Heart of Stone (Rock Star Fairy Tales #1)

Chapter 49

C h apte r 49

Lies and Ne gotiations

“I lied to you,” Tobin said quietly. His body shifted, sinking into himself, and her arm extended as the fabric stretched between them. “When a fae lies to someone, we lose any magic we shared w ith them.”

Margot stared at him. “Centaur’s Balls, Tobin,” she said, the fae curse coming easily to her lips, “why would you do that?”

“I had to,” he said, body sti ll bowed.

“How do we fix it?” she pried. “How do we get the Connect ion back?”

He looked up at her. “Like this. Now you know—and can render judgment. When it’s over, the magic should return… if you wa nt it to.”

Margot stared at him, at his posture, his complete submission before her. She wasn’t sure how she felt about having him clearly under her power, waiting for her vengeance. “What did you lie about?” she asked, keeping her t one light.

“I … can’t tell you,” he gritted.

“Can’t … or won’t?” she demanded, tone a bit sterner as she pulled him clos er again.

“Won’t!” he exclaimed. “I will not tell you.” He widened his eyes, opening himself to her. “Punish me as you will, my Lady.”

Margot released him, and Tobin stumbled back a little, catching himself and crouching on the floor of her bus, eyes down, refusing to look at her. She hardly recognized this Tobin, his subservience and broken will. Is this how other Claimed f ae behave?

“You really expect me to punish you,” Margot said, staring at the stranger in her bus. Her heart went out to him, this wild abused boy who had become a Lord. “What the hell did he do to you?”

Tobin glanced up, eyes dark with remembered pain but sai d nothing.

Margot shook her head, hatred surging through her at that look—at the idea that someone would hurt Tobin. “The more I learn about fae society, the more I hate it,” she spat. She could understand why someone would fight against such a system. “Tobin,” she said finally, sadness leaking into her voice, “I forgive you. Whatever you lied about, it’s fine. I’ve been forcing you to do all kinds of uncomfortabl e things.”

He stared at her without blinking for a long moment before the words burst out of him. “How can you forgive me?” Tobin asked, face incredulous. “I’m Lord Rebinus, the man who essentially killed you r mother!”

“Did you kill my mother?” s he asked.

“Well, no, but—”

“Then it doesn’t matter,” Margot told him, calm filling her as she reassured him, her broken man. Strangely, the idea didn’t make her yearn to fix him, as she sometimes wished with Ash, that she could change the rock star into a man who would be content with just her. Instead, she could accept Tobin as he was: cunning and twisted but also loyal and sweet. She recalled Nik’s words about how she had let Tobin into her life immediately. He was right. There was something about the fae that spoke to her deep inside, and it was more than a magical Connection that he ha d broken.

Can’t I just like him? She remembered Ash commenting that he liked that option because it meant she could change her mind. Well, Ash had been right. Margot could change her mind. She could choose Tobin. He may be a scoundrel, but he was her scoundrel—and he had always been kind to her. As for his treatment of others, especially as Lord Rebinus, that was something she would deal with another day. This one had already been filled with too many s urprises.

“Look,” she began, “I know that I’m only beginning to scratch the surface of your world, and that you’ve had a hell of a life, but let me tell you something about the humans here on Ardon: we forgive ea ch other.”

“You truly want my company, despite everything I’ve told you?” Tobin asked, disbelief obvious in his tone.

“Tobin,” she sighed, running a hand over her face and standing up, “I want you more than anything right now.” She gave his clothing another glance. “Although I have to say the outfit doesn’t suit you at all.”

He stood up, meeting her eagerly. “Suited Lord Rebinus, didn’t it?” he asked her, a sultry grin crossing his lips, the Tobin she knew back in t hat look.

“Maybe,” she admitted, leaning into his arms. “Definitely feels like an acquired taste,” she told him. “But only because I know it’s you.”

“Keep telling yourself that, darling,” Tobin said, voice dipping into the Lord’s low voice again. “Fae Lords are said to be irresistible,” he bragged.

“What if I don’t want to resist you?” Margot bit her lip, unable to deny the chills running through her. She gave him a sharp-eyed look. “Wait—if you’re Lord Rebinus, why can’t you Claim me?”

Tobin stroked a hand through her hair, gently tracing the line of her chin. “Because I want you to rem ain free.”

“But you kept saying you wanted Ash to Claim me, to keep me safe. Was that the lie?”

Tobin shook his head. “No, actually, I do—did—want him to C laim you.”

“What changed?”

“Now that I know you, I’ve grown rather fond of your freedom. But I wanted Ash to Claim you and reveal himself to fae society.”

She nodded, suddenly seeing the plan as easily as if it had been her own. “So you could then Claim him,” she mused. “And he would know what it was like.” She took a deep breath, sorting the possibilities. “But now? What is y our plan?”

“Perhaps I will just marry you instead, darling,” he said, and Margot felt something swoop deep in her chest—fear or excitement, she could n’t tell.

“Wait,” she said, a thought surfacing amid the chaos. “Does Lord Rebinus hav e a wife?”

Tobin shook his head. “No one is brave enough to approach him as a partner, though plenty are willing to entertain him here a nd there.”

“Tobin,” Margot said seriously, “if we’re a couple, there will be no entertaining here or there.”

“Ah,” Tobin said, leaning down to peer into her eyes. “Monogamy, is it? You realize that is not a norm in fae society.” He gave her a long hard look. “Darling, you really think that when my brother grows a brain and tries to get you back, you won’t go running into his arms?”

Margot glared at him, not liking the burst of hope in her chest at the possibility. “No,” she said quickly.

“No?” Tobin asked, staring intently at her. Margot could feel the Connection sparking again, metaphysical butterflies in her stomach, and she felt his skepticism—but not his judgment. She tried to understand his society, wondering how she felt about such rules—or lac k thereof.

“You mean that you wouldn’t mind if I run around fucking whoever I want?”

“Fucking is fun,” Tobin reminded her. “Pleasure is a good thing. I would never deny you joy.”

“Why would anyone ever get married in the fae world?” Margot asked. “What about co mmitment?”

“We’re not talking about commitment, darling. We’re talking about sex. The humans get hung up on both.” At her darkening expression, he held his hands up. “Look, I’m all for monogamy, if that’s what you want—but I’ve seen how you look at Ash. You truly believe if he crooked his finger, you wouldn’t go running back to his bed?”

“What about you?” she asked, trying to redirect the conversation. “Am I going to walk in a room and find you with some groupie’s tongue down you r throat?”

He shrugged. “I wasn’t going to discount the possibility, but judging by your face right now, I assume the correct answ er is no.”

“Have you been with other people?” At his look, she added, “Since you were with me?”

“Margot.” He reached out to touch her face and tuck her hair behind her ear. “I haven’t left your side since we’ve been together.”

“Oh.” Margot felt her cheeks heat up. She was being unfair, acting like a jealous girlfriend, when she couldn’t honestly answer his question about Ash. Margot had never been shy, enjoying casual sex when she got lonely, but her connections with both Tobin and Ash had long surpassed the casu al stage.

And he’s a fae Lord , she reminded herself. No doubt he has a reputation t o uphold.

“I have a proposition for you, Margot,” Tobin offered. “Care to hear it?”

“Sure,” she said, moving away from him to slump down in her seat again, trying not to picture Tobin kissing someone else, whispering in someone else’s ear, sharing secrets with another.

“We are Connected,” he began, “and that is a commitment of a sort, an emotional and spiritual link. In this regard, I would prefer your loyalty.” When she opened her mouth, he held up a hand. “I know you still love Ash. That’s a given. But no one else,” he demanded, kneeling down to take her hand. “Not until we know what lies be tween us.”

Margot nodded. “Okay,” she agreed. “That seems fair.” She frowned. “But the s ex thing…”

He nodded, contemplating. “Let me offer you this: if, the next time you see my charming brother—and believe me, you will see him again, and probably soon—and you do not want to disappear into his arms, we can discuss more restricti ve terms.”

“Is that a thing among the fae? Monogamy?” s he asked.

He nodded. “Oh, yes, but it’s not the norm. We fae are a sensual people, Margot, and we live a very long time. We enjoy getting lost in th e moment.”

“I enjoy getting lost in the moment,” Margot said, “with you .” She brought his hand to her mouth, kissing the back and looking at him. “I don’t want you to be with anyone else. Not now.”

He grinned, his other hand stroking her chin. “How very human of you, darling. I understand. Jealousy is a terrib le thing.”

“You wouldn’t be jealous if I slept with Ash?” Margot asked, trying to understand his per spective.

“If you didn’t ask me to watch,” he admitted. At her scandalized expression, Tobin laughed. “Relax, darling. I don’t expect you to adopt all of our ways imm ediately.”

Margot heard the subtext. “But you would expect me to adopt them eventually?” she prompted.

He gave her a broad smile, and she caught the hint of the fae Lord hidden within. “Oh, Margot. I expect you to always do exactly what you want to do, and I look forward to seeing what that is.” He stood up, lifting her easily to her feet. “Now, are we done negotiating the rules of this rela tionship?”

“I think so,” Margot said, a thrill running through her at the word relationsh ip. “Why?”

“Because I want to kiss you again, and I need to know we’re done talking,” he declared.

“Oh,” she said, heat spilling through her again at the words. “We’re definitely done talking.”