meant that her bond with Leth was definitely there. Without that there as next to no way that she could smell anything like summer.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“I think you do Eira,” he repeated, moving back to where he had been before she’d tried to freeze him. Reaching inside herself, she called for her ice again, except this time, it felt a little different, a little like a combination of ice and electric. But she didn’t have the time to work out quite what was going on with that, and pulled it to the forefront anyway, this time blasting Edward with her full power, hoping to stop him completely in his tracks. She squeezed her own eyes shut in response to doing so much magic, and when he finally let go of her arm, she opened them.
“What the—” She looked around, searching for Josh. He must be here. He had to be here. Otherwise, there was no explanation for the green sparks that seemed to be going crazy over Edward’s body, holding him against the shop window that was next to them. Odder still were the snow flakes that seemed to be playing with the sparks. At least she’d done something. “Josh?” she called out, but received no reply. That was strange, he’d never just ignore her, they’d been friends for far too long, and that was even before their night together.
“There’s no one here,” Edward said, his voice laced with discomfort, and she frowned.
“How can you tell?” She took a step back, but didn’t want to go out of range for her magic and give him the upper hand again, even if she did want to be away from him. He laughed painfully.
Saving Eira (Fated Seasons Book 1) Page 7