Page 37 of Rebel Fae
I pulled her to me, careful not to crush her wings. She smelled like cheap prison soap and whatever she’d eaten for lunch, but underneath those scents was a familiar one. It reminded me of home, not just of our cabin on the Supernatural Academy property, of the nights in Faerie spent in the trees, or chatting around campfires while the elders brewed nettle tea and the children squealed as they darted around the tree trunks.
“You’re okay,” I whispered into her hair.
“Me? You’re the one out there. Vaughn told me you were very brave.” Her round black eyes stared up at me.
My eyes went to Vaughn who stood quietly by the door. He’d somehow gotten me the one thing I wanted. How could I ever repay him?
I petted Arryn’s head, still unwilling to let her go. “Are you eating? Who’s taking care of you?”
“The guards have been nice to me since you’ve been gone. They’ve even given me two bread rolls sometimes,” she said.
I wondered if this had something to do with Vaughn as well, or if Adaline was keeping her promise to protect Arryn.
Knuckles pounded on my door, making me tense up again. Vaughn quietly responded with, “Okay.” Then he spoke to us. “It’s time. I’m sorry, Tally, but Arryn has to go back.”
It felt like ripping out my heart to take my arms from sweet Arryn, but I managed. Vaughn opened the door and ushered Arryn out to the guard who waited on the other side. She gave me a last wave, and I waved back, careful to keep my face optimistic until the doors slid shut, only then did I blink back the tears I didn’t want her to see.
Vaughn stood with his back to the door regarding me quietly. “As much as we want to see them, it’s even harder to say goodbye.”
I nodded, pressing my fingers to my eyes. “I don’t know when I’ll see her again.”
“I know,” he replied.
I glanced up. He did know. Out of anyone, he knew the best what this aching hole in my heart felt like. His features were soft and understanding, nothing like the ferocity he showed out in the jungle. Empathy looked so good on him.
“Thank you for that. I… I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”
He shook his head. “You’ve already repaid me a hundred times over. Somehow you’re always there to save my life, to build me up. I only wish I could’ve given you more time.”
“You did what you could,” I said, staring into his sad, green eyes. “We both are doing the best we can.”
He shook his head. “This place… it brings out the worst in me. I only wish you’d known me before all this.”
When he tilted his face up to meet my gaze again, I could see in his eyes he meant every word. I wondered what Vaughn had been like before the island sharpened his edges. Had he been carefree? Happy? I knew I had been before The Bane destroyed my homeland. When the Habermanns stole his cousin, it must’ve felt something like having your home stolen, your sense of security ruined forever.
He took a step forward, his hands clasped at his waist. The room was small so there wasn’t much distance between us, but I had a feeling he was afraid to take another step.
“I want to be good to you, Tally,” he whispered. “I want to get you out of here, get Arryn out of here, to make up for what I did.”
My eyes darted to the dark corners of the room. Was Adaline listening? “Vaughn, you shouldn’t—”
“I should.” He took two steps and swept me up into an embrace.
When Vaughn’s lips collided with mine, there was a sense of urgency in his kiss, like he needed to touch me to keep himself from spiraling away. His hands wrapped around my waist drawing me into his solid body as the fire between us ignited.
He’d once mentioned that he thought all fae could enthrall humans, and he certainly seemed enthralled. As he kissed me, he growled low in his throat, his hands searching. Slipping up the bulky fabric of my garb, he found the buttons and undid them one by one, sending shivers up and down my body.
Were there cameras in this room? Were they watching? At this moment, I didn’t care.
Vaughn enthralled me, too. The size of his body, the hardness of it made me want to trace my fingers down every sculpted muscle, every ridge and valley until I’d mapped it all. Yet, there was still too much fabric between us. I slipped my hands up, untucking his guard shirt, and he shed it happily, revealing his beautiful, bronze chest and rippling abs. I indulged myself in running my hands down each muscle as he tugged on my top.
Helping him pull down the garment without damaging my wings, I let it drop, leaving me in only the binding on my breasts. His eyes roved over my newly revealed skin hungrily, the animal coming out in him once again.
“I want you,” he whispered. “I’ve always wanted you.”
The longing I’d felt seemed to double, driving me wild with desire. I’d wanted Vaughn since the moment I laid eyes on him but had been too afraid to admit it to myself. Now, with nothing to lose, there was little to be afraid of.
Grabbing his shoulders, I whirled him around and pushed him down on the bed. He dwarfed it with his size but laid down happily as I climbed on top of him. His hands found my hips as I leaned down to kiss him again.
