Charming Marjani

by Rebecca Rivard

  And why the hell was that arousing? But it was. He pictured her strong dancer’s body under his while he licked and nipped at her lush rose lips. Or maybe straddling him, slim fingers wrapped around his cock as she closed those soft lips around the head…

  She licked a dab of goat cheese off her finger and he shifted on the chair, so hard it hurt.

  He dragged his gaze from her and finished his ale. When he spoke, his voice was hoarse. “Marjani.”

  She paused in the act of lifting her bottle to her mouth. Whatever she saw on his face made her set it on the small table between them. A steel stiletto jumped into her hand.

  At least that was an improvement on the iron switchblade. She could cut him with steel, but with his fae blood, he’d heal fast. Iron, on the other hand, could do some serious damage.

  He blew out a breath. “Put that damn thing away. You have nothing to fear from me.”

  “No?” She cast a pointed look at the tent in his jeans.

  He lifted a shoulder. “I’m a man—and a fae. I like sex and I find you attractive. Doesn’t mean I’m going to act on it.”

  She set the tip of the blade on her index finger. A flick of her hand, and the stiletto began spinning. She let it spin for a few seconds and then sent it flipping over the back of her hand. She caught it with her other hand and threaded it through her fingers in a dazzling display.

  His mouth quirked. If she thought her little demonstration frightened him off, she was mistaken. But he was sorry if he’d made her uncomfortable.

  “I get the point, love.” He leaned back in his chair, left foot hooked over his right thigh. “Literally. And if it helps, I already knew you were lethal.”

  She slipped the stiletto back into her boot. “And you know this how?”

  “It’s my business to know things. You’re Adric’s second—one of his top people. No one knows much about you, except that you were at his side as he fought his way to alpha. But I’ve heard those knives aren’t just for show. “

  In fact, she was the Baltimore clan’s top assassin, but he was too canny to say it aloud. Let her guess how much he knew.

  Her smile was full of teeth. “Just for the record, you might want me—but there’s no way in Hades you’re going to have me.”

  “As you say.” He waved a negligent hand. “Now, how about I tell you a story about a little girl who grew up at court? A beautiful and Gifted girl with more natural power than the court had seen in a generation. She would’ve been a court favorite except for one thing. She was born of an ice fae father and a night fae mother.”

  “Go on.” Marjani drew up her legs and wrapped her arms around them, resting her chin on her knees.

  He stared at a softly glowing fae light, formulating his words. He wasn’t telling the story to be clever. He was forbidden to speak of Lady Blaer directly to an outsider.

  “Maybe she was born twisted, or maybe it was because she was shunned from a young age. I don’t know. Her mother kept her for the first decade or so and then dumped her in Reykjavik and told her to make her way to the ice fae court. The king took her in and kept her close—she was too powerful to do otherwise—but she spent most of her time in the east tower with only goblins for company.”

  “Holy mother. That’s inhuman.” Marjani shook her head against her knees. “And you people call us animals.”

  “They’re not my people,” he growled. Once, he’d hoped… But not now—they’d made it clear he was an outsider, one of the lesser races. “And yes, they are inhuman. They’re fae.”

  She blinked. “Gotcha. So who is this lady and why do I care?”

  “I can’t tell you her name. But if you listen, you might learn something.”

  “Can’t—or won’t?”

  “Can’t.” He waited until understanding dawned on her face before continuing, “A couple of decades passed. In the human world, it was more like fifty turns of the sun. One winter solstice, the young lady broke out of the east tower and appeared at the court—and proceeded to become one of the king’s advisors.”

  “And?”

  “She’s one of the most powerful fae in the court now. The king is old and she amuses him. He lets her have her way, more than he should. She’s so beautiful it hurts your eyes to look at her. Men—including fada—fall at her feet. She binds them to her with sex, and then if they’re lucky, she sends them away…even if they don’t want to go.”

  “And the unlucky ones?”

  He gave her a stark look. “She keeps them.”

  “In a cage.” Marjani tightened her grip on her legs.

  “She’s half night fae. She feeds on their pain.”

  “We go crazy if we’re caged. The animal has to be free.”

  “I’m afraid the black wolf is already halfway there. It’s been weeks since I saw him as a man.”

  She lifted her head from her knees. “But he sent my brother a message. That’s why I came.”

  Fane straightened up. “The hell he did. When?”

  “Last week—about ten days ago. He told Adric to meet him in Reykjavik. Dared him to meet him.”

  “That’s impossible.” Fane’s heart started to pound in slow, hard strokes. “He’s not in any condition to send a message. Not without help.”

  8

  Luc crouched on his haunches, watching the boulders near the dirt track where Marjani had concealed herself.

  Finally, he’d caught a damn break. He’d been just missing her all week. His flight had been delayed because of a fucking tropical storm. He’d spent twenty-four hours at the Baltimore airport, then another six in that metal tube that passed for transportation.

  By the time he’d landed in Iceland, she must’ve already headed north, but he’d lost another day in Reykjavik, following her scent all over the city.

  He stayed in contact with Adric, but the alpha couldn’t get a read on her other than to say she was definitely in Iceland. Finally Marjani had turned on her phone, but only long enough for Adric to confirm she’d headed north. So Luc had followed, increasingly anxious.

  He’d thought his luck had turned when he caught her scent near the beach. But it was mixed with the silver of a male fae, which made his wolf want to chew nails. Who was this man who kept crossing her path?

  Then a huge storm had blown up and he’d lost both their scents in the deluge. Luc had waited out the storm in a barn with a herd of cranky goats who were not happy to share their space with a wolf. As soon as the rain slacked off, he’d resumed his trek north.

  If Marjani had mated with him, he could’ve followed the bond. But she’d refused to accept him as her mate—although he’d asked. More than once.

  But he’d finally caught up to her.

  As a wolf, his sense of smell far surpassed hers, so after sending the alpha a quick text that he’d found her and she was all right, he took up a vigil downwind and out of sight. Just breathing her in like the lovesick ass he was.

  He’d loved Marjani Savonett from the moment he’d first set eyes on the skinny teen with the soft voice and flashing knives. He’d known damn well she was scared—of her bastard of an uncle, that she’d lose Adric like she’d lost her mom and dad—but no one would’ve guessed it.

  Until the night Corban’s people had kidnapped her and handed her over to that den of feral river fada. When Luc and his men had picked her up the next morning on a Baltimore street, she’d been bruised and hollow-eyed. He just wished her rapists were still alive so he could cut off their fucking balls and then stuff them down their throats.

  A cold-eyed fae with silver hair zoomed up on a motorbike.

  Luc crept closer. And then his heart damn near stopped as Marjani dove through the portal after the fae.

  He pelted after her, narrowly avoiding plunging into a bog concealed by the unnatural fog. The portal closed as he arrived. Luc tried to leap through anyway. He caught a glimpse of a menacing black castle—and then it disappeared. He landed on the sparse grass, still in the human world.

&n
bsp; He threw back his head and howled. He had to get to Marjani.

  Even at the best of times, he was more wolf than human. Knowing she was inside a fae court without any backup made him half-crazed with worry. If something happened to her, he’d never forgive himself.

  He took several paces back and forth in front of the portal before forcing himself to halt. This was getting him nowhere. He had to hide before the ice fae wondered what the big, brown, backpack-wearing wolf was up to.

  Moving a few yards off the path, he hunkered down next to a pile of boulders. Around him, the fog thickened until he couldn’t see more than a few feet in any direction.

  He pricked his ears and heightened his sense of smell. The locals had spoken of the vicious goblins that guarded this area. He had no desire to be set upon and torn to pieces.

  The sun set and a cold breeze teased his fur. He hunched his shoulders, thankful for his thick coat, because he wasn’t moving from this spot.

  Sooner or later, another fae would go through the portal, and this time, Luc would be ready.

  Fear congealed in his stomach. Please let her be safe. Please don’t let the fae catch her.

  The fae wouldn’t harm her. Not at first. They’d be more likely to force her into some one-sided bargain, keeping her as an assassin…or a sex toy.

  But in Marjani’s current state of mind, just being held captive might be enough to drive her over the edge.

  He growled, low and anxious, still pissed off at Adric. Why the fuck had he let her leave Baltimore?

  Something in her was broken, even if Adric refused to admit it. People said she should step down as second, although no one was brave enough to say that to the alpha’s face.

  If Marjani were Luc’s, he’d have tied her to the damn bed if necessary. She was too fragile to tangle with the fae.

  But she wasn’t his, and he was beginning to fear she never would be. He loved her with all his heart, but the mate bond wasn’t there.

  He expelled a breath.

  Slipping out of the pack without shifting, he worked the clasp open with his teeth and munched through a couple of energy bars and a large chunk of beef jerky.

  After that, he settled his head on his paws and dozed, ears pricked. But the night remained quiet save for the occasional squeak and growl of nocturnal creatures.

  Just before dawn, he jerked awake as two fae in an SUV drove out of the portal heading south.

  The portal remained open. He crept closer. The dirt track wound through the mist to the ominous black castle.

  He sniffed, testing the air. He caught a whiff of silver, but that he’d expected. He darted through the shimmering circle.

  It closed behind him, but he ignored it as he picked up Marjani’s trail. He paced forward, all his senses on high alert.

  The high-pitched chatter reached him first. He dropped to his belly and froze.

  A sour stench filled his nostrils. Shadows moved. Crept closer.

  The fur on his neck stood straight up. He scrambled back up and took off at a run, but it was too late. A manic screech split the air.

  He turned to face them, but they were all around him. Ripping at him with razor-like teeth and sharp black claws. Piling on his back until he went down under the sheer weight.

  His last thought was a prayer that they hadn’t caught Marjani, too.

  9

  Fane watched as Marjani climbed into bed fully dressed except for her shoes. The switchblade went under her pillow. He’d bet she had a knife or two hidden on her body as well.

  A corner of his mouth lifted in a self-mocking smile. Guess it was up to him to be a gentleman and leave the bed to her. “I’ll take the chair,” he said and went into the bathroom to wash up. He exchanged his button-up shirt for a T-shirt but left his pants on.

  When he returned, she was on her side facing him, the comforter tucked around her so that all he saw was a nose and cat-shaped eyes. He took a quilt from the closet and padded to the easy chair.

  “You don’t have to sleep in the chair.” A quiet voice came from the bed.

  He sent her a look over his shoulder. Did she mean what he thought she did?

  “It’s a big bed,” she said. “You stay on your side, and I’ll stay on mine.”

  No, she didn’t. With a philosophical shrug, he sat down and settled the quilt around him. “I’m good.”

  He flicked his fingers and the fae lights dimmed to a soft amber. Marjani’s breath slowed, and he thought she’d fallen asleep until she murmured, “Why are you being so nice?”

  “I’m a bloody philanthropist. Now go to sleep already.”

  “Okay.” A drowsy mumble. “But…thank you.”

  He grunted. When he was sure she was asleep, he muttered, “Because I like you. Too much,” and then shut his eyes. As the king’s envoy, he’d learned to sleep wherever he could.

  He was deep in an enjoyable dream involving him and his sexy guest when a whimper jolted him awake. Heart pounding, he scanned the room. Had Blaer found out he was hiding a fada?

  Marjani gave another forlorn mewl.

  Hell and damnation. She was having a nightmare.

  He threw off the quilt and padded to the bed. Sensing motion, the fae lights brightened enough for him to see his guest curled in a tight ball, tears streaking her cheeks.

  He stared down at her helplessly. “Hey.” He touched her shoulder. “Wake up. It’s just a bad dream.”

  A guttural growl ripped from her throat. Claws sprouted from her fingertips.

  He jerked his hand away. “Calm down. It’s me, Fane.”

  Her breath shuddered in. She raised herself on an elbow. The eyes that met his were an unnerving turquoise, and he knew he was face-to-face with the cougar.

  The center of her quartz glowed a similar aqua-blue. She touched it and blinked. Awareness dawned.

  “I—sorry,” she said gruffly. Her claws detracted.

  He sat on the mattress. “Want to tell me about it?”

  She shook her head. “Excuse me,” she muttered and pushed past him into the bathroom. The water ran. He heard a couple of choked sobs that were immediately cut off.

  He looked down at his hands and stayed where he was.

  When she returned, her face was freshly scrubbed. He rose to his feet. Her eyes met his, red and swollen, the irises back to brown. Daring him to say something.

  Lord, he didn’t want to care. For the past six decades, he’d done just fine not caring about much at all, and this woman was nothing to him. But his heart constricted at how tense she held herself—shoulders high, feet apart. Prepared to strike if he offered sympathy.

  She spoke first. “You can have the bed now.”

  “I changed my mind. If it’s still all right, I’ll share it with you.”

  Relief flashed across her face, but her voice was cool. “It’s your bed.”

  He reached out a hand. “Come here.”

  She looked from the hand to his face. “Why?”

  “I think you need to be held.”

  Another challenging look. “And why would I want you to hold me?”

  He set his jaw. “Because I’m the only one here. Now come.” He beckoned with his fingers.

  She dragged a hand over her shaved head. “I suppose it’s the only way we’ll get any sleep.”

  “That’s right. Now come here. You can have the outside.” He got under the comforter and scooted toward the wall.

  She crept under the comforter and lay facing him, her expression neutral. But he’d seen that relief on her face. She wanted this.

  Turning onto his back, he slid an arm under her shoulders. When she didn’t resist, he pulled her into the curve of his shoulder. She held herself stiff for a few moments and then her breasts heaved.

  “You think I’m weak,” she muttered against his T-shirt.

  He huffed a laugh. “Like hell. You’re probably the strongest woman I know.”

  “Then you don’t know many fada.”

  “Not true. In
my work for the king, I’ve met my share.”

  “Yeah? What do you do, anyway?”

  “I’m one of his envoys. I’m part messenger, part negotiator. I’ve been to all the major fae courts—ice fae, sun fae, and night fae—and I’ve also visited a number of fae and fada clans.”

  “Sounds interesting.” She settled more comfortably into the crook of his shoulder, probably not even realizing she’d relaxed. She had a sweet, earthy scent that reminded him of a baby animal’s.

  He turned so that his cheek was against Marjani’s shaved head. Something about the short bristles against his skin was unbearably erotic. He pulled his head back, putting some space between them, and firmly tamped down his desire.

  He was offering comfort, nothing more, even if his cock hadn’t gotten the message.

  “It can be. But…” He trailed off, because what was the use of complaining? He was in for the duration.

  But he was sick and tired of being at Sindre’s beck and call. He wanted his own life back. He’d spent six decades trotting about on king’s errands. Working his way up in the ice fae court—and for what? He was still on the outer fringes, tolerated, but not respected.

  Hell, he’d had to hide at his own daughter’s mate ritual because no one at court knew he had a daughter—and that was how he wanted to keep it. Instead, he’d observed the ceremony from the back of the crowd, an odd pressure in his chest.

  Evie was his only child, and he’d missed too much of her growing up. It was his biggest regret.

  Still, he couldn’t help feeling happy that his Evie had found a mate. And damn, she’d sparkled in a pretty dress with a star adorning her short blond hair, her face wreathed in smiles as she’d walked toward Jace. He’d stayed for the first toast and then left. Evie was in good hands with her earth fada mate, and Fane was supposed to be in Canada on a job for Sindre. The king wouldn’t be happy to know he’d made an unscheduled visit to Baltimore, and he’d be furious to learn Fane had a daughter he didn’t know about.