Page 86 of A Fate of Ice and Lies
I leaned into her touch, wanting it everywhere.
“She’s not very good at playing the evil queen role.” She tipped her head up to kiss my jaw. “I’m sorry you’re stuck here and can’t see her. I’m sure you miss her.”
Her words wrapped around me like a balm, and the insides of my stomach did a strange flip.
“I do miss her and my father, but I’m glad I’m here with you.”
“The things you say to me.” Her words came out breathless. “I don’t know if I deserve how much you feel for me, but I’m happy to have it. At least all the books I’ve read got one thing right. You fae are intense.”
That made me chuckle. “Can I see one of your books about fae? Your favorite one?”
She dipped her head closer to my neck, and I felt her face warm.
“Don’t tell me you’re embarrassed,” I teased, tickling her side until she squirmed.
“Fine, whatever, old man.” She hesitated, her hand touching my cheek again before she peeled herself off me and stood to give me a dirty look.
“Old man?”
“You’re one hundred and one years older than me, so yeah. Old man. And”—she placed her hand on the hip she cocked out—“if you make fun of my book, any part of it, you’re on my shit list.”
I nodded, watching her hips sway as she stalked to the bookshelf beside her lit fireplace. While she thumbed through her shelf, her fingers lingering longer on certain titles, I sent my magic through her house to warm it the way I did everynight. Then I made sure to melt a few layers of snow in her yard and her walk to the store.
As I got closer to exhausting myself, Nalari interrupted me.“I’ll do the rest, Elias. You enjoy your mate.”
“Thank you,”I told her. Not only for this kindness but for saving my life. For giving to me so selflessly. For caring about me. For being my friend, even if she didn’t realize that was exactly what she was.
“You can be annoying, young prince, but it is an honor to serve with you. For the most part.”I chuckled at that sentiment.
Teddy grabbed my attention again, nibbling on her bottom lip when she handed the book to me.
When I raised my arm, she tucked herself beneath it and leaned against my chest, with her hand resting on my stomach.
“I won’t make fun of your book,” I told her. “Or anything important to you.”
“Even if it portrays fae inaccurately?” She held her breath.
“Even if it portrays us inaccurately. Although, I’m curious how much they got right.” I took a moment to kiss the top of her hair and rumbled with pleasure when she ran her hand over the muscular ridges of my stomach. “You know, fae used to cross to your realm freely thousands of years ago.”
“They did?”
“Yes.” I traced the book's title and read, “Dragon Fae.” I huffed out a laugh. “We haven’t had dragon fae in thousands of years. Or any type of shifter fae.”
We’d sent the shifter fae to battle the mages before their extermination. By the time the Guardians defeated the mages for us, the number of shifter fae had dwindled. As the number of fae being born declined, the shifter fae line eventually died out.
With my magic, I conjured a blanket for Teddy. A violet one that resembled the color of my mother’s eyes. She ran her fingers over it and covered us both.
I opened the book to the first chapter and started to read aloud about a war that split the dragon fae from the other fae. About the near extinction of the dragon fae until one of their kind ripped through the veil to another realm where they could escape and live in peace. About the dragon male who stayed behind to guard the tear so no other fae could find them. About the female fae who, years later, found the lonely fae and became his friend. Then more than friends when destiny rang and revealed them as soul-bound mates.
I read and read while Teddy’s soft breaths brushed against my throat as she slept quietly in my arms. And Guardians, I hoped we’d get our own happily ever after.
Chapter
Fourteen
TEDDY
It was a mimosa kindof morning. At least, that was what Ryenne had said. Who was I to argue once Donnie and Nate agreed to be on babysitting duty? And not just to watch Victoria but also the food bank, where they were instructed to send Everly to my house as soon as they saw her.
