Page 8 of Taste of Danger

“The Unseelie has a dumbass law that prohibits dark fae from mating anyone other than another dark fae,” Jax replied with a low growl.

“That’s moronic,” Arion said. “How can you outlaw such a thing when only fate decides who will be together?”

Elvine had wondered that same thing her entire life. “That is a prickle.” She tapped her finger against her chin.

“That is a pickle,” Arion corrected her.

Jax ran his hand over Arion’s nape. “Many a man has tried to correct her, pumpkin. I like her bungles. They’ve become very endearing.”

“Since we don’t have a solution at the moment, I just want to get to your house and rest my feet. Walking is for the…” She looked between them.

“Birds,” Jax and Arion said in unison, both men smirking.

The two were definitely trouble.

Chapter Three

Even in a house with wolf shifters and dark fairies, Arion didn’t feel safe. As soon as his coven leader found out where his “pet” was hiding, everyone under Jax’s roof would be in danger.

Jax and Elvine should have left him to die in that pile of leaves. Arion still found it hard to believe a ghoul had tried to eat him. The only reason he hadn’t finished the job was because Akai, the coven leader’s son, had been impatient, ready to go to war with the same fae warrior they’d ambush a few days prior. Arion still didn’t know the reason Akai wanted Casimir dead, but it wasn’t like the guy told him anything.

And because Arion had no choice but to do what Axia demanded, Casimir hated Arion’s guts for setting him up for an ambush. He didn’t blame the guy for the hate, but even worse, Casimir lived here. Arion was positive since he could smell the fae’s lingering scent all around him.

The warrior had tried to choke-out Arion tonight. He had no doubt in his mind Casimir would try again now that they would be in the same house.

With a slight shiver from those thoughts, Arion watched as Jax secured the bedroom windows from the sun’s deadly rays, which would shine in a few hours.

“While it’s still dark out, let me show you around.” Elvine gripped Arion’s hand and dragged him from the bedroom like he was her personal tug toy.

As she pointed to doors, she told him whose bedroom was whose. When Elvine pointed to the last one, she said, “This one is mine. Kalen gave it to me because I’m here so much.”

“Who’s Kalen?” Arion asked. She’d already pointed to the man’s room, but he had no idea who the person was.

“Jax’s dad.” There was nothing but adoration in her eyes as she spoke those two words. “Damon and Jaytee are Jax’s brothers. The two are twins. Raidh is Jaytee’s mate, and Casimir is Damon’s.”

Arion nodded, unsure he would remember some of the names as he stepped into her bedroom. He liked how the room was simple, yet it felt so cozy. Even with minimal decorations, it was far better than the conditions he was living in.

“Aren’t you going to move into Jax’s room now that you’re mates?” He absentmindedly ran his fingers over the smooth surface of her white dresser. His own dresser, the wood faded and scratched, consisted of three nearly empty drawers.

“Why did you say it like that?” Elvine studied him. She was so beautiful, while Arion felt like a beast compared to her and Jax. How could fate have played such a cruel trick on them?

“What’re you talking about?” His gaze traveled down her body, imagining all the ways he could worship her.

“You made it sound like only Jax and I are mates, leaving yourself out of the equation.”

Her closeness made it hard for Arion to breathe. Her fae scent didn’t affect him the way it did others, but it still had an intoxicating quality to it. But he didn’t want to drain her. He wanted to fuck her senseless.

A lowly pet didn’t have the right to touch… Arion took a deep breath and tried to push away the self-deprecating thoughts. That wouldn’t help his already damaged self-esteem.

Without glancing at Elvine’s beauty, he said, “I don’t belong here. You and Jax are perfect for each other. I’m just a third wheel who—”

Elvine suddenly yanked him close and pressed her lips against his in a fiery kiss. Arion could say it was the best kiss of his life after the first two seconds.

He hated the whimper that escaped. It always made him feel weak, but her lips caused his mind to go wild.

And then she slipped her tongue inside his mouth, igniting every nerve ending in his body and rattling his senses. Unable to resist, Arion slid his hands around her small waist and pulled her even closer.

For a moment, he allowed himself to believe that maybe he could actually be what his mates needed instead of what he’d been forced to become. Allowed himself to believe he was worthy of someone like Elvine and Jax and not some pathetic, broken being who had no idea where he belonged in the world.

---