This type of holding I could put up with. He reminded me of Magenta because he smelled of the woods, mixed in with leather. I sniffed him again. Then I stiffened.
Magenta and the other Immortals would still be waiting on the edge of the trees. They didn't know that I was safe and being snuggled, rather than savaged.
Magenta...
At once, her pink magic curled from the floor like roots. My eyes widened, as it stroked over me. Had she sensed my call? Could she feel me?
Emerick peered down. "Are you okay, fox? I'd better check you over then."
When he tried to drop me onto the table, I swallowed. I knew where vets stuck their fingers.
I mean, at least buy me a drink first.
I snarled, fastening my teeth into his shirt. Surprised, he met my gaze in a staring contest.
Never take on a fox in a staring contest, when his ass was literally on the line.
Emerick sighed. "I guess we can do it your way." He slid onto the seat, still curling me to his chest. Then he eased his hand over me, testing for non-existent hurts. I stilled at the sensation of his fingers brushing through my sensitive hair and then down my tail to its tip. "This is the only shirt I have. I'd rather not explain to mum why it has teethmarks in it, especially since I'm the House of Crow's prize virgin."
I hurriedly let go of his shirt, which was damp with saliva and neat teethmarks. He grimaced. I understood because if I hadn't turned out to be a mage, then I'd have been the prized jewel in my own House. Mum had been giddy about the idea of my own marriage furthering her coven's status.
Emerick was beautiful. It was obvious why Damelza had adopted him.
Emerick smiled. "You pass the exam but you’re a long way from the Arctic. I guess you escaped from someone’s illegal zoo collection. Are you hungry?" He held up a pear, and I nibbled at it. Then he stood up, strolling to a kettle and one-handedly fixing himself a cup of coffee like it was something that he did every day. If he made a habit of bringing in every stray animal, then perhaps it was. "Just sleep awhile. When it's dark, I'll take you to the boundary and free you. I won’t hand you over to be put back into a cage. Next time, stay away from the strange cursed grounds, okay?"
I nodded, wearily.
It'd been a long day, which had included being tied to a chair, hexed, and hunted.
It wouldn't hurt to close my eyes just for a little bit, right? Especially when it was so comfortable and warm held in Emerick's arms but with Magenta's magic still stroking me in waves.
Bang, bang, bang.
All of a sudden, I was startled awake.
Mage's balls on a stick, what was that? Were we under attack? Had the ice sculptures come alive to take revenge on their creators?
I leaped to my feet. Why was I on a cold table? What’d happened to the warm, snuggly chest?
Bang, bang, bang.
Disorientated after my sleep, I glanced out of the window. It'd become dark.
Night-time already...?
Yet glittering fireworks that exploded into the golden wings of a fae illuminated the sky.
Snow had caught Lysander.
Wow, Lysander had survived this long in the wood. I winced with guilt. I'd never have been able to beat him without Snow's help.
Then it hit me.
I'd won the Hunt. The Immortals had won the Rebel Cup. And I'd won my own life.
Thank Pan...
I danced in a circle with wild gekkering, fluffing up my tail in triumph, only to stumble over my paws. Emerick sat in the shadows of the kitchen like a true giant, watching my victory dance. His expression was as frosty as his ice sculptures.
Uh oh...
I eyed the door. Could I make a break for it?
"I guess that you should get back to pretending that you're in the Hunt now, Fox." He leaned forward, and his expression was unreadable. Would he tell Damelza? "Do you think that as the Principal's son, there's much goes on that I don't know about?"
I shook my head.
"So," he raised his eyebrow, "you just think that I'm a fool?"
Well, that was trick question. Should I transform? But I had to get back to the Hunt. I lowered my ears and whined, flashing him the best cute expression that I could.
Emerick sighed. "Snow told me about you. We're not that different. You must get what it's like for me in a way that the others can't. You don't need to play tricks or lie to gain that help. I know I'm not a mage, but we should look out for each other. You're safe with me. Go on then."
I was going to live...
I bounded off the table, diving for the door.
Almost free...
Emerick's expression hardened, as he called after me, "But if you ever trick Willoughby or lie to him, then I'll wreck you. If you mess with my friend, I'll bring down the power of my family on your tail."
I froze.
I wouldn't be executed over the Rebel Cup, but tonight the Immortals had already challenged the Princes to the Stop Game.
Our entire plan was to trick and mess with Willoughby. My heart clenched. I'd hoped that Emerick would become a new mate, but in order to break free of the academy, we'd create an enemy who'd sworn to wreck me.
Chapter Fifteen
BASK
I slid my fingers through my hair.
Shiny hair...? Check.
I wriggled my arse on the rough wooden beam.
Pettable arse...? Check.
Then I glanced across at Fox who shyly met my smile.
Adorable mage who wasn't going to die tomorrow...? Check.
Joy burst through me that was no pain and all delicious pleasure. We'd won the Rebel Cup. It didn't matter that the Duchess would claim me after the Dragon Polo Tournament.
The adorable whipping boy who I'd promised to love and protect was safe. He wouldn't be another Hector.
My chest was tight, as I fluttered my eyelashes at Fox across the small room, which was veiled in cobwebs and tingled with ancient magic. Then I sneezed (in a sexy way, of course), on the dust. The chamber was the highest point of the castle with a low arched ceiling and no windows. It was lit only by Magenta's magic that had curled out like the sparkling branches of a tree to tangle over the beams, along with her aroma of the wild woods.
Magenta called it her Dreaming Space.
To an incubus, it was romantic. Away with you, I could do romantic better than Sleipnir's attempt, even if he was kissing down Magenta's neck with the devotion of a worshiper.
He’d worshiped my dick like that (who wouldn’t?). Magenta was in for a treat, as soon as he kissed between her thighs. The godly things that he could do with his tongue…
I sighed dreamily. Then I crooked my finger at Fox.
Fox rolled his eyes but crawled across the crumbling beams. I gasped, as he gripped my slinky self by the hips, yanking me onto his lap. His scent of raspberries was so sweet that I wanted to lick all over his pale skin.
Yet if he wanted to take his turn at romance and worship with petting tribute, then it was against the most fundamental Night Incubi Code for me to refuse. Plus, my hard-on was twitching happily. My dick and balls had been through some brutally traumatic experiences in the last few days. They deserved a wee bit of stress relief.