her side, she stared out the window. Six weeks. That was how long Neeve told her she’d been in the fae world. Six weeks since she set foot on the dilapidated farm she’d called home.
Six weeks since Myles walked the earth.
Her life went from psych wards and high school to adventure and romance in record time. Maybe that was why it still didn’t feel real. She waited for the day the other shoe dropped. Nothing could be this perfect.
No one.
Not even Griff.
She smiled as she thought of the way he’d escorted her through the festival, past performers and scurrying children. Other than the nobles, no one looked directly at her.
Well, except the delegates from Iskalt and Eldur.
The men and women representing the frozen kingdom sat apart from the rest of the crowd, their icy eyes finding her wherever she walked.
And Eldur… She’d tried desperately to free herself from whatever danger lurked in the waters of the fountain, but only found relief in the strong hands of a man she should hate. Lochlan O’Shea couldn’t be trusted. Griff told her as much. But she couldn’t shake the protective look in his eyes, or the way he’d refused to let her go until the queen stepped in.
Why did he care what happened to her?
His queen wanted her, she knew that, but this was… different… more.
She strained to hear wolves howling in the woods, reminding her she was far from home.
But maybe this could be home in a way the little farmhouse in Ohio never was.
A sigh rattled through her chest as she sat up, finding sleep impossible. There were too many questions on her mind, and only one person who might give her any sort of answers.
Crawling from the bed, she slipped her feet into woolen slippers and pulled open her door, cringing when the hinges creaked. She waited for a moment to make sure no one was around. It was ridiculous she had to worry about this when she’d spent the last ten years of her life sneaking out and running across the fields to Myles’ house. But she didn’t want to cause any kind of scandal for the aunt who’d been nothing but kind.
She wound her way through the dark halls until she reached a room she’d been to only once before, hoping the door wouldn’t be locked. Only the queen, Brea, and Griff lived in the royal residence wing at present.
Pulling on the handle, she smiled when she heard it click and slipped into the room before a wandering guard or servant found her out of bed.
Griff lay on his stomach with the sheet bunched around his waist. To her disappointment, a loose white linen shirt covered his torso. Ear-length auburn hair stuck up against the feather pillow.
He looked so different from his brother it made it hard to see how they were related. Where Lochlan was light, Griff was dark. At least in appearance. When it came to personality, they were the exact opposite. Lochlan had none of Griff’s joy, only intensity.
His hard blue gaze would forever be stuck in her mind.
But he didn’t matter right now.
“Are you going to just stand there or come over here?” Griff opened one eye.
Brea shrugged. “I don’t know. I just figured I’d watch you like a creeper.”
He lifted his head. “I have no idea what a creeper is, but I don’t approve.”
“Oh yeah?” One corner of her mouth curved up.
“When the most beautiful woman in all the fae realms is in my room at night, I’d much rather have her close.”
“Oh, okay.” She turned to the door. “I’ll go find her then.”
“Get over here,” he growled.
“Well, if you insist.” She slipped out of her shoes and launched herself onto the bed, landing on top of Griff.
“That’s one way to wake me up.” He gripped her waist and flipped her so her back hit the bed. “But I like this better.” Hovering over her, he lowered himself onto his elbows.
“Are you going to kiss me?” she whispered.
“Was that a request?”
She shook her head. “A demand.”
“You ask so much of me.” He pressed his lips to hers in a slow, sweet kiss. Griff wasn’t an intense man, not a passionate man. He didn’t devour her or steal her breath away.
Instead, he cherished her.
He rolled off her, landing on his side and propped his head up. “Not that I’m not happy to see you, but what are you doing here?”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“And that’s enough reason for you to sneak into a man’s room in