“No.” Her gaze dropped. “Fine. I won’t go looking for trouble. Yet.”

“Good.” Then the fierce faery who had just convinced Rika she was strong enough to be Alpha, yet also convinced her to bow to his wishes, fastened his gaze on Jayce. It wasn’t an entirely friendly look. “There’s a salve I brought for Jayce, Rika.”

She stilled, her entire body tight and tense, but her voice sounded calm as she said, “There are rules, Shy.”

“None higher than us out here,” he countered. “He’s no use to me if he’s unable to see what’s around him.”

“Right here, Sionnach,” Jayce interjected. “And being of use to you isn’t my top priority.” He glanced at Rika, who looked increasingly nervous. “What’s the salve for?”

“Seeing,” she whispered.

Jayce waited, knowing that there was obviously more to it than what she’d said. He knew that faeries could be invisible to humans and were inaudible when they couldn’t be seen. So, the obvious meaning was that the salve would let him see them. When neither of them spoke further, he prompted, “And?”

Sionnach waved his hand, earning a glare from Rika.

“Giving a mortal the Sight is not something we’re to do,” she said in a shaky voice as she stood and walked over to Jayce. “It’s risky for mortals too. Some of the courts take mortals who can see them, those born with the Sight. Others just take the mortals’ eyes.”

Jayce wrapped an arm around her, but didn’t answer. He wasn’t sure he was ready for that particular risk, but he would rather discuss it away from Sionnach.

When Jayce didn’t reply to Rika’s words on the Sight, Sionnach suggested, “Why don’t you two go do something more fun? All this maudlin business isn’t particular romantic.”

Jayce shrugged and said, “Call if you need us.”

Sionnach held Jayce’s gaze. “I do need you both.”

“For now, we’re both here,” Jayce agreed mildly. He wasn’t committing to anything more than that. He liked Rika, but he didn’t trust Sionnach or know how he felt about a path that included being a potential target for faeries who were willing to cut up people’s eyes.

“I still get to be the one to knock the arrogance out of her,” Rika interjected.

Jayce answered even though she had been talking to Sionnach. “You’re the only one able to. I’m human, and he’s obviously not tough enough—”

Sionnach’s bark of laughter stilled Jayce’s words. “I might like you, Jayce.” Then he gave Rika a very serious look. “It would be a joy to watch you explain the error of her ways when the time is right.”

“Soon,” Rika added. “You’ll be well soon and then—”