Page 4 of Unrestrained

Stygian didn’t quit. “He wants me, but I have no body to give him. That’s why he uses people in front of me. He never looks away from me. I can see the way he pretends it’s me.”

Taurus really loathed this guy. Stellar should never have brought the dark one into their lives. There were better ways Stellar could have kept him locked away. Unfortunately, Taurus knew exactly why he hadn’t. Every word Stygian said was the truth.

“You know nothing about our relationship. Sex is food to us. You’re merely watching him eat. That’s all you see.”

“Mhmm. I get the feeling the only reason you believe that is because you know I’m stating facts. Maybe my words aren’t what you want to hear. The truth rarely cares about your feelings.”

Taurus wished he had his wits about him so he could slash Stygian with his tongue. Between Stellar’s kisses and the hurt in his chest, Taurus couldn’t think. He just stood in frozen silence, trying to hang on to his pride.

“You know, there’s one way you can spice things up.”

The snort that burst from Taurus was epic. Stygian’s utter bullshit finally gave Taurus what he needed to face him. He turned. “Surely you don’t think you have any suggestions for me. You’re a newly born fae. A dark one at that. Not only have you not been alive as long as I have, but your entire existence is unnatural. The moment Stellar finds a way to destroy you, he will. You don’t belong in our world or any world. You were never meant to exist.” Taurus hated that he couldn’t see an expression to tell if his words had hit their mark. When Stygian didn’t respond, Taurus squared his shoulders. A golden halberd appeared in his hand. It was made of the fiercest of fairy magic. The piece was unbreakable and would disappear if anyone else touched the weapon. Gold and silver armor replaced his clothes with a single thought.

“Now, if you’re done speaking lies, I’m due to protect my prince.” He didn’t wait to find out if Stygian had more to say. Stellar needed him to watch his back.

Chapter Two

Butterflies fluttered in River’s stomach as the cabin Stygian had described came into view. A lone man stood outside, stirring something in a smoking cauldron. That was interesting. Stygian hadn’t told him much about his brother. Now River was curious.

River waved to get his attention as he approached. “Hello there.” He pasted on his brightest smile as he approached. Then River recalled he was here because someone had died and rearranged his face. “I’m looking for Stygian’s brother.” Too late, he realized Stygian hadn’t even given him a name. “Sorry, I hope you know who I’m referencing. I’ve just now realized I don’t know his name.”

Gorgeous dark eyes focused on River. The closer he got, the harder it became to breathe. If this was Stygian’s brother, he was absolutely stunning. As he closed the last few feet between them, he stopped on the other side of the cauldron, and the man smiled.

“You found him.” His gaze dropped to the flowers in River’s hand.

River shook off the spell the stranger had cast over him. “Oh. I’m here because I have a message. Yep, that is why I’m here.” He had no idea why he was nervous. “Stygian can’t make it to your father’s funeral today. So I volunteered to bring your father’s favorite flowers for you to place on his grave or whatever ritual you use to honor the dead.” He held his hand out and passed the glittery cosmos to his—hopefully—new friend.

Dark eyes never left River’s face. “This was a lovely gesture, and much appreciated. Mr. I-don’t-know-your-name-either, do you know what keeps my brother from such an important event?”

River clasped his hands so they wouldn’t shake. “He’s currently imprisoned in Faerie. I don’t know why. I’m just a servant for the royal family, and my name is River. It’s nice to meet you.”

For someone who had just been informed his brother was in prison, the man didn’t look surprised or concerned. His gaze swept River’s body. “That’s my brother, always in trouble. This was a kind gesture. I appreciate it more than you can know. My name is Bodhi, by the way.” He set the flowers on a nearby folded coat on the ground.

“Bodhi,” River repeated, tasting the name on his tongue. He liked it. “That’s very fitting. It’s pretty, just like you.” Heat rushed to River’s face. Sex was food. As such, River would do anything sexual in a heartbeat. Complimenting a stranger, on the other hand, was mortifying. He knew nothing about Bodhi. Maybe his words… oh, shit. He hadn’t thought about his sexuality. River had just assumed he liked men because fairies didn’t discriminate. He understood other species weren’t the same, though.

River pressed his hands against his hot cheeks. “Oh my ancestors, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. If I offended you, please feel free to spank me. It was wrong of me to assume you would welcome my words.”

Confusion crossed Bodhi’s features. “Why wouldn’t I welcome a compliment?”

River’s shoulders lifted. “I know nothing of your life. Maybe you wouldn’t like another man to speak to you in that manner.”

Bodhi’s obvious bafflement didn’t clear. “In what manner?”

Now River was just as bewildered. “Did you not realize I was flirting? That’s likely for the best,” he added more to himself than Bodhi. “I’m here about your father’s death, and here I am, just—” He squared his shoulders. “Again, I apologize.”

Bodhi's expression smoothed before turning into a bright smile. He moved closer, circling the cauldron. River took a step back at the flash of something wicked in Bodhi’s eyes. Bodhi kept coming until he had River backed against the closest tree. River hadn’t even realized he was being herded.

“Is that what you think flirting is?”

River’s mouth went dry. He could barely breathe past the lust he drowned in. He licked his lips in his nervousness, but no words came to him.

Bodhi leaned into River, letting him feel his erection. “Now, this is flirting. I enjoy the way fairies smell. Do you come here often?”

The word come dripped with sexual innuendo.

“Not here, no.”

“Would you like to?”