Page 24 of Fated or Knot

Fal’s brow rose. “Old enough to recognize a deflection.”

“I…thank you,” I said to Kauz, gesturing to my wrist as I drew to my feet. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without your timely intervention. If you need a favor or money, just let me know?—”

I was edging toward the door, ready to declare a “none of your business” if they pressed any harder. I’d try to run to the magirail station, not that these males wouldn’t follow me. After the moment in the pawn shop, it was clear the Unseelie pack wanted something from me. They hadn’t done anything yet to convince me they had darker intentions, but they couldn’t help their nature as the tricksters of the fae race.

Kauz opened one of his wings to stop me, creating a living barrier that I nearly bumped into. His wingspan was huge, but what caught me off guard were the patterns of swirling silver ink that were exposed while it was extended. The bottom half of the inside of the leathery span looked a little like the night sky full of falling stars and misty clouds shimmering in place. An incredibly talented essence spinner had inked these tattoos.

Wow. I just wanted to touch him. Maybe see if he’d let me lie on his wing like it was a blanket and trace every sparkle and glimmering trail. I wondered if he could fly,reallyfly, with his big bat wings. If so, he could carry me into the sky, and I couldexperience more than a few short glides on my comparatively tiny wings.

You can’t have him either,I reminded myself. This sudden neediness was unsettling. All he’d done was touch my hand and wrist, and my inner omega wanted to jump straight to him hugging me with that impressive span.

“Just answer the question. How long have you pushed off your heat?” Kauz asked. The concern in his tone had my insides tying themselves up. He was being way too nice, considering the circumstances.

“Four years,” I breathed.

Kauz gasped and Fal growled. I backed away from the unspoken aggression that rose from the alpha’s chest. “Why?” Fal demanded.

“I need to go,” I said, moving around the edge of Kauz’s wing.

“Tell me why you’re endangering your health. Lark!” As predicted, Fal followed me out of the room, his tall stride keeping up with my hitching gait effortlessly. “Has someone intimidated you into suppressing yourself this long?”

“It’s not that.”

“Give me a clue,” he beseeched. “Help me seeyou.”

I stopped before the stairs.Fuck. We’re on the third floor again.Turning to face Fal, I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. He wasn’t going to let this go. I saw his determination, but also far more tenderness in his expression than I expected. He hadn’t laughed off my desire for freedom as omega silliness, either.

After all my imagined versions of him returning to his brothers and laughing about the pathetic pixie who didn’t have a dress for the masquerade… maybe that didn’t matter to him. Not like this did. In my wildest dreams, I’d never expected this male tocare.

“Lark.” The way he said my name had my wings quivering. “No omega pushes off a heat for four years willingly. Tell me what’s wrong. My brothers and I would fall over ourselves for a chance to help you.” Closing the distance between us, he cupped my cheek. I nearly whined, torn between how much I wanted to be touched and how little I could open up to him. Cymora had ordered my silence on too many occasions.

There were stairs behind me, empty air. I couldn’t escape the gentle brush of his fingertips unless I wanted to aggravate the scrapes I’d gotten from last night’s fall.

I didn’t want to hurt anymore. Tilting my head, I leaned into the warmth of his presence and lidded my eyes. It’d be far too easy to get lost in his enticing scent of sun and grass. “I’m leaving,” I murmured.

“You’re fleeing,” he corrected.

“Is there a difference?”

“Aye.” His free hand combed through my hair.

Do not purr,I hissed at my inner omega.

He’s Unseelie. He’s going to use what I say to trick me later.

“I…” Just opening my mouth released a soft sound, a bubbling pre-purr that threatened to deepen. Despite my misgivings, I wanted to trust him. I guess I was a moth this afternoon, daring to fly closer to a fire. “I’m going to a sanctuary city.”

“Are you?” Those sharp fingernails grazed my scalp just so. Oh, that felt amazing.

“Yes.”

“Then why haven’t you left yet?”

His lighthearted tone was back. I looked up at him and the quirk of his mouth. I wanted him to hold me, and he probably knew it on instinct. Yet he wasn’t merely joking with me; he was challenging and prompting me to leave. Right now.

What I wouldn’t do to have his brand of confidence.

“It’s the stairs,” I answered, hoping to catch him off guard. I was second-guessing my whole plan, and that would get me stolen away by a pack of Unseelie after all.

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