Into the Fae

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

“When I gave my creation free will, I worried that they would never fulfill the destinies that I had planned for them. I was sure that they would turn their own way and disregard the path I had laid out for them. My one defense against this was love. Love is what helps them make the tough decisions, what guides them when they’ve lost their way. True, unconditional, selfless love can soften the hardest heart, cleanse the filthiest soul, and quench the driest spirit.” ~The Great Luna

“I don’t understand why you need so many square boxes that do all the same thing,” Lucian said as he held the contraption that Costin had handed him. A cell phone was what he had called it and Costin said he could use it to speak to people all over the world. Lucian had laughed.

“Well you don’t want to attempt to carry a television around with you, and a tablet is too big to use as a phone. You see, even though they do similar things, it’s having various sizes for various circumstances that matter.”

“Okay, when I walk into a room and hear one dude talking to another dude using words like various, sizes and matter, I have to admit I’m a tad intrigued,” Jen said as she strolled into the library with a burp rag slung over her shoulder.

“Quit being modest Jen,” Costin laughed. “You’re more than intrigued, you’re practically salivating at the s****l innuendos coming together in that wicked head of yours.”

She shrugged. “What can I say, it’s a gift.” She motioned to Lucian who was still staring at the phone in his hands. “Since we know you guys weren’t really talking about the size of your junk, what exactly were you talking about?”

Lucian’s eyebrows rose as he looked up from the phone to pin his stare on Jen. “I truly do not understand most of what you say.”

She laughed. “Neither does my mate, but he’s learning and so will you. Now as interesting as I’m sure that cell phone is to your poor, neglected mind, I want to know how things are going with you and your fairy.” She plunked herself down on the couch and pointed across from her indicating for him to sit.

“Jen,” Costin started.

She held up a finger to stop him and turned her head slowly to look at him. “I’m going to meddle so don’t bother telling me not to meddle because, frankly, it’s a waste of oxygen. You know as well as I do they are going to have to complete the bond because at some point his darkness is going to take over. What happens if another male makes advances on Peri and he doesn’t have the darkness under control?”

They heard a crunch and looked over at Lucian who now had a crushed cell phone in his partially human hands. He looked down at it and frowned.

“What male are you talking about?” Lucian asked with calmness that Jen knew all too well.

“I’m not saying that there is one, Lucian. I’m just saying that if there was one, things could get messy.” She groaned dramatically, “Ugh if there was just one person here that could appreciate the things I could do with that sentence.” She looked back at Lucian and motioned once again for him to sit. He walked over and took the seat she indicated but he held her gaze the entire time. Jen finally relented and dropped her eyes. “Stupid Alphas and their power games,” she muttered.

“I am not an Alpha,” Lucian pointed out.

“Maybe not, but you have the dominance to be one. Now, about Peri…,” she prompted and then waited.

“She is coming to terms with it,” Lucian finally spoke. “She just needs time, and that is something I can give her.”

“You know that she wants to leave, to go after her sister?” Jen asked.

Lucian nodded.

“And you’re okay with her going?”

Lucian’s lips twitch in amusement. “She can go anywhere she wants,” he paused, “but I’ve made it very clear to her that where she goes, I go.”

“And how did Peri fairy respond to that?” Jen grinned.

“I would not repeat such language in front of a female,” Lucian told her with a gleam in his eyes that had Jen laughing.

“Oh man this is awesome,” she ground out with a clap of her hands. “Our little Peri is all wrapped up with the big bad wolf, totally priceless.” She stood and smiled down at the wolf. “Hang in there, brother wolf. She’ll come around.”

Lucian smiled and it was all teeth. “Do not worry, mate to Decebel. We wolves are very, very patient hunters.”

Jen cackled as she turned to leave and called out over her shoulder, “Don’t I know it.”

“Sorry about the cell phone,” Lucian told Costin as he stood and held out the plastic mess.

Costin chuckled. “You can imagine that we go through quite a few phones; we have really good insurance.” Costin tossed the phone in the trash and then glanced back to Lucian who was now staring out of one of the many windows. “I’m headed to the training area to get in a workout. You can join me if you want. Sally’s with Rachel doing healer stuff so I’m having to figure out how to entertain myself.” He shook his head. “It’s hard to believe that for sixty years I was capable of getting through the day without her, but now,” he exhaled, “now every minute away from her is torture.”

Lucian nodded. “Like you are seeing the world in black and white until she walks into the room and suddenly everything is in color; rich, vibrant colors that reflect her light.”

“Exactly,” Costin agreed.

“I appreciate the offer, but I think I had better bow out of training today,” Lucian said politely. “I fear I would be too aggressive to be safe.”

“As Jen said, hang in there. Peri is a proud fae, but she is not stupid. She will come around.” Costin left without another word.

Lucian glanced back out the window and his eyes landed once again on his mate.

He agreed that she was indeed proud, but he was beginning to question whether Costin was right about the not stupid part. She was on the very training ground that Costin had just spoken of and she was now wearing clothing that revealed every enticing curve, every defined muscle. She was sparing with another fae female that he recognized as Elle. Peri landed a powerful forward strike, leaving Elle sprawled on her back. Lucian saw a male figure step forward from the group that was now forming around them. It was Sorin, one of the wolves, and also Elle’s mate. He looked about as happy as Lucian felt.

Elle waved him off and readied herself once again for Peri’s attack. They continued sparring, moving with a speed and grace that fae alone could accomplish and soon they had an entire group, female and male, circling around them watching the bout. Lucian’s jaw clenched as Elle conceded, bowing to Peri and then stepping back. He watched as Peri motioned for someone else to step up to spar with her. After several seconds one of the younger males stepped forward. He didn’t remember his name, but he recognized the face as being one of the Serbian wolves.

“Mate, I am asking that you not spar with that male,” Lucian reached to her through their bond as he tried to hold back his wolf. His hands trembled under the strain that it took to hold the phase back. He watched as Peri stiffened as she heard his voice and her head slowly rose until she was looking at him through the window. He knew his eyes would be glowing, but there was nothing he could do about that. All he knew was that if that male put his hands on Peri in any way, be it to harm or give pleasure, his wolf would kill him. There was no doubt in his mind. If he let his wolf out, he would not be able to control him.

“Perhaps you could take his place?” Peri’s cool voice was like a refreshing breeze across the hot marshes of his mind.

“I do not think it would be wise of me to engage in any form of violence right now.” Lucian tried to let her see just how difficult it was for him without flooding her with all of his emotions. He saw the moment she picked up on it because she took a step back from the male. She gave a low bow indicating that she was withdrawing from the fight and then disappeared.

“It’s only going to get worse isn’t it,” her voice came from behind him. She had flashed from the training ground to the library. Judging from the looks on the faces of the group still on the training ground, they were still just as bothered by it as the first time Peri had done it.

He turned to face her and bit back the growl that wanted to pour out of him. She was beautiful—her face flushed from the work out, her hair shimmering in the light, her form perfect on display in her training clothes.

“Do they make clothes that do not fit so snug?” He asked her, unable to hold it in any longer.

She laughed. “You want me to accept this bond between us? Well then you are just going to have to accept the clothes of this day and age.”

“I do not think that is a fair exchange. Why should I be alright with your feminine form being on display for other males to see?”

“The key word in that statement Lucian is your. You have just stated that it is indeed my feminine form that is in question, and since it belongs to me, I am the one in charge of it,” Peri said coyly. “Now if you will excuse me, I need to go shower said feminine form lest it becomes smelly. I don’t do smelly.” She turned on her heel and left without another word.

Lucian wondered why she bothered walking anywhere when she could flash. He decided to tuck that question away along with others he had been forming to ask her. He would save that to ask while they were on their journey to find her sister. He hoped that during their search he would be able to get to know her better and for her to get to know him and, hopefully, to fall in love with him. He would have much rather completed their bond and blood rites before their departure, but she just wasn’t ready and he would not force it on her.

Laughter out in the hallway caught his attention and he walked over and stuck his head out. Jen sat precariously perched on the balcony railing that looked out over the entryway to the mansion. Her mate, Decebel, stood several feet away holding their new infant daughter in his arms. Lucian’s lips twitched at the large male holding the tiny child with such care. But his shoulders tensed at the angry expression he saw on Decebel’s face. It was so inconsistent with the gentleness in which his arms held the babe that it caught Lucian off guard.

“Jennifer, get down from the railing.” He heard the Alpha say through clenched teeth. It was obvious that he was trying to stay calm because of his tiny burden, but his mate was truly putting his control to the test.

Jen dangled one leg over the edge, her balance perfect, her body relaxed. “But this is what I wanted to show you,” she whined. “Jacque and I have been seeing how many of our wolf traits we can use while in human form, and get this,” she held her hand out in excitement, “cats aren’t the only ones that always land on their feet.” And with that she pushed up with her legs and threw her body back high in the air above the entryway.

Lucian was out the door and running without realizing it as he watched in part horror and part awe as the female did a back flip off of the railing. As he and Decebel both reached the rail and looked over, he saw that she had indeed landed on her feet. She threw her hands in the air in celebration and then proceeded to dance to some tune that she was now singing.

Lucian quickly looked away from the Alpha’s mate’s gyrating body. He looked at Decebel when he heard an exasperated huff leave his chest.

“You might want to check into a return policy before you complete the bond with your mate,” Decebel told him wearily.

Lucian shook his head feeling every bit as tired as Decebel looked. “I don’t understand her. I don’t like the way she dresses, her temper is legendary, and she is constantly threatening me with bodily harm, and yet I would rip out my own heart before I would give her up.”

Decebel chuckled and nodded knowingly. “And just to be clear brother, you do like the way she dresses, you just wish you were the only one who got to enjoy it.”

“I will never admit such a thing,” Lucian said stoically as he fought to keep the smile from his face.

Decebel turned at the sound of his mate coming up the stairs. Lucian watched as Decebel growled at her, his good humor seemingly gone.

“Dec babe, you know I don’t like you to threaten me unless there is going to be some follow through. So, don’t be throwing around things like spank you and over my knee unless you got the gumption to back it up.” Jen leaned around Dec and gave Lucian a wicked wink as she grabbed her mate’s free hand and pulled him down the hall. All the while Lucian could hear the Alpha grumbling to his mate about trying to give him a heart attack and at least she kept her clothes on. Bloody hell, Lucian thought, I do not even want to know what that is all about. He supposed he should be thankful that Perizada didn’t dance in public or attempt to take her clothes off. He heard Jen’s laughing again and sent a silent prayer to the Great Luna on Decebel’s behalf. From what Lucian had seen and heard of Jen, the Alpha would need all the help he could get.

∞

Showered, refreshed and ready to get on the road, Peri reached out to Elle and Adam. As a high fae, Peri had the ability to connect mentally with others of her kind and, until now, she had never thought twice about invading their privacy when she needed them. Of course, until now she had never had to share them with anyone. They were her soldiers, sent by the Great Luna to help keep the supernatural world in balance. Peri could never have guessed that the Great Luna would cause the fae and werewolves to become compatible as true mates, forever changing the fates of both species. Adam, who had at one time been quite the flirt, became true mate to Crina, one of the female werewolves in Vasile’s pack. Adam had been shocked, but he gave in willingly. Now, months later, he hardly leaves Crina’s side. He had even developed the markings that were common on the wolf males that indicated he was a dominant and then Crina’s mate markings had appeared and matched Adams.

Elle had also been chosen to be the mate to a wolf. She was given, Sorin, once the Guardian of the Alpha’s son, and a dominant. Elle hadn’t been quite as sure as Adam and had initially run from Sorin. Peri smirked at the memory of Sorin, calm, collect Sorin having a regular werewolf tantrum when Elle had disappeared right before his very eyes. Peri had been the one to go talk to Elle, much to her own surprise and the surprise of pretty much everyone.

Now she was contemplating supernaturally communicating with Adam and Elle through their minds, something fae are accustomed to doing. But the fact of the matter is that a mental bond in the werewolf world is a much more intimate affair than in the fae world and she felt like she was going somewhere that only their mates should be allowed.

“Dammit Perizada,” she snapped at herself as she headed for the door, “it’s not like you are walking into their bedroom while they’re going at it. All you’re doing is slipping into their mind to give them a message and then just slipping right back out again.” She walked to the hall where their rooms were located as she reasoned with herself. But she knew she wasn’t going to win this battle, not after sharing the mental bond with Lucian—her conscience wasn’t hearing her.

She let out a resigned sigh as she stood in the hallway. “ELLE, ADAM!” She yelled, knowing that her strong voice would make it through the walls and doors. She waited, not patiently by any means, as her foot tapped and she chewed on her lip. I’m chewing on my lip, good grief what’s next, nail biting? She admonished herself inwardly. Finally, two doors opened almost simultaneously.

“Good grief it took you two long enough,” Peri grumbled.

Adam stepped into the hall with a knowing smirk on his too handsome face. “You still haven’t given in and taken that male of yours to task, have you?”

A single brow rose on Peri’s face as she looked at the male fae. “Did you just refer to the intimacy of mate as taking them to task?”

Adam laughed. “Okay, you’re right, it’s so much funnier when you say it.”

Crina slapped his arm. “Be nice.”

Adam pretended to be hurt as he put on the pouty face that seemed to make Crina laugh; it only made Peri want to smack it off.

“But she’s never nice.” Adam blinked big puppy dog eyes at his mate. She giggled.

Peri rolled her eyes and smacked herself on the forehead. “Please tell me this is not what I have to look forward too?”

“Oh no, Peri, it gets worse,” Elle said as she walked up to stand next to Adam with Sorin, her mate, at her side. “Nauseatingly worse,” she said wickedly and laughed at Peri’s look of distress.

Peri took a deep breath and let it out slowly, all the while telling herself that she would never allow herself to be that wrapped around Lucian’s little finger, the way her fellow fae were with their mates.

“I actually sought you both out for a reason and much to your disappointment it was not for your input on the ins and outs of being mated to a werewolf.”

“Can I touch that one?” Adam interrupted.

Peri knew exactly how Adam’s mind worked. He was basically the male version of Jen, in short, a pervert. “Not with a ten-foot pole,” she glowered. He held his hands up in surrender but the grin remained.

“What do you need, Peri?” Elle asked.

Her tone indicated to Peri that she still recognized Peri’s authority and would perform whatever task was required of her. Peri wondered how Sorin would feel about that. Guess we’re about to find out.

“I’m going after Lorelle. Her crimes are a death sentence and since she killed me, and even though the Great Luna spared my life, I feel obligated as her sister to return the favor. I would appreciate your help and Adam’s as well. You both have very useful skills that would be of great importance to such a mission.” Peri tried not to look at their mates to gauge their reactions, but instead focused on the two fae who had served her and been her friends for centuries.

“Are we going to be traipsing through a forest, sleeping on the ground, battling other supernatural beings or killing a witch or warlock?” Adam asked.

“Considering we have recently killed the last evil witch left on this earth that I know of, I think it’s a safe bet that I can say no,” Peri said dryly.

Adam acted disappointed as he slumped back against the wall. “Well in that case, no, sorry I can’t in good conscience go on any missions where my life isn’t in some sort of danger. That would be boring. I’d rather stay here and see how un-ladylike I can get my pretty, furry mate to be.”

“Okay, first off, I think I just vomited in my mouth,” Peri’s face twisted into one of obvious disgust. “And secondly you should know by now that anytime I have to spend more than a day in your company your life is in danger. So problem solved and you,” she pointed at Crina who was staring at Adam like he had just invented social media, “shame on you. Come on, girl. You’re giving the rest of us a bad name panting after him like he’s the last popsicle in hell.”

Crina blushed and laughed. She was usually nearly as snarky as Jen and Jacque but her mating to Adam had softened her. Peri was giving her hard time, but she wasn’t about to tell Crina that her mating agreed with her. That she looked happier and healthier than she ever had.

“What about you?” Peri asked Elle.

“Honestly we’ve been waiting for your call,” Elle answered. “We’re ready to go when you are.”

“Sorin, you are okay with your mate continuing to work with me?”

Sorin smiled slyly. “You ask me that as if I had some sort of say in the matter.”

Elle elbowed him in the stomach and though he pretended to be hurt he was laughing.

“I do need to ask,” Sorin spoke up again having corralled his mate’s stabbing elbows, “will Lucian be joining us?”

“Yes,” Peri answered curtly. “Is that a problem?”

“Just like to know the pecking order if you know what I mean,” he told her with a wink.

Peri rolled her eyes. “You wolves and your dominance games, you all should seriously consider making it an Olympic sport.”

Sorin shook his head. “I have no desire to play games, Perizada. I do, however, have a strong sense of self-preservation and part of keeping my mate safe and staying alive is knowing who the more dominant wolves in the room are and how to avoid angering them.”

“Or you could just learn to fight dirty,” she replied. As she turned to go she added, “We’ll meet at the edge of the forest at midnight.”

“Um, why midnight?” Elle asked her retreating back.

“Because that is when the things that go bump come out to play. Lorelle is most definitely a thing that goes bump in the night. Don’t be late, I do not want to have to come drag your writhing bodies from your beds, because it would make me puke and I dearly hate to puke,” she called out over her shoulder not bothering to see the looks on their faces.