“I don’t understand, if I am being completely honest. All the realms, but ours seems like the least amount of concern for someone like Prince Morgan.” Seath mused, concerned about Unseelie eyes on his pack, singled out in this realm.
“It’s true,” Titania said, again sounding rational in a way that she rarely did. “You must understand, we look to the plane of humans as neutral territory. Much of what is considered magic is muted here, if not neutralized completely. It is where many conversations, treaties, and other such business occurs for us for those reasons. To be looking to affect this plane is both nonsensical and concerning for those reasons.”
Caine made a low noise, almost a purr, but looked off, eyes glazed, as if he was thinking of something far beyond the matters at hand. Seath noted for the first time that he had slipped in the room in the way he often did, without alerting anyone to his presence.
Donovan was a bit jarred to have the entire dimension in which he existed more or less compared to an efficient office boardroom or Zurin, where the Council sat. Seath’s pack was influential, though. Large and successful. Boasting coastal trade towns, portals, touch points and other entries to additional dimensions. Was it strategic, then, in a way of almost military strategy, to attempt to influence this pack?
Before his thoughts could go too far, Seath’s hand landed warm and sure on the base of his neck. He felt himself pulled tight to his mate, the energy of his Alpha running through him.
He and Seath both grew quiet, continuing to listen, of course, to the musings of those around them. But, they drew as close as they could to each other, Seath entwining his fingers with Donovan’s.
“Well,” Titania smiled, smoothing her skirts. “I appreciate being heard on this important day. We will need to communicate as we see what Morgan intends.”
“Of course,” Seath said, “you are always welcome.”
“To keep such an invitation, best I do not overstay it, then,” Titania said, standing with a smile. “I did come for one last thing, if you don’t mind, mates.”
Seath and Donovan had stood with her, as had the others.
“Fated mates are unique and special because the magic is beyond shifter magic. It is old, ancient magic. The magic of another realm that found its way here in bits and pieces. It molded itself to this world—finding compatible souls and kindred spirits. In some ways, it is the purest magic that exists in the human realm. It will guide you both, in your relationship together. But, I also wish to give you a blessing. A blessing of the Fae.”
Seath and Donovan looked at each other, feeling the magic strum inside them. The same magic that Titania had just been speaking of.
And, as if a switch had been thrown, Titania lost the human-like, rational side that had shown since she arrived in the glen. Instead, she seemed more Fae, her eyes taking on the other-worldly look they often had.
The threshold sang as it felt her magic in the room.
“You will have children of this mating,” she said, her voice no longer of the human cadence. “And it is to them I bless. A spell to guide. To guard. To direct their paths. They will be protected, in this realm and beyond.”
Seath and Donovan felt a spark crinkle between them, like small-scale electricity shot through their skin.
Donovan spoke first, as Seath’s head was too full of the thought of a child with his mate.
“Your generosity will not go unremembered,” Donovan said. It wasn’t the outright gratitude that Seelies were known to abhor, but instead the traditional way to receive such gifts by the Fae. Thank the goddess those memories had returned and he knew what to do.
“I will see you soon, Mates.”
As she said it, she gave a nod to the others in the room, and left with Mirelle in her wake. The threshold reverberated with the Queen’s amusement as she left, clearly wanting to be seen by the pack members who were downstairs, wandering in and out of the feasting so she could be admired on her way out.
“I believe we will take the moment for some rest ourselves,” Seath mused, pulling Donovan close. Between the ceremony and then Titania, the need to scent his mate in the most intimate of ways was close to consuming him.
Caine smiled and Greene carefully avoided the two sets of eyes that watched him closely.
But, Seath and Donovan didn’t see, too wrapped up in one another as they left the room.
Seath growled as he moved inside Donovan, watching his mate’s chest expand and contract with heaved breaths. Cheeks flushed, Donovan looked beyond beautiful under Seath’s hands as they mapped every inch of skin. He had his mate right at the brink, panting and begging beautifully. His knot was an ache building and ready to push into Donovan to light him up and hold them together.
But he pulled out, causing Donovan to give a needy wail that threatened Seath’s resolve.
“Ready again, little one?” Seath asked, pinning his mate’s hips so just the tip of his cock remained inside the hot, writhing, body. The pants came faster as Donovan nodded.
“Ready . . .yes . . .now. . .please,” Donovan managed, body trying all it could to arch up and get the fullness he craved.
“We better make sure you are ready,” Seath mused, slowly kissing Donovan’s neck, making sure to pause over the gold mating mark. He had already rubbed his release into the mark from the first round.
Donovan whimpered and Seath growled again. He paused, keeping his tip in, making Donovan miss the fullness of him, and then he scooped up Donovan’s hands in his free one, easily pinning him to the bed at hip and wrists.
Seath bent his head, sucking one tight nub of Donovan’s smooth chest in an unapologetic deep tug.
