Page 72 of Fortune Fae Academy
Which probably made me a giant, selfish ass.
When I returned to the bedroom, Gina’s nose twitched at the aroma. Rowan didn’t move, but his brow furrowed in pain.
I wasn’t used to feeling helpless. I’d blamed Axel for not taking care of his Betas, but I had to take responsibility, too.
Glancing down at the meal, I hoped Gina would eat it. I knew she was upset, and my Omega tended to abstain when something bothered her or she was otherwise occupied.
That was fine when I could feed her with Dust instead, but she was in no mood for sex, and neither was I. Not when Axelhad been at the Collegium all night and Zeke was still missing while Rowan lay half-dead on our bed.
I itched to do something, to follow Zeke’s distinct scent of sugar and caramel and bring him back where he belonged.
With my Omega.
And maybe Axel was right. Zeke also belonged with me. I’d been keeping the two Betas at arm’s length for selfish reasons. My focus had been on my Omega and not much else.
Axel had suffered for that. So had the Betas that Gina clearly loved.
Even in sleep, she stroked her fingers through Rowan’s hair, smoothing the fiery red strands with her touch.
I didn’t want to disturb them, but the silver sun was up. Rays beamed into the room and sent light flickering over tiny little embers that seemed to come from Rowan.
Something was going on with him.How had he summoned fire like that?
And why isn’t he healing?
Gina woke first as I eased onto the bed and placed the tray in my lap. She blinked at me, taking a moment to transition from the dregs of sleep to the lucidity of the present. Her soft blue eyes perpetually released a gentle silver glow that I knew wasn’t just a trick of this realm’s sun.
She was an Omega through and through, and she was likely the most powerful Fortune Fae in the realm right now.
Not because of the Shard that Amell coveted. But because of her own inner strength, hersoulthat burned with silver fire.
“Good morning, Omega,” I said as I let a smile overtake my face. The gesture was genuine because my Omega brought me joy simply by existing.
“Good morning,” she easily replied with her melodic voice, then glanced down at my offering. “You come bearing food, I see.”
“I do,” I said, then lifted the coffee. “And caffeine with Dust stimulants,” I added with a smirk. Fortune Fae had a variety of herbs and drugs used in daily life, and not all of them were for sexual purposes.
Gina groaned. “Fae, my mom used to make me that.” She grabbed it from me and took a sip, her lashes fluttering over her eyes as she relaxed. Then a flash of guilt made her plump lips tug downward. “Speaking of my mother, I should have gone to visit her by now.” Her fingers traipsed over Rowan’s bandaged chest. “But I couldn’t leave him like this.”
I held up a biscuit to her mouth before I replied. She glowered at me, but I persisted, so she took a nibble.
Satisfied after she took three more bites, I lowered it while she sipped her coffee. “Why do you need to visit your mother? Doesn’t she live in the House of Silver?”
I’d learned a bit about the Houses through Kodiak’s tutoring and classes at the Academy that went over territory basics. The House of Silver was nowhere near the Academy and I wasn’t sure how my Omega thought she could simply go for a visit.
“Amell has her at the Collegium,” Gina said, making me go still. “My father, too.”
That caught my interest. I hadn’t been able to hear the conversation she’d had with Amell. I’d only picked up on the frantic, stray thoughts that had made it to my mind. The information about her parents being held captive wasn’t one of them.
“I thought your father was dead,” I said. When I had immersed myself in my Omega’s mind, I’d learned enough of her childhood to recognize the loss of a father. It was something I had distinctly understood, given that my own father had died when I was thirteen in a twisted, gruesome manner only the Midnight Fae were capable of.
At least, that had been before I’d learned of the true nature of the Fortune Fae, who could be worse at times.
Gina sipped her coffee until she drained it halfway, then she coddled it in her hands. Her gaze went distant, looking to the past for once instead of the future. “He was dead to me. Still is, really. But if my mother has taken him back, then I’ll respect her wishes. I’ll do what I can to save both their lives.” Her blue eyes focused on mine. “Can you take care of Rowan while I’m gone?”
Fury wound in my chest, but I kept my expression soft. I did not want to lash out at my Omega, but her proposal was preposterous. “Absolutely not,” I said, my voice low and threatening despite my attempt to remain calm.
Gina stiffened at my tone.
