Page 201 of Blood & Betrayals

I nod, also looking ahead. “Right.”

“It will be years for me. I am not looking forward to it.”

“Maybe they’re not worth it,” I say, bristling.

“Oh, she is.” I can hear the smirk in his voice.

I look at him again. “You’re going to go years without sex?”

He nods. “I’m guessing that sounds insane to you.”

“Well, do you even know this person? How do you know it’ll be worth it?”

He laughs. “I talk to her often.”

“Is she why you disappear?”

He nods.

Could he be talking about someone else? Is that what I want? Or is it scarier if he’s talking about me?

“Do you… spend time with her?”

He shakes his head, and my brows draw. “She’s young. Just discovering who she is.”

“Well, good for her,” I growl softly.

“Yes.” I can hear the smile in his voice, and it’s infuriating. “She’s even involved with someone else. Another reason I have to be patient. She’ll need to come to the conclusion herself that he can never be what she needs.”

“And are you what she needs?”

He nods slowly. “She needs someone to take control, to challenge her.” I swallow, my stomach knotting. The stranger reaches out and tucks a lock of my hair behind my ear. “Someone who’s not only going to embrace her darkness but show her his own.” My breath hitches in my throat, and he steps closer, swallowing the space between us. “I’m going to be patient even though it’s against my nature because, in the end, it will be me and her. No other.”

I swallow again and whisper, “It’s a good thing that you and I are friends, then. So I won’t get in the way,” I say, struggling to keep my voice even.

The air is thick and heavy, a confusing energy humming between us. He trails his fingers along the line of my jaw, and I suppress a shiver. “For now.” He drags his thumb along my bottom lip, pulling my mouth open just a bit before dropping his hand. “If you’re having trouble with your boy angel, simply take the voice from him.”

I frown.

“Jump him, little fae.”

“What? No! I’m not going to force him to have sex with me.”

The stranger laughs. “Little fae, he wants it.”

I shake my head. “I’m being supportive. He asked this of me.”

“Then invest in a good vibrator,” he says, and I can hear his eye roll.

“I… excuse me?”

“What?” he laughs.

“Didn’t know you were so invested in my orgasms,” I say almost primly.

“It’s affecting your mood,” he says, a smirk saturating his voice.

“Ah, it all makes sense now. My mood is pissing you off.” I smirk, feeling more comfortable with this banter.

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