Mona finally stopped at the edge of a small village. She dismounted and murmured something in the horse's ear. Then she simply walked away, leaving the horse where he stood.
Elle looked over at Adam, who gave a shrug and began to follow the witch. Elle decided to stay with the horse and watch Adam’s back.
Adam followed Mona into a tavern and was immediately plunged into dark, smoky surroundings. Music blared and the mumbling of conversation rippled across the room. He eased his way in, careful not to bump anyone. He caught a glimpse of Mona at the back of the room. She briefly looked back before passing through a doorway. Adam picked up his pace, squeezing through tightly packed tables and moving patrons. When he finally reached the door he pressed his ear to it. Using his superior hearing, he listened for voices. Suddenly the door was wrenched open and Adam found himself being pulled in.
“Uncloak yourself, Fae,” Desdemona growled.
Adam stumbled as she pushed him back but then caught himself. He removed his cloak and stood tall, shoulders back, and showed no fear or weakness.
“Why are you following me?”
“Who said I’m following you?” Adam smirked. “You aren’t really my type.”
Mona rolled her eyes. “Oh please, boy. I was bumping uglies with Egyptian pharaohs when you were still cutting your baby teeth.” She began to circle him and Adam turned with her, never giving her his back.
“Now, because you are so pretty to look at, I will ask again. Why are you following me?”
Adam cocked his head to the side and flashed a smile that would have any other girl melting on the spot. He folded his arms across his chest, effectively accentuating his chiseled arms. “Fine, I will admit it. I’m bored.”
“Bored?” Mona repeated skeptically.
“Yeah, bored. I’ve been over here doing my good deeds, fighting the good fight and, frankly, it’s getting a little old. Not to mention the chicks – talk about boring. So I’m looking for a change, some excitement, some indulgence, if you will.” Adam’s voice took on a seductive quality as he narrowed his eyes at Mona and allowed a little of his true appearance to show.
A Fae in its true form is close to perfection in beauty. And though Adam was indeed beautiful, he was far from feminine.
“I think you are something I could definitely indulge in.” He took slow measured steps toward her, continuing to allow a little more of his true form to show. Mona’s eyes followed the movement of Adams’s lips when he spoke. Her eyes traveled up his muscular legs as he drew closer to her. Adam needed to catch her off guard if he was going to flash himself out of there. She had been using some sort of power to keep him in the room, but as he distracted her, her concentration on the spell diminished.
When he was mere inches from her face, he reached up and slowly ran his fingers through her thick, black hair. He tugged gently on the white strip of hair that framed her right cheek.
“I like this,” he murmured. “It’s very unique.”
Adam reached up with his other hand and gently traced her lips with his finger. He watched as Mona closed her eyes and gave herself over to his seduction, drawing her magic back inside her as she did.
Adam leaned down and placed his lips next to her ear. He blew gently on it before he spoke. Mona leaned even closer into him as she listened intently to his words.
“Desdemona.”
She moaned at the sound of her name on his lips.
“I need to tell you something.” His words were accompanied by warm air caressing her skin.
“Please,” she whispered.
“Before my time is done, I will watch the light fade from your eyes as you are sent to the hell you so deserve.” Though his words promised destruction, the cadence of his voice still held her in a seductive rapture.
Just as what he said registered in her mind, Adam flashed from the room back to where he had left Elle. As he left, he heard a soul-piercing scream, a sound that vowed retribution for fooling her. Adam knew what really pissed her off was that she had shown that she was capable of being seduced, that she still had those urges. He grinned to himself as he approached Elle.
“What did you do?” Elle narrowed her eyes at him.
Adam shrugged innocently. “What? All I did was seduce the wicked witch.”
Elle’s mouth dropped open as she stared at her friend.
“You seduced Desdemona?”
Adam waved her on to follow him deeper into the forest.
“We need to get to Peri and tell her what we’ve found out.”
Elle still didn’t move.
“You slept with the witch?” she nearly yelled.
Adam turned around and rolled his eyes. “Seriously, Elle? Do you really think I’m that desperate? I just distracted her so I could get out. Look, I’ll explain it when we get to Peri. Let’s get out of here.”
Elle and Adam stepped farther into the trees, then both closed their eyes. They reached out through the Fae bond, looking for Peri. Once they found her they let her know they were on their way. She gave them the image of the place she wanted them to flash to and then they were gone. The forest became as quiet as if they had never been there.
~
Peri waited, standing behind the small café. Adam and Elle had let her know that they were heading back and she didn’t want the wolves to know they were here just yet.
There was a slight ripple in the air, and then Adam and Elle stood before her.
“He seduced Desdemona,” Elle blurted out.
Adam huffed as he crossed his arms over his chest. “I did not seduce her into bed. Good grief, Elle.”
Peri’s head snapped from Elle to Adam.
“You had direct contact with her?” she asked, her voice full of concern.
“She knew we were following her, even though we were cloaked.”
“So how did you end up with her?” Peri asked briskly.
“I followed her into a tavern. She went all the way to the back and through a door. I followed, still cloaked, and when I got to the door and tried to listen it swung open and I was dragged inside.”
When he stopped talking, Peri glared. “Do I have to beat it out of you or are you going to get on with it?”
Adam tried to disguise his chuckle as a cough. Judging by the gleam in Peri’s eyes, it didn’t work.