Adric's Heart

by Rebecca Rivard

  He felt a curl of shame. He and Jani had furnished the apartment right after he first made alpha, back when the clan could barely manage to feed the women and cubs. Things had improved enough that he could’ve bought some new furniture, but why bother? Plus, it sent a message that, unlike his uncle, he wasn’t enriching himself at his people’s expense.

  But compared with what Rosana was used to, his den must seem cramped, shabby. The Rock Run Clan was three times the size of his, with a huge base and hundreds of acres on the outskirts of Grace Harbor. Not only that, they were allied with Queen Cleia and her powerful Rising Sun Fae Clan.

  Still, Rosana didn’t seem disdainful, just curious.

  Taking his hand from the water, he tentatively worked the fingers. The blisters had almost disappeared. He set the bowl in the sink and joined her in the living room.

  She was examining the foot-high geode on his mantelpiece. On the outside, it appeared to be an ordinary gray rock, but he’d split it open to reveal the amethyst crystals inside.

  She ran a finger over the reddish-purple crystals. “Amethyst is a type of quartz, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah.” Not many laypeople knew that, though. “You work with crystals?”

  “A little. I study with a fae Seer. He had me try different crystals to see if any of them amp up my Gift. Amethyst, especially. He says it helps promote balance, calm, peace.” Her mouth curved in a wry grin. “In my opinion, he’s the one who needs it. The man’s an arrogant pain-in-my-ass. But he knows his stuff—I’m already getting better at controlling and directing my visions.”

  “Did the crystals work?”

  “Not really.”

  She moved to a basket of quartz crystals on the mantel that he kept as an emergency stash for the clan and fingered another amethyst, a six-sided chunk of purple that faded to almost white at its points. “Pretty.” She held it up to the light.

  “Keep it.”

  “Really?” A smile lit her elfin features.

  “Yeah.” He moved forward, closed her fingers around it. “I found it myself—it’s a special, high-quality quartz with a strong internal energy. Maybe you’ve just been working with the wrong crystals.”

  “Thank you.” She carefully pocketed it.

  He remained close to her. Breathing her in. Taking in every detail from the jet-black lashes fringing her eyes to her lush lower lip to her slightly pointed chin.

  A strand of hair had escaped her ponytail. He brushed it back behind her ear. “That must be a tough Gift to have. My clan had a Seer, but my uncle ordered her to remain silent when she didn’t See what he wanted her to.”

  Her pretty mouth twisted. “Everybody thinks they want to know the future, but they don’t—not really. And even when you tell them what you See, they do what they wanted anyway.”

  “Like me.”

  “Like you.” She met his eyes, and he knew they were both thinking of her prophecy.

  “We always have free will,” he reminded her.

  “I know.” She sighed and moved away. “It’s okay? Your hand?”

  He blinked. “My hand?” He glanced at his injured limb. “It’s fine.”

  “Good. Because you’ll need it when you leave.”

  His heart thumped. “When I leave?” he repeated neutrally.

  “For Virginia,” she said, as if she was inside his head. Those ocean-colored eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “And soon, I think. Maybe even tonight.”

  17

  The stare that Adric turned on Rosana made her go very still.

  Time had run out. A terrible urgency vibrated in her body, banded around her chest. She was convinced he was leaving for New Moon—soon.

  And Langdon knew.

  He prowled closer. Deus, he was beautiful, even with his face dark with suspicion. His gold-tipped hair was damp from the rain, his jaw shadowed with stubble. His long-sleeved T-shirt clung like paint to his body, and cargo pants hung low on his hips.

  But it wasn’t just his looks. It was the way he moved, the sexy growl of his voice, his aura of power.

  “What do you know?”

  She moistened her lips. This man had killed his own uncle for the good of the clan. She needed to remember that. “Nothing for sure. But I Saw something new.”

  “What?”

  “You, alone in a forest. On your motorcycle.” She closed her eyes to better picture it. “There was fresh snow on the ground. And then suddenly, you weren’t on your motorcycle, you were a cougar instead. Staring at the night fae court. And Adric, the prince Saw you. He knew you were there.”

  “Did you tell anyone?” He was a foot away, his metallic brown eyes boring into hers.

  That he’d even ask hurt. But she shrugged like she didn’t care. “Who would I tell?”

  “So you’re here to try and stop me.” He exhaled. “God’s cat, Rosana. Enough already. Nothing you can say will change my mind.”

  “I’m not here to change your mind.”

  His eyes narrowed. “No?”

  “No.” She took a deep breath. “I’m here because I’m going with you.”

  He fingered her ponytail, so close the heat of his body licked at hers. “Are you?”

  “Yes.” She lifted her chin. “You need my help.”

  “What did I say in December when you told me that? And again last Sunday? Oh, yeah.” He leaned closer, his breath hot against her face. “I said, ‘No. Fucking. Way.’”

  She gazed back steadily. She’d expected this. Colm had even warned her. It was the Seer’s Dilemma: You could plead, argue, demand, but if someone was determined to stick to their chosen path, there was nothing you could do short of locking them up.

  But damn, it was hard.

  Because Adric had to take her. Everything in her screamed that she was right. Not just her Gift, not just a gut feeling, but her whole self.

  She set a hand on his chest. Maybe she was going about this all wrong. The man was an alpha to his core, and when it came down to it, an alpha always put the cubs first.

  “There’s something you don’t know—we just found out ourselves. The prince has been watching Merry. He has the farsight.”

  His head angled in that feline way. “You’re sure?”

  She nodded. “She feels like he’s watching her, and we believe her.”

  Adric swore. “So he knows she’s still alive?”

  “He must. Dion tried to put him off, but he must’ve found out somehow.”

  Adric stepped back, shook his head. “Maybe she’s imagining it. Jace told me she’s been edgy, worried that the prince might kidnap her—or simply demand that Dion hand her over.”

  “He can demand all he wants. Dion would never give her to the night fae. And she’s not imagining it—I Saw the prince myself.” Rosana gulped and rubbed her upper arms. “And I’m pretty sure he Saw me.”

  Adric tensed. “What do you mean, the prince Saw you?”

  “In my scrying bowl. I thought maybe I could See something to help Merry, and suddenly he was there in the bowl.”

  “You’re sure it was him?”

  She nodded. “I’ve seen him a few times at Rising Sun. Never up close—Cleia made sure of that. But he’s not a man you forget—tall, with black hair and pointed ears, and diamonds outlining his brows and ears.” She traced her outer ear with a fingertip. “Beautiful, the way a cobra is, so that you can’t look away, even though you know it thinks you’re prey.”

  “That’s him, all right.” Adric raked a hand through his hair, leaving the spikes sticking every which way like a furious cat. “Gods. How could you let him See you?”

  She scowled back. “I didn’t mean to.”

  “And you want to come with me? The night fae are happy enough to play with a fada. But a fada Seer? A young, beautiful fada Seer? The bastard must be salivating like a wolf over a fawn. If he captures you, you’re fucked.”

  “So I won’t let him know I’m with you.” Because yes, Colm had warned her that the night fae got a special charge
from tormenting a Seer, but it was a risk she was willing to take. “I’ll stay out of sight, disguise myself somehow.”

  “What if he Sees you? You just told me the man has the farsight.”

  “I’ll take my chances. He can’t be looking all the time—no one can. And what about Merry?”

  “She’s safe enough as long as she stays inside Rock Run’s wards. Hell, you have a fae queen on your side. Can’t she do something?”

  “I just found out tonight, and the queen wasn’t at Rock Run. But Rui and Valeria know. Still, from what I’ve heard, it’s almost impossible to block someone with the farsight from viewing you. There’s nothing to block. The person isn’t really there—it’s like trying to stop a ghost from walking through a wall.”

  “Fuck.” Adric clenched his fists. “So Merry has to put up with that prick watching her without her permission?”

  “Unless we stop him.”

  “Rosana.” Her heart sank at his hard tone. He was going to say no.

  “Thanks for the intel,” he continued, “but I can’t take you with me.”

  “So you are going.”

  He lifted a shoulder, let it drop.

  “But why do you have to go alone? That’s the part I don’t understand. Take me—or some of your people.”

  Adric’s face closed up like he’d slammed a door. “Trust me, I’ve figured every angle, and this is the only way. And before you ask—I’ve tried to lure the prince to Baltimore. It doesn’t work. He never comes without at least two bodyguards. No, I have to go to him—catch him alone.”

  She grabbed his shoulders. “But don’t you see? That’s just what he wants. He knew you were in the forest. You’re heading straight into a trap.”

  He gently set her away from him. “I’ll follow you until you’re back in Rock Run territory. You shouldn’t be down here after dark—not alone. Here.” He thrust her hat and hoodie at her.

  She batted the clothes away. “Will you listen to me? He. Knows. You’re. Coming. If he has the farsight, then maybe Merry isn’t the only one he’s been watching. Maybe he’s been watching you, too.”

  He just sighed and pushed the hat and hoodie at her again.

  She snatched them and stared at him, hands fisted in the material, angry and defeated.

  She took a calming breath. Time to switch tactics.

  “What’s the hurry?” She dropped the clothes on the chair and stepped closer. “No one knows I’m here.”

  By the time she’d decided to go to Baltimore, Isa had been fast asleep. Rosana had scrawled a note of explanation and then slipped out of the base. By the time anyone knew she was gone, she’d be on her way to Virginia with Adric.

  Or at least, that had been the plan.

  Adric’s throat worked. “It’s late, Rosana. I’m going to bed.” But he didn’t move away.

  “Okay.” She unwrapped the leather tie around her ponytail, tossed it onto the hoodie. Her damp hair tumbled around her shoulders.

  His gaze tracked her movements. “Alone.” It was more a growl than a word.

  She slid her hands up his chest and out to his shoulders. Beneath the cotton shirt, he was all hot, smooth muscle. “You said yourself, it’s not safe for me to go back tonight.”

  A muscle jerked in his jaw. “Did I say that?

  “More or less.” She lifted onto her toes to nibble his earlobe.

  His breath hitched, but his arms stayed at his sides. “Fine. You can sleep in Marjani’s old room.”

  “I’d rather be in your bed.” She tongued the outside edge of his ear.

  He groaned. “Your brother should’ve turned you over his knee when you were a cub.”

  Her mouth twitched. “How do you know he didn’t?”

  “I know.”

  “Adric?” She trailed kisses down his jaw, traced his full lower lip with the tip of her tongue. “Kiss me, you stubborn ass.”

  His body went taut, and then with a muttered curse, he hauled her up against him, his lean, powerful frame pressed to hers from breast to thighs. She had time to draw a breath and then his mouth was on hers.

  Need jolted through her. She eagerly opened to him. His tongue swept inside, tasting every corner. She sucked on it, rocking her pelvis against his. He was hard, so hard, and she felt a thrill of triumph.

  Until he dragged his mouth from hers and set her a foot away. “I’ll show you your room.”

  “My…room?” She blinked rapidly, a little stupid from that kiss.

  He guided her down the hall. “Bathroom’s here, and you can sleep there.” He pointed across the hall to a cozy bedroom with warm amber lighting and a colorful quilt on the bed.

  She glanced around, dazed. “But I thought—we’re not going to…?"

  “No.”

  She swallowed her hurt. “You said that if I wanted you, I could have you. That we’d just have to sneak around. Well, here I am.” She spread her arms wide. “Ready to sneak.”

  A shake of his head. “Not tonight, Rosana.”

  She brought her arms back to her sides, tilted her head. “I scare you, don’t I?”

  “Scare me?” A mocking smile curled his mouth.

  “Yeah. You’re afraid because you want me too much. I make you lose control, and you don’t like that.”

  His eyes sparked blue. His primal growl set her spine tingling.

  She took a step back before she realized it.

  “You want this?” His body crowded hers, backing her to the wall next to the bathroom. “Fine. I hate to leave my women…unsatisfied.” He slapped his hands to the stone on either side of her head.

  She slit her eyes at him. “Your women? You filho da puta—”

  “Shut up,” he said gently, and captured her outraged gasp with his mouth.

  His kiss this time was rough, demanding. Arousal jolted through her. He kept his mouth on hers, pressing her into the unforgiving stone. His heat surrounded her, his earthy male scent filled her nostrils. He didn’t let up until she was clinging to him, knees weak.

  He tore his mouth from hers, pressing hot kisses to her face, her neck, while she gulped in oxygen.

  “Is that what you want?” he ground out. “A hard fuck?”

  Somehow, she found the energy to straighten her legs and push him away. “Go. To. Hades. I am not just one of your women.”

  He grabbed her wrists and pressed them to the wall above her head. His burned hand was barely marked. She had time to think that he healed awfully fast, even for a fada, and then he was kissing her again.

  Slow, sweet kisses that slid through her blood like wine.

  She was lost. She could fight him when he was rough—maybe—but how do you fight tenderness from the man you want with everything you are?

  She sucked on his tongue, drawing him deeper. His cock was a hard bar against her lower belly. She rubbed her mound against it, desperate to ease the ache between her thighs.

  He tore his mouth from hers, took a jagged breath. “You’re right.”

  “I am?”

  “You’re not just one of my women.”

  “Oh.” She remembered that she was still pissed off and curled her lip. “Well, fuck you anyway.”

  She tried to wrench her hands free, but he easily kept them where they were, stretched above her head. And damn if that didn’t make her hot, which just made her fury increase.

  “Let me go.” Her glare should’ve reduced him to a smoking pile of ashes. “Now.”

  He nipped her lower lip. “I’m sorry, okay? It was an asshole thing to say.”

  “Yeah, it was.”

  “Forgive me?” A sheepish smile, but she caught the glint in his eyes.

  Her lips twitched, but she continued glaring.

  “I’d go down on my knees and beg,” he murmured, “but I think you’d rather I did this…” Transferring her wrists to one hand, he jerked her shirt up. Strong fingers cupped her through her purple exercise bra, sending another bolt shooting through her.

  She arched her back
against the wall and bared her teeth. Daring him. Challenging him. Somehow, this had become a game, and she was more than happy to play.

  “You’ll have to do better than that. And I’d love to see you on your knees. Begging.”

  A dark chuckle. He squeezed her nipple, a little too hard. “But I’d rather hear you beg. Tell me, Rosana.” He pinched her nipple. “Tell me you want a good, hard fuck.”

  Her smile was slow, knowing. If he thought he could scare her off, he was mistaken. She was a fada female. Her animal reveled in the rough play, understood it meant her male’s need matched hers.

  She lifted onto her toes to lick the seam of his lips, enjoying how he went taut. How his heart kicked into a pounding rhythm that matched her own.

  “Yeah,” she said against his mouth. “That’s exactly what I want.”

  18

  Adric’s vision hazed.

  That’s exactly what I want.

  He crowded Rosana against the wall. Drowning in her. The breast filling his hand. Her scent in his nostrils, fresh and clean as rain. The needy moans she made when he rocked his pelvis against hers.

  He’d tried to be good. Tried to send her away. If she refused to go, well, he wasn’t a fucking saint.

  Besides, it wasn’t safe for her to be out alone. Not tonight. The hours between dusk and dawn were when the night fae hunted. Better she stay with him until morning.

  And yeah, he was grasping at straws, but tough shit.

  Her tongue flicked at his closed mouth. He dragged in a breath, picturing what else she could do with that hot little appendage.

  For an almost-virgin, she was sure catching on fast. He loved that she felt comfortable enough to challenge him. His cat adored a good game.

  “Ah-dreek.” A husky murmur against his lips. “Kiss me back.”

  “Rosana…” He squeezed his eyes shut, struggling to remember why this was a bad idea. Why he should boot her sexy ass out of his den.