“There are tons of Winter Fae, Aspen. Or maybe I just like snow.”
“Right…” I tried to pull my finger away, but he caught it and trapped my hand against his chest.
“In case you didn’t get it last night, I’m sorry for how I acted yesterday.”
“Oh, I got it.” I threw him a smirk, and a satisfied smile curled his lips.
“Twice, if I’m not mistaken?”
Heat ignited below my belly button and traveled all the way up to my cheeks. “Yeah, yeah. I guess you really do know your way around down there.”
“I’d be happy to show you again if it would help my cause.”
Another rush of heat coated my skin, sending a shot of desire to the apex of my thighs. “No,” I snapped. I’d had time to do some thinking and despite the Fae’s oral talents, I just wasn’t sure how I felt about him. Clearing my throat, I amended my tone. “I get it, and I appreciate it. Obviously. Just don’t be an asshole, and we’ll be fine.”
His fingers crept toward my hand and threaded through my own. “Good. Because I’m not sure I’ll survive this whole thing without you.”
“I’m pretty sure you’d find a way somehow, Fallon. You’re a survivor, like me.” He nodded slowly, a wave of darkness curtaining his luminescent irises. I threw the comforter back and slid to the edge of the mattress. “I’m going to jump in the shower.”
“Good, I want to get down to the diner so we can talk to Fay again.”
That hope was back in his eyes, and despite wanting to, I couldn’t stay mad at him. When he talked about Fay, his entire expression lit up. I squeezed his shoulder and turned toward the bathroom.
The front door whipped open and smashed against the wall. I spun around as a frigid wind blew into the small apartment. Wrapping my arms around my skimpy nightie, I eyed the man in the doorway and the sheet of glistening ice covering the oak door and every inch of the entryway.
“Elrian, what are you doing here?” Fallon barked.
The king of the Winter Fae glared at his son, those icy lilac irises the mirror images of Fallon’s. His long platinum blonde hair was tied at the base of his neck, highlighting pointed ears and sharp cheekbones. A crown of ice sat atop his head, the spikes jutting up to piercing points. Unlike Fallon, the king was tall and lithe, but even the thick white fur pelt hung over his shoulders couldn’t hide the lean muscles beneath. The male oozed power, his presence thickening the air until I could barely drag a breath in. I wrapped my arms tighter around myself to keep the goosebumps at bay.
“I am here because my idiotic son has forced it upon me,” he snarled.
“Sheppard contacted you?”
Elrian scowled, and his lips thinned into a hard line. “That man truly has no sense of self-preservation.” He clucked his teeth and leveled his frosty gaze on me. “You must be Aspen, the reason Fallon is in this mess.” His lip curled in time with the disgusted arch of his brow.
Guess I’m no Kimmie-Jayne.
“This is not Aspen’s fault. I chose to be here. If you’re going to take it out on anyone, it’s me.”
“Oh, trust me, we will have plenty to speak of once we depart.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Fallon pinned his arms to his chest, his biceps bulging against his bare skin. “I’m not a child. You can’t tell me what to do.”
Lilac flames flickered across the king’s luminescent irises, and ice crystallized across his fingertips. “Do you have any idea what you’re risking by being here?”
“I’m tired of hiding, Father. Don’t you get that?”
His eyes widened, tiny shimmery strands of lavender shot from his fingertips, and a thin layer of frost blanketed the entire room. He curled his fingers into tight fists and glared at Fallon.
“She already knows. I told her the truth weeks ago.”
“Does everyone know?” he shouted. “I’ve kept you safe and hidden for a quarter of a century and now you’re going to tell the entire world of Azar on live television? Are you insane?”
“No! Of course not.”
“Then what are you doing here?” His eyes blazed, then scanned the room before a mask of calm slid over the king’s face.
“Here, where my mother lives?”
Elrian shook his head, slowly. “No. Here, exposed in the open. You think I don’t know what’s been happening on the show?”
Fallon’s face paled, a sickly green pallor tingeing his cheeks.
“You thought you could hide the attempts on your life?” He clucked his teeth. “I know everything, Fallon. Never forget that.” Elrian huffed out a frustrated breath and dragged his hand through his hair, a mannerism both father and son shared. “It’s clear that someone on the show has leaked your true identity, and now you want all my enemies to come after you?”
“It’s not his fault,” I blurted. “He had no idea we were coming to Maginaria or that Shep wanted to out his biological mom.”
“Whoever this woman is you’ve come to visit, is not Fallon’s mother.”
I searched the king’s eye for a sign that he was lying, but his face was an unreadable mask. Fallon’s gaze was seared to his father’s, likely trying to determine the same.
“So where is my mother then? Why can’t I meet her?”
“Because it’s not safe for either of you.” He marched in front of the small sofa, icicles still clinging to his fingertips. “You may think of me what you will, Fallon, but everything I’ve done, all the secrets and lies, has been for your protection. And hers. You’re out of my sight for a few weeks and look what’s happened.”
The king had a point there.
Two quick knocks sent all our gazes spinning to the door.
“Oh, for gods’ sakes,” Elrian muttered.
“Hey, lovebirds, it’s me, Fay. I brought you a little breakfast.” Her voice seeped through the door, and Fallon’s eyes darted to his father’s.
A tendon fluttered the royal’s jaw, but it was so faint I could’ve imagined it.
“Well, let the woman in.” He waved a nonchalant bejeweled hand. “You can’t just leave her out there.”
I scampered across the room and opened the door to find Fay with a huge tray. The savory scent of eggs, bacon, waffles and maple syrup drifted into the room, and my stomach growled.
“You hungry, honey?” She gave me a big smile. “I bet you two worked up an appetite.” She shot me a knowing smile, which I ignored because waffles!
“So hungry,” I crooned. Taking a step back, I let Fay into the den of wolves—or Fae but whatever.
She was already in her cute, checkered apron as she strutted in and headed for the small dinette by the kitchen. I watched Elrian as she came into view, but still no reaction from the king.
“Oh!” Her vivid blue eyes widened as they landed on the icy statue, and the tray slid from her hands. The sharp clatter resonated through the small space as the plates and glasses crashed to the floor. “I’m so sorry,” she mumbled as she bent down to pick up the mess of eggs and bacon. “I’m such a clumsy fool.”
My stomach growled again. Damn, what a waste.