Finding Faerie (Pixie Dust Chronicles 3)

He smiled. “Don’t worry about me, my love. I’ll be fine. Her choice of location tells me she lacks confidence in her own safety.”

“Because witches can use hallowed ground to strengthen their powers?”

“Correct.” He looked at his watch. “It would be easy to deduce that if she felt the need to draw power from the land, this particular witch does not carry much on her own.” He leaned down to kiss me on the cheek. “I really must be going. Order some dinner and relax. I’ll see you soon.”

“Be careful, Leo.”

He smiled. “Always, my dear.”

After he left, I went into the sitting room to grab the room service menu. Unfortunately for me, Takk was out there hogging the couch. “I’m ordering dinner. Do you want anything?”

“No, thanks. Unlike you, I don’t live to spend Leo’s money.”

Who did this guy think he was? “What the hell is your problem?”

He shrugged. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

I rolled my eyes. “Bullshit! You’ve had an attitude with me since day one. I think it’s only fair you tell me why.”

“I prefer to keep my job, thank you very much.”

“Oh, please,” I scoffed. “Like I have any control over that? Do you really think Leo would even listen if I tried getting you fired?”

He turned off the TV and stood to face me. “Honestly? I think he would do anything you asked him to.”

“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”

He shook his head. “Hardly. I barely recognize the man anymore. I’ve worked with him for decades, and he has always been the most controlled man I know. Business comes first, women second. And when I say women, I mean women, as in many.”

I winced at that last part. “I still don’t see how I’m involved.”

“Are you really that dense?”

“Excuse me?” I countered.

He rolled his eyes. “You’re not just a fuck to him. That man is completely in love with you. No matter how poorly you treat him, he sits there and takes it. And not only does he take it, he drops everything he’s doing the second you feel the need to use him or his resources. And how do you repay him? You don’t even give him your blood, for fuck’s sake! Something he needs to survive, and you withhold. You make him go to a blood bank!”

My cheeks flushed. “I don’t make him go anywhere!”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “You really are clueless, aren’t you? Leo is loyal if nothing else. He would never take blood from someone else. I see the way he looks at you. The way you look at him. You don’t want him with anyone else and he knows it. He’s going to continue holding out hope until you decide to stop stringing him along.”

“I don’t string him along,” I argued.

“Don’t you?” he countered. “Then why do I see you traipsing around with that detective? I’ve been keeping an eye on you. You bounce back and forth with no regard to anyone else, and quite frankly, it pisses me off. It’d be different if you were just fucking around, but that’s not the case here. Do you really think he doesn’t know that you’re cheating on him?”

I clenched my fists, highly tempted to punch him in the throat. This bastard actually followed me? “First of all, I’m not cheating on anyone. Leo and I aren’t together like that. I’m no longer in a relationship with anyone.” He scoffed. “Secondly, even if I was, it’d be none of your damn business.”

Appetite forgotten, I closed myself in the bedroom, trying desperately not to admit to myself that he had a point.

“My sweet, are you awake?”

I am now, I thought as light sliced through the crack in the door. “Yep, come in.”

Leo sat on the bed. “I’m sorry if I woke you. I knocked but you didn’t answer.”

I yawned, turning onto my side to face him. “It’s fine. How was your meeting?”

“Not horrible,” he began, “but not well either.”