Page 37 of Slaying With Sylphs

“I’m stealin’ Lou for the night,” I say with a wicked grin. “Got a special somethin’ planned fer her.”

“Oh,” Morgan says with a sly smile. “Well,” her eyes flash at Lou, “I can’t wait to hear all about it later.”

“I promise to provide excellent fodder for yer next girlie Green Bean date.” I reach for Louanna through the crowd, andwithout hesitation, she places her delicate hand in mine and allows me to pull her to me.

“Green Bean for breakfast!” Lou shouts to the triplets as I grab Connall’s hand and slap my gem, dissolving us into pure, beautiful element. We whirl away from the crowd and off into the night.

I dance them through the clouds and up along the ward ceiling, grabbing current after current until we come to a tiny wildflower meadow tucked in the rolling hills behind Abemet and Morgan’s castle. He already knows we’ll be coming here tonight, so we’ll be undisturbed. Nobody else comes to this part o’ the woods.

Twisting through the clouds, I skirt us underneath them, marveling at the sentiment I read from both mates. Connall’s aura in wind form is all bright, steady joy, where Lou’s is unfiltered shock and awe. I never knew wind dancing with them would be so thrilling. Nothing could have prepared me fer it. But spinning along with their auras held close is a pleasure I’ll never stop thanking the gods for.

I guide us slowly away from the clouds, grabbing a pale blue current as it spirals down toward the meadow to rustle the flowers. When I shift us back into monster form, Lou sways off her feet, but Connall catches her easily around the waist, holding her to his much larger body.

Her hands move to cover his as she looks up and back at him. Her position highlights her elegant neck, freckles dotting the smooth skin. I cannae help myself. Reaching out, I brush my fingertips down her throat to a spot that’s just begging for a gift I made her and haven’t given her yet.

I don’t realize I’m staring so hard until Lou brushes her fingers over mine. “You alright? I’ve never seen you so serious-looking.”

I nod and beam at them both, tapping the spot with my forefinger. “I’ve a gift for yeh, my sweet. This is the perfect spot for it.”

Connall’s brows go straight up as he looks over Lou’s shoulder, brushing his fingers over the same spot.

“I have one for you as well, Wolf.” I smile. “Soon, I’ll give yeh both the first of many gifts, and it’d be my honor for yeh both to wear them.”

His cheeks and neck go red, but he nods.

Stepping close, I press Louanna between us as I lift my hands to touch the same divot at the base of Connall’s throat.

Lou rests her head against his chest as his eyes find mine. A soft smile turns his plush lips upward. I can’t wait to taste those lips.

“Is there a significance to this specific gift you have planned?”

Connall’s question is fair, so I take a step back and gesture to the picnic blanket and spread of snacks I brought here earlier this evening.

Nodding, I sink onto the blanket and reach for them. Lou takes my hand, Connall positioning himself next to her.

“To an elemental sylph, it means yeh’ve been identified as someone’s mate.”

“I see,” Lou says, “this is the sylph version of putting a ring on it.”

I cock my head to the side. “A ring?”

Connall saves the day with a smile. “Humans often gift rings to their intended when they formally ask to become mates.”

“This confuses me,” I admit. “Yer mates or yer not.”

“Humans aren’t like that,” Louanna says with a shake of her head. “While we believe in soul mates, it’s different for everyone. Plenty of humans marry, which is our version of a mating ceremony, but about sixty percent divorce, or split.”

Horror and revulsion streak through me as I shake my head. “That’ll no’ be happenin’ here, Louanna. This isn’t a test to see if we work. We’re fated, else my?—”

“Easy, Dirk.” Connall’s tone is soothing and deep. “We both know Lou was always meant to be in the monster world.”

She glances at him, her smirk falling into a thoughtful smile.

I struggle to wrap my mind around the concept of finding yer mate and then splitting from them. As it is now, playing the slow an’ steady approach with them is a struggle. Mostly, I want to move Louanna into Connall’s treehouse and spend all my time learning more about them.

I want to feed them, cuddle them, love them, support them. I am going to be an absolute menace of a mate, constantly in their business. I want to know every fookin’ thing there is to know about them so I can memorize it forever.

“Dirk, you look distraught.” Louanna’s throaty voice breaks through my rushing thoughts, bringing me back to the present.

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