Page 27 of Expose Me

“As a solution to all of the above, and to show my sincere apology, I can offer you sexual gratification.” He leaned in, his gaze fixed on me, but stopped with his lips a thin breath away from mine.

“What?” I blinked, trying to keep up with what the hell was happening. My bladder was no longer screaming at me and, at the mention of sexual anything, I realized that the focus had turned to other sensations in that same region.

“That is what you crave, isn’t it? All the physiological signs are there.” He brushed his cheek against mine, pressing his body flush against me. His naked, toned, strong body.

For a brief moment of insanity, my eyes fluttered closed, and I arched into him.

Then I came to my damn senses.

“No.” I scrambled out from under him and took several steps back. I was mad at this infuriating, single-minded man. Screwing his brains out wouldnothelp the situation. Even if we were both into it, it would create more complications than it was worth. And he was into it—judging by the fully erect penis he was pointing at me.

“You can’t just solve all your problems with sex, Zey!” I threw my hands up and headed to the bathroom, the zap still in a death grip in my hand.

I left him standing nude in the cold, dark cabin, and he was back in the chair by the fireplace by the time I came out of the bathroom.

I managed to get another few hours of fitful sleep but gave up trying around dawn. Sabrina brought us some breakfast and coffee, then drove us to a busy town further away from the village near Braemar Castle before anyone else was up and about.

“Just so you know,” Sabrina said in the car as the trees zoomed past, clouded in fog. “The House of Spirit and Sapphire has sent word to all the other Houses overnight. There was no mention of a new portal, but they were very clear about wanting to find you and the fugitive you were aiding.”

“Great.” I sighed and wished we’d had time to stay a bit longer so I could dye my hair something less obvious. The hats would have to do.

“Why is this great?” Zey poked his head between the front seats, looking between us.

“Sarcasm, Zey,” I said, pushing him back into his seat with a hand to the face.

Sabrina laughed silently. I could tell she had a million questions, but it was better for all of us if she knew as little as possible.

I wasn’t much of a hugger, but I gave Sabrina a tight one when she dropped us off. She’d saved my ass, and I was starting to think we could be friends—if I survived this mess.

Zey and I went straight to the train station and waited for someone who looked like they were heading off for a long day at the office. It was the perfect time in the morning for it, so we didn’t have to wait long. A guy in a business suit parked his unremarkable white sedan and trudged into the station. Summoning a magic detection spell packet, I performed the irritatingly complex procedure to make it work. A witch would’ve been able to tell with barely a wave of her hand, but I wasn’t a witch, so expensive, complex spell packets it was! I made sure there was no tracking spell on the car, broke into it, and we got on the road.

I hated having to steal, but public transport was too risky. I’d make sure it was returned to him with a generous number of fae hairs in the glove compartment for his trouble.

Confident that the car wouldn’t be reported stolen until late in the afternoon, we got on the road and headed east.

Once we were out of Death and Diamond territory, the drive was through No Man’s Land for most of the way.

Zey was silent for the first hour, just looking out the window at the world passing us by. Of course, the peace didn’t last.

“How much longer?” he asked.

I shrugged. “All I know is we’re heading in the right general direction. I’ve never searched for something like this before, so it’s hard to tell. Could be an hour, could be a day.”

“A day?” he huffed.

“Don’t get shitty with me!” I flashed him a reproachful look. “I don’t make the rules. I’m doing my best here. I want this over with as soon as possible too—trust me.”

He fell into silence again. And again, it didn’t last long.

“What is that?” He pointed to a dilapidated, low building on the side of the road.

“A motel. They were common on Earth before House rule,” I explained.

And that pretty much set the tone for the rest of the day. We stopped a few times so I could use the bathroom, refuel the car, and eat, and so Zey could drink water. Otherwise, we drove and drove and Zey asked question after question.

Why is everything split into territories?

What are the different Houses?

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