Page 43 of Burn of Obsidian
Thea watched, amused, as glitter pooled at his feet at every twitch of his wings. “You’re leaking.”
Ruhne frowned, wiping the hot chocolate from his face before looking down. “Well, it’s been a while, and I’ll have you know premature ejaculation is completely normal.”
Thea snorted. “We’ve been here for ten minutes, and already I’m debating whether to just give you back.”
Ruhne nibbled at the end of his straw. “Can’t. No returns.”
“Yeah, I can see why.”
“I resent that comment.” Ruhne sniffed, feigning displeasure. “So, are you going to eat me? Or just enslave me to be your bitch until I take my last breath?” He struggled to drink from the mug, the straw losing its effectiveness the longer it soaked.
“Is there an option three?” Reaching for the teaspoon, Thea dunked it in his drink.
“Hey, what the fuck are you doing?” Ruhne cried out, batting at the spoon. “Is it not enough to buy me like some sort of property, but to defile my beverage, too? What kind of animal are you?”
She carefully placed the teaspoon full of hot chocolate onto the saucer. “I’m trying to help.”
Ruhne eyed the spoon as if it were poisonous. After a second, he leaned down, taking a sip from the end. “Thanks,” he mumbled, sitting down with his legs crossed on the table.
He was pretty tall for a pixie, at around six to seven inches with his top set of wings adding some extra height. His clothes were threadbare, worn at the elbows and knees with the once bright colours mostly washed out.
“It’s rude to stare.”
Thea blinked, realising it had been a few minutes. “Sorry.”
“What? you’ve never seen a hunky pixie male before?” Ruhne narrowed his eyes, a light brown that matched his dishevelled hair. “So, are you going to eat me or what?”
“You’re being ridiculous.” Thea held her mug in her hands, absorbing the warmth. “I’ve already said you’re free to go on the train.”
“You didn’t say I was free; you told me to shut up!”
“You shouted that I had chlamydia!” Thea cleared her throat, realising she’d raised her voice. Turning, she smiled sweetly at the old lady on the table beside them. “The entire train heard you.”
“You kept me in the fucking box.” He glared at the cardboard, ripped open and left at the edge of the table. “And how am I supposed to know whether you have chlamydia? It’s fair to warn people of genital ailments.”
“Do you know how busy the Central line is? People wouldn’t sit next to me.” It took a lot for her to be embarrassed, and an aggressive, rude voice screaming obscenities from a box on her lap was a start.
“Just be clear with me, okay?” Ruhne held his soggy straw like a sword. “So I’m what… your pet? A weird sexual fetish?”
Thea sighed before placing her drink back on the table. “What part of free don’t you understand?”
“As in, I can leave?”
“Of course.” She broke off a chunk of cake, handing him a piece before breaking off another bit for herself. “I know a High Lord that can help you find somewhere safe.”
Ruhne shoved the cake in his mouth. “What if I don’t want to go?”
“You’re an adult, you can do whatever you want.” Thea ate her piece of cake, savouring the sponge. “Wait, you’re an adult, right?”
“I’m classed as matured, yes.” Ruhne cocked his head. “So you’re Fae, but your aura’s pretty young. And like, embarrassingly weak. The strongest thing about you is that bracelet, and even that is faint.”
“Wow, thanks,” she said dryly. “Wait, what do you mean about my bracelet?” Thea lifted her arm, eyeing the thin, silvery rope. She’d had the bracelet for as long as she could remember, as well as a matching one. According to her dad, it was found on her in the cage.
“Looks like a slaver rope,” he said casually. “Do you have the other part?”
“The one with the bead? Yeah, I gave it to a friend in an emergency.”
Ruhne snorted, shaking his head. “Definitely a slaver rope. It ties two people together, and you have the slave side. It’s designed that if a slave runs, the bead is twisted to force the slave to drift back to the master.”