Page 86 of How To Tame A Trickster Fae

WREN

Caelan hums to himself as he puts his new dog back into the basket he apparently carried him over in.

“Hash Beauchamp is a Seelie fae?” I can’t wrap my head around it. “You’re sure?”

“He tricked me. The whole time, he tricked me.” He shakes his head, sounding put-out but also impressed, as if someone fooling him is perhaps the most outrageous thing he’s ever imagined.

“You said my house stank every time the brownie’s shown up. Didn’t Hash smell?”

“Well, yes, I smelled that wet dog odor as soon as I walked in the door of the place, but then Boner appeared, wet, limping, and absolutely foul in every way.” He slips into a high-pitched baby voice, and my eyebrows shoot up as he boops the dog on its admittedly wet dog nose.

“I just can’t believe it.”

“I’ve noticed,” Caelan says drily, then nudges my ribs with an elbow. “You aren’t excited about the sapphires? And that I found out where they were? Don’t you want to know? How are you not dying to know?”

“Of course I want to know, but…” I trail off, eyeing the panting, wheezing dog in the basket now hanging on Caelan’s arm. “Frankly, I think we need to get that dog to Rosalina as soon as we can.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Caelan hesitates, then rolls his eyes, giving up. “Fine. I have a theory as to what’s actually wrong with Boner, other than being limp, but I am open to what the Wild Oak Woods animal mage has to say.” He licks his lips, and I impulsively pull his face down to mine, kissing him again.

“Fucking love the way you taste, little witch,” Caelan growls, his fangs sharp against my mouth. “But my Boner needs help.”

I burst out laughing, then raise one eyebrow and smooth a hand down the hard bulge in his pants. “I can see that.”

He groans, capturing my mouth in his again… until a loud whistle makes my cheeks blush.

I pull away from him, laughing as I push one hand against his chest. “What were the plans you had in mind? The ones you said we had, you know, the ones I wasn’t included in making?”

A bubble of happiness expands in my chest with every word. He made plans for us.

For us.

“Well,” he says slowly. “The plan’s now changed slightly, but you know what? I think it will be even better in the early evening.” He takes my hand in his, pressing a soft kiss against my knuckles, his glacier-blue eyes drinking me in. “I can’t keep you up too late,” he finishes, his words full of meaning and heat.

“First, we’ll take care of my dog, then I want to show you the inn.” His eyes sparkle as he mentions his new project, and I can tell he’s beyond excited to show me around. “We can have lunch… and then I thought we’d take a nap.”

“A nap?” I laugh. “Why would you think I’d be able to sleep when there’s so many other things we could do?”

Caelan steps closer, his mouth nuzzling against my ear, sending a shiver of excitement down my spine. “Because you’ll need all your energy for what I have planned for you tonight.”

My entire body clenches on nothing, and he laughs against my skin.

“Why am I not entirely sure what you mean by that?” I ask, pushing him away.

There’s a completely wicked, lascivious look in his eyes, and I love that I’m the reason for it.

“Let’s just say it’s an ancient Unseelie fae tradition, my lovely witch,” he murmurs, tracing a finger down my cheekbone.

“Is there a boner involved?” I ask, batting my eyelashes, adoring this playful side of him, so happy I’m the one that brings it out.

He tilts his head back and laughs, the sound so lovely it makes my heart leap, several people and creatures in the streets stopping to look our way.

I don’t blame them one bit.

I’m addicted to the sound of it already.

Familiar Friends is a set of two small houses wedged together at the outskirts of town, a creamy white barn-like structure nestled next to Rosalina’s pale sky-blue house and storefront. An owl sits on top of one of the open barn doors, looking for all the world like a statue used to scare off other birds.

Until its head swivels and it blinks two lamp-like eyes at us.

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