Even as I stifled my laughter, I let the warmth grow in my core. Ian could sense it, just as I could feel his rage. He must have lost a little control, because the woman clinging to him squeaked in pain.
“Seriously? Did she just squeak?”
“Mind your step, sugar,” Rufus said in warning, but his lips twitched up at the corners ever so slightly.
“Sugar?” Ian asked, his voice deepening. Another ripple of energy escaped him, and the woman took a few steps away from him. “You have nicknames for each other?”
Unable to stop myself I stepped toward him, which brought me closer to the woman. I felt her eyeing me, and I forced myself not to move away.
“No, I don’t even have a nickname for you! You think I’d have one for some guy I just met?”
“You have often referred to me as ‘bastard’,” he replied.
Sarcasm?
“Listen, Ian,” Rufus said, bringing our focus back to the room and happenings within it.
“No, Rufus, you don’t have to explain anything to him,” I interjected. “Especially when he has this trollop hanging on him.” I am not sure where I got that word, but Ian’s eyes widened in surprise even as Rufus laughed.
The trollop in question came toward me, so smoothly and sensuously it looked like she was floating on air.
“I will rip out your throat if you insult me once more.”
Her aura, though it differed from any I had sensed before, was vaguely familiar.
Fairy.
She smiled, mistaking my silence for acquiescence.
“Will you two excuse us?” Ian asked. I was sure under other circumstances neither Rufus nor the woman would have obliged, but with the energy rolling off us, they left the room without a word.
“Why are you here?” he asked when they had closed the door behind them.
I opened the balcony doors, hoping the fresh air would help us relax. Otherwise this house was going to end up a smoking pile of rubble.
“I thought I knew, but now I’m not so sure.” I leaned against the railing, my back to him.
He was close, almost touching me, but he just stood there without reaching out.
“Then tell me why you thought you came here.”
My anger was subsiding, but the hurt was still there. He’d run away from me… he ran to her.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Fine, then you should leave. Take Rufus with you.”
“I’m sure you’d love that. Then you can be alone with…” Suddenly exhausted, I slouched, resting my head on my arms. I buried my face in my arms, but I felt him move closer to me. “Please do not touch me.”
“As you wish… You need rest, holding back your power will drain you in the beginning. You will stay here tonight. I do not think it is a good idea for you to be driving in your state.”
Because I felt like sinking to the floor and sleeping on the balcony, I knew he was right.
“Fine, I’ll stay in my old room. Rufus can have the floor. Maybe you can just keep her from squeaking too much,” I said as I stood straight again. “Oh!” I yelped as I turned right into his chest.
“Why the hell are you smiling?” I asked.
“You are jealous.”
He placed his hands on the railing, caging me between his arms.
“I am not jealous. I just need sleep.”
“You are jealous,” he whispered, as he wiped away the tears. “I thought—”
“I know what you thought. Seth told me.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “I was an ass for saying what I did, but you’re an ass for leaving. We could have talked. I would have apologized. I know I need to work on controlling myself. I am truly sorry for that. But I don’t know if I can forgive you running to that… that… her arms!” I tensed when he wrapped his arms around me.
“No,” I said pushing at his hands, “you don’t get to touch me after you were hanging on someone else.”
“As you noticed, she was hanging on me,” he said tightening his grip on me. “And I noticed you arrived with Rufus. Did you run to him?”
“Yeah, I ran right to him, because we’re the best of friends! Get real, Ian. And you didn’t seem upset about her touching you.” I gave up trying to remove his hands. Instead I went limp in his arms.
“What you said was hurtful, Qadira. The venom in your voice proved what you think of banshees and becoming one.” He shook me to get me to look at him again.
“Again, I’m sorry for saying what I did. I meant banshees like Gabriel and his minions.” I tried shoving at him again, but it was pointless. “I am changing… What… what if I become like them?”
“Ah, so we finally arrive at the truth,” he said with a trace of humor, and I scowled up at him. “Goldie, you will stay who you are. Gabriel and his men are evil because that is who they are. You will not become a sadist just because you are becoming a banshee. You would already have to be one, do you see?”
“Are you sure?”
“You have lived with many banshees over the years, did any of them get pleasure out of hurting people?”
“No.”
“You’re right, I know you’re right. I’ve always been so different from those around me. First with the mortals in school, then with you and the clan. I accepted my differences. They built me into who I am today. Now… I guess I am worried about losing who I am… I just need time to get a grip on everything.”
“You are still Fey. You are still Qadira. You are still the one I love.”
I looked into his eyes. His words were sincere. His aura reached out to mine, but I held back.
“Ah…” he muttered.
“I really am sorry I offended you. It was not my intention.”
“I forgive you,” he said, lowering his face towards mine, stopping only a breath away. “I too am sorry. I should have stayed and talked with you. I should have known you were scared. I am sorry, Goldie.”
“Oh,” I breathed, staring at his lips.
He was too close for me to think, so I pulled back to put more room between us.
He frowned and stepped away.
“Right. So, back to why you are here.”
“I came to apologize to you. I’ve done that so I’ll be going to bed.”
“Okay. You will sleep in here.”
“While you and Squeaky go to another room? That seems silly. I’ll just take my old room. I promise I won’t listen. I definitely don’t want to hear that.”
“You misunderstand. You and I will sleep in here… I will sleep on the floor. Lydia—”
“Ah, so it has a name.”
“Yes, and she will be leaving. She is not welcome here. I am not interested in being with her, Goldie.”
Something in me knew this was true. That he really had no interest in her, but the memory of them kissing was too new, too painful.
“Hmm… No, it’s better if I don’t sleep in the same room as you.”
“Goldie, I love you. I am so deeply in love with you I will never find my way out. I have lived a long time and have never felt for anyone as I do for you. You are the only one I want to be with,” he said, and moved to stand in front of me. “Tell me you believe me. I need to know you believe me. Please.”