Adric's Heart

by Rebecca Rivard

  “And that means?”

  “He’s behind a ward or—” She compressed her mouth.

  “Or what?” he demanded.

  “Dead.”

  Morningstar scowled at Dion and wrapped a lanky arm around his mate’s shoulders. “So best guess is, Adric’s inside the court along with Rosana. That’s good news, right? She’s not alone—and neither is he. Because if there’s one thing I know about the night fae, two people together can fight their emotional assaults better than any one person alone.”

  Marjani nodded, firmed her chin. “What now?” she asked with a penetrating glance around at the dense forest.

  “I’m going to contact my mate.” Dion stared into the trees, his gaze unfocused. “Cleia, minha reina? Can you join us?” To them, he said, “She’s on her way.”

  While they waited for the queen to arrive, he told Marjani, “Rui is going to track Adric and Luc to their last known location.”

  She nodded. “I contacted Jace Jones, too. He’ll be here in an hour or so.” To Rui, she said, “Fane and I will go with you.”

  “I can show you the approximate location of New Moon,” Morningstar offered.

  “Thanks, but we know,” Rui replied. “I’ve been inside the court myself. But don’t tell the prince.” Rui’s smile was thin. “He wasn’t aware he had a fada guest.”

  The shark fada had taken the form of a smaller fish and entered the compound through a stream.

  Morningstar flicked up a single dark brow. “I see.”

  Rui turned his hard green eyes on Marjani. “Ready?”

  “As soon as I shift.” Returning to her bike, she removed her clothes and shoved them into a saddlebag, and then shifted to a sleek cougar with startling turquoise eyes.

  Before they could leave, Cleia ’ported into the clearing. One glance around and her full mouth compressed. “You tracked Rosana this close to New Moon?”

  He jerked his chin in assent. “It appears she was kidnapped by an earth fada under a geas. We have to assume she’s inside the court.”

  Her beautiful face set. “It appears I need to have talk with Prince Langdon.”

  33

  Rosana pulled Adric closer, angling her body to take him even further inside.

  He was hot, lithe, powerful. He fucked her with slow strokes that shot sparks up her spine, out to her fingers and toes.

  Her pleasure built. She instinctively tightened her inner muscles around him and discovered that made it even better.

  He liked that, too. His whole body went taut, and he muttered, “God’s cat, you feel good,” and thrust harder.

  “Yes,” she gasped. “So good.”

  His mouth captured hers, sinking his tongue deep, kissing her breathless. When he released her, he curved his body to kiss his way down her throat. His tongue rasped over each of her nipples in turn. She moaned and pressed against him, and he gave each a hard suck.

  She hissed and clenched around him. It was like he’d pulled a string leading straight to her clit.

  He continued moving. Deliberate, sensuous strokes that were a language in themselves.

  I love you.

  And I love you.

  Between her breasts, the amethyst heated until it felt like another heart.

  He pulled out, tapped the side of her hip. “Turn over.”

  She took a deep breath and then flipped onto her stomach.

  “Lift your hips.” He positioned himself behind her.

  Yes… She immediately obeyed. Her ass was canted up, her breasts pressed into their shirts.

  He grasped her hips and resumed thrusting into her. Filling her in a way she hadn’t known she needed.

  She’d told Adric she didn’t know him, but she knew all the important things. That he was strong, confident, scary smart. A natural leader who didn’t follow any rules but his own. Ruthless and ambitious, but not for himself. What drove him was bettering his clan.

  Beneath that bad-boy façade, the man cared.

  He twined his fingers in her hair and gave it a tug, gently urging her to lift up on all fours, her back arched. Kisses seared the side of her throat while his other hand slid between her legs to do magical things. Stroking, rubbing, circling until she was sobbing with need and want and wonder.

  He released her hair to grasp her hip so he could piston into her hard and fast.

  The two of us together.

  Yes. Always.

  They climaxed at the same time. She dropped to her forearms, moaning his name into their shirts. Behind her, he growled lowly and stilled, spurting into her, hot and urgent.

  For a few seconds, he hung over her, lungs working, and then he disengaged from her and came down on the clothes, bringing her with him.

  She curled into his chest. “Guess you’re feeling better.”

  “Mm.” He ran a palm down her spine. In the silence that fell, this time it was his stomach that rumbled. “And hungry,” he added wryly. “But maybe no food is good news. Could mean they’re not planning to keep us down here long.”

  “Maybe.” She scooted closer. “The prince—he kept trying to get me to eat his food.”

  Adric’s hand on her back stilled. Beneath her, his body locked up like a fighter’s. “He wants you to stay, then.”

  “He knows I’m a Seer. He offered to help train me.”

  He swore. “I knew you’d be like catnip to that prick. But you told him no.” It wasn’t a question.

  She thought uneasily about how tempted she’d been. “Oh, yeah.”

  “Good.” He resumed caressing her. “So. Any ideas about getting out of here?”

  She shook her head. “They took your dagger and the door’s locked up tight. It doesn’t even have a handle on the inside. The only thing they left us was your quartz.”

  “And that’s low in energy right now. I drew heavily on it to heal myself. I probably couldn’t even shift right now.”

  “You can’t use my amethyst for energy?”

  A shake of his head. “I have a magical bond with my own quartz. In an emergency, I can draw any quartz, but the energy doesn’t have the same quality. I couldn’t use it for something so tricky. But—” He fingered her pendant.

  “What?”

  “It’s warm. And I can hear the crystals singing, louder than I’d expect.”

  “And that means?”

  His brows squashed together. “I’m not sure, but… I think you’ve bonded with it. Not like an earth fada, but you’ve formed a weak connection. Don’t ask me how, because I’ve never heard of anything like it. The good news is that if we get separated, I can use it to find you.”

  She gripped his wrist. “We have to stay together,” she said fiercely.

  He cupped her nape. “I’ll do my best, okay?” He stopped there, but she heard the but. If it came down to it, he intended to sacrifice himself for her.

  She set her jaw. Not if I can help it.

  “I can tell you one thing,” he added. “They won’t take my quartz from me, not at first.”

  “Why not?”

  He shrugged a powerful shoulder. “They’re not stupid. They know it hurts like hell to have my quartz touched. They’ll use it to torture me.”

  “Deus,” she muttered, then brightened. “Can’t you use it to call for help?”

  “The wards would block it. But”—he jerked upright—“Marjani’s close.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I just know. As alpha, I’m connected to everyone in the clan through their quartz, but with her, it’s even stronger. Fuck.” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “This is bad.”

  “It is?” Rosana sat up as well. “She’s here to rescue you, isn’t she?”

  “Gods.” He drew a harsh breath. “She knows not to come anywhere near him.”

  “But why? I don’t understand.”

  “Because. It’s her the prince really wants. Not me.”

  She opened her mouth to ask why, but he shook his head. “I can’t say any more, but tak
e my word for it. He’d love to get his long, cold fingers on her.”

  And suddenly, Rosana knew.

  Marjani had killed Langdon’s son, not Adric—and Langdon had somehow found out. No wonder Adric had been so determined to assassinate the prince.

  She grabbed his arm. “Tyrus,” she mouthed. “It was her. And he knows it. That’s why you came alone.”

  An infinitesimal nod. He set a hand on her mouth, warning her not to say more.

  She dipped her chin, telling him she understood, and he lifted his fingers. “So that’s why you wouldn’t listen to me,” she whispered.

  “I told you not to come. But you just wouldn’t listen.”

  “Maybe because I’m supposed to be here.”

  He made a small sound, half laughter, half groan. “Know something? I’m starting to believe you.”

  She watched as he rose to his feet and crossed to the metal trough. He took a drink and then used handfuls of water to rinse the rest of the powder off.

  Adric was here to save his sister.

  He wasn’t here only for his clan. He was here for Marjani.

  This changed everything.

  She washed up herself, and they took turns using the toilet. She pulled on her clothes and sat on the bench, mind working.

  Yeah, her gut told her she was supposed to be here, but why? She was a Seer, not a warrior. Until today, she’d never even seen combat. And without an iron weapon, she was helpless against the night fae. Even with their iron, the prince had fought off both her and Adric.

  Adric got dressed as well and prowled around the small space, clearly unhappy at being confined. At least he was better. Seeing him so battered had hurt at a primal level, like she’d shared his pain—and she’d known the instant he’d come back to consciousness.

  Which was strange, come to think of it. She furrowed her brow, unconsciously massaging her breastbone.

  The realization hit her like a fist to the heart. The mate bond had formed on her side. Not just a few threads, but a shining ribbon of sea-colored light. She felt it, stretching from her to him. But before it reached his chest, it slammed up against something bright and hard, as if he’d thrown up a shield.

  Blood roared in her ears. She gulped, the breath literally knocked out of her.

  Adric fingered his quartz and slid her a look. But he didn’t say anything.

  The bond had formed, but he was blocking it from his side.

  He’s doing it to protect you.

  It still hurt, but she understood—until she recalled he’d started blocking it even before he’d left Baltimore. Which meant he’d come to Virginia expecting to die.

  The last piece of the puzzle thunked into place with an awful, stomach-dropping sound.

  He’d told her himself, right before they’d fallen asleep: Because, damn it, I don’t care about me.

  This was a suicide mission. His life for Marjani’s.

  If Rosana hadn’t been at New Moon, he might already be dead.

  She moved her head slowly from side to side. “You…no. There has to be another way.”

  He didn’t pretend not to understand. “Rosana.” He sat next to her, took her hand. “I didn’t want this to happen.”

  “But it has.”

  “No, it hasn’t. The bond—it’s not complete. I’m still hoping I can take down this bastard and escape, but…. At least this way, you’ll be able to find another mate.”

  “That’s up to me, isn’t it?”

  His glance was a brilliant mix of bronze and blue. “I need to know you have the chance, at least.” He took her hand between both of his. “Promise me something. If you get another chance to leave, you’ll take it.”

  “No.” She jerked her hand free. “Don’t even ask.”

  “Please, Rosana. You say you love me. Do it for me if you won’t do it for yourself.”

  She growled. “That’s not fair. If you were me, would you leave?”

  He exhaled. “No. But this is my fight, not yours.”

  She just shook her head and stared out at the room.

  Adric eyed her. She felt his will beating at hers, demanding she give in. Her body tightened.

  It wasn’t easy to refuse him, not when she sensed how much it meant to him. How much she meant to him.

  The tension in the cell ratcheted up until she could’ve screamed, and then he said something low and vicious and resumed his restless pacing.

  “There’s one thing I’d give a big fat diamond to know. How in Hades did the prince know I was here?”

  She slumped against the wall, relieved he’d given up—for now, anyway. “I was there when Olivier—the butler—told him Luc was in the foyer. He knew then that you were with Luc.”

  “He did?” He shook his head in disgust.

  “What was that invisible thing you did, anyway? I thought only wayfarers can disappear like that, but you’re a tracker, aren’t you?

  “I have another, secondary Gift that I can use like a cloaking spell. The prince shouldn’t have known I was there.”

  “I told you, he has the farsight. Maybe he Saw you before you entered the court.”

  “I was cloaking myself on and off. I mean, come on—the man can’t be watching all the time, can he?”

  “No. He has to sleep, eat, go about his business. And he can’t hear you—just watch.”

  Adric swiped a hand down his face. “Gods, I made it easy for him. He just had to wait for me to arrive like a spider with a stupid-ass fly.”

  “He couldn’t have Seen exactly what you had planned. Seers almost never See their own futures. I had no clue Luc was outside your den.”

  She raised her hands, palms up, and swallowed. Twice.

  Adric crouched before her. “What?”

  “My visions—I have to touch someone to See their future. And in the last week, I’ve had my hands all over you. My bare hands. But it hasn’t set off my Sight.”

  “So?”

  She brought her hands down, met his eyes. “So a Seer can’t foretell her own future. That’s why I can touch you without setting off my Sight—my fate is tangled up with yours now.”

  34

  A hesitant tap-tap on the bedroom door dragged Langdon from a sound sleep. Pushing himself up on his forearms, he bit back a groan. By the dark gods, he hurt. Even with his powerful blood, it was going to take a day or two to completely heal.

  He could almost admire Adric and that river fada female of his. They’d fought hard and well. Not that the alpha wouldn’t pay for attacking him.

  Another apologetic tap-tap.

  “What?” he growled.

  The door opened. Jessica, Olivier’s new assistant, peeked into the darkened room, her anxiousness palpable. A recent human hire, she regarded Langdon as a cross between a monster and a god.

  At all that delicious dread, his mood improved. He pushed himself up on his forearms. “Come in.”

  She took a single step and halted, her slender body framed in the light from the hallway. Just for fun, he nudged her fear up a notch and then sipped at the luscious, panicky emanations.

  Her dark eyes rounded. She wrung her narrow hands. “I beg your pardon, my lord. I know you gave orders not to be disturbed, but this can’t wait.”

  He shoved off the duvet and strode naked across the floor. Sensing movement, a handful of fae lights glowed on, casting a deep aubergine light over the bedroom.

  Jessica froze and blinked rapidly, her gaze jumping from his half-hard cock to his bare chest and back again before settling on his face. He caught a spark of arousal mixed with the fear. Interesting…

  “Speak,” he commanded softly.

  “Yes, my lord.” Her head bobbed up and down several times.

  A pause as he waited for her to enlighten him. When she remained silent, fingers tangling nervously in front of her body, he stifled a sigh. Olivier was going to have to hire another assistant. Although she had possibilities as a toy…

  “Jessica. What is so important that you
disturbed my sleep?”

  She started. “I beg your pardon, my lord.” She licked soft, coral-colored lips and finally got it out. “The sun fae queen is here. She wishes to speak to you.”

  “Cleia? She’s here?”

  “Yes, my lord. Uh…not here, exactly. She’s outside the wards, of course, but…” She shifted from foot to foot and added in a rush, “She’s demanding to see you, my lord. Captain Quade tried to put her off, but she refuses to leave without seeing you.”

  His mouth pulled down. He’d expected Cleia, of course—the queen had an inexplicable fondness for her mate’s young sister—just not so quickly.

  “My clothes,” he said. “Now.”

  “Yes, my lord.”

  Jessica scurried to obey, rushing into his walk-in closet and reappearing with a shirt and pants in a shimmering blue-black fabric. Meanwhile, he sent a message to Quade, agreeing to meet the queen in a pine grove outside the compound. Cleia might be young for a fae, but she was too powerful to allow within his wards.

  That done, he selected a few pieces of jewelry—a glittering diamond pendant the size of a walnut, a couple of hand-worked platinum-and-diamond rings, a platinum watch. Jessica returned with a pair of Italian leather shoes and knelt on the floor so he could step into them.

  He touched her curly brown hair. “Thank you, my dear.”

  “My pleasure, my lord.” Her head bobbed in a way that had his mind picturing lurid acts.

  He set them aside—for now—to head for the portal nearest the pine grove.

  Cleia hadn’t come alone. Quade and his warriors relieved her fada companions of their weapons before permitting Langdon to step through the portal. Langdon allowed it, but he couldn’t help being amused; the queen was infinitely more dangerous than all the fada put together.

  Time ran differently in a fae court. Inside his wards, it was early afternoon, but outside, a new day had dawned. As he stepped into the forest, the rising sun sifted pale gold through the pine branches. He donned a pair of sunglasses and took in his visitors.

  The queen had planted herself in a shaft of sunlight, her statuesque body clad in a snug yellow T-shirt and bronze moto pants, her bright hair braided into a single over-the-shoulder plait. Lord Dion stood close beside her, his black hair in a ponytail, his eyes like silver flints, his broad shoulders straining at his leather jacket. A barbarian in human clothing. The fae world had been appalled when Cleia took a fada mate, but the Rock Run alpha had a certain primitive appeal. A pity the queen wasn’t into threesomes.