Page 202 of Bitten By the Fae
And I had business to tend to.
I cloaked myself in smoke, using it to pull me through time and space to the LethaForest where Kyros stood waiting for me in his trademark leather jacket and jeans.
“Huh. I timed you to arrive thirty seconds from now,” he drawled in welcome. “I guess you were a bit less preoccupied with your pretty flower than I anticipated.”
I rolled my eyes. “Let’s just get this over with.”
“So eager,” he taunted, pushing away from the tree, the sword against his hip flaring with violet flames. “All right, my shadowy friend. We’ll start in New Orleans, as I have a few idiots to question there first. Then we’ll move on to Dallas.”
I narrowed my gaze. “How long is this going to take?”
“How many times did we work through that whole bonds-realignment discussion with you and your mates?” he countered, tapping his chin thoughtfully. “Five? Six? No, seven times. So I think seven days’ payment is more than kind on my part, really.”
“Yeah, minus me having to go in and wipe the gargoyle’s memory after the fact,” I retorted, still irritated by that not-so-minor mishap in our arrangement.
Kyros’s head tipped back on a laugh, his amusement at my expense evident. He sort of reminded me of Ajax a little in muscular size and angular features. They also both had the same thick black hair that always fell into their eyes no matter what they did. However, Kyros had tattoos from his neck all the way to his fingertips, covering every inch of his torso, while Ajax just had the lip ring.
That was the difference between Paradox Fae and Midnight Fae—our bodies healed all wounds, including those inflicted by colorful needles. Meanwhile, Paradox Fae could be injured and remain injured. Although, they carried around magical time-wielding swords that allowed them to fix themselves by falling into the past, so it evened out in the end. Mostly.
“That little bastard was so pissed,” Kyros mused, wiping tears away from his near-black eyes.
“Yeah. Ha.” I folded my arms. “New Orleans?”
He grinned. “Yep.”
“Then hold on. It’s going to be a smoky ride.”
He latched onto my forearm, and I began my journey to the Human Realm to raise the dead.
Kyros mademe help him for all seven fucking days, the bastard only allowing me to sneak back to campus a handful of times to check on Aflora and her other mates. Fortunately, they seemed to be getting along just fine.
Although, I sensed her distress at my continued absence—a fact she made evident now with her expression upon seeing me in my seat in our Advanced Conjuring class.
Her eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed in annoyance.
Yeah, I was in trouble.
Luckily, I had an excuse. “Hi, little rose,” I murmured as she slid into the seat beside me. “How was your week?”
“Fine,” she replied, then grimaced at the word she’d used to describe a week of intense sexual activity. Because that was how she’d spent her time outside of class and during her free days—exploring with Zeph and Kols. From what I could tell, they hadn’t bitten her again; they were just playing and introducing her to their preferences, which were a bit darker than mine.
Zeph, specifically.
He had a penchant for bondage. Fortunately for him, Aflora didn’t mind. She also didn’t seem to mind that Zeph and Kols enjoyed sexual activities with each other—something they’d demonstrated for her thoroughly last night.
Her cheeks flushed as if she was recalling the memory now, her tongue slipping out to dampen her lips. “Where have you been all week?” she blurted out, her face darkening to a pretty red shade. “Sorry, I mean, uh…”
“You’re allowed to ask me where I’ve been,” I told her softly. “I’m your mate, Aflora.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me you’d be gone?”
“Would you like me to let you know in the future if I intend to leave the Academy?” I asked her, genuinely curious.
“Um, only if you want to.”
“There are a lot of things I want,” I admitted, catching her gaze.
“Ain’t that the truth,” Ajax muttered as he arrived to claim the chair on the other side of me.
