Page 194 of Never Kiss a Fae
By destroying the foreign entity in his mind,Cyrus replied.Go be with your mates, little queen. We’ll return to you soon.
“Claire?” Titus sounded concerned.
I cleared my throat. “I… hold on.”Don’t let that thing attack you, Cyrus. It’s strong.The second I’d felt it trying to tug me under, I’d lashed out at it with everything I could. That it’d left me unconscious afterward had me a bit concerned.I need more training on defensive elements.
Hmm, yes, you do. But in this case, the essence appears to be designed for you, Claire. It merely hissed at my presence in his mind.
Designed for me?I repeated, my skin heating from where Titus caressed my face and down to my neck, his gaze holding mine.This is confusing.Because I felt Cyrus in my head, but Titus, Sol, and Vox were very much here, their hands all on me now.
Go engage your other elements,Cyrus said, his tone holding a demand.We’ll update you when we know more, but for now, I need you to focus on the others while I help my brother. Trust me, little queen. Trust me to fix this.
I do.I meant it. If I trusted Exos’s fate to anyone, it was Cyrus.I just…
Don’t think, just do,he encouraged.Embrace your fae, Claire. You’ll enjoy it more.
“Is she talking to Cyrus?” Sol’s rumble vibrated my back, his palm clasping the side of my neck. That was the second time he’d caught me in a protective stance. I rather liked it.
“Yes,” Titus replied. “I can’t hear them, but I feel his water bond heavy in her mind.”
“He’s telling me about Exos,” I explained, swallowing. “Whatever that thing is, it tried to suck me back into a black hole again, but I fought it.”
And you did so well,Cyrus whispered, pride evident in his tone.I’m going to leave you now and tend to Exos. I’ll be thinking of you, my little queen, and how you sound when you come.
Heat suffused my skin.Cyrus.
His chuckle slid up and down my spine, sending splashes of yearning to every nerve receptor before he pulled away from my thoughts.
My thighs clenched as a surge of warmth ruined my panties.
Damn Water Fae.
Whoever claimed hate and lust were related emotions deserved an award because, boy, were they right. I didn’t want to be attracted to Cyrus, and I sensed he felt the same way, but here we were, mated for life.
You adore me, he teased.
I thought you were leaving,I grumbled.
I am, but I had to make sure you were in the right frame of mind to indulge your other elements. And now that you are… enjoy.
Another hot flash graced my skin, setting me on fire—literally. Vox dropped me into Titus’s waiting arms, where he soothed the flames with a few of his own. I doused myself in water in an attempt to cool myself off, but it didn’t help. If anything, it made me burn hotter.
I groaned into Titus’s chest.
“Claire?” Sol’s grip on my nape tightened, his earth essence somehow blocking the inferno cascading along my spine.
“I just need a moment,” I managed, my throat dry.
“I think you need longer than a minute,” Titus whispered, his lips at my ear. “Let us take care of you, sweetheart.”
Ugh, it would be so easy to give in to him. But what about Exos? It seemed wrong to, well,play, while he suffered from whatever had corrupted his mind.
I’ll be fine,he whispered, his conscious barely brushing mine.Let them distract you, princess. Only Cyrus can help me now, and we will destroy this thing. See you soon.
He left before I could reply, his essence stroking my heart along the way.
A distraction, I realized. That was what they were trying to do, to keep me occupied while Cyrus and Exos worked through his mind. Because whatever had consumed him was a threat to me.
I understood now.
