Fourth Rite: A Reverse Harem Tale (Lovin' the Coven Book 4)

by Jacquelyn Faye

  "You have a quest for me?"

  "No. I have a quest. It was recommended that you accompany me."

  He walked over and handed me a glass. I took a sniff, and the sweetness and heady scent of alcohol nearly made my eyes water. I took a tentative sip.

  "Woah."

  "Tis potent."

  "What is it? Moonshine?"

  "Elderberry wine."

  "It's good."

  "I do not recommend more than one glass if you wish to operate your motor vehicle."

  "I'll keep that in mind. I wonder if Dar knows how to drive. I doubt the elf can."

  "Elf?"

  "Yeah. He's the reason I am here."

  "Is this the same one who put an arrow through you?"

  "Yep."

  "He is in your car?"

  "Yep."

  Faster than my eyes could follow, he had set his wine down and had a wicked looking curved dagger in his hand.

  "Woah! Hold on. He's on our side now."

  Not quite believing me, he flittered over the furniture to the front window and peeked out through the curtain. Only when he saw the elf sitting calmly in my front seat, not a threat, did the dagger return to its sheath. I always thought of Shea as a humble little librarian. Quickly, I reevaluated my thoughts on him. He moved like darkness and seemed as deadly as a serpent.

  Assassin. That was my new opinion of him. I raised my eyebrows in appreciation.

  He turned back around, and the humble, meek appearance returned. "My apologies."

  "Don't. That was impressive."

  "When I saw you fall… Let's just say, had I not been so worried about you, I would have removed the threat, then and there."

  I blinked in surprise. There was definitely more to Shea than I ever imagined. "You were worried about me?"

  He blushed and reached for his hood. Wanting to hide.

  "Don't." I didn't want him to. I enjoyed seeing his delicate features, and it was much easier to see how he was feeling with his face exposed.

  "The light…"

  "Bullshit. It's darker than Miranda's heart in here."

  He laughed. I wasn't sure if I'd ever heard it before. It was as cute and warming as Candace's. Taking my wine, I sat down on his couch without so much as an invitation.

  "Sit. I'll start at the beginning."

  He nodded, picking his wine back up and joining me, sitting on the chair closest to me. "Please."

  "The elf is now my bodyguard."

  "How?" He scooted forward.

  "Well, even an elf can't ignore a command from the goddess…"

  His impossibly large eyes got even larger. They were absolutely beautiful, just like the rest of him. Not my fault, I was a sucker for eyes. "Perhaps you should start at the beginning?"

  "Right." I shook my head trying to get the image of his eyes out of mine. "So. Yeah. The elf showed up at my house. He let a dream asp knock everybody out and broke through my wards and shields to come finish me off."

  "A dream asp?"

  "Yep."

  "It must not have bitten you."

  "I'm pretty sure it did. It was the pain of having my wards and shields torn down that snapped me out of it."

  "That is not how their venom works. You do not wake up until it wears off. Had he used his knife to remove your skin, you would not have woken."

  "Huh. Maybe I didn't get bit. Or my healing healed me."

  He seemed unconvinced, but he motioned me to continue.

  "Anyway, I snuck up on him, but he saw me coming. He had me pinned to the wall on the point of his dagger, but the Lady…possessed…Candace. She stopped him from killing me."

  "The Lady… She inhabited your fae friend? She appeared before you?"

  "Yeah. I wish I could say it was the first time. She even took over my body when I became high priestess."

  "You've had…multiple visitations?"

  "Yes?"

  "You have been visited. By a god."

  "Yes."

  He was awestruck. "This is…"

  "Weird. I know."

  His face said it was something other than weird. But I let it go. Not the point of my story.

  "Truly blessed…" He was still staring at me in awe.

  "Anyway," I continued. "She made the elf get down on his knees. She told me I needed to travel tohill and visit his elfhame and that I would know why, when I saw it. She also told me to take my familiars, Candace, and…you."

  "What?"

  "You."

  "Why?"

  "I don't know."

  "She specifically said my name."

  "Unless there is another shadow walking, fae-blooded witch in our coven, pretty sure she meant you."

  He sighed, draining half the contents of his glass in one swallow. Not that I blamed him. If it were me, I would have finished it and asked for seconds.

  "I am…in shock."

  "I see that. You gonna be okay?"

  He nodded.

  "You gonna go with me?"

  He nodded again. "It would appear I have little choice."

  "You and me both."

  "Is that it?"

  "No. She told Jaeren, that's the elf, to tell his king that I didn't have anything to do with the ruin of their elfhame. Oh. And he has to be my bodyguard for the next hundred years."

  He downed the last of his wine, got up and poured another. When he looked at me, I held up my hand. I still had a motor vehicle to operate.

  "This is… this is unusual."

  "Tell me about it."

  "I mean, I've always known that you were special…" He sat back down.

  "Wait. What?"

  "I've…" He seemed to realize he had said more than he wanted to.

  Thank you, elderberry wine… "What do you mean?"

  "Nothing."

  "Doesn't sound like nothing. I'm just sayin'."

  "I've… I just noticed that you were a little different. There was always something special about you that I could not explain. Nor could I even quantify your differences. It was just a feeling."

  "Aww. That's sweet."

  He blushed again and I saw the war in his eyes. He really wanted to pull that hood back up. I could always resort to slapping his hands. Negative reinforcement. Positive worked better, though.

  "Don't pull up your hood. Don't even think about it. I've known you for how long? Let me enjoy seeing you."

  "You… You enjoy looking at me? I don't disgust you?"

  "Why would you?"

  "I'm descended from the unseleighe sidhe. You heard Candace."

  "Yeah. I'd probably care but the seleighe sidhe in my car is kind of an asshole, too."

  He broke out in a smile. It dazzled me.

  What the hell is wrong with me?

  "Thank you for seeing me as me, and not what I am."

  "My pleasure."

  "What is?"

  "Seeing you."

  I didn't think it was possible for him to blush any more than he already had. If I didn't get out of there soon, I was pretty sure he was going to stroke.

  "Thank you," he said, earnestly.

  "Why?"

  "Why what?"

  I was no longer in control of my mouth. Thank you, elderberry wine. "Why did you move here, Shea?"

  "Your mother…"

  "I don't think she had anything to do with it at all. What's the real reason. Don't ask me how I know, but I will be able to tell if you lie to me."

  That scared him a little. He took another gulp of wine. "You."

  "Me?" That wasn't the answer I was expecting.

  "Yes."

  "Why?"

  "Because I am fascinated by you."

  Woah. "Fascinated like a science experiment kind of fascination, or fascinated like you like me kind?"

  He didn't want to answer. I saw him struggling with it in his head. The poor bastard was breaking out in a cold sweat, but he was too afraid to answer.

  "Shea. Do you find me attractive? Is that why you followed me?" I spelled it o
ut for him to make it easier on him. He could nod or shake. It was up to him.

  I gasped when he nodded. He wasn't lying, I knew.

  I needed to get the hell out of there. Not because I wasn't attracted to him, but because I was attracted to him. A lot. I mean, anybody with functioning eyeballs would be. Hell, I think even Chief had the hots for him, not that he would ever admit it.

  "Shea…"

  He held up his hand. "I know. I am not worthy."

  Oh, no he fucking didn't.

  My weakness…

  My heart…

  He pulled the trump card. The wounded puppy dog ploy. I was doomed. Doomed I say. I had no recourse, no defense, no coherent thoughts. I fought the urge to hug him and cuddle him, pet him and quite possibly lick him…

  I opened my mouth to tell him how wrong he was from the safety of not being close enough to touch him. "Come here," came out instead. I swear. It was like I had a Siamese twin living inside my mouth. One that took over vital functions at exactly the wrong time.

  He looked like he wanted to run away. I just couldn't let that happen. I couldn't. Nope.

  "Come here," I said again, gently.

  He drank the rest of his wine and stood, slowly inching his way closer to me. I set my empty glass down on the table and pulled him down next to me.

  "You are more than worthy. It's me who isn't."

  Nooo! Why am I doing the whole it's not you it's me thing!

  What the fuck, Dot?

  Shut up, me! You already have three boyfriends!

  But look at him! And he's sweet. And apparently a fucking shadow ninja…

  I really needed to schedule a therapy appointment. I was long overdue.

  He sighed. Fully expecting me to pin this on me. Pretty sure every guy did. Two phrases they absolutely feared more than anything else in this world. "It's not you, it's me," and "I'm pregnant."

  "That's not what I'm trying to say. I'm saying I already have three boyfriends."

  "You are high priestess. That is normal."

  "Not for me it isn't. I've had a lot of difficulty coming to terms with it."

  He blinked up at me with those amazing eyes. "Why?"

  "Because I've only ever had one serious relationship. It didn't end well and because of that… Let's just say I wasn't exactly eager to jump back into another one. And another one after that. And another. Jeez, what the hell is wrong with me."

  "You find me attractive?"

  "Woah. Hell yeah."

  "Truly?"

  I nodded. Vigorously, I might add. Very emphatically at the least.

  "Do you wish to get to know me? Spend time with me?"

  Guarded, I nodded. I did. If for no other reason than to let him know he was worth it.

  "Could we?"

  "Could we, what?"

  "Spend time together. Get to know each other?"

  "Absolutely."

  "I would be more than satisfied with that. I thought moving here might have been a wasted effort on my part. That thought did not fill me with joy."

  "Why didn't you say something sooner?"

  "Confidence. More, my lack of it."

  "You really don't see it, do you?"

  "See what, my Lady?"

  "How freaking beautiful you are?"

  "What is on the outside is not at all important. It is my insides that worry me. My blood is dark, unlike your friend, Candace. I walk in the shadows. I often go unnoticed. When you live your life eluding those around you, when the time comes you want to step into the light, you are either blinded by it or burned by it."

  "Not if you find someone to hold the umbrella. Or rub sunscreen on you." I must have had a glazed look in my eye.

  He chuckled softly. "You are picturing that, now. Are you not?"

  "Oh yeah." I grinned at him.

  "You have never seen me without my cloak before. I could have the skin of a toad or a hidden third arm."

  I wiggled my eyebrows at his second choice of words. "Do you?"

  "What?"

  "Have the skin of a toad. The arm I could live with."

  "Nay."

  "Show me. Show me what you look like, Shea."

  "Pardon?"

  "I'm not asking you to strip naked. Just take of your sweatshirt."

  I'd thought he looked nervous before, now he looked like he was going to cry.

  "You don't have to!" I held up my hands. "I was just curious. Chief totally wants to see you naked, though." I winked at him.

  "I was happy when you asked. You are the first."

  "To ask you to take you shirt off?"

  "Yes."

  "Boy, if I had a dollar…"

  "For what?"

  "Nothing. If you don't mind…please take your sweatshirt off for me."

  He nodded, standing in a fluid motion with a grace I had zero chance of ever matching. Not even if I studied Kungfu for a thousand years. Unfortunately, there was a severe lack of a drumroll or stripper music as he grabbed the bottom of his sweatshirt and lifted it up over his head. If he wore a shirt beneath it, it came off with it, too. I gasped as his stomach came into view.

  He wasn't ripped, but there wasn't an ounce of fat on him, anywhere. His stomach was prettier than mine. I was jealous and more than a little turned on. It was also the only exposed part of him free of tattoos. I blinked in surprise.

  Sides, chest, and arms were all covered in elvish runes with a delicate swirl pattern connecting groups of them. None of them were more than a pencil line thick. The entirety of it didn't diminish him in any way, it even enhanced his beauty. The runes and the swirls followed the taut lines of his muscles. I wanted to run my fingers over them. Seriously. I really did. Maybe even my tongue.

  "Not what you were expecting?"

  "The tattoos? No. I'm actually kind of shocked."

  "They are a part of me. They're not tattoos."

  "Wait. You were born with them?"

  "As far as I know, yes. Or they were magically implanted on me. They grew as I did. Sometimes they change."

  "Can you read them?"

  "They are the reason I became a sage. I wanted to learn their secrets."

  "Did you?"

  "No. It is not any language I have ever been able to decipher. As far as I know, they are just more patterns."

  "I thought they were elvish."

  "As did I."

  I leaned closer to his chest. To study them for purely scientific reasons. He smelled fucking good. Like warm amber. I shuddered as I reached up and ran my finger over them. They illuminated with an eerie blue light, wherever I touched. "Cool."

  He stepped back and gasped in shock.

  "What?"

  "They have never done that before."

  "You're kidding."

  "No." He rubbed his arm, nothing happening.

  I reached over and he held it out for me. Wherever my fingers touched, the runes and patterns briefly glowed. "That is really cool. I wonder why."

  "I know even less about them now than I ever have."

  "Sorry."

  "Don't be. I find it fascinating, as well."

  "Well, don't stay up too late, playing with yourself."

  "Lady… I–"

  "I'm kidding! But, Jeez. Don't ever be embarrassed about that. Everybody does it."

  "Everybody?"

  "Everybody."

  He chuckled. "I know. I have read much on the subject."

  "And done lots of homework, too. I'm sure."

  He nodded and gave a little blush.

  "So. I have to ask. Do they go all the way down, too?"

  He shook his head. " No. My stomach, neck, and posterior are free. My legs and the tops of my feet, yes. Obviously not my face or hands.

  "Hips?"

  "Yes."

  "Thighs?"

  "Yes."

  "Your um…"

  "No."

  "Damn. A glowing willy would have been interesting."

  "Lady…"

  "If you don't start calling me Dot
, I'm going to make you prove the rest of the tattoos to me."

  "Do you want to see?"

  Yes!

  "Not tonight. I do not trust myself to have you standing in front of me naked. I'm being honest. Yep. Definitely, bad Dots."

  He chuckled and flashed me with that brilliant smile. "I like that."

  "Bad Dots?"

  "That, too. But that you don't trust yourself around me. It makes me happy."

  "You cute, little shit."

  His smile got bigger and he pulled the sweatshirt back over himself, alleviating my temptation. That scored him more points with me than getting naked when I asked him to.

  "So. What are you doing tomorrow?"

  "I have no plans."

  "Want to go on a date?"

  "Where would you like to go, Dot?"

  "Thought we might make a trip to Faerie. Wanna come with me?"

  "I would absolutely adore spending time with you. Even if it is to another realm."

  "Sweet. I'll pick you up tomorrow afternoon."

  "I shall be waiting."

  I stood up and put my hands on his shoulders. Leaning over, I gently caressed his lips with mine. "Thank you for the wine. And the lovely evening."

  "The pleasure was all mine."

  For now.

  Chapter 10

  "Want to grab some dinner?"

  I clutched the towel a little tighter around me. Jimmy's timing had been impeccable. I'd just gotten out of the shower when my phone rang on the bathroom sink. "I'd love to. Where?"

  "Was thinking about something a little romantic."

  "No steak or Italian."

  "How about seafood?"

  "Really? They have that here?"

  He chuckled and even through the phone it gave me a little shiver. I loved his laugh. It made me happy.

  "Well, it's Red Lobster, that close enough?"

  "Works for me. I didn't even know there was one in town."

  "There isn't. We're going to have to drive."

  "Awww, man."

  "I'll drive."

  "Okay. But you can drive my car."

  "Deal."

  "See you shortly."

  "Us," he answered, and the phone clicked dead.

  Staring at it for a moment, I briefly wondered what I had gotten myself into before setting it back down on the counter. I needed to get dry and dressed.

  Dar?

  Yes, Lady?

  I'm going out for dinner. Let Yuki know. I'll tell Sir Galla Nad.

  Was that an attempt at a testicle joke?

  Yes.

  Feeble, and yet still amusing.