“You’re none of those negative things that your father convinced you that you were.” Now, it was my turn to touch her face. I wiped the remaining dampness off her cheeks and slid my hand to the back of her neck. Her skin was hot and damp, and I didn’t care a bit. Her gaze dropped, and I knew it would taketime and lots of reinforcement for her to believe me, but we’d get there.
“I’ve known you for years. You are my soul mate, and I will never lie to you or give you false platitudes. I will never manipulate you or hurt you…” I cocked my head and smirked. “Unless it’s for pleasure.”
Her pupils instantly dilated. “I’m looking forward to you explaining that one.” Her voice was breathy, and my smirk widened.
“Oh, I will, but not yet. First, you need to trust the things I say.” I leant forward until my forehead touched hers, my hand still holding her neck. “You are a respected SBI agent. You are excellent at your job. You are a loving and loyal woman when you aren’t trying to push everyone away. You’re fiercely protective of your friends, your sister, and all the people you pretend not to give a shit about. You are stunningly beautiful, intelligent, clever, brave, and one of the best fighters I’ve ever met.”
Tears gathered in her eyes as I spoke, and she tried to shake her head.
“Remember, these belong to me.” I kissed away the first one that fell. “You’re scared to show all the affection you have in your heart, Butterfly. I get it. You need to push away the people who can hurt you so they don’t get the chance and so they can’t control you, but I’m not letting you push me away. Never again. Do you understand?”
She nodded. “Stone?”
“Hm?” I kissed her other eyelid, not because there was a tear but because I couldn’t stop myself from tasting her skin.
“If we’re soul mates, does that mean we can fuck soon?”
I chuckled at her attempt at distraction. “Soon. First, you need to bathe and then eat.”
Her groan was over-exaggerated. “Really? Why can’t we get it on here?”
“Because when I take you for the first time, it will be where your moans and screams belong to me, not every creature watching us from the trees. Your expression when you come is mine. It won’t be seen by anyone or anything else ever again.” I laughed again as her head spun side to side.
“Faeries are watching?”
“Yes. Sprites, a pixie, even a little wood elf. I can also scent a rabbit and a couple of mud moles nearby. They’re like worms but shorter, with hair and rows of teeth.”
Her face dropped. “Oh. I can’t sense them. Guess I really fucked up my wolf as well as myself.”
No platitudes…
“You have. But the Fae remedies you were given worked on the part of the brain that made you physically crave alcohol, so that should keep your need for alcohol repressed for now. What we need to work on now is why you felt you needed that kind of escape. While we do that and build up your sense of self-worth, your wolf will slowly recover and be strong again.”
We sat in silence for a moment.
“Maybe I won’t need that kind of escape again. Not with you here.”
A tentative kind of hope in her words made me smile.
“Come on.” I stood and pulled her to her feet. Taking her hand, I led her through the forest.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” This was probably the worst idea I’d ever had, but Shannon needed to relax, and I wanted to show her what a beautiful place Faery was outside the confines of the Winter Kingdom Palace. Ventry’s kingdom had its own savage beauty, but the Spring Kingdom teemed with new life and hope, exceptthat where I wanted to take her was nearer my father’s estate—and going towards his domain was always dangerous.
I guided her through the glowing trees and under another canopy of giant mushrooms. The slime gliders zipped way above, sliding across the slippery substance on the top of the mushrooms before launching onto the next colossal fungus, gliding from top to flat top, their bright yellow ‘wings’ flashes of colour against the clear sky.
“What are they?” Shannon asked, her hand raised to shield her eyes from the sun.
“Mushroom gliders, or slime gliders, at least that’s what my sister, Airling, and I called them. They only ever land on the huge forest mushrooms. They aren’t affected by the toxic slime that coats the tops. Not much else is known about them except they pollinate those massive fuckers much like insects do for other plants. It’s probably a good job that only they can do it since giant mushrooms would take over the forest. Everything on the forest floor, including the villages, would be starved of light. Then again, Faery is clever at keeping a balance in nature. I guess it would find another way to keep them in check.”
Shannon made a noise of agreement. “Are the gliders dangerous?”
“No. They live off the toxic slime and never venture down here.”
“Have you ever been up there and seen one up close?”
I chuckled. “Yes, I have. When I was younger. I ran away from home and ended up in Spring. I was too young to even consider that I’d crossed the border into another kingdom. I climbed one of the mushrooms, thinking I’d be safe up there.” I laughed at the memory, though it wasn’t a particularly pleasant one. “The gliders weren’t happy about me being in their territory and sent me tumbling to the forest floor. If anything, they are more territorial than a mated Fae.” I looked over myshoulder and grinned at Shannon, satisfied to see those beautiful cheekbones blush. “I was always warned to stay in our own kingdom, but, hey, you know me. I was as stubborn then as I am now…”
