Page 68 of Beauty

The phooka practically purrs. “It will be my greatestpleasure, Your Highness. I am your servant.”

“Turn around. I need to get dressed.”

The phooka gives me the privacy I requested. With shakinghands, I dress. When I’m ready, I look at the bed where I lost my innocence.Given it. No matter what potion I was under, I wanted them. I loved them.

The phooka guides me out the window, and I wonder if I’llever see them again.

ChapterTwenty-One

Shim

I step off the final step and into the small store,eyes on my sister.

Gillian looks so different than I remember her. Thinner.Older. Wearing practical clothes where once she preferred gloriously femininegarb. Gillian McIver is a few years older than Lach and I, but she alwaysseemed much more mature. After our mother died, Gilly ran the household. Shetook care of everything, including certain political situations. The Unseelieplane lost a valuable royal when Gillian was caught here. My sister stands,looking over maps, her eyes serious as she speaks.

“We will need to move out after dark. The guards are dead,but at least five got away. There’s no telling where they ran to or who theywill tell. I can only promise that someone will talk and reinforcements will besent.” Gillian straightens up.

William Roan stands in the small store. The floor wascleared out, and a large table brought in. Maps and vampire technology coverthe table. And yet William Roan seems to have eyes for only one person in theroom. The vampire’s whole being is focused on Gillian McIver.

Fuck. I should have thought about it, but I wasutterly overwhelmed by being close to my bondmate.

“The vampire wants our sister,” Lachlan whispers. “I didn’tremember how bright her glow was.”

Gillian glows. I can see it because of my vampire blood. Ittells the royal vampire which beings hold blood that will elongate our lives.It calls to the royal.

My protective instincts flare.

“Don’t,” Lach whispers. “Not yet. Give Gillian a chance todeal with him. She’s done an amazing job here. She’s not a delicate flower.She’s survived and kept our Bron alive. She deserves our respect.” Lach stepsforward. “Sister.”

Gillian’s smile grows vibrant. She opens her arms.“Lachlan!”

I watch William Roan as my sister embraces my other half.The vampire studies her like a hungry predator, his eyes following every moveshe makes. And I would swear the vampire’s fangs are out.

Gillian embraces me, hugging me tight. “Brother, I thought Imight never see you again.”

“Yes, I thought the same,” Roan says, every word a silkythreat. “Imagine my surprise when I went to wake you so we could leaveAoibhneas.”

Lach lets our sister go. He doesn’t back down an inch fromRoan. “I believe I mentioned that we should leave earlier. It was a good thingor our bondmate would be dead.”

Gillian straightens her shoulders. “His Highness, the Princeof the Unseelie Fae, is correct. Her Royal Highness, the Princess Bronwyn,would be dead if her mates had not saved her. You were late, mercenary.”

“I was attempting to keep the princes alive. Torin hasguards on the roads. He has spies everywhere. I don’t doubt that the events ofthe day will reach his ears soon. His Royal Highness has created a hugeclusterfuck for my men.” Roan leans across the table. “There is a reason yourfather put me in charge.”

Gillian laughs, a short, sharp sound that makes me wonderwhat the vampire did to set my sister off. “Is my father paying you? Heshouldn’t.”

The air practically crackles around them. Roan’s eyes getdark and big. The damn vampire isn’t even trying to control himself. “Yourfather and I made a deal. I don’t get paid, Princess. I get a boon. Your fatherintends to make sure I get what I want.”

“I’m sure someone of your stature will want gold,” Gillianshoots back. “That’s what you poor vampires want.”

“If you think that gold is what a vampire cherishes, youhaven’t spent enough time on our plane. Understand this, Princess. I mean toget what I want,” Roan replies. He shakes his head and seems to calm a bit.“Prince Lachlan, would you like to explain why you and your brother chose torun away from the guard your father sent?”

“I think they were just horny.” Dante Dellacourt has a smirkon his face as he leans against a wall.

“Well, you would know.” Lach seems to be in a ridiculouslygood mood. I’ve never seen my brother so relaxed.

Dellacourt stands up straight. “Is my cos all right?Goddess, I can’t believe Bron’s alive. Can I see her?”

“Bronwyn is fine. She’s perfect. And she’s tired. She’ll bedown in a little while,” I reply, though I’m not completely sure she’s fine.She seems very disconcerted. We need to talk, but I would prefer to do so whilewe hold her, bonding with her, skin to skin. It’s necessary. We were close toher mind for so long that she doesn’t trust our physical presence. “Thoughshe’s sure she’s lost her wits.”