Page 27 of Unrestrained

The vampire, who had been left at the edge of the mirror, where Tam and Bodhi had disappeared through earlier, eyed River as if he waited to see if River fainted.

River flashed him a smile. “I’m good. No need to look so worried. I was just thinking about my mate.”

The vampire named Stone wore an expression that matched his name. “It’s like that sometimes, even for evil bastards, it seems,” Stone tacked on the end as if speaking to himself.

River moved from his butt to his knees. He sat back on his heels and ran his hand through the wolf’s fur to give himself courage. “You’re the vampire mated to Lysander, are you not?”

He dipped his chin sharply. The set of his jaw spoke volumes about how much he resented having to converse with River. “I am.”

He did his best not to cower under Stone’s barely suppressed rage. “I’m a fairy too.”

“I can smell that.”

“Oh.” What was it with everyone talking about his smell lately? River twisted his fingers. He didn’t like when people didn’t like him. He felt a little sick at the idea of one of his brethren’s mates hating him.

“I have nothing against you. Your mate is another matter. His dark magic created the fae that tried to steal my life.”

“I always forget vampires can read minds,” River said absently before getting back on topic. “Do you mean Stygian?”

Stone’s gaze sharpened. “Yes. Do you know him well?”

River understood Stone’s animosity. “He overtook my body for like an hour. Best nap I ever had.”

Stone snorted. The sound was closer to a laugh than a noise of disgust. River would take it.

He pressed on. “I still very much wish he hadn’t done that. His memories are terrible, and I think they left some sort of remnant behind. I can still feel the pain and resentment. It’s a yucky feeling. I can’t imagine how painful it must be to be him. I rely on sex to stay alive. His kind does too. But to have no body and still experience all the same needs. The starvation.” River pressed his hands against his stomach as it rumbled with the need to feed. “Well, that’s an unfortunate sound,” River said with a chuckle.

A soft smile lifted the corners of Stone’s mouth. “I’m sure your mate will return soon to feed you.”

River shifted back onto his butt and crossed his legs. The tiny fox jumped onto his lap and settled in for pets. The collar he wore proved he was someone’s fur baby. As adorable as he was, River imagined he was highly spoiled. He ran his fingers through Pip’s fur.

“Do you really believe he’ll be back, or are you just trying to mollify me?”

Stone didn’t respond. That was an answer in itself, he supposed. He wondered how long he should sit there. Maybe he only made a fool of himself. As the thought hit him, a flash of light caught him off guard. Bodhi hovered over him.

River glanced up and smiled. “You’re back.” Even he heard the happiness in his voice.

Gorgeous eyes stared down at him with zero emotion. “You’re hungry.”

The animals in the room made a run for it.

Stone jumped into fight mode. “Aren’t you supposed to be bound? Who set you free?”

Tam climbed out of the mirror. “Oof. Lucifer really needs to replace a few mirrors. His bedroom looks like he got really freaky sometime today, and I just don’t need to see that.”

Stone pulled Tam aside, and they spoke in whispers.

River stood and wiped any dust he might have picked up from his ass. He ignored what went on behind Bodhi. He also couldn’t look at Bodhi again. The conversation with Stone bothered him. Combining that with Bodhi’s blank expression reminded River that his mate had done a lot of evil things. Too many emotions crushed him, and they were all bad. How could such a beautiful creature have so little care for anything? Why had Celeste paired him with someone incapable of loving him? Had he been that big of disappointment to the gods? He didn’t understand. It was not like fairies were expected to worship them. His throat swelled. He had worked so hard to be a good person his entire life. Now he was being punished, and he didn’t understand.

Bodhi touched River’s chin, forcing River to meet his stare. This isn’t your punishment. I recognize that you see me as a monster. Maybe I am, but no. This isn’t your punition.

But it was Bodhi’s. River knew how to read between the lines. He had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now Bodhi saw him as a cage.

“I’ll go. There's still a little house in Faerie waiting for me. You don’t have to worry I’ll interrupt your life or plans.”

Something dark passed over Bodhi’s features. He stepped closer and pulled River against him. The scenery changed around them. They were back at the cabin in the mountains. There was no missing the way Bodhi was hard for him. The lust in the air had his wings unfurling with the need to bleed Bodhi’s energy.

Bodhi still looked furious. “Make no mistake, you are mine. You’re not my cage. This is no trap. I don’t give a fuck what that pious Celeste thought she was doing when she paired us, but I know one goddamn thing. Nothing in this universe can hold me against my will. Not even you.”