Page 92 of Into The Green

"Mmhmm," I said a little dreamily, having forgotten how calming his presence could be.

"But let's get you bathed and fed and then we can talk about it."

"Boo... talking," I grumbled and his chuckle reverberated through my body, turning my insides liquid. His fingers trailed down my back and snagged the material for my shirt, hauling it up. "That's more like it," I said as he pushed me backward and snagged the waistband of my pants, dragging the material down quickly.

"One-track mind," he said with a smile as he pushed me toward the tub.

"Just saying, it's a little insulting that you haven't even sneaked a peek," I said as his hands went for his own pants.

"I'm going to do more than peek once you get your ass in that water," he promised and my sex clenched at the idea so I got right in, groaning a bit at the warm comfort that washed over me.

"You know, this was not what I had in mind," I grumbled a few minutes later after he climbed in behind me, pulling me against his chest between his spread legs. His hand was running a luffa over my belly. And, true, it felt good, a little sensual, but mostly just sweet, but it wasn't sex that was for damn sure.

"Honey, relax. We have plenty of time for that. I know that's hard to believe given that we have had to squeeze in fucking between whatever new shitstorm of events came barreling into our lives, but we're safe here. I know you don't understand how everything works here yet, but asylum is asylum and Cass can't get you for the period of one Eostar to another. After that, your asylum is revoked for another Eostar before you can ask again."

"And what the hell are we supposed to do for the period of time when we are kicked out of here?"

"It's not going to come to that. You're an heir to this throne. If you take on power in the Light Court, Cass has no power over you. You're both equals. It's not like it would be if you were under age still. He can't just take you."

"What if I don't want power?" I asked, speaking the fear that had been niggling at me since Jet claimed I was destined for a throne just like him.

"I'm afraid that's too fucking bad, Cece," he said, surprising me. I had been expecting comfort, a reassurance that I had all the time in the world to make that decision, or that I could just walk away. "Sorry to disappoint you," he said, his hand sliding between my breasts, making my nipples harden. "But this is still a monarchy. You are heir. You rule when Ang can't or won't any longer. She's a spry woman, Cece, but she should have given up her throne to Dany fifteen years ago. Leadership needs to pass on. Dany not being an option anymore, that falls on you."

"But I'm not fully fae," I objected, grasping at straws.

"Normally that would be an issue. You, however, are a special case. Not only are you a child of both Courts, but you have powers stronger than any who have held a position of power in generations. People will look over you being one-fourth human. Listen," he said, feeling me stiffen. "I'm not saying this will happen this week or month or even year. You have a lot to learn about fae, about power, about the careful alliances established by generations before you, but I am saying this is happening so you need to prepare yourself for the inevitable."

"Ang is like... majestic," I said, my tone a little insecure because that was how I was feeling, like I could never stack up. Hell, even Jet, younger than me, had something royal about him. I didn't have that. I was just a freaking glorified human with firework fingertips and a better tolerance for iron.

"I think you're pretty fucking majestic too," Jasper said, the word a little clumsy on his tongue.

"You have to say that or you won't get in my pants," I laughed.

"So if I said you might be a little stubborn with a strong tendency to put your foot in your mouth," he said, his hand sliding down my belly in a direct path to somewhere that was positively tingling with the idea of him touching, "I can't do this?" he asked, his fingers pressing down on my clit, making my head slam back on his shoulder on a small moan. "And if I said you're a genuine pain in the ass who can't take direction for shit..." he said, his finger sliding down my slit, pausing, then sliding inside me, "I can't do this?"

"Fine, you made your case. Now shut up before you kill the mood," I demanded and he laughed, lowering his face into my neck and kissing the sensitive spot just under my ear. "You know, you're no picnic either," I informed him before I got too far gone to say it.

"Uh huh," he agreed. "But you love me anyway."

"Yeah, well, I can't argue with that."

"You know what, honey?" he asked, his finger thrusting lazily into me.

"No, what?"

"I love you too."

EPILOGUE

Cece - 3 Days

I met my mother three days after I moved into the Light Court. I got three days of as much food as my too-empty belly could handle. Three days of lazy or alternately energetic and inventive sex with Jasper, a shared bed with him at night, his arms around me when I woke in the morning, his comforting presence erasing the nightmares so I could rest peacefully, his constant digs a reminder that even though we had settled comfortably into love, Jasper was still Jasper and he liked to get a rise out of me. And I was still me so I gave as good as I got.

I got three days of no fear, no anxiety, no constant swirling feeling in my stomach that told me there was another catastrophe on the way.

On that third day, after Ang had asked five times, I finally felt like I was ready to meet the woman who lost her mind to protect me.

The second she walked in, I knew exactly what I would look like in a few years. She had the same long, dark hair, the same bone structure, the same somewhat full lower lip and the tipped-up ever so slightly nose. She had the same long limbs and barely-there womanly parts. The only difference was her eyes were dark like Ang's and mine were light like Cass and Jet. It was a little freaky that, given how time passed differently in The Green, she looked more like an older sister to me than my mother. She wore the same long white hemp pants as Ang and a white tunic that slipped low in the front, not hinting at breast because there was little enough there to hint at, but showing some chest and the ugliest necklace I had ever seen in my life.