Page 109 of Magic and Muffins

The rope shimmered when Cross lifted it.

“Do you like it?” Vivian asked. “As you can guess, it’s been enhanced. It isn’t actually enough to keep Shepard in place once Queen Grabby Hands gets here. He’ll need to do that on his own. It’s for show so Effora doesn’t get suspicious.”

Vivian was smart. He knew Shepard would willingly stay tied to a tree indefinitely if he had to. Anything to free me.

My heart hurt, watching the two men I love bow to someone like Vivian, who didn’t care for anyone but himself and his dead master. How many lives had they ruined? How many more would be destroyed if Orphia got what she wanted?

“Stop! Please!” I begged again, but Cross and Shepard only looked at me with sorrow in their eyes. Shepard stood still while Cross bound him.

“Now we just have to wait for Effora,” Vivian said. “Navigating the paths here is easy for a fae, especially one who’s desperate.”

Vivian cocked his head to the side as he studied Shepard. “Something isn’t quite right.”

“The fact that you’re still alive?” Cross asked.

“Hmmm. Nope. That’s not it.” He tapped his finger against his lips. “I think your wilted wafer needs to perk up a bit.”

“And how would I do that?” Shepard asked, pulling at the secured ropes.

“Yourothermate,” Vivian said with a grin. “Go on, Cross. Give it a stroke. Effora’s going to be here soon. We need something to really get her going.”

Shepard let out a warning growl.

“Are you saying you don’t want her distracted so Cross can swipe the ring from her? Aw. I thought you cared about Everly.”

Ignoring Vivian, Cross approached me, putting his hand on the portal as we waited. “Whatever happens, we’ll fix it. I promise.”

“You can’t undo what will happen once otherworlders are ripped away. You can’t fix everyone’s lives when they’re torn apart and the humans become slaves. And you can’t fix my heart when people I love are no longer with me.”

He looked to the ground. Even Shepard couldn’t make eye contact with me.

“Try to shake some blood into it, Shepard. Effora is almost here,” Vivian said.

“Already?” Cross asked.

“I arranged for her to have a little warm-up gift nearby so she was close,” Vivian said with a manic glimmer in his darkened eyes.

“Your turn, Cross,” Vivian said. “Once she’s well and distracted with Shepard, it’s just a slip of the hand, and you’ll get the stone from her belly button. Toss it into the portal and you’re three-quarters of the way to freeing Everly.

“Now, I suggest you move away from your pet and play a convincing sex steward, or this carefully constructed trap will spring before it’s set, and you will lose your prey and condemn your lover to an eternity in the veil.”

“Don’t do this. Please, Cross,” I pleaded.

He gave me one last look and turned toward Shepard. As he walked away, he removed his suit jacket. He set it on the ground in front of Shepard like a rug and carefully removed his tie. I watched him roll it up and set it on the jacket. Then he unbuttoned the first few buttons of his shirt and rolled up his sleeves.

One naked. One submissive. I didn’t like it. No, I hated it. They’re willingness to do anything for me was tearing me apart.

Shepard and Cross’ gazes whipped to the side.

A moment later, Effora came into view. She paused at the edge of the clearing, her gaze hungrily devouring the site of Shepard tied to the tree.

“The ropes won’t be enough to hold him,” Cross said. “I’ll watch for signs he’s getting loose and assist when needed.”

Her slow smile said just how much she liked the idea.

I hit the portal and yelled, “It’s a trap!”

Effora’s gaze swung to me.

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