His thumb stroked over mine.
The sensation wrapped around me, and I reveled in the simple touch. This was the first time in my life I’d allowed someone to hold my hand as a casual sign of affection. I liked it far too much. That thing inside me emanated a satisfaction that worried me. It was fine for Fenris to stake his claim in order to win a reprieve from Adira and his father. It wasn’t okay for me to do the same. Fenris wasn’t meant for me, no matter how tempting I found him.
“Remember that no touching boundary?” I asked quietly.
“You mean the one we got rid of with the unconditional honesty deal?”
“A deal I didn’t agree to.”
He arched a brow at me, and I huffed, knowing what he wanted. The truthful reason for my question.
“You’re making me uncomfortable, Fenris.”
“That’s nothing new.”
I almost snorted because he was right.
“I’m worried you’re going to push too far if I continue to let you get away with the little things.”
He tugged me to a stop and turned so we faced each other.
“You have one ‘Fenris, stop pushing me’ a day. Do you want to use today’s for this?” He lifted our joined hands between us and used his free hand to trace over the backs of my fingers.
My stomach clenched, and my vision flickered.
“I don’t think you want to,” he continued. “I think you like this. You said you trusted me. Trust me not to push too far, too fast. You can handle this.”
“Your confidence is my worst enemy,” I grumbled.
He grinned and lowered our hands, his hold secure.
“I can smell your nervousness. When are you going to realize that’s not something you need to feel around me?”
This time I did snort.
“There’s my girl. Now, let’s go find your druids.”
The muffled sound of raised voices echoed in the hall before we reached the pool.
“Oh, this is going to be fun,” Fenris said a moment before I spotted Eras and his mermaids facing off with the druids just inside the pool area.
The group stopped yelling at the sound of the door opening. Eras’s angry face turned a deeper shade of red at the sight of us.
“I knew it!” he yelled. “This ends now.”
He lunged toward us, and several things seemed to happen at once. Fenris’s hand started to shake in mine. The mermaids hissed and went for the druids. And a cloud of dust exploded from Anne’s hand toward the mermaids.
Era’s black eyes locked on mine, and Fenris’s form began to shimmer.
The thing inside of me surged forward with too much force to deny.
“Fenris, no.”
He twitched beside me at the sultry sound of my voice, and the shimmer surrounding him disappeared.
Eras continued forward, unaware of his mermaids falling limply to the tiles behind him.
“Eras, your obsession with what I do with the druids needs to stop. This level of petty retribution is beneath you.”
His steps slowed.
“So you admit you stole my meal.”
I sighed, released Fenris’s hand, and moved toward Eras. The incubus’s eyes flickered at my approach, and I could sense his fear.
“Darling, don’t fear me. Celebrate me.” My lips curved upward. “On your knees.”
Eras immediately knelt.
“You wanted me to feed in front of you so you could know. Prepare yourself, Eras, to feel what it’s like to be my meal.”
Chapter Nineteen
Something collided with me, knocking me sideways. The world spun a second before I crashed into the pool. Water went up my nose, and the burn of it snapped me back to reality. What had I almost done?
Pain, shame, and rage collided inside of me, and I screamed my frustration under the water.
A hand stroked over my hair, and I snapped my head around, my vision once again turning. Fenris’s concerned brown eyes collided with mine. His smile was missing as he gave my hair a gentle tug forward. He reeled me into his arms as we broke through to the surface.
I sniffled and leaned my head against his chest.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
If not for his quick thinking, I would have done something I would have never been able to forgive myself for.
“I’ve got you,” he said softly. “Always.”
His hand smoothed over my wet hair and down my back.
“Stealing my meal was nothing compared to the line you just crossed.”
Lifting my head, I followed the sound of Eras’s rage-filled voice and saw him where I’d left him. Only now, he was on his feet, his hands fisted, and shaking with anger.
The rumble of Fenris’s laughter vibrated against my chest.
“And you obviously didn’t learn anything from the experience if you’re back to provoking her. Run along, teenie little weenie. This is a predator pool party.”
A snort from Meg had Eras turning on his heel and storming out the door.
“The powder isn’t going to keep the mermaids under for long. You’re not going to want to be in the pool when they come to,” Anne said.
Fenris turned me toward the ledge and lifted me out of the pool. I quickly crossed my arms and wiped some of the water off my face as Fenris got out behind me.
When I stood, Lauv cocked a hip and studied me. Fenris’s hands settled on my shoulders. The touch lent me his support and his warmth. Why were we always ending up in the pool?
“Sweet Hades, Eliana. You weren’t even directing any of that at us, and I’m still tingling. Never mind the layered spells of protection that I’m wearing. And here, you had everyone fooled thinking you’re at the bottom of the food chain.”
One of the mermaids stirred.
“You’re all at the bottom of the food chain,” she slurred. “We’re going to—”
“Save your finned fannies by getting back into the water,” I said, losing my patience. “All this guppy gabbing is getting us nowhere. You hate the druids for wiping your minds and meddling with magic in your bathrooms. We get it already.”
River stood, and her second set of eyelids blinked while her first set narrowed at me.
“Someone’s finding her big girl pants. A little too late, though. You’ve started a war you can’t hope to win.”
“A war? Cuts and arguing over a bathroom is hardly a war.”
She flashed her sharp teeth at me.
“We both know it’s so much more than that. How’s your search for Ashlyn going? It’s been almost two weeks now, hasn’t it?”
“Got it!” a voice called from the pool behind us.
I glanced back at the mermaid holding my phone. She rapidly tapped at the screen and grinned.
“Message sent.”
She threw the phone at me, but Fenris deftly caught it and opened the message. We read it together.
Me: I’m the one responsible for Ashlyn’s disappearance. Come get me, fury.
The mermaid had seaweed for a brain if she thought for a moment that Megan would believe I’d sent that. But, the new message that came in before I could tell Megan what was going on made me pause.
Megan: You sound like you need a Fenris hug.
“I agree,” Fenris said, spinning me around.