The fresh scent of the ocean tickled my senses. Cyrus, I sighed.
Yes, little queen, he murmured, his amusement a seductive stroke against my inner thighs.
I never thought we’d be in this situation, where I desired him, but I didn’t see the point in fighting it. Did he piss me off? Yes. But he also made me scream for hours on end in the best way. And I craved so much more.
Ah, alas, you’ll need to rely on your other mates tonight, he whispered. I need to tend to Exos.
My eyes flew open. Exos?
He’s okay, Cyrus promised. Whoever captured him planted a trap in his mind, similar to the one in the death fields.
Yes. I blinked up at Vox, who was gazing down at me in bemusement. “Hi,” I squeaked, confused. Titus stood at his side, with Sol behind me, but it was Vox’s arms holding me in the air.
Let them take care of you, Cyrus urged. I’ll look after Exos.
How? I wondered.
“Are you all right, sweetheart?” Titus stroked a flame across my cheek, heating my cool skin.
By destroying the foreign entity in his mind, Cyrus replied. Go be with your mates, little queen. We’ll return to you soon.
“Claire?” Titus sounded concerned.
I cleared my throat. “I… hold on.” Don’t let that thing attack you, Cyrus. It’s strong. The second I’d felt it trying to tug me under, I’d lashed out at it with everything I could. That it’d left me unconscious afterward had me a bit concerned. I need more training on defensive elements.
Hmm, yes, you do. But in this case, the essence appears to be designed for you, Claire. It merely hissed at my presence in his mind.
Designed for me? I repeated, my skin heating from where Titus caressed my face and down to my neck, his gaze holding mine. This is confusing. Because I felt Cyrus in my head, but Titus, Sol, and Vox were very much here, their hands all on me now.
Go engage your other elements, Cyrus said, his tone holding a demand. We’ll update you when we know more, but for now, I need you to focus on the others while I help my brother. Trust me, little queen. Trust me to fix this.
I do. I meant it. If I trusted Exos’s fate to anyone, it was Cyrus. I just…
Don’t think, just do, he encouraged. Embrace your fae, Claire. You’ll enjoy it more.
“Is she talking to Cyrus?” Sol’s rumble vibrated my back, his palm clasping the side of my neck. That was the second time he’d caught me in a protective stance. I rather liked it.
“Yes,” Titus replied. “I can’t hear them, but I feel his water bond heavy in her mind.”
“He’s telling me about Exos,” I explained, swallowing. “Whatever that thing is, it tried to suck me back into a black hole again, but I fought it.”
And you did so well, Cyrus whispered, pride evident in his tone. I’m going to leave you now and tend to Exos. I’ll be thinking of you, my little queen, and how you sound when you come.
Heat suffused my skin. Cyrus.
His chuckle slid up and down my spine, sending splashes of yearning to every nerve receptor before he pulled away from my thoughts.
My thighs clenched as a surge of warmth ruined my panties.
Damn Water Fae.
Whoever claimed hate and lust were related emotions deserved an award because, boy, were they right. I didn’t want to be attracted to Cyrus, and I sensed he felt the same way, but here we were, mated for life.
You adore me, he teased.
I thought you were leaving, I grumbled.
I am, but I had to make sure you were in the right frame of mind to indulge your other elements. And now that you are… enjoy.