Page 29 of Hopeless Magic
Or so I tell myself.
He licks his lips before looking away from me. A thundering sound accompanies his steps as he makes his way to the foot of the bed. With a hard thrust of his foot he bangs his boot against the bedframe, shaking it violently.
A wide stance fills his massive frame as he waits for them to flutter their pretty little eyes open.
Ryder actually pulls Daxdyn closer to him and buries his face into his neck.
Laughter rumbles through me, but I push it down out of fear of disturbing their intimate moment.
When the hard, straining length beneath Ryder’s thin boxers grinds against Daxdyn’s muscled thigh, I nearly clap with excitement.
Darrio doesn’t share one bit of my lust-filled enthusiasm.
If I had to guess, I’d say it’s probably the strength surrounding him that has Daxdyn raising his hands away from his friend’s smooth body. His hands are held above his head as if he’s surrendering. He looks around the tangled sheets to find Ryder pressed sexually against his side.
“What the fuck, man?” He shoves at Ryder’s arm that he was just caressing a moment ago.
Darrio looks back at me and the smallest smirk pulls at his full lips. That tingling feeling starts right back up in my stomach.
I practically roll my eyes at myself and my primal reaction to his attention.
Ryder’s blue eyes flutter open, and he raises his lashes to look up at Daxdyn before shoving harshly away from him.
And here I thought their friendship could withstand close proximity, morning hard-ons.
“You ladies about ready to leave?” Darrio asks them, his smile growing with each passing second.
“I was actually starting to call them Thing One and Thing Two,” I mention in a quiet tone. All eyes swing to me.
Laughter shakes through Darrio’s chest and the sound of it makes a proud smile form on my lips.
Today’s going to be a good day.
***
Ryder’s sea blue gaze lands on me once more. It’s the third time in twenty minutes. The soft cotton of his shirt brushes against my wrist as we walk. My fingers run through my long, dusty blonde hair, shading me from his suspicious glances.
What is he thinking?
A tired sigh slips from my lips. I’m almost done with this journey.
The sea is just up the bend. Dark, smoky clouds blanket the pale morning sky. I can almost taste the burnt smell of Juvar.
We’re close to it. Close to the Hopeless city as well, I suppose.
Daxdyn had asked me to come with them. Could I really do that? It seems … impossible.
All my adult life I’ve only ever been a thief. I’m not special. I’m just human.
“You weren’t born with the mark of the Hopeless?” I ask, tilting my head slightly toward Ryder.
His hands push into his pockets, bunching his wide shoulders together.
“No, I’m mixed; half fae, half human. My mother was apparently fae. Sometimes the fae blood lies dormant. I could have lived my whole life as a simple human. Sometimes it manifests. The power of my blood changed, marring my body with this scar.” He holds his arm out and I think about how similar his mark is to mine. “It’s just like scar tissue, but once you enter the Hopeless realm it darkens with power. Once a fae enters the Hopeless realm, their energy surges and their true power awakens. They aren’t truly fae until they enter the Hopeless realm.”
From behind us, Darrio and Daxdyn talk among themselves about the soldier we ran into. The one walking around with Darrio’s hand prints on his face now. The two of them chuckle and laugh about the ordeal. A smile pulls at my lips and I look back long enough for my eyes to meet Darrio’s light gaze. Quickly I look away before our easy comradery ends with him calling me a ‘fucking human’ again.
“The twins, they’re full blooded then?”
