CK’s hands clench into fists. “Watch your mouth,” he says.
“Again, just stating the facts.” He steps closer to CK and takes his arms in his hands. “Please ask her again,” he says quietly.
CK shakes his head. “No, she made it clear the subject was closed. I am not going to risk pissing her off. Not now when she is being reasonable about our future.”
“She is being reasonable because of me. Because of what I am doing to her. Please,” Sebastian implores his sire, tightening his grip. “I have to be with her. I feel whole when she is next to me. It is like she is…one of my kind…one of my old kind.”
CK brings his hands up and removes Sebastian’s grip from him. Sebastian might have the edge on the juju power but CK is still physically stronger and quicker than him. “She is not Faerie. It is impossible. They do not fall under her rule, you know that. You are mistaken, and I will not discuss this again. And you will keep your hands to yourself. I don’t know the ins and outs of your little whatever it is, but you are only supposed to be spelling her. Not touching her.”
“We kiss and we feed from each other and on occasion we bring pleasure to ourselves while we do it,” Sebastian says smugly.
CK looks pained as he hears the words but adjusts his features slightly and asks, “You please her? You fuck her?”
“No, she won’t do that. She touches herself,” Sebastian admits. “But remember that you did give me permission to fuck her. She just won’t.”
CK turns away from him. “She kisses you? Willingly?”
“Yes,” he sighs. “This is what I am trying to tell you. She feels the connection we have as well. I know she does.”
Silence.
“Either you speak to her again or I will spell her to come to me willingly,” Sebastian says boldly.
“You wouldn’t dare,” CK snaps at him.
“Oh, I would. I did before we left L.A., but then she did that Dragon Shift and it threw the spell.”
“You did what?” CK launches himself at Sebastian, hand at this throat.
“I suggested she come to me and let me make love to her. The only reason I haven’t done it again is because I love her, and I don’t want her that way. Unless, I am left with no choice.”
“You are pushing your luck. If I find out that you spelled her to come to you, make no mistake that this time, I really will end you. If she comes to you of her own volition, then fair enough, but you will not influence her. Your job, your only job, is to spell her to make her come to me.”
“I did. Yesterday. And I told her plain to her face as well. I have your back, you know that. I just want something in return is all.”
“Remember this, Aefre,” Lance’s voice echoes in my head, “You have to remember this, to see what your sire is planning.”
“Aefre. Aefre.” I hear Corinne’s voice and I open my eyes
. I was dreaming about CK and Sebastian. They were plotting and discussing me like some kind of commodity. I frown as I remember the details.
“Aefre,” Corinne whispers, hovering over me.
I bolt upright. “Corinne? Wait, is that really you?” I ask, thinking it must The Thirteen because of the awful dream I just had.
“Yes, Your Majesty, it is really me.”
“How do I know?” I whisper at her, not wanting to wake Cole.
“Erm, you came to see me earlier, with your sire. Ahmed and I walked in on you having a private discussion. That is what I am here to talk to you about.” She holds up a scroll.
Well, that is true, but that doesn’t mean she is who she says she is. I warily climb out of bed and pull on a robe as she looks away.
“You also asked about your father,” she whispers as she realizes I am not altogether trusting. “I took Devon on his sire trials,” she adds.
“I believe you. I just had this awful dream. That usually happens when he makes an appearance.”
We walk out to the sitting room, closing the bedroom door quietly behind me.