“No problem.” She studied his carefully guarded expression, clearly sensing that he was hiding something from her. “Anything else?”
“I’ll need food.”
Lise nodded. “I’ll bring fresh blood tomorrow night.”
“And fairy food,” he commanded.
A startled blink. “Fairy food?”
Cyn ignored her response. “Nectar and the usual berries and nuts. And female clothing.” He waved a hand toward his companion. “Slender like you, but a few inches taller.”
Lise nodded, accustomed to Cyn’s habit of filling his home with unexpected guests.
“Just one fairy?”
Once again he realized that he’d unconsciously reached out with his senses to lock on Fallon, a low hum of awareness vibrating through his body.
Bloody hell.
“Trust me, that’s one more than I wanted to bring,” he muttered.
Lise’s power whipped through the room, forming a coating of ice on the overhead chandelier, at the edge of frustration in Cyn’s tone.
“Do you want me to get rid of her?”
“No.” His power rose to match Lise’s, an unspoken warning that his guest was not to be harmed. “She’s here at the command of the Oracle.”
Lise ratcheted down her rare ability to create ice as a weapon, studying Cyn as if he’d given away more than he intended.
“The mystery deepens,” she murmured, her nose abruptly flaring as she tilted back her head to test the air. “What is that smell?” She shivered. “Delicious.”
Cyn had already caught the unmistakable scent of champagne, his blood heating with a dangerous anticipation.
Damn.
“My unwelcome houseguest,” he muttered, glancing toward the bank of security monitors that were discreetly attached to the wall in a shallow alcove above the desk.
Lise moved to stand at his side, her brows lifting at the sight of the female Chatri who was floating with elegant grace down the sweeping staircase.
“Unwelcome? She’s beautiful.”
Cyn snapped his teeth together.
No, not beautiful. Fallon was exquisite.
A walking work of art.
A lethal temptation that threatened to drive him over the edge.
“And a pain in the ass,” he rasped, turning toward Lise as she gave a low chuckle. “What?”
“The best always are.”
“The best what?”
She sent him a cryptic smile. “I’ll leave you to figure that out.”
“Thanks.”