Page 21 of Hunted By the Fae Warden

“Are you sure you’re all right, Mira?” To combat the brutal winter winds, I summon a sphere of summer warmth around us. I even bring in the sounds of a summer night—locusts, crickets, and tree frogs—because I think my mate might find the sounds calming.

“I’m okay.” She glances at my bare chest and there’s no hiding the blush that stains her cheeks. She quickly averts her eyes, but I know she was just gawking at my semi-nude state. I know she was just admiring me.

I stroke the mussed hair from her face and gently tuck the errant strands behind her ears. To my delight, she emits a soft sigh and leans into my touch. She’s no longer shaking, and I hope it means her fear has abated. I hope it means she feels safe with me.

“Who were those men?” I ask. “Did you know them?” I hate to make her talk about it, but if she’s facing some sort of danger, I want to know. I want to help.

She blinks a few times. “That was Mr. Connoly and Mr. Stull. They’re creditors. I owed them money and I was late paying them. And…” Her voice trails off and a shudder rushes through her. I caress her back and give her an encouraging look, hoping she’ll continue. “Mr. Connoly was angry that I was late and was trying to extort me for more silver far beyond that in our witnessed contract. Then he threatened to burn my house down,and Mr. Stull showed up and grabbed me. It was an ugly scene. Well, I imagine it would’ve been a lot uglier if not for you. Thank you again for helping me.”

I take a moment to process her words as I continue rubbing her back and stroking her hair, hoping the repetitive gentleness calms her further. “Do you owe any other creditors money?” If she does, I’ll gladly pay them off, or kill them, depending on my mood and my assessment of whether they pose a threat to her.

She shakes her head. “No. They were the last two. I’d hoped to pay them back next week. I-I borrowed money to pay healers when my parents and brothers were sick, in case you were wondering why I owed money to multiple creditors.”

My heart breaks as I imagine my mate struggling to take care of her ailing family members. Alone and without any help. So alone that she was forced to borrow money from creditors just to pay healers.

“Gods, Mira, I am sorry.” I press a kiss to her forehead as the summer heat swirls around us. There’s snow visible in the surrounding mountains, and the wind is raging outside the confines of the sphere I created. But inside, I’m keeping her warm. Safe and warm.

Safe… if I want to continue keeping her safe, it might be better to move her in with me. In the castle. There will be days that my duties as warden keep me away from her for long periods of time. I cannot risk any harm coming to her. Yes, her home is warded, but those protective wards don’t extend beyond her property.

I come to a decision.

Even if I don’t act on the bond and claim her as my mate, I intend to guard her wellbeing to the utmost of my abilities. For as long as I breathe.

Will she balk if I bring her to my quarters in the castle?

Will she protest and insist on being taken back home? To her lonely little house on the edge of Trevos?

“You never answered my questions.” She gives me an intent look. “Did you know I needed help, or did you just so happen to be in the area? I want the truth. Please. Give me the truth.”

I almost laugh. Because the full truth would probably send her screaming from my arms. And I very much want to keep holding her. But I must give her some answers. Perhaps a gradual sprinkling of truths is best. Surely if I announce she’s my mate and the gods have placed an unbreakable tether between us, such a declaration would frighten her.

“I am drawn to you, Mira. More so than I’ve ever been drawn to another female. I sensed that you were in trouble, and I went hunting for you.” It’s the truth, even though there’s so much more to it. I place another kiss to her forehead, and I take deep inhales of her sweet floral scent.

“Well, I happen to be drawn to you as well, even though I don’t want to be. Even though our acquaintanceship seems to have cost me my reputation and most people are shunning me now. I think about you all the time. All the fucking time. I toss and turn at night thinking about you, and I dream about you too. Yes, despite what you’ve done to my people, Idreamabout you.” She shifts in my arms and the fragrance of her arousal pummels me, stronger than ever before.

She’s becoming excited.For me.

My cock goes hard in an instant, and I tighten my hold on her and revel in the feel of her bottom pressing down on my lap.

I hold her gaze, wanting to glimpse her reaction when I next speak. “I dream about you too, little nymph, and I feel you. Right here.” Grasping her hand, I place it directly over my heart.

Then I press my lips to hers and kiss her as though I’m about to leave for battle.

It’s rougher and lasts longer than our previous kiss, but she doesn’t seem to mind. Quite the opposite.

She wraps her arms around me, grinds her bottom down on my cock, and kisses me back, tangling her tongue with mine and moaning into my mouth.

Holy gods, I might lose control and take her on this very rooftop. I might strip her clothes off and mount her right here and now. My shaft throbs harder and my blood heats to scorching. I growl and deepen the kiss, tucking my wings around her more tightly, holding her as though I’ll never let her go.

Mine, mine, mine.

My mate. My human female.

My little nymph.

Possessive thoughts consume me. If she only knew the depth of my ownership over her, she would likely try to run and remain hidden from me.

I growl as I kiss her, musing that if she ever ran from me, I would fucking hunt her down. I would scour the realm, leaving no stone unturned.

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