Wounded Pride

by Kaye Draper

  He didn’t sound completely convinced. But I put my lie detector to rest and left well enough alone. There was only so much we could do for Evalyn unless we wanted to keep her trapped in the bookstore for the rest of her life.

  Oisin reached over and punched the button to put the top down as we headed toward the interstate.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you?” I demanded. “It’s the middle of winter, asshole.”

  I reached for the button to close it back up when a sharp winter breeze bitch-slapped me in the face with my own hair. Oisin smacked my hand away from the button. “Live a little, Gryphon. Breathe the fresh air.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Why couldn’t we just rent a nice, big, warm SUV? Wait…is this some kind of fae mid-life crisis?”

  He cranked the radio and found an awful classic rock station, blasting Godsawful cock-rock at top volume as we sped down the wintery expressway, his long red hair coming loose from its braid to whip about his head like a tornado.

  “That does it,” I shouted. “I’m putting you in a nursing home when we get back, old man.”

  He laughed, wild and sharp, as he pushed the car to top speed. I prayed there wasn’t any black ice out there waiting to test his reflexes. “Live like there’s no tomorrow. Isn’t that what they always say?” he called in a sing-song voice.

  I tightened my seatbelt, checked the rearview for police flashers, and tucked back into my seat. Part of me was ecstatic about the wind in my hair—definitely the bird half. The other part of me was seriously concerned about Oisin having some sort of dementia-fueled inhibition issues.

  Chapter 10

  A few days later, I flipped through TV channels while Oisin sat on the floor near the sectional. Hisashi and Black were working the bookstore, Black selling books and sorting out a box of old manuscripts while Hisashi told fortunes and used his unusual charm to convince people to buy cheesy occult knick-knacks. Con was working at the university. That left me alone with a cranky fae.

  Oisin was brooding while pretending not to worry. He hummed as he sorted his laundry, folding some things, but setting aside the fussier items to be ironed and hung up. Even though he was trying to appear at ease, I could tell his heart wasn't in it. Both him and Hisashi had been acting weird ever since our little...adventure. I was hoping in Oisin's case it was just worry over his sister. But something told me that was wishful thinking.

  "Do you think Evalyn made it back home okay?" I asked lightly, deciding on a news station and turning the volume down so I could hear Oisin's answer. The further away she got from Oisin the better. At least that's what he had insisted as he shoved her out the door. But I didn’t think he really wanted her gone.

  He lifted one shoulder in a graceful shrug, his loose hair slipping over the soft weave of the blue sweater he wore. I wanted to go wrap him up in a hug, just so I could feel the sensations of soft angora and his silky hair against my skin—Oisin was all about sensory indulgence. But I refrained, even if it killed me to see him acting worried. He didn't take well to coddling.

  “She’ll be fine,” he said, dismissive.

  I nodded. He was probably right. "What do you think your dear old dad will make of it, if he noticed her power, then it disappeared?"

  He frowned. "Hopefully he will think she was hiding, he found her, then she was killed before he could get to her."

  I let out a sigh. "Does he know you killed the others?"

  Oisin glanced at me and I was not happy to see the blank mask he wore. "He didn't. He might figure it out now. I was far more...sly back then. I was careful to appear uncaring, and I never met any of my siblings, as far as he knew. But this time...he knew I was here, and if he did track her, then he will know she came to me."

  I nudged him with my foot. "She'll be okay. She doesn't have what he wants anymore."

  Oisin nodded. "You're right, of course. Evalyn will be fine." He still didn't sound very happy.

  Maybe it wasn’t Evalyn that was worrying him. Something was up, but damned if I could figure it out. I was an emotional idiot. And he masked almost every emotion he had, especially if it was something I wouldn't like.

  I stared at the news—some special highlight about Ontonagon and how our crime rate had stayed so low, even though the population had grown exponentially in the last few years—while I tried to figure out how to handle the fae.

  Kaimana saved me from myself by gliding into the room in a cropped tank top and yoga pants. She wasn't wearing a bra, as usual, and I had trouble focusing on her face. I was a terrible human being. Her hair was damp, and I smiled at her. "Go for a midday swim in the tub, did you?"

  She laughed, her rich alto soothing my frayed nerves. "You should come join me next time." She leaned down and kissed me, her soft lips brushing against mine before she pulled back to whisper, "I could show you my half-shift."

  I blinked at her. "I'm not getting in the tub with a kraken. I value my life."

  She laughed her throaty laugh and went to sit next to Oisin. "Laundry? You must be under the weather, fae, if you can't think of anything more entertaining to do than laundry." She lifted an argyle sock from the basket, then went digging about to find its mate.

  Oisin frowned at her as she rolled them together, then took the socks away from her to do it right. He was so fussy about his damned clothes. The princess.

  Kaimana laughed and nudged him with her shoulder. "Why are you two in here pouting? Did someone die?"

  I glanced at her, then at Oisin. "That's what I've been trying to figure out," I said in defeat.

  Oisin looked at me. "What are you yammering about, gryphon. Everything is fine." He shook his head. "As I've said countless times already."

  Kai glanced between us. "It doesn't feel fine in here. It feels...boring." She flopped backward, sprawling on the floor, her damp hair fanning out in wavy tendrils that reminded me of her tentacles. "It feels like someone is worrying about things when they should be enjoying all life has to offer." Nothing ever bothered her. Typical ancient sea monster.

  I stared at her exposed midriff for a few seconds, tempted to go down there and lick the smooth expanse of olive skin, just to see her squirm. Shaking myself, I threw the remote aside and stared at Oisin. "Something's up. You're worried. And it freaks me out when you worry, Oisin. If you aren't snarking and making innuendos, then it must be serious."

  He tilted his head back and let out a frustrated groan. "Nothing. Is. Wrong."

  I tilted my head. "Lie."

  He threw his socks into the basket and stood, glaring down at me. "I'm worried about my sister and my father," he said calmly.

  Truth.

  "That's all it is."

  Lie.

  "Is it about what we did with Hisashi?" I asked, biting my lip. "Because, honestly Oisin. I thought you were really, really happy about that. But if the whole thing makes you so uncomfortable...."

  He rolled his eyes so hard it was a surprise they didn't get stuck back in his skull like that. "Gesa. You are an idiot. I have no idea how you ever survived on your own all these years before we found you."

  Kaimana rolled over onto her stomach and gazed up at us from beneath a curtain of black hair, her dark blue eyes sparkling. "And what happened with the pretty fox?" she purred.

  I glanced at her and tried to stop from grinning. I didn't succeed. "You'll have to talk to Hisashi about the details." Two details. Both of them quite large. I shuddered in memory.

  Kai lifted an eyebrow. "Now I'm jealous." She stuck out her bottom lip at me in a pout, then turned to Oisin. "Whatever it was, you did a good job."

  The fae grinned right back. "We did. She was senseless with bliss."

  I leaned back with a groan. "Oh, shut the fuck up."

  Kai stood, giving me a good view of some truly breathtaking cleavage in the process. She swept her hair back and walked over to Oisin. Reaching out a hand to him, she cupped his cheek. "Are you truly okay, little fae?"

  He looked up into her eyes and I swear they had som
e sort of silent conversation that I didn't understand. "I will be." He smirked, all seriousness falling away as he retreated to his usual mode of deflection. "But I might need a hug."

  Kai laughed and wrapped him in one of her smothering embraces. Oisin was so short his nose ended up practically in her tits, and his hands smoothed over her curvy hips before wrapping around her hour-glass waist. Kai pulled back and held him at arm's length, her face mock-serious. "Better?"

  He gave her some serious puppy-dog eyes. "A little. Maybe it would work better...without clothes?"

  I choked. He was absolutely shameless.

  Sure, I'd envisioned fucking every one of my pride in every combination possible. Who wouldn't? But I didn't just assume they were all into each other. Apparently, it was a wasted courtesy.

  Kai pulled her shirt off with a laugh. "Of course. Why didn't I think of that?"

  Oisin pushed her sweats off her hips as he bent his head to suckle on one of her nipples and Kai tangled her hands in his long hair, holding him there. She gasped in pleasure when he bit her and licked away the sting. "Oh," she said in a husky voice. "You're right. Much more comforting this way."

  I rolled my eyes at their poorly staged porno. "You are both idiots."

  I was practically drooling. But I hadn't quite thought this out—in my fantasies, I forgot to factor in that both Kai and Oisin had absolutely no modesty and never hesitated to do or say whatever the hell they wanted.

  Kai looked at me and stuck out her tongue. "Stuffy, up-tight gryphon."

  Oisin lifted his head and grinned at me as Kai made quick work of his fly. "She really is."

  They both paced toward me, and I tried not to react. "Sounds like me."

  While Oisin peeled off his sweater and pants, Kai climbed onto my lap, straddling my legs as she pressed her breasts to mine. "Mmm...we'll have to change that." She slipped her hands through my hair and pulled me to her, her grip just shy of painful. Her lips were soft but demanding. I caressed her back, and reached down to grip her round ass. She pulled away to kiss a path down the side of my neck, pausing to nip at the tender flesh as she went.

  Oisin knelt on the couch beside us, slowly stroking himself. "Now that is a beautiful sight. I'm going to burn that one into my memory forever," he breathed as Kai got rid of my clothes, climbing off me just long enough for me to lift my hips and pull off my pants.

  I paused at Oisin's strangely reverent tone. But Kai's hands on my breasts brought me back to the here and now. "Sometimes, all we can do is enjoy the moment we’re given," she breathed, "without thinking of the ones yet to come." She stroked and squeezed, giving me a saucy grin before she slid to her knees at my feet and pushed my legs apart.

  I dropped my head back against the couch as Kai lapped at my clit, making me hiss.

  Oisin kissed me, biting and urgent, his graceful hands cupping my breasts. I stroked him hard and fast, feeling the edge to his urgency. "Gesa, please," he begged, and my heart clenched a bit at the sound of his voice, desperate and raw.

  Something was wrong with the fae. I was afraid he was coming apart at the edges.

  I shifted and Kaimana and Oisin followed my urging until I lay on the couch on my back, Kai between my thighs and Oisin straddling my shoulders. I took Oisin in my mouth, gripping his hips as his smooth, controlled fae grace became clumsy and unhinged. Kai slipped two fingers inside me as she hammered my clit with her tongue urging me to meet Oisin's abandon. I took him deeper, growling around his cock as I came.

  Oisin's climax followed on the heels of my own and I drank him down, hoping this desperation—whatever it was—was released with his orgasm.

  Kai, not at all perturbed about being left behind, slipped up beside us, stroking herself to orgasm as she kissed me, growling at the taste of Oisin on my tongue. I shivered at the primal, creature side of her that I could feel cresting just under the surface.

  Afterward, we managed to pile onto the over-sized sectional, our sweaty bodies pressed together uncomfortably. "Mine," Kai whispered as she snaked an arm around Oisin and me, holding us tight. "Oceans could separate us, but you will always be mine." She drifted off to sleep soon after, and I laughed silently at being trapped in this sweaty pile.

  Oisin's lay atop me, as usual, and his silky red hair tickled my collar bones and chest. I stroked his head with my free hand. "I love you," I whispered. "Please be okay, Oisin."

  He heaved a sigh against my neck, then lifted his head to meet my eyes. "I love you, darling. We all do. Whatever happens, you will never be alone."

  He planted a tender kiss to the top swell of my breast, then turned to press a kiss to Kai's head, where it rested on my shoulder. "You are surrounded by so much strength and so much love."

  I didn't know what to say. His words should be comforting. But instead there was hollowness inside, and I wanted to cry. Oisin smiled at me and pushed up to kiss my chin. "Stop worrying, gryphon. Everything will be fine."

  Chapter 11

  Somehow, in my complete distraction and worry over what was going on with my pride, I let my guard down. It was a horrid mistake, and it cost me dearly.

  Kai managed to get her tentacles on me and force me into solstice shopping.

  It was ridiculous. We had weeks left until the holiday and I never did my shopping until the week before. Or maybe the night before. Whatever.

  I had loved winter solstice as a kid, but as an adult the charm wore thin, eroded by my mother's ostentatious celebrations, then by my total disenchantment the last few years. But, standing there with Kai on the snowy street as she clung to my arm and cooed at a crochet fox-eared hat in a shop window—I could feel some of that old warmth and excitement creeping back in.

  Not that I'd ever admit it.

  Dark blue eyes met mine and Kai grinned as she dragged me into the shop to get the hat for Hisashi. Of course, this was Kai we were talking about. So we also left with solstice decorations, a lamp, some new silverware, and some seashells.

  Somewhere out there, on the bottom of the ocean floor there was a deep, dark cave. And it was filled to the fucking brim with Kaimana's random junk.

  She smiled at me and did a little spin as we left the shop, weighted down with bags.

  "You are ridiculous," I reminded her for the third time.

  She just smiled deeper and darted into the next quaint little main street shop. She had picked up a part-time job as a waitress at a pub across town, and she seemed determined to spend every cent of her income before she even earned it.

  We stopped to have lunch at a diner that looked like a complete dive, but was a local treasure. They made a hell of a burger. And those nasty bar fries that I lived for.

  We both ordered a beer and Kai watched me with a saucy dark blue look as I inhaled my food.

  "Enjoying our outing?" she asked, removing her hand from my plate when I growled at her attempt to steal a fry.

  I shrugged. "For once, shopping isn't making me want to murder anyone."

  She laughed, low and husky. "Thanks for coming with me."

  When I waved her off, she grabbed my hand. "No. Really, Gesa. I mean it. I was trapped in that damned shop for a year. But I wandered an empty prison far longer than that, searching the ocean for family that didn't exist." She tucked a strand of long, dark hair behind her ear and bit her bottom lip between her perfect white teeth before meeting my eyes again. She looked...vulnerable. Which was a weird look on my scary-assed kraken. "And now...I finally found my family."

  I squeezed her hand. "You poor, poor bastard," I breathed. "Stuck with this batshit crazy family."

  She let go of my hand to swat at me, then dug into her fried shrimp. "Nowhere else I'd rather be," she said with a smile. "Even when things get hard—as things are sure to do."

  I wasn't sure if that was an innuendo, or a warning. She and Oisin had more in common than I liked, right at that moment. Like the ability to turn everything into a sex joke to avoid painful conversations.

  After our lunch, I managed to co
nvince Kaimana to release me from the torture that is prolonged human contact and buying things.

  By the time we got back to the shop, I was laughing so hard tears were streaming down my cheeks as Kai regaled me with stories about playing tricks on boaters and fucking with military sonar out in the open ocean. As I tried to get my breathing back under control, I wondered at the life she'd lived. And why the hell she'd want to give that up to be here with me, of all places.

  She pulled me to a stop on the doorstep and pointed up. "Someone has been decorating," she said with a wicked grin.

  I glanced up at the giant bundle of mistletoe. "That seems like overkill."

  Kai cupped my cheek as she pulled me down to meet her lips. "Just like everything you do," she snarked.

  I shut her up with a kiss, loving the feel of her softness and strength.

  A loud thump from the other side of the door, followed by a burst of laughter, made me pull away. "We should go see what that was," I said with a sigh. "We did leave all the testosterone here alone unsupervised."

  She grinned and pushed open the door. I followed her inside, stopping in my tracks to gape at the scene that was unfolding before me.

  They had lost their fucking minds.

  Boxes of solstice decorations were strewn across the front counter by the cash register, and the mess looked like the poor boxes had projectile vomited glitter and ribbon.

  Oisin stood on the counter wearing a green shirt with a gold and silver vest embroidered with snowflakes. He wore a crown of woven evergreen branches on his head, and his glamour was down, making him look like some sort of sexualized holiday elf. He stood on his tip-toes as he reached up to hang a shimmery glass ball from the green garland they had draped from the ceiling.