She twists her hands in front of her, looking genuinely torn. “Look, I like spending time with you, but today just proved how dangerous that can be.” She looks up at me. “If I’m caught dating the CEO, the professional image I’ve worked on for years will go up in flames.”
I sigh. “I don’t see why that has to happen. It’s allowed by company policy.”
She puts her hands on her hips. “There is company policy and personal policy. I just don’t think it’s right.” Her eyes linger on me. “Though, I admit it’s hard to resist.”
“Then stop resisting,” I say flatly. “Eva, there is so much more you could have.”
She shakes her head. “I’d love to discuss this more, but I have work to catch up on.” She runs a hand through her hair, avoiding my gaze. “I’m sorry, Tanner.”
She isn’t angry or frustrated.
Just resigned. Avoiding our bond.
How can she possibly resist so easily when the feeling is so strong it steals the very air from my lungs when I look at her?
But I know that, for now, I have to respect her wishes. It’s what a soul bond would do.
“I’ll leave you to your work, then, Eva,” I say, turning to go back to my office.
I can feel her watching me the whole way, and when I turn back, I see a hint of longing on her face just before she whirls around, blushing, and stomps back to her office.
I grin because this battle may be lost, but the war is far from over.
13
Tanner
“Ethics for CEOs?” Flynn asks, sidling up to sit on the couch across from the chair I’m lounging in. “Looks boring.”
I sigh, putting the book aside. “I’m trying to at least do something to show Eva I’m taking this seriously.”
“She should already understand that. After all, you’re working for free,” Flynn says. “If I were you, I’d take the money.”
“I still don’t get the point,” Ian says, which is a bit ironic coming from a light fae since they have the best technology and magic. “Why would anyone want so much more money?”
“Why do you want a nicer castle?” Flynn asks, raising an eyebrow at him.
Ian shrugs. “That’s different. Better defense. Better ability to repel chaos. But as far as I’ve seen with humans, they simply want shinier cars that go faster than their roads allow.”
Flynn shudders slightly. “And cars are already terribly primitive forms of transportation.”
“I have to agree there,” I say. “Who thought it was a good idea to just let everyone run around in huge, hulking pieces of metal with nothing in place to make sure they aren’t drunk, incapacitated, or evil?”
“It’s horrifying,” Ian says, shaking his head. “If you’re a human, you can just be walking down the road, minding your own business, and get killed by someone on drugs steering a giant metal beast far faster than anyone can run.”
“Chaos,” Flynn agrees.
“The humans don’t really have a choice,” I say. “They don’t have wings or localized communities like we do.”
“Another reason this whole place is unsalvageable,” Ian mutters. “Chaos and death everywhere.”
“Not everywhere,” I say, a little worried about how negative he’s getting.
“Speaking of which, why do you care if you help that company or not?” Ian asks, leaning back on our other couch with his arms behind his head. “Don’t you hate them for how they treat Eva?”
I shake my head. “The company really does mean a lot to her. I’m hoping to help find some ways to stabilize it once I’ve taken her back to my world.”
Flynn and Ian share a look.
“What?” I ask.
“You know, you really shouldn’t just assume she’ll want to go with you,” Flynn says carefully. “But I already warned you about that, so I’ll hold my peace.”
I lean forward, rubbing my hands over my knees, trying to relieve the stress that comes from being away from my kingdom and thinking about it being in trouble without me.
“She is fae. She belongs in our world,” I say firmly. “Besides, I need to get back and hold the front lines.”
Flynn sighs. “Our kingdoms agreed to function without us. You should trust them to do so and focus on winning over your soul bond.”
“You think I’m not trying?” I run a hand through my hair. “It’s difficult when she’s someone who won’t admit what she is.”
“True,” Flynn says.
Ian pins me with a look. “But your brothers are very strong in their own rights. I would have thought they’d be able to hold off the chaos waves without issue.”
“Yeah,” Flynn chimes in. “Don’t you guys just mass kill—”
I stop him with a glare. “It’s not that we want to. But yes, our powers are better for taking out large groups of weaker foes, whereas someone like Ian—”
“Can take on any foe,” Ian supplies cheerfully, looking even more cocky.
I grin. “Even Flynn, with his seduction lessons?”
Flynn goes slightly red, even over his olive complexion. “Why are you bringing that up now?”
“To take the pressure off me,” I say with a grin.
“I’m enjoying the lessons very much,” Ian says, straightening. “In fact, I—”
“Can we not talk about it?” Flynn asks, folding his arms as he goes over to stand by the window, looking down in the direction of Eva’s apartment.
I narrow my eyes. “Why don’t you want to talk about it?”
Ian rolls his eyes. “Flynn’s still embarrassed about knowing so much about seduction techniques.”
Flynn shoots us a glare. “I’m still a warrior.” He looks out the window, and there’s a slight sadness to his expression. “It’s not all that fun, having so many princesses after me, you know. Or growing up being trained in how to please them one day.”
I bite my lower lip, feeling for Flynn. Just because fire fae males are known for being alluring and attractive, it doesn’t mean their own kingdom should be farming them out.
The females are fiercely strong. In fact, Brett was saved by his soul bond, Avery, who is a fire fae princess.
I know Flynn is strong as well, and perhaps we don’t acknowledge it enough. He was chosen for this mission, after all.
“Flynn,” I say, walking over to the window to put a hand on his shoulder. He looks over at me, surprised, his glowing golden eyes a little like embers. “I’m glad you are on this mission with us. We can use a strong fire fae like you on our side.”
Ian comes over too, slower to pick up on things but happy to join in when anyone needs support.
He stands beside Flynn, bumping him lightly. “Yeah. I’m glad you’re here too.”
Flynn flushes bright red and turns away from us, striding over to the kitchen to get some juice. “You two are so pushy with your bonding sometimes,” he says, though he’s smiling, looking glad to be included.
“Yeah right,” I say. “You’re the easiest one to bond with, Flynny.”