Page 55 of The Dark Fae Princess
Jerrick grips my arm tighter. “What. Happened?”
Rook looks over his shoulder at Theo. “A Vampire? Interesting,” he drawls.
Jerrick gives us both terrifying glares so Rook starts speaking, starting and fortunately, ending with Anders attacking me in the barn. He can’t say anymore without giving himself away and that seems to be something that he doesn’t want.
Unfortunately, he does add in the part about the failed blood oath.
“WHAT?” Jerrick thunders at me, shaking me until my teeth rattle. “He got you to say the words?”
I nod meekly. “I’m sorry,” I stammer, hating that I felt the need to apologize to him. “He was too strong. But, Rook…” I glance at him and he shakes his head slightly at me.
I bite my lip and protect him. “Startled him when he came back in with the ravens,” I say, knowing how lame it sounds. Someone like the Light Fae King doesn’t get ‘startled’ into leaving the scene. “I managed to shake off the compulsion enough to fight him,” I add, hoping it sounds believable.
“Humph,” Jerrick mutters, clearlynotbelieving a word of it. He gives me a worried look and drags me further into the middle of the garden, behind the raven hedge. “You said that you would choose him as the Light Fae to unite with?” he asks me quietly, seriously and very, very scarily.
“I had no choice,” I whisper back, suddenly scared. “But he didn’t complete the blood oath.”
“Yet,” he spits out. “Yet, Savvie.” He sighs. “Do you know that you will have to abide if he finishes that oath? You will have no choice. The spell is set. You will have to see it through, or it will kill you. Do you understand that?”
I start to shake. I knew it, I just didn’t think that hard about it.
“Yes, I understand,” I say. “But he didn’t complete it.”
“He will,” Jerrick says and gives Rook a lingering look as he stands there watching this exchange. He turns back to me. “You simply cannot be alone. I know your grandfather has expressed this wish already that you remain under guard, but clearly, that didn’t help you today.” He stands up straight, letting me go. “That is my fault, Princess. I failed you.”
“What? No, it’s not your fault…”
“It is. I left you to be attacked and coerced into making a terrible decision. I will never forgive myself for leaving you in that position.”
The wretched look on his face, pulls at my heartstrings. “I don’t blame you. After our conversation, I know you needed time,” I whisper to him.
He grits his teeth.
I venture, “Did you come to a decision?”
His eyes pin mine. “Now isn’t the time for that,” he clips out.
“Oh, but it is the perfect time. Mother has told Gramps that I can be Queen, and when that happens, we can be together.”
He looks mortified that I have blabbed this in front of the two men he doesn’t know.
Theo comes closer, clearly interested in Jerrick’s answer as it also affects him. Jerrick sees that and his eyes narrow, but then land on Rook.
“He won’t tell,” I say, giving Rook a small smile.
He returns it and shoves his hands in his pockets. I can’t help but look down at the movement and then blush as I remember seeing him naked after his Shift. He has the body of a god. I want another look and perhaps a feel as well. He is much leaner than Jerrick’s bulk, but no less well-defined. I can’t help but cast my gaze to Theo, wondering what he looks like under his, slightly nerdy outfit of neatly pressed navy pants and crisp white shirt.
My mouth starts to water at the possibility of a sexy tussle with the four of us under the hedge, but then I’m snapped back to reality when I remember Trey. I still need to get to him and thank him for yesterday. Only now, I cannot step foot on Light Fae lands without inviting Anders to share blood with me.
Jerrick’s eyes are boring into mine. Has he noticed the spike in my emotions? I blink, still not sure what my feelings are about the two other men, apart from raw attraction.
“Well?” I ask, when he stays silent, his eyes searching mine with a resigned air that tells me he noticed the spike.
“I did think about it. Can we please discuss this in private?”
“No,” I say, lifting my chin, just to be annoying.
It works. His eyes flash, but he takes a deep breath. “Very well,” he says, taking my hands. “I love you, Savvie, you know that. I will do whatever you want me to do. There’s no question, no thought to go into it. I am yours to do with as you please.”
