Page 52 of The Fae King's Labyrinth

The window sprang open and the pooka practically fell through the opening. Grim followed him inside, cloaking his wings as he cleared the casing. Gargoyles tended to be human-shaped—on a larger scale—but not as large as dragons in their human form. Their gray-toned skin and massive shoulders made them stand out from most other species.

“Sire, my lady.” Grim bowed to each of us.

“Wow!” The pooka staggered a bit on his two feet. “I thought flight would be less—”

“Consider your words, horse.” Ghost crossed his arms over his chest. “Grim is your ride out of here as well.”

The pooka drew his head back as though offended. “I would not say anything derogatory. I’m merely comparing experience with expectation.” He shook himself and then turned toward us. “Your Majesty, Callie!” he declared with a broad grin. “So long no see.” Then he executed an elaborate court bow to each of us. “I heard you had need of me.”

“More like so long no annoy,” I muttered as Calypso let go of my hand to step forward and greet him.

“No touching!” he said sharply, taking a step back with his hands up. “I can see you two haven’t done the logical thing yet, and I don’t have a death wish.”

Calypso’s brows drew together. “Sorry, I forgot.” Then she eyed him quizzically. “What do you mean the logical thing?”

“You two haven’t completed the bond.” The pooka peered back and forth between us. “You didn’t explain it to her yet?” he asked me.

“I haven’t had time.”

“Why prolong both your suffering?”

His flippant attitude annoyed me. “Because I am not about to trap her without discussing it first, and I haven’t had time,” I snapped, rubbing my forehead. Pressure was building behind my eyes, the first sign of my daily headache.

“Explain what?” Calypso demanded, standing between us, her fists on her hips and her attention flicking from the pooka’s face to mine and back. Annoyance flared in her eyes, turning them pale and almost glowing. Her magic gathered around her, and mine eagerly responded, apparently delighted in her emotional response.

Closing my eyes, I wrestled my magic down. “Remember when the pooka said we were magically bound, and it was irreversible?”

“Yes? It is a fae mating bond.”

I nodded and opened my eyes and gazed down into her adorably trusting features. “It is having increasingly difficult side effects upon me.”

The pooka groaned. “Just spit it out. You two need to complete the bond before he goes mad with pain. I suspect the jealous tendencies and insomnia have already appeared.” He peered at me. “How many nights has it been since you slept?”

Both Ghost and Calypso turned to regard me expectantly.

“Since the night in the labyrinth,” I finally admitted. “But I don’t want to rush her into such a commitment.”

“Too late.” The pooka stepped back and peered at the air between us before rolling his eyes. “I suggest you discuss it because that binding will play havoc with your head in earnest soon, Your Majesty. Then where will your kingdom be? Not to mention your lovely lady here. Even if she doesn’t want you for a husband, I’m certain she wishes even less for a half-crazed fae out of his mind with pain as a lifelong companion instead.”

I closed my eyes again. The better to concentrate despite the growing ache in my head.

“How would we complete the bond?” Calypso asked.

Fourteen

Calypso

Azulin turned his surprised gaze on me, his eyes darkening. “Are you actually listening to the pooka?”

“Why not?” I lifted my chin. “It’s the same advice given to us by the elves. We are already bound. The pooka says it is irreversible. Why shouldn’t we finish what was started?”

Rubbing a palm over his forehead, Azulin groaned. “Because you will be trapped with me.”

“In what way will that be a bad thing?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I happen to like you.”

He reared back as though I had slapped him. “You don’t know me.”

“Not well, but I admire everything I have seen so far. You are hardworking, dutiful, kind, considerate, a bit too self-sacrificing, and occasionally quite grumpy. I am attributing the incidents when you almost attacked someone for touching me to the bond. Those will settle down, I hope.” I glanced at the pooka, who shrugged noncommittally.

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