9. Sage

CHAPTER 9

Sage

“I’m meeting someone,” I said praying that the excuse was a good enough and it wouldn’t anger Wells or Crane.

Crane’s yellow eyes narrowed. “Rider?”

“Yes,” I lied.

Everyone seemed afraid of Rider. The two fae I’d overheard in the stables yesterday, the ones who’d made me realized the Garden hadn’t been a dream, had been afraid Rider was courting me and would hurt anyone who got in his way.

I didn’t think Rider was interested in me, not like these men were, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t make Wells and Crane think he was.

The encounter with Rider last night had been confusing to say the least. I’d thought he was trying to be friendly, but asking him to show me the Garden had somehow crossed a line I hadn’t known was there.

I’d have rather used Fantasy Man to get Wells and Crane to back off, since I knew he was actually interested in me, but I still didn’t know Fantasy Man’s name.

Maybe I’d be able to get it tonight. Maybe tonight he’d feel comfortable letting me look at him… because it had been clear by the way we interacted that he hadn’t wanted me seeing him.

No, Rider was my best choice. They’d figure out eventually that he wasn’t interested, but maybe that would buy me enough time to learn how to deal with them or how to stop waking up in the Garden.

The thought of not returning made my stomach roil, even though coming here was dangerous and distracting and I shouldn’t be doing it.

“Why would you want to spend time with him? I bet all he talks about is killing shadows and Guardsmen rotations. I doubt he knows how to properly treat a woman.” Wells grabbed my hand before I could step away again and tugged me to his side, wrapping an arm around my waist to hold me close. “Spend time with us. I guarantee we’ll make it enjoyable.”

I tried to push against him and put space between us but he held tight. “But Rider?—”

“You can make Rider wait. He’ll understand,” Crane said, drawing close and turning me slightly, boxing me in between him and Wells, Wells at my front, Crane at my back. “You’ll take at least three mates, probably four…” He trailed his fingers along my neck, drawing heat, a hint of light, and an unwanted ache between my thighs.

“We’ll be good opposites to grumpy, old Rider,” Wells purred, then he dropped his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “We’ll help you tame his beast.”

Crane chuckled, the sound dark and sensual, making my unwanted desire throb stronger, while everything else within me said, “no no no.”

I didn’t want to tame Rider’s beast… well…

The memory of that intense look last night sent a shiver rushing through me.

“You like that?” Wells asked.

A part of me did like that. Except I sure as hell didn’t want to do it with Wells and Crane.

Wells hooked a finger under my chin, tipped my head back, and lowered his lips close to mine. I shied back to avoid the kiss, but that only pressed me against Crane and I was suddenly very aware of his erection digging into my rear.

My pulse pounded, roaring in my ears. They were too close, too dangerous, and I had to get away. Now. His lips were drawing nearer and he’d captured my chin between his thumb and forefinger and I couldn’t turn away.

“I’m not sure it would be wise to keep Rider waiting,” I said in a rush, stopping him before he made contact with my lips. “I’ve just met him, but he doesn’t strike me as a man you want to upset.”

“Between us we’re powerful enough to handle one wolf,” Crane murmured, wrapping his large hand around the back of my neck, securing me even more in their grip.

“But—” Shadows, there had to be a way to get them to let me go. I could knee Wells in the groin, but Crane would grab me before I could attack him.

No, Rider, was still my best excuse. Those men in the stables had said they weren’t going to court me because they feared Rider would act like Blaze had when he’d been courting Lark. They’d said Blaze had almost killed two of her other suitors before the Goddess bonded him to her.

“Remember Blaze?” I asked. “Blaze almost killed Lark’s other suitors,” I added.

Wells’ eyes narrowed and he thankfully didn’t finish the kiss. “How do you know about Blaze?”

“Lark warned me,” I lied and I prayed to the Great Father that neither of these men were friends with Lark or her mates. “She said her brother will be worse than Blaze and I should be careful about who else I spend time with.”

“If Rider has his sights on her…” Crane said, inching away from me. “He can be her first mate. She’ll still take at least two more.”

I wasn’t going to take any, but I also wasn’t stupid enough to say that out loud. I didn’t know why they thought I was in the market for a mate or even three mates, but I’d just gotten free of a man who controlled my life, I wasn’t going back to that.

“He’s going to have to let her follow the call of her marks,” Wells shot back, his attention on Crane behind me.

“And he will once he’s been bound to her.” Crane took a full step away from me and I hurried a few steps away from Wells. “His blood lust will diminish once he’s mated. And if he’s set on her, he’ll have the blood lust. Together we’re more magically powerful than him, but he kills shadows for a living.”

The muscles in Wells’ jaw flexed, then he turned his hungry gaze back to me. “I’m not afraid of Rider, but I’d hate for him to interrupt our fun tonight.”

He turned and strode up the path to the courtyard. Crane shot me an equally hungry look, then hurried after his friend, while I ran in the opposite direction. I didn’t want to risk them changing their mind and I didn’t want to run into anyone else.

I raced to the magical grove with the softly-lit passages and bedrooms and nooks, and went to the nook where I’d met Fantasy Man.

The space was empty and dark, just like the bedroom the nook peered into, and my chest tightened with disappointment.

It was ridiculous to think Fantasy Man would be waiting for me, but I’d really hoped he would be. I’d hoped I’d shown him last night that he could trust me, that he was as safe with me as I felt with him and he’d open up a little bit more.

But maybe last night had been it for us.

He’d told me I’d had to go and I’d confirmed that when I’d realized I didn’t belong in the Garden with him.

Maybe he’d known that from the start and that’s why he hadn’t wanted to tell me who he was.

I sagged into the bench, the aching desire Crane had awakened with his touch thrumming within me. It wasn’t the desperate need Talon had inspired and I didn’t feel as if I was going to burn up if I didn’t release the pressure, but it was enough to make me acutely aware that now that I’d had sex and knew how incredible it was, I didn’t want to stop.

The thought swirled my desire stronger but also added in a whisper of frozen fear.

I didn’t desire Wells or Crane, but with one touch against the strange marks encircling my neck, Crane had made my body crave him. He’d said I’d have to follow the call of my marks, and I didn’t like that my marks didn’t seem to care who I had sex with or that they seemed to be connected with taking at least three mates and binding me to them.

But would that even happen? I wasn’t really fae.

No. Being bound to a fae man was impossible .

Crane’s touch hadn’t turned me on because he’d touched my marks, but because after having sex with Fantasy Man and feeling Talon’s magic, any kind of touch turned me on.

My marks weren’t real and the marks weren’t compelling me to find my mates.

That said, I needed to learn as much as I could about the fae and this garden, at least until I could figure out how to stop waking up here every night.

And as much as that thought hurt, because it meant I wouldn’t be with Fantasy Man again or have Rider treat me with kindness, it was for the best. I was already lying to everyone in the Black Tower, I couldn’t lie to everyone in the Garden as well. It was just too much.