Page 139 of A Fate of Blood and Magic
This man. He was too gentle with me, too patient. He was too attractive. Too everything. He was the kind of man women didn’t believe existed but still wished for. He was the kind of man you held on to, never letting go.
“This is Haley.” Brenton motioned toward the pretty shifter fae with big brown eyes. Her black hair fell on her shoulders in loose spirals.
“It’s nice to meet you.” I gave her a warm smile and before I could damage the drawing of the triplets, I gave it to Brenton to store in his inner pocket of magic.
Elias grunted in reply, and I almost scolded him until I realized his attention had returned to Javier.
“Are you staying in Niev long?” I asked her.
She gave me a bashful smile. “I’m not sure yet. Brenton told me that in a couple of months, Niev will have three months of no snow. I may have to stay for that.”
“Ah, summer. I can’t wait.” I forced a smile that did little to ease the emotions that swirled and churned in my stomach.
As much to comfort myself as Elias, I sat on Elias’s lap with his arms circling my stomach as I watched Brenton with far too much interest. But I had to give it to him. He was smooth and charming, and if the smile that fanned across Haley’s face was any indication, she was very, very much into him.
But the flecks of gold that normally surrounded his hazel eyes were missing, as was the amusement and joy that usually shone behind them.
When my attention landed on Donnie, he lifted his chin toward the dartboard. “You wanna lose a round?” he asked me.
I snorted. “Listen to you,” I sang out, grateful for the tease in his voice. “Have you forgotten how awesome I am?”
Shaking his head, he pressed his hands onto the table to push himself up slowly. Beside him, Cierra moved toward him before she stilled and instead sat on her hands. Her green eyes stayed pinned on Donnie, though.
I turned to kiss Elias’s cheek, loving the way his fingers roved over my sides in a delicious taunt.
“After I finish kicking Ted’s ass, maybe we can play teams?” Donnie asked Cierra, nervously running a hand over his scruffy chin.
Yep, scruffy chin. When I smiled this time, it was genuine.
“You and me against Teddy and Elias.”
Elias cleared his throat when Donnie looked at him expectantly. “Sure, I’ll play.”
I kissed his lips, letting the momentary lightness settle in my chest. It wouldn’t last long. I knew this was only a temporary reprieve, so I allowed myself to sink into the feeling, wanting to hold on to it while knowing it’d slip away before I was ready.
“Watch me carefully because if you make us lose, you’re sleeping on the couch tonight,” I told Elias.
“Sit when you need to, Donnie,” Ryenne said, her eyes narrowed in concern.
Donnie frowned, his expression flaring in annoyance. “I’m fine.”
Together, Donnie and I made our way to the dartboard at a slow pace, but by the time we reached it, he leaned a hand against the wall and dragged in a slow breath. Knowing he wouldn’t want me to say anything, I gave him his three black darts.
While he remained leaning with his back against the wall, I took my position in front of the board. The first one I threw landed on the outer ring beside the number two.
From his spot, he lifted his hand and turned his thumb down.
“I’m just getting warmedup, smart-ass.”
He grinned.
I lifted my hands and whooped when my second throw landed in the center. The excited shout hung over the quiet crowd, drawing unwanted attention toward me.
“Not quite.” Donnie chuckled.
I crossed my arms, trying to ignore the judgment I felt from everyone watching me, but I was a queen to a kingdom deep in turmoil that my own kind had brought to them. Was it right for me to find joy in the small moments?
“That’s crap,” I mumbled.
