Beauty (A Faery Story 3)

“And it’s very interesting when she turns into a wolf,” Duffy added. “Did you see her earlier? She ain’t got no clothes on when she turns back into a girl.”

Julian stifled a laugh. “Yes, yet another reason Dellacourt won’t allow his wife to venture out without him. Duffy’s hit on her three times. You should watch it, little cos. Vampires take their consorts seriously.”

Duffy smiled, a naughty little grin. “It’s okay. No one takes me seriously at all. That’s when I swoop in and steal the girl. But after we find Gilly, I’ll just look after her. She’ll be needing a dedicated guard.” Duffy looked around. “I don’t understand why all the long faces. ’Tis a great adventure. We’re going to another plane to rescue a princess. It’s going to be amazing.”

“It’s going to be a miracle if we live,” Lach muttered.

Lach had gotten all the mopey parts of their soul. Shim was a bit more worried than Duffy, but he could see the gnome’s point. Shim got to one knee in front of Duffy. “I think Lach’s worried that we have so little time to find them. Father has called for all the Unseelie warriors to gather in four days’ time. At the end of the week, they will rip through the veil and invade Tir na nÓg before the vampire ambassadors enter. If we wait any longer, Torin could have access to vampire weaponry, and then we’re all screwed. We have to find her, convince her to come with us, and get her back here before her brothers invade.”

“There won’t be any convincing.” Lach frowned down at him. “She’ll come or I’ll tie her up and toss her over my shoulder.”

“I taught you well,” Julian said, slapping Lach on the back. “I rather wish I could go, but I’m rushing back to the Vampire plane. The Dellacourts and I are raising money and weapons to support your father and the Seelie twins. They won’t go in alone. It’s time to make our push. We’ll take back Tir na nÓg or we will all die trying.”

“Yes,” Lach said, “it’s the dying part I’m trying to avoid.” He looked pointedly at Duffy.

Duffy’s axe stood straight in his hand. He’d started to use it as a walking stick. “Don’t worry none about it, Lach. I ain’t letting no one kill you. The king himself charged me with protecting you both, but I would have done it anyway. I don’t care that you got a kingdom waiting on you. You’re me brothers.”

Shim patted him on the back, his eyes meeting Lach’s. They were of one mind when it came to the little gnome. They would protect him. “I appreciate it, brother. Now, how much longer do we have?”

Julian gestured to the small crowd. “It’s getting close. Come along now. Roan wants to talk to you.”

Shim followed his cousin and Duffy, excitement growing. Before they reached the group, Lach put a hand on his shoulder.

“You have to stay with me.”

A wealth of guilt washed across Shim. Since the connection between him and Bron had sputtered back to life, he’d spent more time holding on to her than he had dealing with things in this world. He’d left Lach to handle the day-to-day problems that came with being princes of the realm. He’d allowed himself to sink into his waking dreams of her, watching through her eyes as she moved through the days. But all the while, Lach had been left out. How lonely had his brother become?

“I will stay in this world, Lach. I know it’s important.” He couldn’t say anything else. An apology wasn’t enough. It would never be enough.

“See that you do. It’s getting harder and harder to pull you out. I can only imagine that you’ll be able to feel her even more when we’re on the same plane with her.”

“I can handle it,” Shim promised. “I’ll spend all my time trying to keep Duff alive. Look at him. The vampire’s going to kill him for sure.”

Duffy had walked straight up to the lovely Kaja and taken her hand. The woman who had the power to turn into a wolf didn’t seem to mind. She smiled down at him, speaking softly and clutching his hand. Dante didn’t seem to mind, either. He looked indulgently on as his wife spoke to the gnome. But the minute he looked away, Duffy started staring at Kaja’s ass. He turned and winked cheekily Shim’s way.

“That vamp is going to figure out Duff’s game and drain his ass.” Lach had a smile on his face as he said it.

But the very idea had Shim thinking. First blood. His fangs popped out. They had waited a long time, but it would all be worth it. Bron was their mate. It was only right she should be their first blood, their only blood.

“Gods, hide those things,” Julian said, shaking his head. “You’re going to have th

e other vamps thinking you’re an untried boy.”

Shim stared at him seriously. In many ways, he was an untried boy. He was thirty years old, but he’d bonded at a young age. It had cut him off from many of the things young, wild Fae tried.

Julian’s jaw dropped. “Are you fucking kidding me? After all the time you’ve spent in my club? After all the women I’ve sent you into private rooms with? You didn’t fuck any of them? I paid a couple of them. Damn it.”

Lach leaned in. “Do you have to announce it to the whole plane?”

Julian’s voice lowered. “I’m sorry. I was sure I’d provided adequate opportunities for you to learn.”

“We did learn. We know perfectly well how to top a sub and bring her to pleasure. Ask any of the women we’ve spent time with.” Shim couldn’t help but notice that the rest of the party was very politely ignoring them. Of course, vamps had excellent hearing. He wasn’t ashamed. He would tell everyone. “We simply didn’t cheat on our bondmate.”

Julian’s jaw tightened. “I understand, but there were other reasons for me doing this. You have goblin blood. All Unseelie do. Tell me you haven’t thought about the mating fever.”

It was a thing that happened sometimes with goblins who waited too long to mate. They would find a suitable female and go a little insane. Luckily female goblins were strong enough to survive the experience. Bronwyn was more fragile.

“It’s not going to happen.” Shim didn’t believe it. He hadn’t felt it before.