Speeding up to not lose the motorcycles ahead, I glanced over at Isay. She was blinking her eyes, mouth agape as she scanned the high-rise buildings we were headed towards.
“That’s… big,” she retorted in awe, and both of my other passengers choked out a laugh.
“You’ve seen nothing yet,” Regar pointed out helpfully.
I shifted in my seat, catching more chuckles from behind me. “Stop it, why don’t you? She didn’t mean to appease your dirty minds. You were likely dumbstruck seeing Los Angeles for the first time, too. Big just about describes it.”
“Or you’re afraid to fall short of the word and thus change the topic.” Regar leaned in between the two front seats to gauge Isay’s reaction. “Do you think he could compete with Los Angeles?”
That blush was turning my insides to jelly. “Ah… I… don’t think my opinion on this matters.”
“She doesn’t think—Kar, have you told her you’ve called dibs on her after the wedding?” Regar looked back and forth between me and Isay, who now turned beet red.
I shoved Regar back into the seat. “I’ve been perfectly transparent. Even the king knew to point it out.”
Hiko smirked. “Sorry about my father. He’s been rather single-minded as of late. You’ve got my approval. I suggest you take your chances while the ring still works. It’s hard to come by.”
I cleared my throat. “Thanks man, but I’ll wait for Isay’s approval first.”
She was looking out the side window, avoiding my eyes and pretending to be immersed in the scenery. I knew better. Her lips parted and puffs of air fogged the window; there was no way she could see through.
“Why don’t we talk about your love life instead?” I suggested. “You’ll need to choose a mate eventually to keep the line going. Have anyone in mind?”
“Smooth,” Hiko laughed. “Very smooth. And no, our court holds no such treasures. On the off chance my father forces an arranged marriage, I’ll likely die alone.”
“So dramatic.” Regar pumped his fist to Hiko’s shoulder in an affectionate gesture I never gave any deeper meaning to until now.
I studied the two from the rearview mirror, sure I’d read more into it than was really going on, but when Hiko grabbed his fist and pulled at it instead of shoving him farther I was completely sure. Surprise, surprise, Regar slammed shoulder to chest with Hiko, before they both slid back to their respective seats.
“Holy shit, you two are pumping fists.”
Hands raised on the back seat, Isay turned around in hers to stare at the males, her cheeks still rosy and both of the men in question stuttered denials.
“What? No!”
“Definitely not!”
“Oh yeah,” I agreed, my voice betraying sarcasm. “Clearly not. And there you go giving me a hard time.”
“The king doesn’t know,” Regar offered with a sly smile, getting punched in the side for his affirmation. “We’d like to keep it this way.”
“My lips are sealed.” I looked to Isay, who nodded solemnly.
“He’s no friend of mine,” she said with such passion I could almost taste it on my tongue.
Right, I was still starved.
The club Regar had chosen was one of our regulars. The human at the front nodded us through without a second glance and then we were surrounded by loud thumping music and bodies grating against each other.
Usually, the guys would go on a search for an approved meal, but none of them needed to feed, so we headed to the bar. Without thinking twice about it, I guided Isay with my hand on her back. The fabric of her dress was a bigger barrier between my fingers and her skin than I liked while also providing to be a relief. I gave her every opportunity to pull away, but she did not, and that was fucking satisfying.
I leaned closer to her ear so she could hear me through the music. “What would you like to drink, beautiful?”
She still held the scent of forest flowers and sunshine with a hint of something sour. Not necessarily bad, but also not what she’d smelled like a few days prior. I was afraid the influence of delther life force within her ran deeper than just her eyesight, but so long as it didn’t interfere with her everyday life, I wasn’t going to worry her with it. I’d merely keep an eye on her.
“Anything but what I had at my mother’s wedding,” Isay called over the thumping music, her lips twisted into a grimace.
A cocktail. I’d get her a cocktail.
“You two look cosier by the minute.” Regar eyed my hand still on Isay’s back.
I pulled away, instantly missing her warmth under my fingers. “Shut it, or I’ll tell everyone—”
“You fucker!” Regar made a show to shove me, but stopped because Isay stood between us.
“I thought that was you. I haven’t seen any action since…” I looked to Isay, then back at Regar. “... Ah, never mind.”
I wasn’t going to tell Isay I’d been with Sela on the night I found her in the kitchen. Nah, not happening. I wish I could take it back, take it all back. Looking at her flushed face, I wanted to know only the taste of her in my mouth, only her skin against mine, only her moans overpowering mine. For death’s sake, I wanted her so bad, and my past with Sela felt like a big red flag hovering over my head.
“So death fae do dance?” Isay mused, looking around the room while we waited on our drinks. “If you could call it that.”
“Oh, we do call it that,” Hiko hummed.
“It gets him all turned on,” Regar pointed out, eyes gleaming with mischief. “So many ways it could go wrong if he were to get hungry.”
“I don’t see you complaining.”
Holy shit. How had I not noticed this before? It was so obvious now.
