Page 249 of Bitten By the Fae
“True.”
A comfortable silence fell between us while I considered what a future with her would be like. “Maybe we should run,” I suggested. “Take her far away from this bullshit and never look back.”
He remained quiet for a long moment before murmuring, “You’d never forgive yourself. And neither would she. The reason you’re both so compatible is that you share a sense of responsibility for others, and you won’t turn your back on the Midnight Fae. Not even for her.”
I despised him for being right. Just for a moment. Then allowed the annoyance to leave me because he was correct. “I can’t stop the ascension.” The black writhing marks painting my torso and arms were proof of that.
“And she wouldn’t want you to.”
“I know.” I heaved another sigh. “Fuck, I know, but it would be so much easier if I could.”
“Want to know what I think about easy solutions?”
“They never last,” I said, aware of his thoughts on the topic. “Yeah, yeah.”
I couldhearhim smirking. “You want me to coddle your ass and pity you?”
“Fuck you,” I muttered.
“Then stop whining.”
“I’m not, dick. I’m just telling you my hopes and dreams so you can squash them like you always do.”
He snorted. “Whatever, Midnight Prince.”
“Don’t even start that bullshit with me,” I muttered. “We’re not going back to the title fuckery again.”
“You really hated that, didn’t you?”
“You know I did.” His whole formality kick had served as a punishment to us both. “The entire situation wasn’t our fault. She played us and our cocks, end of discussion.”
He fell silent again, making me wonder if he was going to revert into his previous depression and tell me to fuck off. But instead, he quietly said, “I should have seen it coming.”
“I should have seen it, too,” I told him, owning up to my part in the mistake of our past. “I know my father blamed you as myGuardian for not vetting her, but as the future king, I shouldn’t have allowed her to lead me by my cock. As soon as I ascend, you’ll be reinstated. Actually, no, you’ll be higher because of the whole, uh, quad.” That would be unprecedented, but fuck if I cared at this point.
“I’ve been mad at myself, not at you,” Zeph admitted after a beat. “She hurt you under my watch, and that…”
“It happens,” I replied softly. “You didn’t fail me.Wefailed. But it won’t happen again.” I thought of Aflora while I spoke, pictured her sleeping beside him. “We’re going to do right by her, Zeph.”
“Yes,” he agreed. “Somehow.”
“We’ll figure it out.” Because there wasn’t another choice. “She’s ours.”
“She is,” he murmured, his tone filled with wonder. I could practically see him stroking his fingers through her hair, the vision one that had my lips curling, only to freeze as a shuffle of a foot had my eyes flying to the side door.
The one I shared with Tray’s quarters, not the main hall.
I hadn’t heard it open.
Nor had I heard it shut.
And Tray stood just inside it, arms folded over his chest, expression furious.
“Shit,” I said, sitting up. “I need to go.”
“What’s wrong?” Zeph asked, immediately alert.
“Tray’s here, and from the glare he’s sending me, I’m pretty sure he heard most of our conversation.”
