human nor fae could escape. Death was death. “Was it only for a few moments?” It was possible to restart a heart within a reasonable period of time.
He squirmed again, clearly uncomfortable with this topic.
“No, I was dead.” He rubbed his temple, flinching as though he was reliving it. “I was stabbed, shot, gutted, and burned alive before someone snapped my neck.”
A small gasp caught in my throat.
“They really wanted to make sure I was dead.”
I didn’t move or breathe, not wanting him to stop.
“It was the night of the Fae War. Right before the final barrier fell, I was jumped by many enemies at once. A hunting party.” He stared out of the window, taking another drink.
“How is that possible?”
“Sotet démonom,” he muttered so low I was pretty sure I imagined him saying “my dark demon.”
My neck prickled at the name. I folded my legs to my chest. From what I heard and read of the Fae War, the night the barrier fell, battles raged throughout the world between those who were on Queen Aneira’s authoritarian side—who wanted to turn the humans into slaves—and those against her dictator reign, wanting to end her rule. The fae crashed through the holes in the barrier as she tore it down, killing and attacking anyone on the other side, the flood of magic taking out millions of humans. One of those was my mom.
The day I came into this world was filled with death and blood.
“That’s my birthday.”
His gaze snapped to me.
“I was born the moment the final wall dropped. It was a very difficult birth…and I guess between me and the magic flooding in, my mother couldn’t take it.” I lowered my chin on my knee. “I killed my mother.”
He stared at me. For a second, I thought I sensed a taste of alarm and confusion, but quickly it disappeared. He pulled his eyes off me and turned his attention back to the bottle, guzzling more. He abruptly stood, strolling for the door.
“Are you leaving?” A panic I hated hearing in my voice called out to him. He ignored me, his hand on the knob. “Like that?” I motioned to his barely covered physique.
“It’s a whorehouse, Kovacs. I think I’m overdressed.” He ripped the door open. Rosie stood there with her hand up like she was ready to knock, a bag in her other hand. Her eyes widened at the sight of the mostly naked man, the towel not hiding the hard outline of him at all. Her gaze slowly moved down him, a sensual smile glowing her eyes as she stopped right on his package.
“Wow,” she breathed, biting her lip.
“Thanks.”
“If you need any assistance with that…” She nodded at his cock, chewing on her lower lip.
“Really?” He leaned against the doorjamb, his eyes sliding back to me so fast I didn’t know if it happened.
“I mean, I am a professional.” She grinned up at him.
Irritation bloomed in my chest. I had the strange urge to slam the door on my new friend.
“Did you need something?” Clearing my throat overtly, Rosie’s attention snapped to me, her head shaking like she was stepping out of a trance.
“Oh, right.” She held up the bag. “Madam wanted me to bring this up to you. She figured you’d be starving and needing more to drink.”
Pushing off the frame, Warwick took the bag. “Damn, that woman is psychic. I was about to ask for someone to bring dinner.”
“It’s why she is where she is. She anticipates people’s needs before they do.” Rosie twirled her hair, her glazed eyes dreamily looking at him again. “We all do here.”
“Well, tell her I said thank you.” Warwick dipped his head at Rosie, stepping back, taking the bag over to the table.
Rosie sighed, inspecting his backside, practically drooling on the floor.
“Rosie,” I called her name, but it was as if she didn’t hear me, lost in him. “Rosie!”
She jumped, head whipping to me, her eyes going wide, looking bewildered. She motioned to him that he was at fault. Mouthing “sorry” to me, she gestured to her head, acting out like her brains were melting on the floor. I couldn’t help but chuckle at her theatrical pantomiming at the door, the actress in her showing.
“Anything else?” Warwick swung back around. Rosie stood straight, pretending like she wasn’t about to swoon to the floor.
“No. I’ll leave you two…alone.” She looked back and forth between us with a grin, reaching for the door. “Oh right, Madam also said it would be better if