didn’t smell my arousal and announce it to embarrass me. Baron enjoyed doing that.
The Fae kings were no picnic.
“I’ll have to think about it,” I said, eyeing them with suspicion. “You Fae always want something in return if you decide to do anything half-nice for someone. I don’t like to rush to action around you or promise things I’ll for sure regret later. Legend says all Fae are cunning tricksters and great manipulators who can find any loopholes in any bargain!”
“I regret that you have such a low opinion of us because Baron screwed up our first impression,” Rowan said, ice and heat twirling in his gorgeous blue eyes. “But I’ll never trick you. You can always count on me, Evie. You aren’t just any woman to me; you’re my fated mate.”
Baron glowered at his half-brother.
“Yeah, I’ve heard that a lot lately,” I said, lifting my chin. This time, I’d get my way. I would get back my glamour that had been burned away when I tore open the Veil, the barrier between the mortal and immortal realms. “But words are cheap. So how about you all prove something to me with actions instead of words and remove this ridiculous fairy look from me? Consider this my first challenge to you if you’re up for it. And if you do it right, you’ll get a hot date from me.”
So there, I enticed the Fae kings with a date. I wondered if I would have to pay for everything if I went on an actual date with any of them. I wasn’t being cheap, but I had to save every penny to feed my siblings. Living in California was damn expensive.
“I’d love to have a hot date with you, Evie,” Rowan said, his eyes growing hooded. Well, if he thought a date meant having sex in Fae custom, he had another thing coming. I wasn’t the type of girl who rushed to bed with anyone on the first date. Well, most of the time.
“How about a kiss to seal the deal?” Baron asked, a naughty spark in his molten amber eyes.
You give the Fae kings an inch, they’d ask for a mile.
Rowan nodded with a blazing smile. “I’ve wanted to kiss you for a long time, Evie.”
My pulse spiked at their male need, my lips moistened, and my nipples went taut. My body responded to the Fae kings like a fiddle waiting to be plucked.
Rydstrom smirked like a champion. “I’d do anything to have another kiss from you, Eve.”
He’d kissed me in Claws, Fangs, and Fiends, and that kiss had rocked my world. I wouldn’t mind having another go with the Night King. But by revealing our kiss, he meant to rile up the other kings. He couldn’t help it anymore than Baron and Rowan.
Fae were naturally vicious.
Baron and Rowan snarled, guttural sounds similar to a beast’s rumbling from their chests. Baron had another form—a massive golden lion that loved to laugh and carve out assassins’ hearts. And Rowan had fought the demons in his enormous silver wolf form. If they transformed, I’d have another stupid and dangerous fight on my hands.
“Fine,” I said, distracting them from their rising antagonism. At the same time, I shuddered inside with thrilling anticipation, as if some kind of ecstasy drug had already spread in my bloodstream at the promise of kissing all the Fae kings. “One kiss each and you’ll help me with the glamour. Uh, who wants to go first? Should you line up here?”
The next second, I was airborne.
Well, not exactly. Baron held me close in his strong arms as he teleported us in a helix of sunlight. He landed with me clinging to him at the far end of the courtyard, away from Rydstrom and Rowan. An array of snowy mountains sprawled beneath our feet, while a perfect blue sky spread above.
Baron cupped my face, hauling my attention back to him. The Summer King was forever demanding and he refused to allow me to enjoy even such a panoramic vista that wasn’t his own face for more than a few breaths.
“Evie, I’ll court you however you want,” he said sweetly, but I wasn’t fooled by his charm. I’d seen his cruel, careless side when he’d thought I was just a plain Jane. “And I’ll protect you with my last breath.”
I arched an eyebrow. “Do you expect me to express gratitude for being dragged here without warning?”
“You’re so cute when you’re fierce, Evie,” he said with a dazzling smile, and before I