I stopped and turned to him, intending to give him a piece of my mind, but when I thought of Jules the bond squeezed my heart and my breath hitched in my throat.

  “Holy shit!” River stared at me with wide eyes.

  “Landis! You have bonded with her and now you’re scared to death, aren’t you.”

  I glared at River, scoffing at his words, even as they echoed through my brain.

  “Why would I be scared of my little human mate?”

  Now he glared at me. “She’s a lot more than that and you know it Landis. Don’t be an ass!”

  She was far more than that and I did know it, but I wasn’t having this conversation with him. Not now and maybe not ever. This was too new, these feelings were too deep and I felt exposed in a way I never had before.

  “Let’s just get this done, River, and you keep this conversation to yourself.” I held his gaze so he knew that I meant what I said and we got to work interrogating the last of the detainees.

  Chapter sixty-two

  Raife

  Jules watched Landis from our doorway as he strode down the hallway, away from her, her gaze firmly fixed to his back. I waited, willing myself to stay calm, my heart beat slow and steady in my chest as the bond between us slowed her heart to match mine. I hoped my face showed her the placid smile I was working at projecting, even though I knew my eyes would show none of it.

  Finally, she dropped her gaze to the floor before slowly turning in my direction and tilting her chin just enough to meet my eyes. The slight sheen in her eyes let me know that she held the tears back for now, but it was with some effort. The corner of my mouth lifted slightly and when she reached for my hand I squeezed hers before pulling her into my side.

  “You must be starving sweetheart, come and eat something.”

  I led her to the seating area and asked her to sit with a slight pressure on her shoulder. The table was laid out with an assortment of food that Ren and Trey had once again brought back from the kitchen.

  As Jules simply sat and looked at the food, I grabbed a plate and filled it with an assortment of fruits and cheese of some sort, then sat next to her and offered the plate.

  “Thank you Raife,” she barely whispered the words to me as she took the plate from my hand.

  I raked a hand through my hair, unsure of how to proceed here. If he’d hurt her, again, I thought, then mate or not, I would end him!

  “Sweetheart, are you okay?” I asked hesitantly. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

  Jules sucked in a deep breath and turned to me, the luminescence of her skin paled.

  “No Raife, he didn’t hurt me. I just don’t really know where to go from here, what to do. I feel…I don’t know how I feel. We bonded…” She looked up at me and a lone tear fell from her lash, slowly sliding down her flawless cheek, marking a path that saddened me as I felt her through our bond.

  “We bonded and then he just walked away, just left as if it was nothing. As if I was nothing to him.”

  Her voice cracked the tiniest bit and my heart faltered in my chest. That son of a bitch thought he could treat Jules with the same kind of arrogance that he did everyone else, then he was going to learn just how wrong he was. I pushed down the rage that flared just under my skin and held it tightly under control. Jules did not need that now, and the most important thing to me was helping her, always, protecting her.

  Dallas would be back from his run shortly, and he would lose control over this and likely go hunting Landis!

  I lifted my hand to her jaw, letting my thumb caress her cheek, just a hint of moisture there from her tear.

  “You don’t have to do anything now my love. This has been a long day and I think we should go make use of that giant bathtub, then climb into bed where I can hold you all night long.”

  She gave me a shaky smile before answering.

  “I love you Raife.”

  “And I love you Jules. Never doubt the depth of my love for you, because it is infinite.”

  We had just lowered ourselves into the hot water of the bathing pool when the door to the bath opened and Dallas walked in.

  “That looks like a great idea.” He smiled at us both before stripping off his clothes and sliding in next to Jules.

  I lifted a large sponge and rubbed it over the cake of soap before lifting Jules' foot, sliding the sponge over her arch followed by my thumb pressing just enough for her to lower her head to the side of the pool and close her eyes.

  “‘Mmmmm, Raife.”

  I continued soaping her feet and massaging the sore spots away as she relaxed with her head on Dallas’ shoulder, the deep rumbling in his chest enveloped the three of us.

  Jules' breathing became slower and Dallas’ eyes met mine. With a nod of my head I indicated the bedroom and he rose from the water with her cradled in his arms. I quickly toweled the three of us off and pulled back the bed covers as he lowered her to the bed before sliding in after her. Dallas raised his brow at me, obviously wanting to know what happened but I just mouthed tomorrow at him and we joined Jules in sleep.

  I woke and listened for sounds in the next room, satisfied there were only three people there. Dallas slept with Jules tucked into his chest, his arm tightly encircling her waist, our feet entangled, Jules delectable ass pressed into my cock. Gently I extricated my feet and slid out of bed not wanting to awaken them, I silently pulled my clothes on and slipped from the room.

  “Good morning,” Trey greeted me, standing from where he’d been sitting next to Ren. I wasn’t quite sure how far their relationship had progressed, but I knew they were much closer than they’d been before we arrived in Faerie.

  “Have you seen Landis yet today?”

  “No, not today,” Trey answered. “It is still somewhat early.”

  “I believe I shall take a little walk and see if I can find him. I should return before they awaken.”

  I left the suite and headed toward the banquet hall, not really knowing where Landis spent his time now that the palace was his again. A few long hallways and a couple of turns and the double doors to the banquet hall were ahead, voices filtering through the closed doors.

  I pushed the door open and entered, some of Landis’ guards immediately looking my way, but I just approached the enormous table where Landis sat.

  “Landis, a word please.”

  “We’re in the middle of something here Raife, can it wait until later.”

  “No, I’m afraid it cannot.” I held his gaze, my expression and tone of voice unreadable.

  He rose from his seat and headed for the doors at the far end of the room, opening one and motioning for me to go through first. From there he headed a short distance down the hall, opened another door and ushered me into a smaller sitting room.

  “Now, what is so important that it cannot wait?” He looked at me with that princely condescending as fuck attitude and I had to inhale deeply before answering.

  “My mate is more important than anything else, no meetings, no planning, nothing is more important than her. Nothing. If you ever leave her again with tears in her eyes, for any reason, I will kill you. I will reach into your chest and search for the miniscule organ that is your heart and I will tear it from you, as your words have done to her more than once.”

  His green eyes blazed at me before his shoulders fell ever so slightly and his chin dipped, pulling his gaze from mine.

  “I did nothing that would warrant her tears and I don’t know why she would react that way. I have many responsibilities and cannot be available to her whenever she wishes. That is not the type of mate I can be to her.”

  Oh, he was an infuriating Fae! I could see now that this would test all of us and I questioned if it was really worth it. The idea of just disappearing with Jules and Dallas seemed very appealing right now.

  “Landis, your excuses are nothing but a pathetic attempt to cover your incompetence. Jules does not need you to hold her hand, she’s stronger than you’ll ever be. She wants you to be honest with her, open yourself to her, and in turn she will give you everything.”

  Landis turned those green eyes back to me, beseeching now, even fearful.

  “In my one hundred and thirteen years Raife, that is something I’ve never done and I don’t know if I can.”

  “Then you need to figure it out Prince Landis, because you only get one more chance.”

  When I returned to the suite, Dallas and Jules were still eating, abundant trays of food laid on the table before them.

  “There he is!” Jules smiled up at me. “Where did you get off to Raife?”

  “Just stretching my legs a bit, you know after sleeping for five days.” I winked at her before giving her my cockiest grin.

  “Well, I don’t mind five days in bed with the most beautiful woman in the world,” Dallas announced, grabbing her in a searing kiss.

  We’d spent the afternoon in the gardens relaxing and just enjoying each other’s company in a way that we’d rarely had the chance to since we’d bonded. Jules was stretched out on the grass with her head in Dallas’ lap as she flew overhead through the eyes of a large hawk. It was amazing to watch her actually enjoy her gifts when she’d really only gotten a chance to use them in battle.

  I looked up at the sound of a door closing and noted the guard making his way toward us. I knew he was one of Landis’, but I couldn’t remember his name.

  “Prince Landis has asked me to notify you that you should be prepared to leave at first light tomorrow,” he announced before turning on his heel and making his way back inside.

  “Well, I for one will be glad to blow this popsicle stand.” Dallas winked at Jules and gave her a cocky grin.

  “You and me both!” Jules stood and dusted herself off before offering me a hand up. I took her hand in mine, but instead of standing, I pulled her onto my lap and captured her lips in a searing kiss, pushing all of my love and longing for her into it. Her hands immediately delved into my hair as she returned my desire. Dallas reached for her and plucked her from my lap, his arms banded around her middle.

  “Let’s take this party inside love.”

  The next morning, the six of us had packed our meager belongings into a bag before sunrise and were waiting for Landis.

  River knocked on our door and escorted us outside to where Landis and four of his guards waited, already mounted and ready to depart. As soon as we’d mounted our own horses and Dallas, Jay and Ren had shifted, Landis simply turned his horse to lead us away from the palace.

  Jules snorted as she looked at Landis’ rigid back where he rode ahead of us.

  “Good morning mate, how are you today”, she mocked in a deep voice.

  “Apparently we’re back to being lowly humans, not worth talking to again!”

  Landis couldn’t hide the flinch that Jules’ words caused him, but he didn’t respond or turn our way.

  I barely noticed the countryside as we made our way to the spot where it was safe for Landis to create a portal. I didn’t know how to bridge the gap between Jules and Landis and I began to worry what it would mean when we were back on earth. How would we work together and what we would be walking into was a huge question. I knew that time passed slower in Faerie than on earth, but I wasn’t sure of exactly how long we’d been gone at this point. Likely, months would have passed since we’d left earth.

  Jules’ hand brushing my thigh pulled me from my thoughts and I turned to face her.

  “What are you thinking about so hard Raife?”

  “Oh nothing bad my love.” I winked at her. “Just pondering the state of the world, the passage of time, how soon I can get you out of those clothes.”

  She grinned at me, an actual spark of happiness in her deep blue eyes.

  “Well, I never did that well in science in school, so the passage of time is a bit of a reach for me, and as for the state of the world, I believe that the saying about going to hell in a handbasket would sum that up. As for these clothes, we’ll just have to see, won’t we.”

  Her eyes sparkled with mischief and I leaned over to nip at her shoulder.

  “Yes, we shall”.

  Chapter sixty-three

  Jules

  As the rolling green hills surrounding the palace gave way to a more arid and rocky landscape, I decided that I would not be ignored by Landis any longer. I simply raised my chin at Raife as I urged the mare forward, angling her between Landis and River as they rode at the head of our short column.

  “A word Landis.”

  I turned to look pointedly at River and motioned to Landis to keep up with me as I moved my mare ahead at a faster pace, giving him no choice but to follow me. When we reached a distance where we would not be overheard, I slowed to a walk and turned to meet Lan’s gaze.

  “Are you regretting bonding with me now Landis? If so, then own up to it and we can see what breaking the bond requires.”

  His normally bland facade broke for a moment as he looked aghast at my suggestion, before his mask slid back into place.

  “I regret nothing Jules, why would you ask me such a thing?”

  “Oh, I don’t know Lan, maybe because you haven’t spoken a word to me since you left me at my door yesterday, and you’ve acted like I don’t exist today!” My voice rose slightly along with my emotion and I worked to bring both back down.

  “Jules, you cannot expect me to act like some lovestruck fool in front of my men, that is not the type of mate I will ever be.” He actually snorted like suggesting otherwise was preposterous!

  Three deep breaths, in and out slowly before I could speak in a normal voice.

  “Lan, I never suggested pda in front of your men, but a little common courtesy to the woman you’re bonded to shouldn’t be that hard. Even for you!”

  “What in the world is a pda!” His voice rose with the question and I actually chuckled, okay, a tiny bit!

  “Public displays of affection, something you obviously know nothing about! Forget about it, it’s obviously way outside of your wheelhouse! I need to know if you’re with me here Lan, or if we should just consider this a one time thing and after we get things settled on earth we can each go our separate ways, because I gotta say that’s the vibe you’re giving off right now buddy!”

  I was proud of the fact that my voice didn’t break as I squared my shoulders and stared straight ahead, waiting for him to acknowledge that he did in fact make a mistake and the bond between us was tenuous at best.

  “Jules, you’re my mate, not my buddy”, Lan announced in the imperious tone he’d perfected from no doubt years of using it on anyone he felt was beneath him.

  He actually reached for my hand, pulling it toward him where he placed a gentle kiss. His voice in my head was whisper soft.

  “Jules, I treasure our time together and only regret that it was too short. You are everything I could have ever dreamed of in a mate and if anyone is unworthy it is I. You have been open and honest when I have not, and you were brave enough to open your heart to me even after I was nothing less than cruel to you. I have no idea why you would accept me as your mate.”

  I answered him the same way, keeping our conversation completely private.

  “Can we move forward from here, leave the past where it belongs in the past and try to be honest with each other if nothing else. Things are going to get hard again and we need to be able to depend on each other, okay Lan?”

  He simply squeezed my hand before placing another kiss on my open palm and folding my fingers around it before letting go, a brief glimpse of heartbreak crossed his face before his features smoothed into a placid smile.

  We had ridden for probably another hour when Landis and River both stopped their horses in a small area that was cleared of the loose rocks that dotted the landscape in this part of Faerie and I tried to recall if this was where we’d arrived from earth what seemed like a long time ago.

  They both dismounted and Raife and I followed their lead, stepping down from our mounts. I reached up to retrieve the bag of clothing we had for Dallas, Ren and Jay so they could shift back.

  I stood in front of Dallas as he shifted, trying to give him a small semblance of privacy and of course he winked at me as he stood there in all his naked glory, cheeky fucker! He leaned down to capture my lips in a heated kiss, pulling me against his still naked chest.

  “I had to watch your ass all day in that saddle, teasing me when all I wanted to do was sink my teeth…” I slapped my palm over his mouth before he could finish that sentence and his eyes sparkled.

  “Soon, love.”

  “If we’re all ready I will open the portal.” Landis ran his gaze over our small group as he and River stepped away from the rest of us, their hands raised in sync as they murmured words I couldn’t understand.

  The other four guards moved back with all of the horses as I watched, fascinated at how Landis and River created the portal. The air shimmered in a small line before it split and opened, the gap widening until it was tall enough for us to walk through.

  Raife and Dallas took both of my hands as we walked forward, the others right behind us as Landis motioned at us to enter the portal. I smiled at both my mates and as we stepped past Landis I smiled at him, hoping he would feel my happiness at us all being together. The air felt chillier and the landscape around us blurred until there was no more sky above us or ground below us, just a swirling gray and white, giving me the feeling of being surrounded by clouds. Raife and Dallas kept me moving forward, my hands held tightly in theirs as the feeling of the ground below our feet became more real and an actual landscape began to materialize around us. The sky above was blue and the grass green, but what grabbed my attention was the rolling waves as they crashed into rocks below and the angry looking gray ocean that stretched to the horizon.

  “Wow!”

  Raife chuckled and pulled me into his side.

  “The Pacific!”

  I tore my gaze away from the magnificent view and turned to look at Dallas who seemed almost as amazed as I, but the shimmer of the portal caught my eye. Still in the portal, Landis and River stood shoulder to shoulder as the opening between the worlds folded in on itself and they were slowly obscured from view until just their faces were visible, the stark pain on Lan’s face the last thing I saw as the portal winked out and the fragile bond we’d had was ripped from my chest.