Fairy Unbroken (5 page)

Carrick moved forward to place a hand on Keyn’s bare shoulder.
“You must believe the Goddess made her your mate for a reason. Accept your
path.”

After the conversation with king and queen, Keyn found himself at
his home in the fairy kingdom, but he did not stay long. He wandered around,
but as he always did when upset, he went to find her. There was no doubt she
soothed his soul but the human part of her still upset all his senses. Keyn came
upon Trillian entering the palace. He followed.

****

Now that she believed this was a real place and she wasn’t near
death, Trillian made a decision. She didn’t care if fairies really existed.
There was only one course of action for her. She had to go home to Cameron. In
a few days, after all the tests were performed, he’d be at her house, and she
planned to be there with open arms. Trillian made her way to the room she had
been in previously. After a long chat with Breena, she needed to speak with their
king. She couldn’t even believe she was going to talk to the king of the
fucking fairies.

 
What a day it had been.

She saw the gorgeous sunset as she entered the room. The nature
friendly landscape with giant sunflowers added to the pink and purple of the
fading sun. It took a moment but she glanced from the view to the fairy that
fluttered his blue wings. “I don’t know if I’m supposed to bow or curtsy or
whatever.” She was done with pleasantries.

Carrick lifted a brow, a small grin on his handsome face.

That was another thing— why was everyone so damn good-looking
here? They’d scream in horror if they ever saw her when she rolled out of bed
in the morning. “I want to thank you for saving me from those things.”

“Trolls.”

“Yes, I appreciate it, but this is not my home. I have a life
already and I want to go back to it.” Otherwise, she was a prisoner and that
put a completely new complicated spin on things.

“That is unwise but I will abide by your choice. There’s a storm
coming. Once that passes, one of my men will return you to your home, but he
will remain as your guardian.”

Fucking
wonderful.
“Why would they possibly come after me again? It’s not like I
serve a purpose just because I can see you.”

Carrick looked perplexed for a moment. “See us...Oh.” He frowned.
“What exactly did Breena tell you?”

“I knew she was lying.” Trillian huffed and sat on the nearest
couch. She was exhausted, hungry, and just wanted to go home.

“I think the best person to speak to you would be my mate. She has
been in your position.” His wings fluttered out. “Remain here and I will fetch
her. You will learn the truth this night.”

Great, everything on the table when all she wanted to do was fall
asleep on that table. “Fine,” she said. Trillian waited on the couch, leaning
back to stare at the glass ceiling. The colors were beautiful. They streaked
across the sky in blending hues that gave the clouds an ethereal feeling. How
was she going to explain this to Cameron? He’d think she’d lost all her marbles
and he had enough on his plate already. What was she going to tell her boss? He
had to have noticed her absence for the day and if she wasn’t there tomorrow...

Trillian groaned, her gaze wandered the sky. It wasn’t long before
her eyelids became heavy. They weighed so much and the couch was so
comfortable. She yawned, tucking her hands under her thighs and stretching her
legs out to cross them at the ankle. Just a few seconds of shut-eye, that’s all
she needed. A few precious moments of sleep.

Chapter Seven

Keyn heard the steady rise and fall of her breathing. He was
waiting by the doorframe, shudders racking his body as he gathered the courage
to go inside and speak with her. Just a few words would be a good start. He
could tell her that he had no interest in her as a mate but that he’d keep her
under his protection. That sounded decent and controlled. Keyn took a few steps
into the room, his hands fisted and brow lowered in concentration. She was on
the couch. He could see her dirty blonde hair over the back of it. It didn’t
occur to him to clear his throat. He just walked past the couch and opened his
mouth to start his speech.

Keyn hissed out a breath. She was asleep, her eyes closed, lips
softened in slumber. Trillian looked angelic with her hair falling in slivers
around her face. Keyn couldn’t stop himself from leaning closer. His flaccid
cock began to awaken. He reached out, unsure of how to proceed. She was human,
for Goddess’ sake, and he longed to brush his fingers across her skin. He did
just that. For the first time in hundreds of years, he willingly touched a
human. This wasn’t a touch to save a life or to harm. This was simply flesh
against flesh. Trillian’s skin was soft, supple like a flower petal. He dragged
his fingers gently down her cheek to her chin and his eyes were so focused on
her slightly parted lips, he missed the shadow at the door.

Queen Brook smiled then cleared her throat gently.

Keyn jumped up as if he was struck by a harsh blow. He stood to
his full height, his black and red wings fluttering nervously, and he glanced
at the queen.

****

Trillian awoke with a jerk. She jumped to her feet, dizzy and
disoriented. She locked eyes with the fairy that had black wings and that scar
on his face. “What’s going on?”

She had to admit, this guy was as good looking as the others. Even
with the scar marring his face, he was still sexy. That gave him more of an
edge, a badass look that made her shiver with desire. Damn it. She should be
thinking about getting home, not spreading her legs. She placed her hands on
her hips. “Well?”

“The queen is here to speak with you.” He rushed out.

Trillian finally noticed the other woman. The queen of the
fairies—what a title on a resume. She nodded. “Hello.”

“Welcome to the fairy kingdom, Trillian. We have a lot to
discuss.” She had an air of authority. The queen shook her head toward the
fleeing fairy and then back to Trillian. She sat on the couch, but rather than
some elegant royalty, she plopped down in her long sundress and smiled. “I was
new to this too, not long ago. Carrick found me, which is a long story, but the
point is we had a happy ending. We’re mates.” She smiled and rubbed her rounded
tummy. “The trolls tried to take me too.”

“Wait.” Trillian held up her finger. “You’re telling me the troll
creatures are trying to kidnap mates, I’m assuming because of this territory
business.”

The queen nodded.

“So they were after me because...”

“You’re mated to a fairy.”

Trillian shot to her feet. “What the fuck are you talking about?
People aren’t mated. That’s animals, not humans.” She paced the room and
stopped abruptly. Breena’s words echoing in her ears. “Oh my God, you want me
to get knocked up!” She turned around quickly and eyed the queen.

“Well, that would be helpful, that is, if you want kids.”

“This is absolutely crazy.” That statement pretty much summed up
her day. “Mythical creatures attack me. Now I’m mated to some half-dressed guy
with wings, and you want me to get pregnant to help your species. Please tell
me if I have this wrong?”

“Nope.”

Now, at this point, Trillian thought about running or getting mad
or even screaming to express her crazy emotions. Instead, the last few years
rushed by. She had been dating since high school with no one serious, went to
bars and singles’ scenes and even speed dating once. Trillian sure as hell
wasn’t a virgin but no one ever clicked with her. What if what this crazy queen
of some made-up creatures was speaking was the truth? “Who?” she blurted. Who
was this winged guy she was supposedly mated to? “Shit. Don’t tell me it’s that
scary guy with the blue hair.” That would be her luck.

The queen grinned. “Whisper? Yeah, he creeps me out too but he’s
got a good heart. No, your mate is that guy that was hunched over you while you
were sleeping, Keyn.”

Her eyes narrowed. “The cute guy that always seems to be scowling
at me?”

“Yup, with the scar.” She added, “I’m curious why you didn’t
describe him as such.”

The scar didn’t really bother her but she didn’t say that.
Trillian shrugged her shoulders. “How do you know it’s him? Could this mate
thing be wrong? Do I have to stay here? Am I forced to be with him or is there
like a choice?” She spouted questions with even more forming in her head. “He
isn’t exactly Mr. Personality.”

The queen chuckled. “You got that right.” She sighed. “Every fairy
here has baggage and you’ll have to deal with that pain in the ass, I’m sure,
but in the end it’s totally worth it.” She again rubbed her belly.

“I can’t stay here long though. I do have to get back to my life.”

“Stay for a few days, see what it’s like, and get to know Mr.
Personality,” she said with a grin. “If you’re truly unhappy, I’ll make sure
you’re returned home with protection. Sound like a deal?”

Trillian was reluctant to agree. It was reasonable and she wasn’t
about to go scaling the walls of this place to break out. “All right. Deal,”
she mumbled and sat on the nearest chair. Her stomach growled loudly and she
held it as if to stop the rumble.

“Men. They didn’t even feed you yet, did they?” The queen frowned.

Trillian shook her head.

“I’ll get Keyn in here with some food.”

She groaned. “Please, not him, not yet. I have to eat and sleep on
this.”

The queen tilted her head in thought. “No promises.” She walked
out the door.

Trillian frowned and walked toward the glass wall. Her eyes
scanned the outside world that was slowly filling with shadows. Night was
falling. Her first night away from home in months, since Cameron got sick.
Trillian sighed. She wondered how her brother was doing. Trillian had wanted to
go with him but she couldn’t miss work and the money. Now she was out both and
probably her job at the bar. She wondered briefly if there was gold somewhere
around here or was that only a leprechaun story. A small grinned played on her
lips. Hopefully, they were friendlier than the troll creatures. An image
shifted behind her and she spun to face none other than her supposed mate.

“Food,” he said flatly and placed a tray on the table.

“Thanks.” She walked toward it and noted how he stiffened and took
a step back. Might as well get this out of the way. “I won’t be your mate.” She
grabbed what looked like a yellow carrot and chomped on it.

Keyn lifted a brow. “Good.”

That’s it? This guy wouldn’t be getting laid and that’s all he had
to say? “Fine.”

“Great,” he muttered and turned to walk out.

“So, you’ll take me home then?”

He halted at the door. “No.” With that, he left.

“You’re an asshole!” she yelled before he could walk too far.
There was no doubt he heard her but Keyn didn’t comment. Trillian followed him
right out the door. “What the hell is your problem? You’re the one who brought
me here.”

Keyn slammed the door open, and moonlight streamed in. “I saved
your life,” he claimed through clenched teeth.

“I was doing fine before you showed up!” Trillian said with venom
in her tone. Too bad he didn’t seem to know it. She followed him out the door
into the night. Shadows played with her nerves and she halted in the doorway.

Keyn stopped walking. He spun quickly, his black and red wings
swirling. “They would have easily disarmed you and taken you to use as ransom
or worse. They’d probably just kill you and leave your corpse on our doorstep.”

“You don’t know that. You’re just trying to be the hero.”

Keyn threw up his hands.

“Oh, yes, so I’ll swoon in your arms and spread my legs for a man
with wings! Fucking wings.”

Keyn growled at her and stepped close enough for her to see his
narrowed eyes in the darkness and feel his breath mingle with hers. “I have no
desire for you, let alone want to be between your legs.”

“Are you insulting me? You stupid winged bastard.”

“I am stating a fact,” he yelled right back.

“Well, you can shove that fact right up your puckered ass.”
Trillian was done talking to this jerk. She turned on her heels but was
stopped. Keyn flew past her and blocked the door.

“Do not test my patience. You are here only because the king
ordered it. Humans disgust me.”

That’s it. She was going to kick him in the balls.

 
Trillian lifted her foot
but was knocked sideways. A big body slammed her to the ground. There was a
flash of black, a deep menacing growl, and the weight lifted. She quickly got
to her feet to stare down at an ugly, dead troll.

“They’ve breached!” Keyn yelled at the top of his lungs.

A scream rang out and Trillian glanced down the street. It had to
be Breena. More nasty creatures came out of the shadows. Keyn faced them with a
scowl.