Page 62 of Beyond the Faerie Gate

Jaromir

Isnick the door to our Nicnevin’s room closed, careful not to wake her, and turn to face the unapologetic redcap.

The moment he showed up to breakfast without his cap and whistling, I knew he’d done something. Seeing the red hat on Rose’s sleeping head confirms it.

The only question which remains is; what exactly did he do? Is his cap on her pretty head a result of a late night seduction or something more sinister?

I haven’t forgotten how disinterested he was the night we swore ourselves to Rose. Sure, we all had different reasons, but he only jumped at the opportunity to be part of her Guard when Kitarni told him swearing ourselves to her would break any and all other oaths and bargains we were bound by.

Now I’m supposed to believe he’s so devoted to her that he deserves her affection?

No. He’s probably just using her again.

“We agreed she was to be left alone to rest before we travelled to Siabetha,” I growl.

Lorcan grins, flashing a mouth full of sharp teeth in silent threat. “I swear on my mother’s life she did rest. Plenty of sleeping happened.”

Drystan, leaning against the opposite wall, scoffs loudly, but doesn’t speak.

“Rose is new to all of this. Let her feel comfortable in her new body before you start messing up her head with sex.”

Lorcan snorts, shaking his head. “Says the shifter who is conveniently forgetting her fever will hit soon.”

My muscles go rigid at the reminder. I can’t believe I forgot—

“I’m just making sure she knows of my undying affection before we all dive onto her pretty, pretty—”

My hand is around his throat before I know what I’m doing. “Don’t finish that sentence.”

Rose is the Goddess incarnate. He can’t talk about her like some kind of common tart.

But the redcap is undeterred. “Why, what a filthy mind you’ve got there, seelie. I was going to say her pretty lips.”

I release him and pace away, scrubbing a hand down my face.

This is why I stay away from Autumn Court unseelie. Winter Court unseelie aren’t so bad; they’re a little cold, but they don’t delight in getting beneath your skin like the autumn fae do.

“But I suppose I never specified which lips—”

My wolf has had enough. He rips free of my skin, and together we pounce on the redcap.

He blinks out of the way, and my furry ass smashes into Rose’s door. It splinters under the force, breaking apart like paper beneath my claws. I crash into her room without warning, drawing a surprised shriek from our mate as she jolts upright in bed. I don’t get a chance to apologise because a weight settles on my back and metal kisses my throat.

“Careful there, Sir Jaromir,” Lorcan hisses in my ear. “You’re scaring our mate.”

I buck him off me, snapping my jaws at the blade.

“Stop it!” Rose’s order gives me pause, but my hesitation costs me.

Lorcan returns, levelling a kick to my ribs that sends me flying into the bookshelf.

I lunge back, but Rose steps between us with her hands outstretched. She’s shaking and her chest heaves like she’s run a marathon.

I want to yell at her to get out of the way, but I have to settle for creating a shield around her as Lorcan blinks onto my back.

“Giddy-up!” he yells, grinning.

I body slam both of us into the bookshelf, crushing him.

---