Part 2 (2/2)
”A charm,” she murmured, capable of sensing the small tingle of magic that surrounded the round disc. ”Do you recognize it?”
”It belongs to a fey, but not one of our tribe,” he said.
Rya bit her lower lip. ”Is it possible that sprites from other colonies are being taken?”
”Possible.” The diamond eyes flashed with fury, his fingers closing over the charm. ”Or this belongs to our unknown enemy.”
Rya wrinkled her nose. ”True. Unfortunately, it doesn't get us any closer to discovering who's responsible, or how they're doing it.”
”No.” The air crackled with the male's power before he was giving a shake of his head and tucking the charm into the pocket of his robe. ”Have you eaten?”
Rya blinked at the abrupt change in conversation. ”I'm not hungry.”
”Too bad.” He narrowed his diamond eyes. ”You need food and rest. You can come nicely or I can toss you over my shoulder.”
Rya pretended to scowl. ”Bully.”
He smiled. ”You're not the first to call me that.”
”No surprise,” Rya muttered, even as she allowed the male to guide her over the snow and into the tunnel that led beneath the ice.
”It smells wonderful,” she murmured as they entered the surprisingly beautiful cavern lit with thousands of tiny fairy lights that danced, with a dizzying beauty, off the ice.
”I caught the salmon this morning and wrapped them in leaves with spices before placing them in the hot springs.” He led her around a stalagmite-or was it stalact.i.te? One of those pointy things that grew from the bottom of the cavern. Her eyes widened at the sight of the small table set with candles and a crystal decanter filled with a golden liquid. ”I also have a small serving of nectar that I bought from a fairy when I visited Flir.”
Her stomach growled as she moved forward to take a seat. She'd expended an enormous amount of energy trying to discover the magic being used to kidnap the sprites.
No one simply disappeared without a trace. There had to be some residual proof of who was responsible for taking them.
Finn moved to a shallow pool in the center of the cavern that bubbled with the heat from the lava flowing beneath them. With surprising efficiency, considering he was a prince who no doubt had dozens of servants who had left the colony to go into hiding with the rest of the tribe, he unwrapped the salmon and placed them on plates along with slices of fresh fruit that he'd gone through a portal to collect the day before.
Heading to the table, he set a plate in front of her before taking his own seat.
”A true feast,” she said with genuine appreciation.
Finn gave a lift of his shoulders. ”We've worked hard. We deserve a break.”
Rya tried to force the gnawing fear for her mother to the back of her mind. Finn was right. She wasn't going to help if she collapsed from weariness.
”I suppose so,” she admitted.
”Allow me.” Finn reached for the decanter, pouring them each a gla.s.s of the nectar.
Rya took a sip, s.h.i.+vering as the delicious warmth spread through her body.
She was only half fey, but the nectar flowed through her like the finest champagne.
”Very potent.”
She glanced toward the male who sprawled back in his chair with arrogant ease. He was truly beautiful. A shame he didn't make her heart miss a beat. Or fill her dreams with heated fantasies. Only one male had ever managed to do that.
Torque.
Her back abruptly tingled, as if to remind her that she carried the male's marking. Not that she could forget. His light touch during the ceremony fifty years ago was supposed to have left a small symbol that would seal their betrothal. Instead the image of a dragon had appeared, the vibrant gold and jade colors spreading across her skin.
The tattoo started at the nape of her neck, its long, sinewy body curving down her spine to end at the upper curve of her right b.u.t.tock. Most startling, it had two sapphire eyes that were a perfect match to her betrothed's.
Only the fact that Torque had seemed as startled as she'd been by the size and intricate detail of the marking had allowed her to bite back her words of outrage.
”Is something wrong?” Finn's low, musical voice broke through her distracted thoughts. ”The air is suddenly several degrees warmer.”
Rya pasted a smile to her lips, feeling a blush steal beneath her cheeks.
Dammit. She devoted a large amount of energy trying to forget she possessed a betrothed, let alone the fact that he'd set her blood on fire when she'd seen him. After all, Torque didn't bother to hide his grim regret that he was compelled to take her as his consort.
Jacka.s.s.
”As I said, the nectar is very potent,” she babbled, focusing her attention on the male seated next to her. ”You're not trying to get me tipsy, are you?”
A wickedly masculine smile touched his lips. ”Would it work?”
Her brief tension eased. This male might not make her heart race, but he was handsome and charming and the perfect distraction until she returned to the search for her mother.
”Sprites are so predictable,” she teased.
Finn reached for his nectar, the delicate crystal gla.s.s frosting beneath his fingers.
”I think it has more to do with me being male, not just a sprite,” he informed her.
”True,” she agreed with a roll of her eyes. ”Males are so predictable.”
Finn chuckled. ”I'll drink to that.”
With a rueful shake of her head, Rya grabbed her fork and dug into her dinner.
They ate in silence, both of them in need of the calories to replace their strength. At last full, Rya settled back in her chair and sipped her nectar.
”Thank you,” she murmured. ”It was delicious.”
”It's just a small way of showing my appreciation for helping to look for my people.” Without warning he leaned forward, brus.h.i.+ng his fingers down her cheek. ”I have a more...personal way to share my grat.i.tude planned for later.”
Rya chuckled. She'd spent most of her life in a harem. Not one of the harems reserved for courtesans who serviced the dragons, but private rooms in her father's lair that were carefully protected. Which meant she had little experience with males. But she was smart enough to know that Finn wasn't dazzled by her charms. He would happily bed any female who was willing.
Her lips parted to inform him that she had no need of his grat.i.tude when a sudden heat sizzled through the air.
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