Mad Woman Rambles

“I don’t know what else to tell you, Nathan,” I sighed as exhaustion seeped further into my bones.  

“Tell me what happened again,” Nathan White, the high chancellor to the Fae High Court, responded, leaning his weight on the table currently between us. I narrowed my eyes at him. That smug bastard. I wanted to punch his gorgeous face. The fae were so annoying that way. He looked so much like his late father, the dead would-be King of the Fae High Court. All tall, broad shoulders, with that signature auburn hair and chestnut eyes.  

His uncle currently holds that title, making his cousin–my ex–a crown prince of Fairy. Frackin’ Jona. This whole family is annoying. I might be biased because it seems like every damn fae I run across always gets me in trouble. Case in point, why I am going on hour 12 with this dick. I jerk to attention as Nathan’s hand slams down on the table.  

“Again,” he demanded as Marcus walked to his side and touched his shoulder. Nathan rears up on Marcus, who just quirks an eyebrow, daring him to make a move. This wasn’t good. While I have been stuck in here, so have Marcus and Audrey, who was curled up on the green couch, slightly snoring away. I know Marcus didn’t need to feed often, but I also know that when tensions rose like this, it triggered his hunter’s instincts. His control is the only reason why Nathan was a sippy drink right now.  

Marcus’s control was legendary among vampires and other supes in our community. Korbin often sent him to do negotiations when things could be volatile. However, it seemed Nathan’s hot temper and antics were pushing Marcus close to the edge. It didn’t help that he didn’t care for the would-be prince.  

“She came into my store dripping wet and in clear distress,” I began again for the 5^th time. Both men stopped and stared at me, and the tension eased. “Her glamour was well constructed, but my spirit guide warned me about her. I didn’t listen, of course, because the sooner I got her what she needed and out of my store the better.” I paused as I looked at Marcus, who had moved away from the fae. Then I turned my gaze toward Nathan, who had crossed his arms.  

The expression on his face told me to continue, and that was the problem. I couldn’t tell him who she was or who her brother was or where we had gone or who we had met. That was the frustrating part. I wanted to tell him and be done with things, but the coercion curse I was under physically wouldn’t let me. If they tried to do that weird fae mind melt they did, it would kill me and the fae who would attempt to extract the information. Fortunately for me, Korbin has forbidden that practice in his home. I continued as best as I could.  

“I gave her a reading, and then she left like I said the four other times you asked,” I groaned.  

“Not the complete truth,” Nathan leveled me with a stare that would have melted a lesser man. Unfortunately for him, he has never been on the receiving end of one from Aunt Flo. You would think it would be Aunt Stormi, the retired portal enforcer. Nope! Aunt Flo was a force to be reckoned with. His glare didn’t bother me. It frustrated me to no end.  

Seeing my frustration, Marcus approached me, crouching beside me. “What do you need, Krystal?” He asked in hushed tones. I rubbed at my dry, red-rimmed eyes before glancing over at him.  

“I want to tell you all what happened, but…” I started. 

“You can’t, can you?” He asked, staring into my eyes. I nodded. Marcus sighed, and Nathan grunted.  

“This whole time you have been coerced?” Nathan asked. I nodded quickly, turning in his direction.  

“Fine, I will just extract what I need,” Nathan said, reaching for me. One minute, I was within a hairsbreadth of being touched, and the next I sat next to a wide-eyed Audrey who had sleep lines creasing her face. We looked at each other before turning our attention to where Marcus had Nathan pinned up against the wall.  

“I will remind you, Chancellor, you are a guest in our home. While I may not be the head of this kiss, I am well within my rights to defend it and its occupants when threatened,” he pushed his forearm further into the fae’s neck. “I’m begging you to cross that fine line.” Marcus growled, and for the first time since I had ever known Nathan, I saw fear flash across his eyes. ‘That’s new.’ 

“Now, Marcus, it would not be prudent if you killed one of the royal family,” Korbin’s voice cut through the tension. His French accent emphasizing ‘royal’ as he called for order in his kiss. Nathan inhaled deeply as Marcus relaxed, releasing him from the wall. Audrey squeaked as we both jumped at hearing his deep voice. Though I think we jumped for different reasons. ‘Down, girl.’ I admonished myself.  

“You aren’t supposed to be here.” Nathan demanded as he rubbed his neck, as he stormed over to the desk that Korbin sat behind. Shoulder checking Marcus as he passed him.  

“You are right. That is what we agreed upon,” Korbin agreed. Nathan crossed his arms and smirked at Korbin for acknowledging that truth, but quickly fell as Korbin continued. “That was until Krystal admitted to being coerced by one of your people.” 

“That breaks the blood accords,” Audrey piped up, finally doing something useful.  

“Precisely,” Korbin replied, his grin turning feral, his French accent slipping in again. Oh! He is pissed. “One of your kind, quite possibly the young lady mon grillon helped out of a dire situation.” Korbin rose from his desk, placing his palms flat on its surface before pinning Nathan with a dark look. “You broke your word, and I am well within my right to expel you from this place or feed.” He spoke the last with a raised eyebrow.  

‘How do all vampires know how to do that?’ I thought. ‘Is it like an automatic thing or did they learn over time?’ I shook my head. ‘Focus, Krystal.’  

Nathan’s arms dropped down to his sides. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as nervousness leaked from him. I would not want to be him in this room, and he knew it. Marcus has silently moved in behind him. Nathan was trapped, and even with his skills, experience, and age, he couldn’t take on two of the most powerful vampires in the Western hemisphere. The only reason the vampire council had any sway over the Peach Kiss is because Korbin decided he would fall in line.  

Nathan realized this simple fact and looked around the room, looking for an escape. His eyes landed on me, pleading to help. With a sigh, I knew what I had to do. I didn’t want to because none of this would get me released, but I didn’t have to say anything. Audrey saved me from intervening.  

“Gentlemen, please!” Audrey’s voice rose above the silent chaos. “Bring her to the oathbreaker,” she offered, scrambling up from the couch and inserting herself between Nathan and Korbin.  

‘Very brave or very stupid’.  

Korbin’s gaze never wavered from Nathan as he spoke to Audrey. “Bring them here. I am not letting Krystal out of my sight. If they can break the coercion over her, I won’t start a war.” Korbin declared.  

At that, I stood moving to Korbin’s side, gently touching his arm. He swiftly took my hand and placed a kiss on the back of it. My breath caught as his icy blue pools caught me in their grip. This man will be the death of me. Whenever I was in his presence, I forgot why I broke up with him. This moment had my heart in a vise. I knew I was safe as long as he was around. I would be stupid to demand to leave right now. The secrets I held were going to change not just my world but so many others. When the dust settled, I could return to my life, but right now it was not an option. I realized it as his free hand pushed a strand of hair behind my ear.  

“You must be exhausted. Cricket, go rest,” he whispered to me. His voice caressing my skin like silk.  

‘Bastard.’ He did that on purpose. He chuckled when I narrowed my gaze at him.  

“Marcus, take Krystal to my room and get some rest, my friend,” Korbin said, turning his gaze to the man hovering near Nathan. A silent communication went between the two vamps in the room.  

“Audrey, my dear, it has been lovely as always.” He turned to my legal representative with a smile, having not let go of my hand. “Your client is in good care. I even gave her the best room in the house.” He moved from around the table to assist Audrey with her things and moved back to his desk. I had moved over next to Marcus because everything had been really overwhelming, and I needed his calming energy.  

“Oh, Audrey,” Korbin called as she made it to the door.  

She turned his way as he sat behind his desk. “Yes, Korbin?” His smile returned as he steepled his fingers. 

“Take this riffraff with you. He isn’t welcome back in my home until this matter has been settled.” He waved his hand towards an indignant Nathan. “If this is how SNOB conducts business, I shall need to have words with your superiors.” He admonished.  

Audrey squeaked, shaking her head furiously. “Understood, sir. It won’t happen again. Come, Chancellor White. I believe you have a report to make to your King.” She gestured to Nathan as he picked up his stuff angrily.  

“This isn’t over, Korbin,” Nathan declared as he pointed at Korbin, who smirked in response. With a yell of frustration, Nathan stormed out of the room with an exasperated Audrey trailing him.  

“Well, that was fun,” Korbin mused as he picked up his tablet and started scrolling.  

“Too much fun,” I declared and followed Marcus out of the room to crash for several days. “Way too much fun for a psychic.”