Page 137 of Never Kiss a Fae
Had I messed this up? I wasn’t trying to garner attention, or to even create a tree; it just sort of happened. “My control needs work, too,” I mumbled, wringing my hands in my lap.
He didn’t reply but stood to reach the highest branch and plucked a fresh peach. Several fae watched as he sampled the fruit of my labor, their expressions anticipatory. He took another bite, chewing, his brow furrowed. “It’s sweet.”
“It’s a peach,” I replied, confused.
“I like it.” He shrugged and grabbed another to toss to Aflora. She caught it with a furious blush and skipped away, her long black hair waving in the wind. A few others held out a hand, and he tossed each of them a peach from the branches above, then dropped one into my lap before taking a second for himself. “The fruit in the assignment is supposed to be dry and bland, not sweet. I prefer your creation.”
“Why would anyone want to eat a bland fruit?” I wondered aloud, taking a small bite of my peach.
So, so good.
I sent up a request for more, and the tree responded immediately.
This is so much better than a vortex,I thought.
“Apparently, it’s good for cooking,” Sol said, grimacing. “Not my favorite. This is much better.”
His magic brushed mine as he took control of one of my branches and forced it to lower to him so he could pluck several more peaches. The tree groaned as he released his mental hold, the leaves and sticks flying upward with a snap that shook the earth.
He cringed. “Sorry.”
I soothed the earth, healing the fractures he’d caused within my creation, and smiled. “You’re powerful.”
“Yeah.” He waved his hand, causing a new stump to form and grow. “Vox is helping me learn how to foster and maintain it, but I grow stronger every day. It’s like I’m constantly absorbing energy, but I’m only one fae and I don’t have anywhere to release it all.”
My element reached out to his without thinking, blending into his life force as if searching for a way to ease him like I did the tree.
He flinched, his gaze widening. “What are you doing?”
“I-I don’t know,” I admitted. “It’s just sort of… I fixed the tree and now…”
“You can’t fix me, Claire,” he snapped. “Stop.” The ground quaked as he shoved my element away from his, the power of his strike sending me backward off my stump. He cursed. “Shit. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t—”
“Well, that’s one way to train the little queen,” a haughty voice interrupted. “Intruding on one’s elements without permission is a punishable offense. I’d have knocked her out for it.”
Gasps littered the air in his wake, the Spirit Fae having just appeared out of nowhere.
How did he do that?
Sol stood, his arms folding across his chest. “What the hell do you want, Royal?”
Tremors traversed the earth, the other fae backing away with fear in their eyes.Fear for Sol, I realized. Because he’d just squared off with the King of Spirit Fae.
Damn it.
I jumped up and brushed the grass from my hair and uniform. “Why are you here, Cyrus?” I demanded, wanting the focus on me, not on Sol.
“I need you to sign some documents,” he said, not taking his gaze away from Sol. “Your challenge is noted and not accepted, Earth Fae. When you have better control, we’ll talk.”
What?How had Cyrus interpreted a challenge from Sol’s question? I’d essentially demanded the same thing, albeit with a tad more respect, but still. “What challenge?”
Cyrus finally glanced at me. “He’s proving I chose the right Earth Fae guardian for you, is all.” He glanced back at Sol. “Isn’t that right?”
The giant of a man merely glowered at him. “I make my own choices, Spirit King.”
“Good. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Cyrus reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a few pieces of paper. “I need you to sign these, Claire.”
“What are they?”
