Page 110 of Fated or Knot

He touched them self-consciously. “Ach. Just because I wanted to see the li’l bird.”

It probably wasn’t a big, strong alpha thing to wear tiny spectacles, but he’d reminded me that he’d started wearing them more because I’d asked him to. That was how he expressed love. Request it, and it was mine, and in the case of food, a lot of it too. More than his brothers, he was an acts-of-service kind of male.

Apparently, I was letting all the feeling in tonight, because I acknowledged in that moment that I loved him too. I needed to find the kind of things he liked in return to show him. “It feels like home,” I said, answering his earlier question. “Because you’re here.”

He breathed a soft “aww” and picked me up, crutches and all, for a hug. “When do you get the cast off again?” he sighed. “I’m tired of worrying about breaking these twigs when I want to hold you.”

“Soon, I hope.”

I snuggled in with him, and we purred in harmony for a few minutes before he let me down to the ground with a pat on the wing. “Enjoy your nixie night,” he said.

“I’ll try. And you should go eat something. My rooms are perfect,” I said again.

“Okay, okay.” He waved me off playfully. “I’ll get them extra perfect and go.”

I headed for the door and only fumbled the knob for a second before it opened on the other end. Marius held it for Fal and me before letting it slip from his fingers. The dark elf continued walking down the hall until he was out of earshot.

Marius resumed his post a few paces from the door, back straight as a rod, though his lips quirked as I took him in. He had a recent addition tied to his belt, a mace just big enough to do serious damage to any alpha who crossed him. It fit his personality well.

“What is it?” he asked.

“You don’t have to guard my door like this,” I said.

He watched the hall as he responded. “We’ve been over this, p’nixie. You’re injured and unclaimed. There’s no chance I’ll leave you vulnerable.”

“Yes, and I appreciate that. Have you considered I’m equally not vulnerable if you’re in my rooms with me?”

This earned me his full attention and his raised brows. “You’ve reconsidered, then,” he said more quietly.

“Sorry. Reconsidered what?”

“Reconsidered what,” he echoed in a poor imitation of my voice. “Only what’s been constantly on my mind. Bonding, silly female. I want to be yours. Whatever I can do to put you at ease, I’ll do it for you. Let me show you the depths of my loyalty.”

I blinked in surprise. I’d thought the offer for this earlier today had been all Niall. But here was the prince in full control yet looking at me with the same level of desire as his feral side.He didn’t allow himself to be as vulnerable as his brothers, so I wasn’t sure lust and loyalty equaled the same softer feelings from them. They could be equivalent, I supposed.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” he murmured, watching my expression intently.

I hesitated. But if I didn’t give a little, neither would he. “You only get one kelpie bond, right?” I asked.

He tipped his head and gave me a meaningful look. “Aye. And only one mate. Luckily, mine has recently returned from the dead.”

“We’ve only just…started,” I said, stumbling over the words a bit. Started what? Liking one another? He’d certainly only begun to see me as his real mate.

Blowing out a long breath, he considered for a long moment before he spoke. “Listen, p’nixie. It’s the start of a process. Your bite is a claim. If I accept it, which I will, the next step is to lure you to the nearest body of water so we can swim together and solidify a connection while you ride on my second form’s back. Once it’s in place and we can communicate mind-to-mind underwater, I claim you back by sinking knot-deep in you. Then we’ll be fully bonded for life.”

I shifted, blushing as I imagined that last part. His nostrils flared, and he growled deep in his chest. “Since we can’t do most of that while you’re in a cast, it’s simply…cosmetic for now. I’ll shave off half my hair, and everyone will know I’m happily claimed.”

“Oh, I see,” I said, mostly to myself.

His lips tilted into a grimace. “One thing I should mention. I’m a little worried a finished kelpie bond will give Niall a way to whisper my every intrusive feral thought straight into your head. He is my wild side, after all.”

“Do you have many intrusive feral thoughts?” I murmured.

“Plenty. Some are nice, others unhinged. It’s unpredictable.”

Did I really want to know? Of course I did. “Like what?” I asked.

“All right. Something nice: you look very soft right now,” he said.

---