Page 141 of Taken By the Fae

My cheeks flush. “Never mind.”

He reaches up and brushes his fingers across my cheek, making my skin tingle. “Show me what you’re feeling,” he murmurs.

Those words make my heart race. I can’t do that. If I do, he’ll know. He’ll see how much I want him. How much I—

“Aurora!”

I turn away from Tristan and toward the sound of Allison squealing my name. By the sloppy grin and semi-bloodshot eyes, it’s safe to say she’s drunk.

She stumbles over and throws her arm around my shoulders, tugging me away from Tristan. “I’m heading out,” she says.

I arch a brow at her. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

The unseelie, whose name I don’t know, chooses that moment to walk over, holding Allison’s clutch in her hand. “Would you like me to take her home?” She glances between Tristan and me. “I haven’t been drinking. I’ll make sure she gets there safely.”

I weigh the odds and go with my gut, nodding at her. “Thank you.” I don’t know this girl, but she seems genuine, and she can’t lie. Still, I reach out to get a read on her emotions and I’m met with soft wisps of yellow and orange, echoes of happiness and compassion. The warmth of her emotions makes me feel better about Allison being around her, especially when she’s allowing me to feel them.

She takes Allison from me, sliding her arm around her waist to keep her steady as they walk to the door and out of the building.

I glance back at Tristan, who’s watching the two of them with sharp eyes. “Are you worried about her?” I ask, trying not to sound as surprised as I am.

“She’s one of mine. Of course I am. The attacks have decreased significantly after Jules, but that doesn’t mean I’m anywhere near trusting the unseelie court.”

Before I can respond, Max and Oliver come over, smiling and laughing.

“We’re going to take off,” Oliver says, pulling me into a hug. “Thanks for such an amazing night.”

I lean back and smile. “It was my pleasure. Happy birthday.”

After Oliver and Max are gone, everyone else trickles out. Some stick around to finish their drinks and order Ubers, but it isn’t long before it’s just Tristan and me. No, my bad, Nikolai and Skylar are still here chatting with the last of Oliver’s friends. Before long, Skylar and Nikolai start bickering before the two of them go their separate ways, Nikolai catching the attention of one girl. She blushes a deep pink and loops her arm through his before they head for the hallway that leads upstairs to Nikolai’s apartment.

I’m behind the bar, stacking plastic cups, when Tristan comes over and sits at the counter, watching me. I stop what I’m doing to arch a brow at him. “What are you looking at?”

“You,” he murmurs. “Need some help back there?”

Shaking my head, I drop the cups into the trash under the counter. “It’s all good. Deacon can tidy the rest up tomorrow.” Nikolai gave him the night off, figuring the party wasn’t big enough to require a bartender.

He nods and taps his fingers against the bar top. “Will you come home with me?” He flicks his tongue over his bottom lip at the same moment my heart rate kicks up. His eyes meet mine, and the lust there tells me he can hear my thrumming pulse beneath my skin.

I want to go home with him. It’s simple, really. So why am I over complicating it?

“Breathe, Rory,” he murmurs. He knows me so well he can sense the panic that unfurled in my chest as control slipped away and anxiety poured in. “Come here,” he requests in a gentle tone.

I hesitate before rounding the bar, watching him turn in his seat, then stop in front of him.

“Give me your hand.” Once I oblige, he lifts it and places it against his chest. His heart beats fast against my palm, and my breath catches. “Okay?” he murmurs.

I manage a nod.

“Let me in.” His eyes flick back and forth between mine. “Please.”

I keep coming back to the words my mom said.Anything as important as love is worth the risk.The conversation I had with Max the other day still lingers on the surface of my thoughts as well.

Swallowing hard, I squeeze my eyes shut and let the reins loose on my emotions until they’re visible, radiating from me like a beacon of multi-colored lights. The dark blue fear, the muddied brown uncertainty, the vibrant pink, all-consuming love. It’s all out in the open for him to see. Tofeel.

“Open your eyes,” he whispers.

“I’m scared,” I breathe, my hand still pressed against his chest.

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