Page 62 of Broken Lands

Sighing heavily, I nodded and tucked myself back into Stefan’s embrace as we continued moving to the gentle music.

It made sense that Colin would know something like that, and maybe it explained the eyes I’d felt on me in the city center yesterday. Didn’t he trust me? Did he truly see me as a threat to his people? So much so that he had me watched?

Hurt and anger warred inside my chest. It was hard to tell which one might win this particular battle.

Stefan didn’t press me for an answer. Seeming to understand that I didn’t have one for him. He just held me as we danced through another song. We moved past Bee and Amy, the two of them locked in a similar embrace.

Good. It was nice to see this side of Bee. She’d been so full of life—vibrant and excited—since we’d returned from our day out yesterday. I couldn’t be happier for her.

The song ended and Stefan stopped, loosening his hold on me, his hands drifting to my hips as he held me before him. “I better give you back to your date. He looks a little lonely over there.” He inclined his head off to the side, where Lincoln indeed was standing alone, holding two glasses of faerie wine.

Lincoln’s face was set in a soft smile as he watched us. He didn’t look put out or frustrated that he’d had to share my time tonight. He looked… happy about it? As though he liked to see the connection building between Stefan and I.

They were close—had grown up like brothers. Maybe this could work. Maybe, just maybe, I could explore these feelings with both of them. Colin, too, if I were lucky.

Stefan’s hand cupped my face, drawing my gaze back to him. Fuck, he was handsome. And the way he was looking at me made me feel all sorts of hot and bothered.

His thumb stroked my jaw as he lifted my face to his, pressing his lips to my own in a gentle, fleeting kiss.

“Lincoln claimed you for tonight, though he was kind enough to grant me this time. Spend tomorrow night with me, please?” His breath was warm on my lips, my body melting into his.

“Yes, of course.” There was no way I could say no. I wanted to spend every spare minute I had with these men, exploring them, getting to know them on a deeper level—on a physical one, too.

“See you then,” he said, placing another quick peck on my lips and nodding at someone over my shoulder.

I spun around to find Lincoln there, holding a glass of wine out to me.

“Want to get some air?”

“That sounds amazing.” Whilst I’d thoroughly enjoyed dancing with both men, the heat and press of bodies was becoming a little claustrophobic. A short escape sounded refreshing.

Chapter thirty-two

Lincoln

Themoonwashanginghigh in the sky as I led Riley out the back of the Academy house and toward the beach. The stars were shining brightly, bathing the world in a dim, romantic glow. They were beautiful. But they couldn’t hold a candle to the woman on my arm.

Fuck, she was gorgeous. Absolute perfection. Not only was she sweet, kind, and powerful, she was an absolute stunner. Her sage green dress clung to her body, highlighting her curves and showing off the lovely olive tone of her skin. The desire to know her, inside and out, had been consuming me from the moment I’d laid eyes on her. I was convinced she was my mate–you couldn’t tell me otherwise.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked, a note of laughter in her tone. “Have you made enough of an appearance, Prince?”

Surprised laughter bubbled out of my throat, and I stopped, spinning to face her. Her beauty floored me every time I saw her. Even after spending the last few hours holding her on the dance floor, that feeling hadn’t diminished.

“I’m not sure I care Tyas. The whole ‘Prince’ thing doesn’t appeal to me the way it should. The way you do tonight.”

Winking at her, I gave her no other warning as I swept her off her feet and carried her down to the shore. There was a little patch of sand, hidden from prying eyes by large boulders, trees and bushes, only a short walk from the Academy, and I planned to make use of the privacy it offers.

Letting out a startled squeal, Riley didn’t fight me, only settled her head in the space between my neck and shoulder, relaxing into my hold.

“You don’t want to take your father’s place as King of the water elementals one day?” she asked. Her breath was warm against my skin, the smell of orange blossoms—her smell—making me inhale deeply.

Silence fell between us, the only sound the gently crashing of the waves against the shore, as I considered her question.

She’d referred to my father as the King of the water elementals. She wasn’t wrong. Back in Faerie, that is exactly what he was. He was one of four kings who, in combination, provided balance and leadership to the lands. Here on Earth, though? My father ruled alone and, over the last few years, had insisted he be addressed as King, without the water elemental label attached.

He was the only King here on earth, and without contact with those on Faerie, he could do as he pleased, command as he saw fit too, with no one else to answer to.

I wasn’t sure that was a good thing. More and more, I felt as though he was making decisions that opposed his promise to return Earth to its former glory and allow the humans their land back. He had always been power hungry, and here on Earth his power was absolute.

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