Fae of the South (Court of Crown and Compass Book 3) by E. Hall (libby ebook reader .txt) 📕

And he doesn’t. Not as hours pass and we dance and dance. I lose myself in his arms, his whispers in my ear, and the revels surrounding us.

It’s only when there’s a pause between songs and someone taps me on the shoulder that I stop. “Excuse, me, can I have this dance?” Tyrren asks.

His expression is stony and there’s a hunger in his eyes I’ve never seen before. Then again, he’s a vampire now.

Chapter 12

Tyrren

I press through the crowd, not in the mood to dance or even be here, leading Lea away from Emeric—the so-called fae king at RIP Jr. I whip around when someone bumps into me. I’m ready and loaded to fight—to feel something other than the prickly discomfort in my chest.

The person doesn’t apologize as they sweep onto the dancefloor.

Lea’s eyes are dark. Her lips pursed in question.

“Will you dance with me?” I repeat.

Her gaze holds mine. As the seconds pass and she doesn’t answer, the gulf between us widens. I have to be the one to cross it.

I grip the back of my neck. “I’m sorry about how things went. I’ve had to clear my head.”

“What’s cluttering it?” she asks, most certainly unused to seeing anything other than my moderately cheerful self, at least when we’re together. She doesn’t see me pounding the heck out of metal, taking out my frustrations with the hammer and anvil.

“A lot of things. Namely becoming a vampire, getting sent here, being accused of vandalism, you, and—” I close my mouth but not before I gesture in the direction from which we came. “And my roommate, Aaron, seems to have lost his mind and pulled a knife on me after telling me there’s a war coming. He’s fae. You could say there are a few things cluttering my head.”

Her brow wrinkles. “Where’d Aaron go?”

I shrug, suddenly feeling awkward. Not knowing what else to do with my hands, I catch hers in mine and begin to step right, left, right-left, leading her around the dancefloor to the otherworldly music.

We don’t quite find the rhythm. She doesn’t smile or wear a happy, carefree expression like she did at the diner.

I bite the inside of my lip. “It’s loud in here. I don’t really feel like being around people.” Controlling my urges is getting harder not easier.

Her brows lift. “Glad I don’t qualify as people. Do you want to go outside?” she asks.

“What about your date?” I ask, hoping she dismisses him as unimportant. Ugh. I sound ridiculous.

“I’m sure he won’t mind if we’re gone for a few minutes.”

He won’t mind? When has Lea ever cared about a guy minding what she does with her time?

“You and I need to talk.” There’s command in my voice.

My shoulders immediately relax when we get outside. I want to be away from the Fae Court dance. Not because it has to do with fae but because while on the dancefloor it felt like I was compelled to spin round and round...and round. It was like I could lose myself in the movement and not in a good way.

We go to one of the classroom buildings and up several flights of stairs to the roof. In the distance, the gold and ruby lights of the city sparkle.

“I don’t like this,” I say.

“Is this a multiple choice? There’s an assortment of things you could be referring to.” Lea taps her chin like she’s going to start listing items.

I gesture between us. “I don’t like whatever is happening.”

“Me neither.” She gazes at her hands. “I’m sorry.”

“Me too. Feels like we’ve been saying that to each other a lot since we got here.”

“The thing is, I’ve never felt understood. And that’s partly my fault because I’ve never understood myself. Being here, well, meeting Amelia and Emeric, I feel like they get it, they get me.” She lifts her eyes to meet mine. They almost match the night sky.

I know what she’s saying has merit and is important, but I understood her. Well, as much as she’d ever let me. “This isn’t easy.”

“Again, you could mean anything.” But her tone suggests she knows I mean us. Her gaze lifts to the sky. “If we could see the stars, I’d say make a wish.”

She shifts and her arm brushes mine. Warmth. Comfort. Home.

Her eyes twinkle against her dark lashes in the low light. It fills me with sadness and I have the sudden urge to kiss it away.

I only hope that when this is over, we’re okay and life goes back to being us.

If I were to close the distance between Lea’s lips and mine every question I’ve never asked would be answered. We have an undeniable connection, and my entire body vibrates when I’m close to her. But I think that right now we both just need a friend.

“What about Jasmin?” Lea asks.

My eyes close. My mind hops and spins. That’s not the girl I want to think about. “She ambushed me and pulled a pout. ‘Take me to the masquerade ball tonight?’ Although I think it was more of a statement than a request.”

Lea gives me a look I’m not sure how to interpret. Disappointment? Disgust? Triumph? Pleasure?

“And Emeric?” I don’t finish the sentence. What is he to you? Boyfriend?

One black eyebrow arches in response. “I don’t expect you to understand.”

I grip Lea’s shoulder to face me. “Don’t be so sure about that.” I know what it’s like to be completely enamored by someone. To do everything in your power to protect them, treat them well, show care, love, and gratitude. My brother would say I’m a mushy sap. It’s true.

Lea shakes her head. “Sometimes, it’s as though something primal, almost wicked comes over me, Tyrren. I