Page 39 of Beyond Fate

“Do you mean aside from his bedhead and unkempt beard?” Elvine asked. “Or the fact he’s walking around in just his underwear?”

“Why are you looking, nosy?” Damon grabbed a sleeve of crackers from the pantry, wishing they had some ginger ale in the house. “No one was supposed to be awake this early.”

“Next time we’ll send you a memo that we’re in the kitchen,” Raidh said cheekily. “Just spending some time with my best friend. Why are you up so early?”

Damon rested his arm on the wall, pressing his head into his forearm. “I seem to have the cooties. You might want to bail before you catch it.”

“What’s a cootie?” Elvine asked. “Do you mean fleas? That’s a total hummer.”

Even though Damon felt like he was going to vomit, he grinned as he stared at the floor. Leave it to Elvine to screw up the phrase. “Bummer,” he corrected. “That’s a bummer, and, no, I don’t have fleas, smarty pants.”

Taking a few deep breaths, Damon closed the pantry, hugging the crackers to his chest. Hopefully this passed soon and wasn’t an all-day thing. This afternoon, he had plans to ride motorcycles with his dad and brothers, and it would totally suck to have to cancel on them.

The four of them just wanted to get out and spend some quality time together to help strengthen their bond after everything they’d been through lately. Damon was especially looking forward to eating at Wild Tiger Barbeque.

His head snapped up when he heard a gasp. Elvine and Raidh were staring slack-jawed at him.

“It’s just crackers,” he said. “Why do you two look as if you’ve never seen them before?”

Sometimes fairies confused him.

Elvine flew from her chair and landed in front of him. When she reached out to touch him, Damon pushed her hand away. “Just because I’m only wearing boxers doesn’t give you permission to get all touchy with my great body. I know I’m irresistible, but keep your tiny hands to yourself, young lady.”

Great, now he was sounding like Kalen.

“You have the mytcôniz,” she whispered.

Damon growled as he looked down at her. “If you’re still trying to say I have fleas, I’m gonna get really upset. Cooties is a kids’ word for germs, and I was just joking.”

“I’ll go get Casimir.” Raidh flew from the room.

Now Damon was really confused. “What’s going on, brat?”

Elvine pressed her fists against her hips. “Stop calling me brat, Mr. Scratchy Crotch. And I’m not saying a word. This is something Casimir needs to talk to you about.” She grinned and clapped her hands excitedly. “Kalen will be so proud of me. I minded my own flywax.”

Damon chuckled. “Beeswax. I’m starting to think correcting you is hopeless.”

Honestly, he liked hearing her screw-ups. That was what made Elvine so unique. That and her unicorn-blue hair. Damon looked toward the kitchen entrance. “Tell me something,” he whispered as he pointed at his head. “Are all fae ears that sensitive?”

She squeaked as a blush raced over her beautiful olive-colored skin. “That’s a private matter, Mr. Scratchy Crotch!” Then she grinned while wiggling her brows. “Did you play with Casimir’s?”

“You’re right. It’s a private matter,” Damon growled.

She snickered, drew closer, and whispered, “It’s what humans call a G-spot.”

Damon adored her blush. He was starting to look at her like a little sister. “You shouldn’t know about that kind of stuff, young lady.”

Dammit. He sounded like Kalen again.

She said in the same secretive tone, “You’re the one who brought it up, and I’m a freaking adult, toadstool.”

“Mushroom face,” Damon countered.

“Moss breath.” She grinned.

“Lilypad toes.” He hoped they didn’t keep this up because he was running out of fairy stuff to call her. Nature stuff… Whatever it was.

“I’ll have you know I have the prettiest feet,” she huffed. Then lifted her leg and stuck her foot in his face.

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