Page 8 of Fae Farewells

“I have mommy issues,” I snarked at the angel who’d ‌become my friend. “Maybe I should walk over there and see if she wants to join?”

“When she sees three more of us showing up, she might come over to give you a hand.”

Palmer grabbed the back of my shirt, pulling me into his arms. “Devil help us. You’ll give her a fucking heart attack.”

Novak slapped Briggs on the shoulder as he walked by. “Either that or you’d kill her with your—”

My wolf snarled, throwing a rolled up scarf at my vampire’s head. “Really, Novak? Again with this shit?”

“I’m just saying…”

“Well, don’t.”

“Wait.” I held my hand up, turning to Levi. “Did you say three of you? Where is Sarge and—”

“Zyus,” Levi finished. “They’re outside. Sarge is talking to some guy named Simon because you weren’t answering your phone. Something about the club and a brawl?”

When I peeked at the door, Sarge was walking in, rubbing his temples as another man trailed behind him.

“There was a fight outside the club between two humans and a shifter; Simon called the cops after security carried the shifter away. It’s all settled.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s no problem, Lo.” Sarge nodded his head to the new man. “This is Zyus Irving. Zyus, this is Sloane King and company.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” the new man stated in a smooth rumble.

I smiled politely, but before I could reply, York came out of the bedroom. Excitement flowed through our bond, confusing the hell out of me.

“Holy shit. If it isn’t the godsdamned mer in the flesh.”

“You know him?”

York rubbed the back of his neck. “A little.”

“He’s been a thorn in my side since we were children,” Zyus informed the group.

“Uh-huh…” I blinked a few times, wondering what this man—mmm, mer. Merman?—had in common with York, Jack, and Dolyn. But I came up totally blank.

They all knew him somehow, though. And Dolyn had acted as if it was important for me to meet this mer. I ended up walking away while shaking the fog from my mind. Because whatever was there, whoever was eavesdropping on my thoughts, was filling my head with clouds so thick, I couldn’t see through them.

Sarge had joined Vaughn and Palmer in the kitchen with a horde of cold weather bullshit stretched as far as the eye could see. Or as far as the walls would allow, but same thing.

My fae was picking through it all, telling them what we’d need to wear immediately and what we’d need to pack. Because apparently, the farther into Winter territory we got, the colder it became.

Fucking joy.

“I hate the idea of being cold,” I mumbled to myself.

“We know,” Stone replied, wrapping his arms around me from behind. “We won’t be there long, though.”

“Parts of the fae realm will be much colder than Belfast was in June, Princess,” Vaughn stated, oh-so-helpfully. “It’s the chilly season for the summer kingdom too, so maybe you should consider wearing some layers this time?”

“Or she can magic herself into a heater…” Briggs suggested. “I don’t know why you’re trying to get her into more clothes. Normally, we’re trying to get her out of them.”

I nodded. “That’s what I was saying.”

“You can’t keep the entire group warm for that length of time,” Levi stated incredulously.