CHAPTER 67

"So," Sparrow said,thrumming her nails on the table as Faye remained quiet, eating cuts of grilled pear. "You were gone for almost four hours, bitch."

Faye glanced up at her sister. "I fell asleep."

Sparrow's eyes lit up as she sat taller. "You were in bed with him? Did you tie him up again?"

Faye flushed. "No."

Sparrow gasped, widening her eyes before saying, "This bitch is lying." She laughed and clapped her hands as Faye's blush deepened. "Darkness, can you set an image crystal because I would love to see that shit. We could sell them and make a fortune."

"No," Faye hissed, glaring at Sparrow as she kicked her under the table. "How do you know everything?"

Sparrow snorted. "I walked in on you, and he was like this." She leaned forward, putting her arms behind her, crossing her wrists over her lower back. "Doesn't take a genius."

Faye stared at her plate, refusing to incriminate herself further.

"Don't be so boring," Sparrow said, pouring herself a shot of whiskey. "At least Rune lets you tie him up. Vash was having none of it."

Faye eyed her sister. "You asked to tie Vash up?"

Sparrow threw back her shot and poured a second. She held the glass near her lips, pointing at Faye. "And the fucker said no."

Faye bet her sister went into their bedroom with twenty feet of rope without talking to Vashien beforehand. She giggled thinking of Vashien's reaction, falling out of bed backing away from Sparrow.

"I think Rune will let me take some rope tying lessons they offer at the brothel," Faye said.

"Shibari? He looks kind of boring in his stuck-up suit. I guess he's less boring when he takes it off." Sparrow's mouth widened into a toothy grin. "What do you do to him once he's all tied up?"

Faye shrugged, biting into a piece of fruit.

"I need details," Sparrow whined, laying her head on her arms and looking up at Faye with her best pair of sad eyes.

"Save that shit for Vash." Faye dipped her fingers in her glass of water and flicked it at her sister.

Sparrow hissed, swiping her face with her sleeve. "You can give me details, or I can just start naming things off. When you blush I'll know I hit the right one."

Faye sighed, "You're such a bitch."

"Have you ridden his face yet?" Faye shook her head and Sparrow scrubbed her hands over her nose and mouth. "He's been trained to pleasure women. Trained, bitch. Why are you even tying him up? You should ask him to tie you up and have him show you all his tricks."

Faye imagined him tying her down and Rune purring against her when she couldn't get away. It was too much. Too intense. "I like it better when I'm in control."

Sparrow grinned unhindered. "You step on his neck or spank him?"

Faye's mouth fell open and she could only stare.

"No? Too far?" Sparrow asked. Her shoulders slumped. "Don't tell me you just tie him up and kiss him."

Faye looked down at her plate and muttered, "It's private."

"Fine," Sparrow grumbled.

Faye changed the subject to Aunty Clara's house and how Rune was going to help her take care of the village.

Sparrow blinked at her. "He does all that and you're not fucking him. Teach me your ways."

"He's making an effort so I'm trying to be understanding of the court stuff. It's like they live in a different world."

Sparrow waved her hand, gesturing at their surroundings. "Do you not see this shit? This is another world, with delicious food and top shelf liquor."

"How are my best girls?"

Faye turned toward Vashien's voice. He stepped into the den and Faye glimpsed a dark suit and white-blonde hair gliding silently behind him. The sight of him made Faye's heartbeat a little harder. She smiled when Vashien noticed Rune pulling his wings in tight.

Sparrow shot a glance between her and Rune. "Darkness, look at this bitch lighting up and shit."

Vashien inclined his head at Rune. "Shadow Prince."

Rune offered him the same respect, saying, "Rune is adequate. There is no need for titles among our courts."

Sparrow nodded at Vashien as he took his seat next to her. "I call him Runey."

Faye leaned closer as Rune took his seat beside her.

"Do you eat? Or should we order blood?" Faye asked, touching his thigh. Her nails lightly scratched over the dark material.

Rune brushed her hair behind her shoulder, caressing the side of her neck with the backs of his fingers with the motion. "Crimson wine."

Sparrow touched the talisman ordering their dinner, finishing with, "And a glass of crimson wine for the great Shadow Prince."

The corner of Rune's mouth lifted. He took Faye's hand, pressing his lips to the back of it.

Her sister narrowed her eyes at Vashien. Poor guy was so rigid, his wings tucked in close to his body. It would take time for him to get used to Rune. He didn't share Sparrow's ability to embrace every situation with little regard for the outcome.

Sparrow poked his wing and said, "You could stand to be more romantic."

Vashien turned toward Sparrow, some of the tension leaving his body. "I am literally in Hell for you woman. What else do you want?"

Sparrow propped her head up on her hand and said, "Runey lets Faye tie him up because he's not a chicken."

Faye's face heated. She widened her eyes at Sparrow and kicked her under the table.

"Ow! That was a hard bitch." Sparrow rubbed her shin.

"The Sha— Rune trusts her," Vashien said, pouring himself a stout glass of whiskey and lifting it to his lips.

Sparrow sulked at Vashien, her shoulders slumping. "You don't trust me?"

"In the bedroom, fuck no."

Faye set her elbow on the table, pointing at her sister. "You just lost all your secret privileges."

Sparrow snorted, waving her hand. "It's only us," she said, then turned her gaze to Rune. "Are you going to let Faye take Shibari classes?"

Rune glanced at Faye then Sparrow. "Perhaps."

Faye sighed as her sister lit up and asked, "Can I take them with her?"

Rune exchanged a glance with Vashien before turning back to Sparrow. "The classes are individual. You may not learn from me. Speak with your male."

Sparrow turned, eyes pleading, toward Vashien.

He swallowed the contents of his glass before muttering, "Fuck me."