Page 125 of Finding Love with the Fae King

The Gods were trying to make me fret. Reluctantly leaving Melina, I sat up from bed and made my way to the door. Not one damn moment of peace.

“Finley, what seems to be the problem?” Finley backed away from the door as he had one hand on his sword.

“Your Majesty, His Majesty Girard has asked about the boy, Cricket, and when he will be brought to the palace. Both he and Her Majesty Elaine saw Melina was taken immediately to her room instead of leaving. They also want to know about her welfare.” I groaned while scratching the stubble on my chin. At this rate, I will grow a full-grown beard by the time this is over.

“She’s resting. She isn’t feeling well. I believe all the commotion has her body tired and forcing her to rest. I need you and your brothers to retrieve the boy. Melina mentioned at one time you were with her while you met the child?” Finley nodded.

“Yes, a bright lad, very caring. I’ll gather the others and let Melina’s Father know of the situation. I’ve been briefed why the boy is to be here and make sure he is treated like the prince he is.” Finley nodded his head in a curt bow and almost skipped out of the room.

“Finley?” I called, and he stopped to turn around. “What has you in such a joyful mood?”

“Nothing, Your Majesty. Just the view is most pleasant by the orphanage.” Finley left the room before I could utter another sentence.

Chapter Sixty-Three

Finley

Idashedoutthedoor as quickly as I could. I didn’t need Osirus asking me more questions why I was so happy. It wasn’t any of his business, and he had enough on his plate as it was. I was just pleased that I could fetch the boy that Melina had grown so fond of. To think that he was now her younger brother made it all the sweeter.

I went to my room. First, I threw on my more excellent uniform and made sure the buttons were shined and the slit in the back was open, so I could have easy access to my wings when needed. Fae women, way back when, used to awe over a suitable set of wings. Mine were strong, and my heritage showed through with tiny bits of red swirled in the patterns. I straightened my coat, combed my hair back, and put on a dash of musk enhancer while trimming my beard. I wanted to look sharp for this visit to gain her attention.

“Finley!” Everett bellowed as he walked into our communal bathroom. “Ah, you must be going to the orphanage again.”

He rolled his eyes as he put on his trousers. It was true. I had been sneaking by the orphanage to get a glimpse of the beautiful fae I had met not too long ago with Melina. She was a sight, but it wasn’t her looks that caught me, but the forceful personality that she tried to hide. She was a mystery I wanted to unravel, a perfect package of a warrior fae that was hiding something.

“She’ll never fall for you,” Everett joked as he ran his hands through his red hair. “I know it because she wouldn’t dare look at me, and we all know who is the most handsome.” I rolled my eyes, not caring to fight. Everett was the most muscular of us all, but I had the charm. I’d do my best to flirt with her and get to know her. She had been so stand-offish, not wanting to get to know me, which drove me mad.

“She’ll come to me,” I boasted.

I had caught her staring as I flew by. At first, she would glare at me, but I knew something was there. I piqued her interest, whether she knew it or not. When I had a moment to spare, I would try to speak with her, but she could sense me. As soon as I was in the area, she would gather the children and head inside. My heart wished for her to be my mate, but when I looked into her eyes at a distance, my soul could not figure her out. A mystery.

Not today, Nana. I will have to speak with you with orders from the King.I checked myself one more time before Everett grabbed Braxton, who was making out with some fairy servant. He needed to grow up if he ever planned to find his own mate. Everett had calmed down considerably since Osirus had his mate, and now Alaneo. We were both getting antsy, but Braxton continued to overcompensate for his need for desire.

“Let’s go.” My beard was trimmed, my hair pulled back in a lower tail, and we were off to the one place my heart had been aching to go. Braxton shoved the female off his lap while she gave a loud whine about why he was leaving. Braxton snickered and waved her off.

We flew over the marketplace with ease. The fae and several elves spoke with each other as we passed. Many of the fae were nobles that had split from their chosen partners who looked for their mates, and the marketplace was the perfect community spot to seek them. There was slight chaos at the beginning, but things had simmered down. Many couples took it as having no hard feelings, while others had a difficult time with the split. They had created their own bond with their chosen and had become good friends, but that was all it was. Friends.

Once they found their mate, they would feel complete and feel more joy than they ever could have with their chosen.Then why am I obsessing over Nana?She wasn’t my mate, but I was drawn to her. It wasn’t just her beauty. I felt that didn’t matter. It was just her, her aura. I could almost see a golden glow around her as she walked and took care of the orphaned children.

As we arrived, our three cousins greeted us as they were hanging up the daily laundry. They spoke about how excited they were. They no longer had to work for coinage and concentrated on having the children adopted. There had already been several parents coming by to adopt children with their newly formed bonds. Thank the Goddess I saw Cricket trying to fly up a nearby jumba tree instead of being taken away by new parents.

“We are actually here on business, ladies. Is Nana around?” The girls all elbowed each other and pointed to the house. I gave them a bow, and they laughed at my silliness and headed inside.

Nana must not have heard me because she was in the kitchen, washing dishes and humming a tune. An old nursery rhyme that I heard Osirus humming to Queen Melina just this afternoon. Nana was as radiant as the day I saw her as we approached the orphanage to return Cricket from the marketplace. I cleared my throat, and Nana turned around, startled.

“Oh, um, Commander Finley, can I help you?” Her eyes wouldn’t look at me as I walked toward her. She was hiding her fierceness; I could feel it.

“I’m here to pick up Cricket. We have found his mother, and she desperately wants him back.” Nana’s face fell as she grabbed the dishrag.

“Y-you can’t. Cricket is mine.” This perked my attention. This morning, I was informed that Cricket was Elaine’s. The mother who had been given Cricket as compensation for her birthed baby was no longer around. Her identity must have been changed, but, of course, Cosmo kept tabs on the boy.

“Have you known Cricket since his birth?” I inquired. Nana nodded her head as she wrung out the towel. Her hands were shaking, and her demeanor changed. Taking her hand, I felt the sparks fly across my skin, the classic sign of a mate. Gods, she was my mate. Why could I not see it in her soul? Taking my hand away, she looked up at me and held her hand to her mouth.

“I-I’m sorry. I-I can’t.” Nana stepped away, but I took another step closer.

“Opal? Are you Opal?” Her eyes glistened as she gripped her body. Out of instinct, I grabbed her and pulled her into my arms. Holding her while she cried, I held her head close to my body, not daring to let her go. Everett and Braxton entered the room but quickly left, seeing the state Nana was in.

After a few moments of crying, she looked up into my eyes. If I had just gotten closer to her sooner, I could see the sparkle in her eyes. Her soul was reaching for me. I felt the bond within her. Why do I have to be this close? Sensing my questioning gaze, she choked, “It’s a spell. I did it to hide from Cosmo.”

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