CHAPTER 7
I stand in front of the bathroom mirror and take myself in as I try to catch my breath. I slide up my sleeve so I can look at my metal arm and I make the parts move as I stare at myself, barely realizing that I’m holding my breath. As if I’m waiting for something.
I want to focus on my reflection because focusing on Nereus is only going to turn me on again and I’ve just barely managed to get my erection under control. I don’t think I’ve ever discussed fucking Nereus with him--we have barely shared a few kisses, and it’s always with Fiona there. I love watching the way her breath hitches in her throat when she watches us kiss, but it isn’t as if her presence just turns me on. There’s a degree of protection here--for me, for Nereus. Because Nereus might not mind, but I know how dangerous this is, even when we’re millions of miles away from earth.
Then I watched Nereus work, watching his barely amused but thoroughly polite smile and I realized that I couldn’t hold off anymore. I’ve wanted Nereus for a long time, but I haven’t gotten drunk at a holiday party in forever, and it clearly makes me take risks.
I’ve waited for too long. I know it’s too long, I know Nereus is probably alone by himself at the party and his appearance certainly demands enough attention once people stop gossiping about Fiona coming home.
I roll down my sleeve so no one can see my silvery metal extremity, and I cast my gaze down because I don’t want anyone to meet my eyes. I don’t want anyone to question me when they see me.
Still, being in this bathroom isn’t going to get me anywhere. I leave the bathroom, closing the door softly after myself, and survey the large open room near me so I can find Nereus. He’s not hard to spot, with that regal posture and the rings in his hair. I make my way toward him, but then I spot Fiona, walking through the crowd as she acknowledges the other guests. She reaches out for Nereus and their fingers interlock. I think they’re going to go and look for her father, since that’s why we’re here, but Nereus turns his head over his shoulder to look back at me. He’s far away, but the sight of his open, practically reckless, grin is perfectly clear, and it makes my heart race.
It takes me a second to process that Fiona and Ner aren’t going to walk away from me. They’re approaching me instead, and they both look so happy.
My gaze darts toward Fiona’s face. After speaking with her father again, I expected her to be upset. She isn’t.
“How’d it go?” I ask her.
She frowns for a second as she thinks about it, edging closer to Ner. She stops herself short of leaning her head against his shoulder. “Pretty well,” she says. “I thought he would be angry but I just...”
“What?” Nereus asks when she trails off.
“I hurt his feelings,” she says, a tremor creeping into her voice. “I shouldn’t have left without saying anything.”
“We didn’t give you much of a choice,” Nereus says softly.
“And you can make it up to him,” I say. “I’m sure he’ll be pleased to see that a prince is asking for your hand.”
Fiona laughs quietly. That’s not the plan. Nereus cocks his head instead, as if the thought has only just gone into his head. “Maybe that isn’t such a bad idea,” he says. “Perhaps if your father knows who I am...”
“He doesn’t care,” she says, and looks pointedly at me. “He just wants me to be happy.”
I know exactly what she means as soon as her gaze meets my eyes. She was scared of seeing her dad again, but it was nice, and he welcomed her. I understand that all from the flicker in her hazel eyes. It’s not going to be the same for me, though. My mom isn’t just going to welcome me back into her manor.
The longer we’re back on earth the more I realize that Fiona is a princess of sorts, and that she probably belongs alongside Nereus. She’s headstrong and kind, and she’s going to make a great queen.
All of which are probably great things to tell your parents.
I wouldn’t know, because how can I even tell my mom I’m alive? How’s she going to react? I don’t want to see her. The very thought of it makes my stomach clench in fear.
Fiona takes a step toward me, her fingers curling around my wrist. “Kye,” she says. “Are you okay?”
I blink, trying to bring her back into focus when I open my eyes again. “I’m... yeah,” I say. “I think I’m drunk.”
I don’t miss the look she exchanges with Nereus, but I can’t tell if her expression means that she thinks the state of my sobriety is cute or if she thinks it’s a problem. It doesn’t seem to matter, because Nereus laughs under his breath, and the tension in the room immediately melts.
“I thought you were going to meet her father,” I tell him.
“No,” Nereus says, his eyes shining when he sets his gaze on me, his smile turning into a grin. He knows exactly what he’s doing when he bites down on his lower lip and Fiona clearly notices the tension between us, because she parts her lips and I watch as she swallows down a sigh. “Not without you.”