Page 64 of A Lost Light

Niamh bent and pressed a swift, firm kiss to her lips. “I only volunteered to kick your ass, witch. I don't know how you construe that as supportive.”

Andy just chuckled. “That's called doing what's needed.” She tapped the tip of Niamh's nose with a finger, and the fae playfully snapped her teeth at our witch.

Dyre withdrew his hand and stood, his emotions starting to close down as he witnessed their banter. “If you two are going to be all… whatever that is, I should go.”

I tilted my head at the necromancer, my senses and my attention now drawn to an entirely different puzzle. Without thinking about it too long, I followed my instinct, reaching out and wrapping my hand around his wrist. “No.”

I felt the emotions in the room slowly shift, tasted the delicious undercurrents of suppressed wants and needs, as all eyes turned toward me.

Chapter 38

Andy

Iwatched as Hasumi wrapped a hand around Dyre's wrist to stop him from leaving. The water weaver probably wasn't intentionally messing with our emotions, but sometimes just being in the same room as them had a way of heightening things—especially when Hasumi seemed to be feeling strong emotions of their own. I watched Hasumi and Dyre stare at each other in silent conversation and tried not to squirm in my seat.

Of course, I was ridiculously attracted to everyone in this damned household. Well… except for River.Liar,my mind whispered, but I ignoredthatwhole distraction. Anyway, I thought all of the people I'd saved from the bestiary were ridiculously attractive, so I wasn't exactly surprised when I learned one of them was attracted to the others. But still, it gave me a little thrill every time.

Dyre and Hasumi? I had never contemplated it. Both were kind of reserved. Both had parts of themselves they didn't share with others—boundaries related to their bodies, though for different reasons. And yet, I couldn't deny the spark that Isensed between them right now.Orthe way my body reacted to that knowledge.

Hasumi tilted their head, as if pondering a question, their silver hair falling over their shoulder in a way that immediately drew Dyre's gaze there, then back to those riveting turquoise eyes. I turned to glance at Niamh, to see if she was about to start making gagging noises or something, since my fae had never been interested in any of the others. I arched a brow in surprise when I found her gaze fastened on Hasumi, her high cheekbones slightly flushed.

Oh boy.

I cleared my throat, and suddenly three pairs of eyes were focused on me. “Sorry to, uh, ruin the moment or whatever,” I said awkwardly, “but… Hasumi, are you… um, helping us along right now?”

The water weaver turned to me, but didn't release their hold on Dyre's wrist, as if they were afraid the necromancer would scurry away the moment he got the chance. “Are you implying that I am manipulating you all with my power?” they asked softly, a bit of hurt momentarily flashing across their perfect features. “I would never do that in a situation such as this, Oleander Lovell.”

And now I felt like an asshole. Of course Hasumi wouldn't do that to us. They might use their powers to ease our pain, or navigate difficult emotions, or help us stay calm under stress, but they would never do something so awful as messing with free will where sex was involved. “Of course,” I mumbled, running a hand through my hair. “I'm sorry.” And yet… I glanced at Niamh again. “It's just…”

Hasumi shook their head, as if they were disappointed in me. “I am not purely male,” they said easily. Not upset. Just… stating a fact.

I let out a sigh. “Iknowthat,” I said, rolling my eyes. “But you know,” I waved a hand toward Niamh, “always with the ‘dick's are gross’ comments.”

Niamh huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. “Andy.”

I threw my hands in the air. “What? I know what's going on here, and I just want to make sure you're not uncomfortable. Because Icare. So sue me.”

She rubbed a hand over her face, apparently mortified. “I don't need you to defend my honor, witch.”

The room was silent for a heartbeat. Then Dyre's deep voice filled the space. “I have no idea what's going on right now.”

Hasumi chuckled and dragged the uncomfortable necromancer over to the fainting couch, where they shoved him down to sit next to me. “Children,” the water weaver muttered. Then they crossed the room and locked the library door. “Niamh does not regard me as male. Because I am not purely male. But I am confident that she is intelligent enough to know that I am also not purely female. If she finds me attractive—and the feeling is certainly mutual—then there is no cause for concern.”

Turning, the water weaver arched their brows at Niamh, that aura of command settling over them. “Well, fae? Do you need a formal invitation?”

Niamh smiled, the flash of her small fangs turning the expression into something feral. Without speaking, she stalked across the room and buried her hands in the water weaver's silky hair, pulling them to her for a kiss that held not a single ounce of hesitation.

Fuck that was hot. Both of them willowy and graceful, but laced with power. I hadn't meant to cause an issue over Hasumi's gender. They were perfect just as they were, one of the most beautiful people I'd ever laid eyes on. I had only meant to make sure Niamh wasn't feeling pressured in any way.But clearly, my worries were stupid. One look at them together erased all doubt from my mind.

Niamh was so assertive, and yet there was this feeling in the air… like Hasumi wasallowingit. Goddess, I had never evenguessedI had so many kinks until I met these amazing creatures. They just seemed to pull the freak in me right to the surface. Suddenly I had a vision of Hasumi dominating the strong fae hunter, holding her down and making her submit. I groaned.

Dyre chuckled darkly from beside me. “Agreed,” he murmured, gaze still riveted on Hasumi, as if he wasn't even aware he was speaking.

I smirked at him, thinking he was probably enjoying the show for different reasons. “She won't kissyoulike that,” I teased. “So you can stop pining over Niamh.”

That shook him out of his haze. “Don't be disgusting,” he replied, clearly repelled at the thought of the fae as anything other than a friend. Then he caught the smirk on my lips. “I hate you,” he muttered.

I just grinned wider. “No you don't.” A glance told me that Niamh and Hasumi had progressed to undressing each other. I watched their hands slide over each bit of skin that was revealed for a moment before turning back to Dyre. Throwing a leg over, I planted myself on his lap, straddling him with my back to the others.

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