As if sensing it, Cash was already at my side, brushing hair away from my cheek. “Big is many things, love, but he pays his debts. And he’s more afraid of me than the Nether Royals.”
“And me, apparently,” I corrected with a sly grin.
“Of course. He’d be daft not to, especially after hearing what sort of hybrid you are.” As if it pained him to say it, Cash added, “But more than that, he seems rather fond of you.”
Surprised, I jerked my eyes over to him. “Fond of me? We’d known each other for all of an hour before we came to get him tonight.”
“I’ve never seen Big offer someone a favor like he did with you, someone he’d only just met. Not even when it came to saving his life. And he didn’t hesitate to answer when I asked him to come meet us. The mere mention of you brought him over without complaint.”
“The pheromones—”
“Don’t affect pixies,” he interjected, as if it bothered him to say it. “I was concerned your pheromones would be as strong as some of the Originals, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. You have influence, that was made clear with Eros, but that appears to be the extent of it. Believe me, love, you’d know if someone was under the influence of your pheromones. There are signs, and I’ve never witnessed a single one in any of the people you’ve been around. Powerful or not, unless they were a certain kind of Fae, they’d be helpless to the lure. Even I can’t evade that sort of pull.”
He didn’t know what a relief it was for me to hear him say so. I’d been so afraid I was unintentionally blasting pheromones at everyone I met and that all my relationships had been born from a lie. I’d sat with that fear every day since I learned I could possibly be charming them in more ways than my ill-timed sarcasm and problematic flirting. Because it made more sense that so many people would be interested in me that way than for me to be, you know, actually appealing to them as myself.
“But you said…”
Cash traced the slope of my neck as if he couldn’t help himself, his eyes dropping to my mouth. “It’s become second nature to conceal what I could, to keep secrets. But that promise I made to you that night that I’d be more forthright with you wasn’t an empty one. I could only theorize when we met. Once I knew what you were, what Fae blood they’d used, I had to err on the side of caution. The stain of my time with that witch slag made me unnaturally fearful of pheromones. Royal Sirens have extremely potent ones. Those affected by them have never been able to escape their hold.” His eyes strayed to Jo. “But what few know is that it’s an ability, not a trait.”
Jo’s mouth thinned. “Not all of us can use them the way he fears. Same with reading minds. It’s unique to the Fae, though some of our kind have a greater chance of having it.”
“You?”
She shrugged. “I can use influence like you. Pheromones, but barely. It’s how we got those answers out of Eros, but it’s rather limited and difficult to control. Then again, I hardly need them, do I?”
I laughed, nodding. “You really don’t.”
Her smile answered mine. “Neither do you, babe.”
Grumbling, Cash dropped a kiss on my mouth that left fire in his wake as he went to grab a few things. “It’s rather vexing how many are charmed by you without them. Had it beenpheromones, I could assist you with controlling them and banish these unworthy clingers with it. But that isn’t the case, is it? It’s left me rather unhappy, love.”
Unhappy, he says.
I wanted to argue it wasn’t my fault, but I was still battling the onset of heat that his kiss had roused.
Jo strolled over and helped me retake my seat, some of her hair falling around her face, while most of it stayed up in a chic updo. “Magical bonds aren’t usually stimulating, but—”
I laughed and patted her on the shoulder. “I’m guessing us having a connection for the Season might change that?”
She nodded with a cute grin. “Probably. Just don’t be surprised if your urges get stronger. Don’t think I haven’t noticed that you’re controlling them better.”
“Is that normal?” I asked, hopeful. “Can I put it off longer with time?”
Jo leaned in, her hot breath near my ear. “The question is do you want to? Me, personally, I wouldn’t mind the excuse.” Electricity spider-walked down my spine as she drew away, a playful glint in her eye.
Cash scoffed in the corner, busy with something I couldn’t see from this angle. “See, every blasted barbarian in the vicinity is charmed bymy bird.”
Ignoring him, I reached for Jo’s hand and tangled our fingers together. “I’ll be ready for whatever happens.”
She tucked hair behind my ear and went into a crouch in front of me, her cleavage snagging my attention immediately. “As will I, but I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been ready since…your room.”
Heat reached my cheeks, the memory of her hand between my thighs, touching me, her soft mouth kissing me—I wanted that with her again.
My voice dropped to a soft whisper. “Me too.”
“Then,” she whispered back, magic leaving her mouth in a snake of glitter and maroon. Was she concealing her words so Cash couldn’t hear? “My excuse is your excuse.” Her eyes dropped to my mouth. “But that asshole stays in the hallway. No Fae sandwich for you.”
Oh, fuck.
