Page 27 of Never Kiss a Fae
Exos eyed the delicacies as a pixie settled a glass of fire water in front of him, but he only stared at it. “The Halfling needs more boundaries than I’m able to impose,” he said, folding his hands and getting straight to the point. “She’s stronger than any of us realized.”
He held my gaze, his ocean-blue eyes so deep that I could almost sense the power that rested underneath the surface. If the Halfling bested this guy, then I knew I didn’t stand a chance if I ever lost her trust.
I rested my elbows on the table, leaning forward, and opted for a different approach. “If you don’t mind me saying, Your Highness, I think you’re treating her too harshly. She’s not one of your warriors that you can just bark orders and expect to be obeyed. She grew up in the Human Realm without knowledge of our practices and policies. Obedience won’t come as naturally to her as it would to others.” There. That was politically correct enough, right?
River nodded beside me in agreement, seeming to find his confidence. “Humans are notorious when it comes to equality and free will, especially in certain regions.”
Exos sighed, relaxing in his chair. “Yes, she adopts not only the strong personality of a Spirit Fae but human traits as well. However, she is stillfae.She will learn to obey her betters.”
I agreed with him until that final sentence.
Betters.
All my life I’d been told that had I been born with royal blood, I might have possessed the strength to control my unruly fire. But I wasn’t royal-born. I wasn’t even high-born. My lineage came from a long line of fae who fought for sport and worked in the hot mines of the Fire Kingdom.
Embers crawled through my veins and singed the tablecloth, demonstrating my frustration. Exos raised a brow in response, noticing my inability to hide the annoyance bubbling within me.
I drew in a deep breath before speaking. “She holds elements you can’t control,” I reminded him. “Forcing her into obedience won’t end well.”
He nodded. “That’s why I can’t train her alone. I need help.” He paused, his lips twitching. “Starting with you.”
I raised a brow at him. “I’ve already agreed to help her with dinner. I’m here, right?”
“You are,” Exos agreed, finally taking the fine flute of his glass and swirling it, activating the embers lingering in the liquid. “But that’s not what I meant. I already spoke with Elana, and she agrees. You’re being assigned as one of Claire’s bodyguards, and you will mentor her on fire.”
Not a request.
An order.
No subtlety to see if I would be up for the task or if I had other plans for my time at the Academy. Just a straight edict that Exos expected me to follow. And apparently, Elana did as well.
My blood boiled with the arrogance of hisdemand, and more so, the power behind his blood that allowed him to lord over me.
“It makes sense with you being the most powerful Fire Fae at the Academy, not to mention your uncanny ability to encourage her cooperation.” He glanced at me over his glass. “It’s also a unique opportunity to appease the Council. You could consider it an internship of sorts.”
“And if I don’t want an internship?” I couldn’t help the growl in my voice. This prick thought to own me, to force me into a position of his own choosing without any regard for whatIwanted.
“We both know what you want,” Exos replied, his gaze knowing. “You won’t say no, Titus.”
To putting my reputation on the line for a Halfling? To having to protect her from what had to be an army of fae who wanted to kill her? To training her how to use her fire?
Well, that last bit appealed to me. But the other parts? I started to shake my head, but a buzzing of excitement caused all of us to glance at the doorway.
“Ah, here we are.” Elana clapped as she entered the room, drawing the pixies to her in a flourish of a grand greeting. “The dining area is lovely, thank you.” The pixies chirped in happiness, leading her to the head of the table beside Exos’s seat.
“Have you discussed our plans?” she asked, her focus on Exos.
“Yes.” He set his flute down. “Titus was just accepting.”
Accepting, my ass.
“Excellent,” Elana replied, her kind eyes lifting my way. “After observing your interaction upstairs, I do think this is best. Claire clearly likes you, and she needs someone she can trust and rely on at her side. You’re a good match for her fire as well.” The knowing way she said that last bit had a chill running up my spine.
Spirit Fae were powerful beings. They could sense and control all aspects of the life cycle. And she’d clearly noticed the mating potential between me and Claire. Which meant Exos had as well.
I cleared my throat. “If that’s—”
A shriek from the other room had me on my feet in a second, the explosion of fire a seduction to my inner flame.
