Page 58 of Tempting the Fae Lord
“Guide him,” I say to Gale, who nods. “I’m going to fly ahead.”
With that, I stretch my wings and take to the sky. It’s a short flight to the fortress, made even faster by my worry-fueled haste.
Everything looks the same from above, but I won’t breathe easily until I confirm my people are safe.
Inside, the halls are quiet. I stop, close my eyes, and listen closely. One by one, I count thepa-pup pa-pupof their heartbeats, matching each to its owner with the ease close familiarity makes possible.
Only when all are accounted for and there are no extras do I relax.
This doesn’t mean she wasn’t here or didn’t cross. It’s possible she came and went. I won’t know until I can speak with Eulayla and question the villagers, but I won’t wake them for that. No. Let everyone sleep.
Gale will share his room with Petru and keep an eye on him for me.
The rest can wait.
Within the walls of my home, so close to the comfort of my rooms, the weight of the last few weeks bears down on me. The exhaustion settles low in my gut, creeps deep inside my bones, and hangs heavily on each drooping eyelid.
I wait until I hear Gale and Petru enter and make their way to his room, wait until they settle down for sleep, wait until theirbreathing evens out with the onset of sleep. Then, on silent feet, I slip into his room.
I need to see him, to be sure he’s all right before I retire for the day.
Dark lashes fan perfect arcs on full cheeks. Messy hair halos his head on his pile of pillows. One hand rests over the covers on his stomach, fingers curled slightly. Beside him, Petru is a slender lump buried totally under the blankets, already snoring lightly.
I lean down and press a soft good-night kiss to Gale’s forehead.
As I’m backing away, his lids flutter open, and he whispers, “Again.”
I stare, blinking. Had he fooled me? Was he awake the whole time? He waits, lips parted. His tongue darts out to wet them. I could kiss him there.
He wants me to.
I want to.
But I shake my head, deny us both, and press another to his forehead instead. “Sweet dreams, Mooncalf.”
Knowing he’s safe within the walls of my fortress is enough for me. I retreat to my rooms and climb into bed, still thinking of his pretty mouth and what it would be like to kiss it.
I shouldn’t.
We shouldn’t.
It isn’t proper. He is a mortal and dependent on me for life and livelihood, while I’m a vampire with cursed royal blood running through ancient veins. He deserves more. Better.
I shove the uncomfortable truth aside and give myself over to sleep’s siren song.
Whatever trouble is brewing, I shall face it at dusk.
An itchy sensationcrawls along my skin, waking me from the day’s slumber.
Something is wrong.
The air is too thin, my chambers are too quiet, and my magic is too agitated. I close my eyes and concentrate, using both my magic and my heightened senses to seek out the disturbance, but I can’t interpret what I find.
Though I can’t be sure, I suspect another’s magic might be at play. Her magic.
I fling myself out of bed and race down the stairs to hunt the source.
Gale’s door stands wide open, but his room is empty. At first glance, nothing looks amiss, but I won’t be relieved until I’m sure he’s unharmed.
