by Lexi C. Foss
However, he didn’t this time, his mind oddly quiet.
I was about to try again when Zakkai linked his fingers through mine, distracting me. “Ready?”
“Yes,” I replied. None of my mates knew I was attending tonight. I’d kept Zakkai’s confidence in exchange for my ability to dream-walk without his interference. He’d upheld his part of the bargain, so I would now uphold my part of it.
These last two weeks—or that was my estimation of the time, anyway—had been eye-opening and engaging. Zakkai had spent almost all of his time teaching me more about Quandary magic while also explaining various points in Midnight Fae history. He was patient and disciplined. Kind yet stern. And a walking riddle who somehow managed to explain everything while explaining nothing at the same time.
We shared a bed each night, where he allowed me to play with my other mates in my mind. Not sexually, really. None of them were comfortable doing anything in front of Zakkai. He’d also kept his hands mostly to himself, aside from a few touches here and there.
Like tonight when he’d wrapped his arms around me from behind. He showed affection without making me uncomfortable. And he never demanded anything from me in return.
Our fantasies had been the same. He’d always provided me with pleasure without asking for reciprocation.
It left me feeling conflicted. I should hate him. He’d bonded me as a child and left. And yet, he’d been a child, too. None of it had ever been our choice. He was supposed to undo it now but refused. However, I suspected that if I demanded it, he would eventually allow me to break the bond.
I wasn’t sure if I wanted that or not.
So I allowed him to steer me toward the door. His father’s behavior more or less confirmed that Zakkai had nothing nefarious planned for tonight. Of course, it could all be an act, a notion I held in the back of my mind as we stepped out into the hallway.
“Be careful, Kai,” his father said. “You, too, Aflora.” His tone held a touch of emotion when he spoke my name, one that flickered in his gaze—there and gone in a second.
“I’ll keep her safe,” Zakkai replied. “Just as I always have.”
His father dipped his chin in acknowledgment. “I’ll be waiting up for an update.”
“I know.” Zakkai reached out to touch his father’s shoulder in an almost comforting gesture, then he used his opposite hand—which still held mine—to gently tug me along beside him down the hall.
We took a similar path as we did the other day when going to meet Shade. I hadn’t spoken to my Death Blood mate since, his connection closed and quiet. I tried again now, wanting to ask him about the biting, but he still didn’t answer, making me frown.
“What’s wrong?” Zakkai asked as the magical hallway appeared before us, granting us access to the portal near the end.
I didn’t immediately reply, unsure of how to phrase my concern.
But as he pulled me close inside the portal, he used his finger on my chin to draw my gaze up to him. “Aflora, tell me what’s wrong.” He didn’t punch in the code, instead holding me inside the cocoon of his body heat, his dark blue eyes possessing his familiar intensity. It seemed no spell could hide that look.
I cleared my throat. “I… I’m thinking about Shade. I’ve not spoken to him since we saw him the other night. And I wanted to ask him something.”
“Ask him what?” Zakkai asked softly, his thumb tracing my jaw.
“The Council told him to bite me,” I whispered. “But he once told me that someone had warned him about me. And I was wondering…” I trailed off, biting my lip. Then I decided to just go for it. Either he told me the truth or he deflected. What would it hurt to ask? “Well, I was wondering if that someone was you.”
“I see,” he replied, his touch drifting to my hair before wrapping around the back of my neck. “Shade and I have known each other for a long time. But I didn’t tell him to bite you. The Council did. And I suspect my uncle Tadmir played a hand in this as well.”
“Who is Tadmir?” I asked, searching his gaze. “I mean, I know he’s your uncle, but I’ve not met him.”
“He’s a Midnight Fae Councilman,” Zakkai replied.
My brow furrowed. “What? How? If he’s related to you, then isn’t he a…?”
“Quandary Blood?” Zakkai suggested for me, his lips curling. “Yes, partly. He’s my mother’s half brother. They shared a Quandary Blood mother. But his father was a Paradox Fae.”
I blinked. “An abomination.”
“Yes. One who can rewrite power, which is how he’s currently parading around as a Malefic Blood. He mated into the royal line and took the mantle from his mate—because women aren’t allowed on the Council.”
“So… so… he took the Councilman position from her by mating into her bloodline and using his Quandary Blood abilities to rewrite his magic to, uh, match? And everyone thinks he’s a pure Malefic Blood?” I wanted to make sure I understand that convoluted piece of history.
“Yes, that’s right,” he replied. “And what’s more, he did all this before Constantine initiated his quest to destroy Quandary Bloods. Which tells me he knew all this was going to happen and used his Paradox Fae abilities to jump back in time to alter history.”
“That’s… wow. I’m not sure what to say to that,” I admitted.
“He’s played the long game,” Zakkai murmured, his thumb brushing my pulse. “Which is why I’m not surprised he’s working with Shade. He’s clearly seen something unfold that he wishes to change. And so, I suspect he’s the real reason Shade agreed to bite you.”
“But you knew he was going to bite me.”
“Yes.” His eyes clouded over with a darker emotion. “My father informed me of the plan after a Councilman, maybe even an Elder, or perhaps Tadmir, had told him about the Council’s intent for Shade to bite you. He wanted it to come to fruition and told me to cooperate. As I wasn’t the Source Architect yet, I had no choice but to do as he said.”
I swallowed, speechless.
My entire future had been stolen from me via a handful of events where I was given no say in the matter. All because my parents had decided to help the Quandary Bloods.
No. Not that.
It was all because Constantine Nacht ignited a genocide among the Midnight Fae. My parents had done what they felt was right—they protected lives. And it’d crafted a path for me, one entangling me in a war I was never meant to be a part of.
Or maybe it’d always been my destiny to be bonded to four Midnight Fae. The center of a conflict. An Earth Fae who favored vitality amid a sea of violence.
“Shade and I have a long history,” Zakkai said softly, drawing me from my thoughts. “When I found out the Council’s intentions, I went to him and demanded he protect you. He already knew all about you because I’d told him about you when we were younger—when I was still recovering from the spell that separated us. That was actually how I first met Shade. He found me in a ball on the floor and asked me what the hell I was doing.”
He huffed a laugh at the memory, one I would have shared, except I didn’t feel humored by any of this.
“I told him all about you. Said you were beautiful, loved flowers, and talked about how much I missed our friendship. He’d nodded solemnly in understanding, then said he knew what it was like to have others demand actions that hurt.”
He fell silent for a moment, his amusement vanishing as his gaze took on a faraway gleam.
“We weren’t exactly friends after that, but we understood each other in a unique way that has carried throughout the years,” he continued. “I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of him biting you, but I’ll admit that I preferred him over anyone and everyone else.”
There were others? I wanted to ask, but I couldn’t find my voice.
And he wasn’t done talking.
“Shade’s always known you were mine. However, he fully mated you anyway. I’m not exactly surprised by that. He’s defiant by nature. But I also know it goes much deeper for h
im than that.” He pressed his forehead to mine, his eyes closing. “It goes much deeper than that for me, too.”
“You warned him I would be beautiful,” I whispered, recalling Shade’s words that day.
“No, I told him you were beautiful. I must have said it a thousand times when I was younger. I told him all about your flowers, your love of life, and how beautiful you were. It’d been a childlike comment at the time, because I meant you were a beautiful person. Now I would call you stunning.”
He lifted his forehead from mine, his eyes opening as he slid his gaze over me.
“Even with the spell, I can still see you, Aflora. And you take my breath away every time, even with the blonde curls and green eyes. You’re still my Flora beneath it all. My bright star. I’ll never see anyone else but you.”
A lump formed in my throat, my mind conflicted on how to respond. It was such a moving story, and yet, so incredibly wrong.
They’d all made so many decisions about my life, removing all my choices.
However, I also understood those decisions.
And if I were to truly evaluate them, to decide for myself, I wasn’t sure how much my choices would have varied from the outcome. Perhaps, initially, I would have fought for a different outcome, but knowing what I did now, I couldn’t see another path for me to have walked down.
It seemed like years ago that I sat in that cafe waiting for Glacier to arrive. I was no longer that delicate flower, pining after a boy who didn’t value my worth.
Now I stood in the arms of a man who had given up so much to protect me.
If this was all a ruse, it was a very convincing lie. Because I could feel his emotions in our bond, his sincerity a warm sensation creeping through my veins and going directly to my heart.
There were no words for me to say.
No accusations or rants.
I could fight him forever, hate him for deciding all this on my behalf, or I could choose to recognize how many of his choices had been stolen from him as well. I could choose to admire how he’s dealt with all the weight on his shoulders. I could choose to forgive him for his actions. I could choose to trust him. I could choose to embrace him.
I curled my fingers around his arms, feeling his heat and masculinity through the soft silk of his jacket. And then I went up onto my toes to press my lips to his, making the choice to kiss him. Making the choice to grant him a piece of my heart. Making the choice to allow this moment between us to grow. Making the choice to accept our intertwined fate.
It wasn’t perfect.
It wasn’t a fairy tale.
It wasn’t even kind.
But it seemed right.
I choose to believe you, I told him with my lips, kissing him gently. I choose to accept us.
He wrapped his arm around my lower back, his opposite hand still against my neck, and he returned my embrace, his tongue sliding into my mouth to find mine.
His essence swirled around me, his power an addictive flavor I wanted to revel in for all of eternity. My soul rejoiced, life thriving inside me as he awakened a dormant part of my spirit.
My long-lost mate.
My Kai.
I clung to him, indulging in the heat and prosperity of our connection. Then sighed as the kiss slowly came to an end.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered against my mouth. “But if we continue this, we’ll never get to the Blood Gala, and I owe you the truth, Aflora. You have to see everything to understand our destiny.”
I nodded, agreeing with his intentions. “Promise me you won’t harm anyone.”
“I promise I won’t harm anyone without provocation,” he countered, capturing my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “If anyone means to harm us, I will retaliate.”
That seemed fair, so I conceded with another dip of my chin. “I accept that.”
He smiled. “Good.” He brushed his lips against mine once more. “Now hold on to me. We’re going to portal-jump several times to cover our tracks.”
I WALKED into Kols’s bedroom and paused at the sight of him bending over the bench at the foot of his bed.
“Almost ready,” he said without looking at me, his focus on tying his shoe.
I leaned against the doorway and folded my arms, more than content to enjoy the view of him in that all-black suit. Our relationship had deepened over the last few weeks, the blood ties to Aflora and each other stirring foreign sensations inside of my soul that left me evaluating life a little differently.
Kols had bitten me, taking charge of our relationship in a way he’d never done before.
Then he’d submitted to me in the next moment, knowing that it was what I needed.
The male I’d known all my life had grown into a man so far beyond my worth. I had no idea why or when he’d chosen me. Fae knew I didn’t deserve him. But as he turned to face me now, his golden irises swirling with power, I couldn’t claim a single regret.
Except for our missing link.
Aflora.
“I wish she were here, too,” Kols said, sauntering up to me.
“Reading my mind?”
“More like your expression,” he replied. He slid his palm around the back of my neck and pulled me into a kiss, his boldness flooring me. I grasped his throat, squeezing it a little as I took control of the kiss with my tongue.
He pressed his groin to mine as fire ignited between us.
We hadn’t touched each other like this since the other night, our focus on other things. But the bond was alive and hot between us, begging Kols to finish it with a final bite.
Between Kols and Aflora, I felt so utterly complete that I almost didn’t recognize myself. They’d breathed new life into my lungs, given my heart a reason to beat, and provoked a sizzling heat inside me that begged to be sated.
I needed her.
I needed him.
I needed them.
My teeth skimmed his lip, threatening to bite. I could feel him urging me to do it through our partially formed link. We couldn’t hear each other, not quite. But years of experience coupled with the deepened bond had left us with new insight.
“Zeph,” he groaned, his grip tightening on the back of my neck. “I—”
The clearing of a throat cut off whatever he’d been about to say, the presence behind me reminding me that I’d left the door wide open.
Fuck.
“Look, I don’t care what you two do behind closed doors. But please be mindful that others live in this house. And your mother would not appreciate this.” Malik Nacht’s voice held his usual chastising undertone, but a hint of amusement lurked in his golden irises as I slowly turned to face him.
The Elite Blood King had been in an unusually good mood the last few days, which Kols and I didn’t understand. Everything had gone to hell with Aflora. Shade couldn’t locate her, at least as far as the Council was concerned, and Kols had technically failed his trial. Yet Malik had proceeded as though everything was normal, going as far as to invite me into their home like he used to do when I served as Kols’s primary Guardian.
“Sorry, Dad,” Kols said, his shoulder bumping mine as he came to stand beside me. “Everything set for the Blood Gala?”
“Yep. Just a few things we need to go over first. And Zeph’s missing a key piece of his attire.”
I frowned, looking down over my all-black suit—the exact same style as Kols’s suit, only his tie was skinnier than mine. I glanced at him to see my confusion reflected in his expression.
Malik slipped a hand into his jacket to pull out a box. He handed it to me with an expectant look. “I believe this goes on your lapel.”
My heart stopped.
It can’t be…
He doesn’t mean…
I looked at Kols again and caught the same glimmer in his eye as I felt in my chest. Hope.
It took all my willpower not to outwardly react. Warrior Bloods were taught to be stoic. Hard. Tough. I couldn’t afford to show any ounce of emotion, especially if this was what I
thought it might be.
I cleared my throat and lifted the lid, the familiar gold-and-red pendant inside blinking up at me beneath the lighting. My Guardian pin.
Malik had taken this from me after everything that went down with Dakota. And now… now he was giving it back… “Does this mean I’m reinstated?” I asked, my voice forcibly flat.
“Yes,” Malik replied. “I think you have been for a while. This just makes it official.” He clapped me on the shoulder, then turned to Kols. “Now we need to talk about tonight. There are some things I haven’t told you.”
Just like that, the moment was done.
Congratulations, Zeph. Your fuckup is officially forgiven. You can hereby continue risking your life for my son. Moving on…
My eyes nearly rolled, but I forced my features to remain uncaring and instead focused on his commentary concerning the Blood Gala.
He started with the usual bullshit regarding toasts and celebrations of Midnight Fae independence from the Quandary Blood’s nefarious interference.
It was all the typical political gnat-crap until he said, “And I’ve taken the liberty of writing your speech.” He slid a paper from his pocket. “Given the complexities of our current position, particularly with your grandfather calling for a delay in the ascension, I thought it best that I prepare this for you. If you deliver it right, then at this time next year, you should be well on your way to taking over my throne.”
The words “If you don’t deliver it right” seemed to hang between us unsaid. A lingering threat that required compliance.
Or perhaps his father just didn’t see any alternative.
Kols glanced at the note, his eyes hardening as he read. “Right,” he said when he finished. “Thank you, Father.”
Father, not Dad.
That indicated he wasn’t thrilled by whatever speech Malik had drafted for him.
“Brilliant,” his father replied, obviously oblivious to his son’s displeasure. “Now there’s just one more thing I need to make you aware of, as I don’t want the announcement to blindside you later.” He paused to look at me, considering. “Well, you’re reinstated, so it can’t hurt to bring you in on the secret. You are protecting the future king, after all.”