Authors: Dakota Dawn
“What do you do when you encounter a language you don’t know?” Chase asked.
“We have a device that translates it and converts it to English, because that’s the language we use the most.”
“You understand more than one language?” Chase loved learning about Reed and the other people of this planet.
“Yes, and so do you, now. Your fairy DNA lets you understand the trollettes, leprechauns, and a few other languages.”
“Damn, that’s cool.” Chase grew more impressed by the fairies every day.
Reed chuckled. “I’m glad you think so. Go on to the next village.”
Aiming the scope to the left, Chase saw what looked like vineyards. “Do fairies make their own wine?”
“Yes. The people of Grape Village make the best wine I’ve ever tasted. They sell a lot of it to Everton Village.”
“The name’s appropriate, then. What all does Grape Village offer?” Chase asked.
“People go there for the open markets, wine tasting, and excellent bed and breakfast establishments.”
Chase found one of the bed and breakfasts. It looked good to him. “Are the bed and breakfasts close to the wineries?”
“Yes. It’s fun to go spend the day sampling the wine, checking out the markets, then crashing for the night at the home-based B&Bs. You get up the next day to a delicious breakfast then go home with all your goodies.”
With a slight move of his wrist, Chase was able to watch some people stroll the market, buying what interested them. It was a little unnerving to see so many men and know they were patiently waiting for their female mates. So far he’d only seen a handful of older women. It was sad, but he was glad that soon each village would be repopulated with women and then children. Chase moved the scope downward until he came across the last village. The beauty and excitement of the place drew him in. There were lush parks with statues and vividly colored plants. Then he found the purple spraying water. “Oh my gosh! That is the biggest water park I’ve ever seen.”
“It looks like you have found Lilly Village. The water park is one of their main attractions. People will go there and stay for a week or two several times a year. In the winter the owner shields the water park from the cold air and heats the water.”
Chase put his hand up. “Whoa. How does he put a shield up? That place is massive.”
“That’s his power. He can shield anything, including this planet.”
“I wish I had some awesome powers.” Chase looked at the floor and wondered if humans were a good match for the powerful fairies. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.
Reed circled Chase in a tight embrace. “You have the power to help us survive. That power is even greater than shielding power.”
Chase melted inside. “Thanks. I’ll do my best to help us survive.” Chase breathed Reed’s scent in deeply. “If I’d had shielding power, I wouldn’t have had to kill those men. I could have brought them in to receive their punishment.”
Reed tightened his grip for a second. “Death was to be their punishment. You dished it out before I could.” Reed took a calming breath. “Back to the shielding power, before I get pissed. It only works if you know in advance to use it. Tate has shielding power, but they got to him. We think the leader had cloaking powers. But they didn’t cloak him from you because he underestimated you. No power is perfect.”
Looking up, Chase asked, “Tate has shielding powers?”
Reed nodded. “Yes. His father is the owner of the water park.”
“No way. Does that mean that powers are passed down to the children?”
“Most of the time.”
“Great. Does that mean your kids are going to be tying all our kids up with their hair? I can picture the chaos now. My kids are going to have to analyze their way out.”
“That’ll make them strong, like their father.” Reed kissed Chase lightly then said, “Seriously, the children won’t get their powers until they are about seventy-five years old. No need to worry.”
Chase looked questioningly at Reed. “What other powers do you have?”
A grin transformed Reed’s handsome face. “I have the power of persuasion.”
Chase flashed back to him running from Reed in the park. “Why didn’t you persuade me to come peacefully with you when we met?”
“Because you’re my mystic mate. I can’t use persuasion on you.” Reed wiggled his eyebrows. “Although, I wish I could sometimes.”
This time a picture of Reed grabbing him with his hair flashed through Chase’s mind. “Why can you use your hair on me?” Chase wasn’t sure he liked Reed being able to grab him with his wild-ass hair.
“Because it doesn’t directly affect your mind.” Reed grinned. “Oh, the things I have planned for you.”
Chase’s dick twitched when Reed’s eyes started to glow. “I can’t wait to experience them all.”
Reed’s phone rang, and he stepped back to answer it. Chase licked his lips as he watched Reed. The man was just too appealing. Chase hoped he never stopped feeling so strongly for Reed.
After ending his call, Reed turned to Chase. “I’ve got to go take care of some things. Look around, go for a swim in the pool.” Reed kissed Chase then kissed him again before he left. Chase licked his lips and tasted Reed’s sweet flavor. He longed to have Reed back in his arms. Reed’s position was important, though, so Chase knew he’d have to get used to Reed leaving at any time.
Chase stepped out of the glass room and into a lush rooftop garden complete with the loveliest pool he’d ever seen. The blue water glittered. Chase walked down a stone path that led to the pool. After taking off his shoes, Chase dipped a toe into the water and groaned at how good it felt. He stepped onto the second step and stared out at the pool and the surrounding gardens.
It was magical. Plants of green, blue, yellow, and red grew around stone statues, paths, and an extended rooftop that shaded an enormous terrace. There were many lounges made of heavy wood and several benches made of stone and even a fire pit. He could easily see himself hanging out here with Reed for hours on end.
Everywhere he looked Chase saw interesting flowers, some in colors he didn’t even have names for. He loved the smell of the large white flowers and small blue flowers. His face scrunched in distaste when he sniffed a large maroon flower. That one was eye candy only. Changing the direction of his exploration, he walked to edge of the pool. It had two stone shelves a few inches under the water. Perfect for making love. Close to one of the shelves was a waterfall. It poured down from a series of smooth rocks. The sound of flowing water had a calming effect on his nerves. The whole garden was absolutely lovely.
Looking along the curving edges of the pool, he noticed that there was a built-in spa as well. It was all beautiful, but it wasn’t the same without Reed. Stepping out of the water, Chase picked up his shoes and headed back inside.
Chapter Ten
A week had passed since Reed had taken Chase on an in-depth tour of his rooms in his new home. Chase was starting to get around a little better. Reed had just left to take care of some kingly matter. Chase was bored and decided to go exploring some more. He had just stepped onto the terrace that led to the training field when nine young men approached him and his guard.
The biggest one said, “Well, well. Look at what we’ve got here, boys. A weak little round ears. Do you cry for your mother every night?”
Anger surfaced just under Chase’s skin. His eyes assessed each of the men.
Byron, Chase’s guard, stepped up beside Chase. “Go on about your business. You know who he belongs to. Only a fool would ask for the king’s wrath.”
The leader’s eyes narrowed. “The king shouldn’t have claimed such a weak mate. Humans are not good breeders for us. We should be allowed to claim fairy women from other planets.” The eight other men shouted out their agreement.
Byron cursed, then defended the king. “The Enlightened Ones made the decision to mate with humans, not King Reed. Now go on and I’ll forget you ever insulted the king.”
“We’re not going anywhere until we prove that humans are too weak to be fairy mates.” The gang’s leader nodded his head, and all hell broke loose.
Three of the men rushed Byron and fought with him while the other six surrounded Chase. At first they came at him one at a time while the others called out encouragements. After two of them backed away limping, they started coming at him two at a time.
Chase cleared his mind and let the beast in him run free. Going for blood, he broke the nose of the next man that attacked him. He took a hit to his right eyebrow. Pain shot through his head, and blood trickled down. He wiped it away and broke the arm of the next man dumb enough to come after him.
Out of nowhere, the man who’d told him weeks ago to watch his back jumped into the fight. Chase’s stomach felt like a boiling cauldron. Fear, anger, frustration, and determination were all cooking up inside him. If more men jumped in and fought with these nine assholes, he and Byron were toast. To Chase’s amazement the newcomer started kicking Chase’s enemies’ asses. Back-to-back, they fought off the men until all of them lay on the ground, injured and knocked out.
Byron had taken out his three attackers as Chase and his new friend handled the other six. Byron called for some guards to come and take the men to a holding cell.
While Byron was making the call, Chase turned to the man who’d come to his aid. “You’re the man who told me to watch my back. Thanks for helping me out today. What’s your name?”
The man bowed then answered Chase’s question. “Rhett. It was my pleasure to help you out. I’d fight by your side any day.”
“Well, Rhett, let’s go get some froosh.”
Byron hurried after the men, a black eye already starting to form. His bushy brows were scrunched together. Chase briefly wondered what all could hide in those wild brows.
“I don’t think this is a good idea. The king is going to be furious. You should return to your rooms,” Byron stated firmly.
Chase laughed and wiped the blood out of his eye. It was already starting to scab over. “That was nothing. We kicked their asses. After a good fight, it’s good to have a drink.”
Once they arrived in the food court, Chase ordered them all a froosh, which was put on Reed’s tab, and then ordered them to drink it with him. Byron sipped his as he stood guard, glaring at everyone in the room. Rhett and Chase happily took a seat.
Rhett took a long swig of his drink. “I’d heard that some of the younger men were mad at the decision to bring humans into our world. It was rumored that they were going to prove that you were not fit to be mated to the king. I wasn’t sure who they were, so all I could do was try to warn you and keep a watch for any fights that broke out.” Rhett looked at Chase’s throbbing eyebrow and winced. “I’m sorry I didn’t hear the fight sooner.”
Chase looked at Rhett’s swollen lip. “Looks like we all took a few blows. But we beat them, and that’s what matters. Bullies, in my opinion, should never win.” Chase tapped the table as a thought struck him. “Why didn’t they use some fairy powers on us, and why didn’t you use any on them?”
Rhett grinned then grimaced. “That’s because we are too young. Fairy powers don’t show up until a fairy is about seventy-five years old. All of us that want to fight for the king but are too young are here training.”
With a sour stomach, Chase said, “You mean I just injured kids?”
Rhett laughed. “Not totally. Their average age was sixty. I’m sixty-five.”
“How old is the king?” Chase asked. Rhett could turn out to be a goldmine of information.
Biting his lip, Rhett thought for a moment then counted up on his fingers. “He is two hundred years old.”
Chase felt his eyes bulge. “How long do you guys live?”
After taking another drink, Rhett answered, “About a thousand years.” Sorrow clouded his eyes. “Unless disaster strikes. Like the virus that killed so many of us.”
Chase took another drink, and his blood heated up. A man walked up to Byron and started talking to him. This was his chance to learn something about Reed. Chase leaned in close and asked Rhett, “Did anyone close to the king die?”
“Oh yeah. He lost everyone but his uncle, the king. King Reed’s mother was always smiling and friendly. Everyone loved her. His father was wise. Many went to him for counsel. His twin brothers were always bantering back and forth. They made everyone laugh.” Rhett paused for a second. “His baby sister was the prettiest little thing. She didn’t take any shit from her older brothers. She would have made a great mate and mother one day.” Rhett took a deep breath. “I lost two sweet little sisters and my mother. We all lost so many. But with the cure being found, and the knowledge that humans are good mates, the future looks promising. I’m glad you’re here, and I know many others are as well.”
Pain for Reed swept through Chase. Now he understood Reed a little better. Drastic loss made some people keep their hearts safely locked away. Love equaled pain to them. To top it all off, Reed was responsible for the survival of his people. Reed had plausible reasons for everything he did. Including kidnapping. Chase’s heart bled for his desperate fay king. He knew Reed needed his love. And he’d have it until the day he died.
A commotion at the door drew all eyes to Reed. Chase fidgeted in his seat when Reed sent him a hot, angry look. What had he done wrong? Loving Reed was not an easy task.