Page 70 of Gemini Wicked

As his mate. And his queen.

He hasn’t changed his mind.

I was supposed to be just his consort, his lover, with no political power to rule in his parallel world (at least in that original let’s kidnap Zara and just take what I want like an asshole scenario he had going). That was before we got so tangled up in each other.

Before I basically fell in love with him.

Before he started feeling… whatever he feels… for me.

The thing is, I still don’t know what he feels for me. Not exactly. Like I said before, he’s closemouthed and secretive as fuck. Plus he’s no telepath—at least, he’s not my kind of telepath, I can’t read him—and he’s never allowed or offered a mating bite.

So we don’t have the same kinda intimate, immersive, no-holds-barred mating bond that connects me with my warlocks.

But clearly, bond or no bond, he intends to park my mortal Gemini ass on the Dark Fae throne right next to his royal Unseelie rump.

I’m just not sure how I feel about that.

You know, given all this unresolved baggage between him and my guys.

“We’re not actually married,” I point out. I’ve always denied it, no matter what’s written in Unseelie lore, even if that ritual first fuck we shared on the night of the new moon equinox did break the Unseelie curse. “You know I’m true poly, like all the witching world queens. If you and I tie the knot, we’re gonna do it together with all these guys—plus Ash I guess, if he still wants to—like I said from Day One.”

Ronin makes a strangled sound, like the thought of him and Zephyr getting hitched just hit him in the feels.

And maybe not in a good way.

Ronin’s psychic barriers are sky high, but I don’t need telepathy to know he’s a mess.

I shoot Ronin’s stricken expression an apologetic look, then give Zephyr the stink eye. “Besides, even if we were married, Your Radiance, pretty sure a fucking dead Fae head would not be on my bridal registry.”

For a fleeting moment, Zephyr’s smooth brow puckers. He actually looks puzzled by my totally unpuzzling reaction. “It’s a trophy. A token of my devotion to my bride.”

“Yeah, but I’m not your bride—” I figure the point bears repeating.

“For moon’s sake,” he hisses. His fists clench at his sides. “The moment you set foot in Avalon for your coronation ritual, my cousin Lothian would have killed you. Now it will demand all my wit and all my vigilance to ensure his demonic twin doesn’t finish the deed.”

Shock reverberates through our mating bond.

Yeah. That’s the electric jolt of all my mates reacting to this latest threat against my life.

All on its own, my hand shoots out to clamp around Max’s wrist before he can launch for Zephyr’s throat.

“Cheese on toast. You telling me someone else wants me dead now?” Bitterness bubbles up and seethes in my chest in a witch’s cauldron of anger. “What, like getting dethroned and betrayed by my ex-boyfriend and my ex-BFF, plus humiliated on live TV, wasn’t good enough?”

The furrow between Zephyr’s green brows deepens.

Reminding myself of everything he doesn’t know (because they don’t have TV or even electricity in Avalon), I pull my shit together and dial down the volume.

“Afraid your cousin’s gonna have to stand in line, Your Radiance. I mean, if he wants a piece of me.” I share a grim look with Lucius. “We’ve got our own rebellion going on right here at Icarus.”

Zephyr’s lips part and his eye widens.

While he’s processing this newsflash, Lucius calmly intervenes to pass Neo his neatly folded sweats.

“Neo, sweet boy, would you mind terribly brewing us all a pot of coffee downstairs, and perhaps scrambling a few eggs?” Lucius says. “His, er, Radiance must have been flying half the night and is probably quite hungry. And the rest of you are due in class in an hour. It’s final examination week. You all need to prioritize your studies.”

He’s chosen exactly the right angle and the right man for the mission. Our bookworm readily accepts both the clothes and the chore without complaint.

“Sure, I’ll whip up eggs and toast and coffee for everyone before class,” Neo says happily. “Including the girls, so Racetrack doesn’t have to cook while her head hurts. Plus bacon for you, Lucius. You know your wolf always wants it.”

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