Page 58 of Gemini Hunted
Zara giggles like the vixen she is. “I wasn’t. But thanks for sharing.”
“Glad you enjoyed him,” Draco growls. “Because now he’s off limits. Touch Jean-Emilienonceand I’ll rip your arm off.”
“Bon bagay.”Jae rolls his amber eyes at both of us. “You’re not helping, you.”
Draco and I are still scowling at each other when Ash sidles into the room. He’s a big guy and I haven’t heard him coming, so I’m guessing he’s been lurking out there in the tunnel and having himself a proper nosey.
“Could be a lil’ bit of a hiccup with that whole ‘join the harem’ plan.” For once, the Seelie Prince—who’s typically chill,the mellowest and most laid-back guy in any group—looks awkward and apologetic.
From Mallory’s general vicinity, a stricken gasp rushes out. But my eyes stay locked on Ash, who’s filling the doorway and shifting from foot to foot.
“Color me curious, big man.” Zara, too, is staring wide-eyed at this totally new version of Ash. “What’s the hiccup?”
Ash scuffs a booted toe against the flagstone floor.
“With benefits or without ’em, you’re not legally allowed to be in a harem with your own sister.” Ash rubs a sheepish hand over his face, then smiles right at Mallory and finishes softly, “Hiya, kiddo.”
Her silver eyes wide and round as vintage CDs, Mal takes in a long speechless look at the Seelie Prince who’s just invaded herdomus.
Suddenly, her eyes flood with tears.
Jae Labête snarls and drops into a defensive crouch between Mal and the rest of us. Black talons, wicked long like box cutters, sprout from his curled fingers.
“Hjartfólgin.”Draco’s powerful body bunches and swells. He looms over his girl protectively. “Who is this bastard to you?”
Still speechless, Mallory shakes her head.
“Give her some space,” Ash says softly. “Been a minute since she’s seen me. But she’s still my kid sis. The only one I got.”
Without warning, Mal’s freckled face lights up in a grin that makes her whole body glow.
Blooming hell. All of a sudden, the rule-following First Girl looks a bit more than human.
“Oh my gosh,Ash!” Our normally quiet and well-mannered Mallory squeals like a piglet, then scrambles past a snarling Jae and launches herself across the room like she’s airborne.
Straight into Ash’s welcoming arms.
She’s a tall girl, but Ash catches her like she’s a kid, swinging her into the air, all long legs and pigtails and flying plaid skirts. Her face burrows into his shoulder and her skinny back heaves with emotion, buthisface is a blooming study. Normally the reliable steady eddie, somehow he manages to look simultaneously guilty, sheepish, and pleased as punch.
“The fuck?” I stare blankly at this bizarro spectacle.
Mal is literally crying happy tears. Ash lowers her gently to the ground, then pats her back and kisses her forehead and looks pretty close to tears himself.
“Dear God. She’s hissister?” V murmurs. He’s standing beside me, and he’s way too bloody close considering I’m supposed to be pissed as hell at him.
But we’ve bigger troubles than my mixed-up feelings to contend with, haven’t we, at the mo?
“Truly, I never even suspected she’s Seelie.” Vasili lifts one perfectly groomed eyebrow. “How could she be? She’s McSnicker.”
I grunt in agreement, because I grasp what he’s getting at. Mal has to be the most unmagical, unpedigreed, unremarkable witch in the whole Academy. She gets by on wicked smarts and solid study skills, always has. Plus she’s handy at hiding from the bullies.
Not to mention she’s so clumsy she can barely walk without tripping over her own big feet.
Not very Faelike, that.
Looking thoughtful, V taps a black-lacquered finger against his pursed lips. “Mallory McSnicker is secretly the sister of the Seelie Prince?”
“Looks that way to me, love.” My casual endearment ignites a flame of fierce emotion that melts my boyfriend’s pissy facade in a heartbeat.
