My stomach drops. There’s only one reason Illren would be asking that question.
Charlie swallows. “Um, n-no, that’s n-not exactly how it works,” he stammers.
Illren doesn’t let up. He folds his arms and spreads his feet shoulder width apart, as if he’s preparing for a fight. “How does it work, then?”
Charlie loosens up, looking relieved to be discussing a topic he’s confident in. He pushes to his feet and gives the scary winter fey a real smile. “It’s a subtle power of suggestion. I can sense relationships between people and also their potential. If there is a spark there, I can feed the flame. But I can’t just force two people to fall in love if they don’t have it in them.”
Illren nods to this, and then places his hands on his hips. “Do it.”
Charlie and I both blink at him. “Do what?” Charlie asks.
Illren points at me. “Work your magic on Nora and me.”
I gasp. “Excuse me?”
Illren ignores me. “She is being extremely stubborn about the connection between us, and she needs to give in to it. In fact, you need to help her let down her walls between all of her men. She’s losing control of her power because she’s still denying herself all of her physical needs.”
Charlie’s eyes widen as he realizes I haven’t been to bed with any of my men. He studies me a moment and then smiles at me like the cat that ate the canary. “So you’re saying she needs to get laid.”
My mouth drops open.
“Precisely,” Illren says. “And I want to be one of the men she’s intimate with.”
I’m at a loss for words. Complete. And utter. Loss.
Oliver finally jumps into the conversation, scrambling to his feet and pushing his way in front of me as if he’s going to shield me from Charlie’s magic. “Hang on, now. You can’t just magic Nora into doing something she’s not ready for.”
Illren glares at Oliver. “She is ready. She’s just being stubborn.” He turns back to Charlie. “Can you do it, or not? I will pay you, of course.”
Finally, I snap out of my shock. “Don’t you dare,” I warn Charlie. “Illren, you have no right to—”
“You lost control of your power!” Illren snaps. “I will do what I must to ensure your safety.”
Charlie braves stepping between Illren and me. Not very smart, considering we’re about to kill each other. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, everyone calm down,” he says, raising his hands in a placating gesture. He pushes Illren and me even further apart and looks back and forth between us. “I’m not going to force anyone to do anything.”
He gives me a look, making sure I understand and believe him. I grudgingly nod.
“That being said,” he starts again when Illren opens his mouth to argue, “I am a part of this clan now, too, and I’m Nora’s mate.” He looks at me, and his face softens. “I will always want what’s best for you. The thing about being a cupid is I have a unique perspective. Sometimes I know what a person needs better than they know themself. If there is something I can do to bring you closer to the men in your life, then I’ll do it. I won’t be able to help myself. It’s who I am.”
I start to argue, and he cuts me off. “I’ll only ever want you to be happy. I spread love, Nora. I spread joy. It’s not a bad thing.”
I blow out a hard breath. “I suppose when you put it that way…”
Charlie grins and turns to Illren. The fey looks stoic as always, but he’s thinking hard. I can tell. He’s plotting.
“Mr. Kovros?” Charlie asks.
Illren slowly pulls his gaze away from me and looks at Charlie. “Illren, or just Kovros, is fine.”
Charlie nods. “Illren…I will do what I can, but it takes time.”
“What?” I screech.
Charlie surprises me with a rueful look while Illren preens like a smug bastard. “It’s inevitable, Nora,” Charlie tells me, ignoring my scoff. “Illren is not wrong about you. I can see the connection. It’s a medium-size flame, even. I’ve had success with a lot less.”
I scoff again. I can’t help it. I’m being scolded because I won’t admit to having a crush on a psychotic, bloodthirsty assassin. A crush I swear I don’t have! I don’t think. Okay, I’ve been known to live in denial now and then. It’s possible this could be one of those times.
Before I can continue to wage a futile argument, Illren clasps a hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “Come,” he commands. “I will show you the rest of the den. There are three empty bedchambers to choose from.”
The two walk off down the hall, no doubt planning my seduction. Charlie is being his jovial self, and Illren is…not smiling, but he looks relaxed. It’s the chummiest I’ve ever seen him act with anyone. It’s unsettling.
“Is it just me,” Oliver mutters, slipping an arm around my waist, “or is that the beginning of a budding bromance?”
“Partners in crime, maybe,” I grumble.
Oliver chuckles. “It’s nice. Illren could use a friend. He’s been the odd man out since he moved in.”
I side-eye Oliver. “I believe that’s intentional.”
“Maybe.” Oliver shrugs. “But everyone needs friends. It’s funny that the broodiest winter fey would befriend the cheeriest summer fey, though.”
That is kind of amusing. It’s my turn to shrug. “Opposites attract and all that, I guess…”
Oliver grins. “Or our deadly assassin is secretly a romantic.”
I snort a disbelieving laugh, but Oliver raises a challenging brow. “He did bind himself to you on the hope that one day you would love him.”
I open my mouth, but no argument comes out. Illren really did do that. I sigh in defeat. Things are going to get really complicated around here.
Oliver nudges me. “He’s not so bad.” I gape at Oliver, and he blushes. “Killer for hire aside, of course.”
“Are you seriously championing him right now? You want me to hook up with him? And what about Charlie? I suppose I should just take him as a lover, too?”
Oliver gives me a lopsided grin. “You are stuck with both of them.”
“Ollie!” I laugh. “I can’t believe you’re selling me out.”
I smack his shoulder, and he pulls me flush against his chest. The smile never leaves his face even as he lowers his lips to mine. I let myself get lost in his kiss. There’s been too much drama tonight, and things with Oliver are always so easy. I wrap my arms around his neck, and he melds our bodies together, warming mine all over. He pulls back just enough to look at me. “I only want there to be harmony in the den, and I want you to be happy.”
“I am happy,” I promise. “You make me happy.”
“Good.” He presses another soft kiss to my lips. “You want to sleep in my room with me tonight?”
A small thrill rushes through me. Oliver’s never asked me that before. He’s stayed with me when I was hurt, and we’ve sacked out together once or twice after a late night playing video games or binge-watching Netflix, but we’ve never just gone to bed together intentionally. It feels different. More relationship-y.