Lycan smiled and recounted his last few days of being a guest in the forest with the Elves. Seath loved listening to his mate recount what he did — from what he ate, to elvish customs, to making friend s with Enid, the matriarch of the clan that lived within the Pack lands.
“I could feel my wolf, Seath. Maybe it was the forest, or you know,Elves. He talked to me some, my wolf I mean, and I think he is getting healthier.”
“He is,” Seath agreed, his own wolf sensing the same thing.
They were sitting against the headboard now, and Lycan passed Seath some tea from where it was waiting on a tray beside the bed. He had no clue what time it was. Between the sex and the resting from travel, his internal clock was off, but if he had to guess he would say it was about midway through the night. Lycan smiled, loving the thought of talking with his lover and then snuggling back down for a few more hours of sleep.
The future Alpha-Mate looked shyly over his cup. “Is it normally like that, when it’s not a heat? Sex, I mean.”
Seath let the tea settle. They had sex plenty outside of Lycan’s heats, but yeah, the reunification of the afternoon had been something else.
“It can be. You know, fated mate magic is about the relationship — it doesn’t always mean that two people fall in love with one another. Love isn’t ever guaranteed. Lust, certainly. And companionship. But not love.”
Lycan’s heart kicked up. Falling in love. Was that what they were doing? His mind spun. Was that what he was feeling or was it the fated mate magic? His wolf senses had just come back to him, and the sensations were overwhelming. And when he was with Seath, sometimes he seemed driven by instinct.
“Hey,” Seath’s warm hand cupped Lycan’s cheek. “What are you thinking?”
“Do you think we could be? A love match, I mean?”
Seath’s eyes softened even more. “I think we are well matched, sweetheart. The Fates were generous. And I hope for love.”
“You are a worthy Alpha, Seath,” Lycan said with a kiss to Seath’s nose.
Seath shrugged. “Sometimes. I am too old-fashioned in some ways.”
“Appreciating the old ways and being old-fashioned aren’t the same thing.”
“I always believed in the old stories. Fated Mates, moon magic, and all the rest. Not sure if that makes me old-fashioned or nostalgic or something else.”
Lycan smiled, placing the cups back on the tray and turning off the lamp so they could snuggle back in their nest.
“You like the Fae, though. I would guess that most Pack Alphas wouldn’t. They are a bit temperamental.”
Seath sighed happily, pulling Lycan closer. “The Fae have their own agendas, so as long as the Pack doesn’t get caught up in their schemes, I do like them. They just have collateral damage sometimes, because their focus is never this realm. Whatever their reasons are or motivations, it’s not something we would ever know.”
Lycan hummed, burrowing closer and letting the scent of his Alpha lure him back toward sleep.
“The Fae also smell wonderful and have a wicked sense of humor,” Seath continued, stroking Lycan’s hair as they settled and Lycan gave a little a laugh in response. “If you just treat them as friends, you can also find yourself with extraordinarily good luck for a few days after meeting with them.”
“Have you?”
“On occasion—” Seath paused, and Lycan could see his gaze drift off in the dark of their nest. Someone from the pack was talking to him through their link, and it must either be private or important or both, or the cell phone on the table would light up, too.
Seath blew out a deep breath, finally relaxing into the nest with Lycan.
“Well, little one, looks like you will get to know the Fae yourself. Jamie just told me they plan to be at the coven.”
“Three days!” Min sounded shocked, but Caine, who had plopped himself in a manner that should have been inelegantly on her counter, shot her a smile.
Seath had waited until the morning to convey the news to everyone, and Min appeared affronted by the very idea of Fae on such short notice.
“I can source whatever you need. Happy to be of service,” Caine said the words without any humor, making sure Min knew he meant them.
Min gave his knee a pat of thanks. “That’s kind, Caine, thank you.” Most vamps wouldn’t offer their speed for the service of what was essentially a grocery run, but Caine was Pack.
“I’m sure most packs don’t get the three-day warning,” Lycan said quietly, but still able to be heard over Briar’s grumbles about security.
Seath’s chest puffed out, as it did whenever Lycan sent a compliment his way. Words, or an appreciative look he had caught a few times made him want to strut or preen. He loved the bubbly feeling his mate’s affection gave him. Lycan’s words hadn’t even mentioned him, but the implication was clear. It was due to Seath having a solid connection to the Fae that gave them warning.
