Page 45 of Burn of Obsidian
“Does it matter?”
Her eyes widened. “Yes! Of course it does. I’d like to know how you found me when I was trying to not be found.”
“I’ve told you before, I can find you anywhere.”
Ruhne’s wings whistled slightly as he rubbed them together. “Do you know, you remind me of one of the elves. They’re major arseholes, too.”
Jax purposely looked at the pixie before meeting Thea’s eyes with a raised brow.
“What? I couldn’t just leave him.” Thea nibbled on her bottom lip. “He’s harmless.”
“I’ll have you know I can remove your eyeballs from their sockets within ten seconds.” Ruhne smirked, puffing out his chest.
“Okay, not entirely harmless.” Thea flicked her gaze to Ruhne, then back again. “I went to the market like I said I would. The fence is going to meet us later tonight.”
“How can I trust you if I give the money up front?”
“Hey, she’s Fae.” Ruhne crossed his arms, the fabric of his sleeves ripping slightly. “We are of our word.”
“He knows I’m not bound to the Fae rules.” Thea said. “And because, as you’ve continuously gloated, you can find me anywhere.”
Ruhne muttered something quietly beneath his breath, his head rocking back to look at the ceiling with a sigh. “Of course, you’re not fucking bound to the Fae rules. The binding of tongue hasn’t been practised in Asherah for over five hundred years, but this giant twat of a man wouldn’t know that.”
“Careful,” Jax warned, his beast rumbling up his throat.
“Or what?” Ruhne closed their distance, hands on his hips, glaring upwards. “You’ll squish me? Trust me, I’ll be fucking your empty eye socket long before the thought even processed through that thick skull of yours.”
“Bloody hell, Ruhne. You have some serious problems.” Thea hid her horror, mixed with a little amusement behind her hand.
Ruhne glared at Jax for a second longer before walking over to Thea. He sat on the edge of the table, legs swinging. “Look, the Fae rules were created by the courts to control the population. Every Fae born was brought before the specified courts to have their tongues bound. It’s like a magical compulsion to follow the rules set out by the monarch. But that was five hundred years ago, and we’ve already established your aura’s young and weak.”
Jax growled once more, the sound vibrating across the table.
“I’m not insulting her, it’s a fact.” Ruhne looked back over his shoulder. “Wait, are you the guy? Thea is he the guy?”
“Ruhne!” Thea went to grab him, but he’d already jumped up.
“Fucking toadstool! You have to give it to him now. I need to see his face!” Ruhne grinned. “Come on, Thea!”
“You’re ruining the surprise!” Thea pretended to flick him.
Jax knocked his knuckles against the table. “Surprise?”
“Look, you broke your promise, and I was a little angry. It was an impulse buy.” Thea reached below the table, which allowed Ruhne to jump onto her shoulder. He vibrated with excitement, shedding sparkles everywhere.
Jax thought Lucifer would have an aneurism if he knew pixies were literally made of glitter. “I didn’t break my promise.”
“You did; you promised to leave.” She held something pink on her lap, and Ruhne seemed to be having a laughing fit.
“I did leave,” he said, curious about her gift. “You didn’t specify that I couldn’t come back.”
She scowled at him, but her eyes filled with an effervescence he knew was laughter. It seemed whatever she’d bought had cheered her up enough to forgive him.
With a barely controlled grin, she handed over the large square pillow, the colour matching her pink hair perfectly. “Remember, it’s rude to deny a gift.”
Jax frowned, the fabric soft beneath his fingertips until they brushed against different textured threads. Turning the pillow, he paused, his lips twitching as he read the embroidery.
‘Small dick energy.’