Page 150 of Finding Love with the Fae King

Cleaning my voice, she stopped drinking to look me in the eyes, and that was when we felt it. The pull.

Dropping her cup, she grasped her apron, waiting for a movement from me. She looked timid as she cowered back. “Please, I won’t hurt you,” I reached my hand out, still not moving my feet. Her delicate hand went to her lips to cover them.

“How can this be?” she whispered so softly I barely made it out.

“What, my little Forest nymph?” Her wings fluttered softly as her face lost its initial shock.

“I lost my mate long ago,” she spoke louder. “I’m sorry, I, I didn’t think I would have a mate again.”

A bit of jealousy rose in me, knowing she had a mate before me, but the comfort I had knowing she had no mark on her neck broke me of my selfish thoughts.

“You had a mate before?” I walked around the well as she stood still, looking straight-up at me. I was significantly taller than her, even though she was taller than future Queen Melina.

“We grew up together. He said I was his mate the day he turned eighteen, but he was called to war. Since I wasn’t eighteen yet, we couldn’t solidify a bond. He died in battle.” Her face lowered sadly while I took my hand to lift her head back to me.

“I’m so sorry for your loss,” I sympathized with her. “I can promise you I will never die when I go to war, not when you are beckoning me in my dreams to come home.” A slight hitch in her throat left her speechless as the sparks flew down our bodies. Immediately, I stepped closer to her to put her in my embrace, but she pulled away. My heart stung at the rejection, but I held on.

“You can’t promise that. He promised me that too.” She held her arms to her stomach as she sat on the well. “You can’t promise something you have no control over.” Kneeling in front of her, I put my hand on her knee.

“I have been through two wars and an infinite number of battles, and I will fight through that many more because the thought of finding you was too great. Now that I have you, I will never let you go.” Two silent tears dropped to my hand, and I kissed them with my lips.

“Now, please tell me, my Forest nymph, what is your name?” Her eyes fluttered to mine, almost accepting me. Squeezing her hand to listen to the first time she would speak her name, the word left her lips.

“Sundew,” she breathed.

Sundew led me back to her cabin in the woods. She had spent most of the summer months in the Northern Mountains, and this cabin was her sister’s, who had already found a mate and was living elsewhere.

It was a small cabin with one bedroom, a small kitchen, and a few sitting areas. It was perfect for a single person, or better yet, a newly mated couple. While walking over to the cabin, I noticed Sundew was on the skinnier side, but I could afford to give her the most delicate foods with the money I had saved over the years. As much as I liked the palace, I really liked her tiny cabin in the woods.

It was quiet and away from prying eyes. Sundew led me inside and asked if I wanted some tea, but I quickly declined. I wanted to know everything about her and let her know I was never leaving.

“Come sit with me,” I beckoned her. I took up most of the room on the small couch where I sat, so it was a perfect excuse for me to touch her. She sighed as I put my arm around her.

“Do you know how long I’ve waited for you?” I leaned in closer. Her heart was racing, but I couldn’t feel any fear radiating off her. Sundew had been staring at me. I could feel her heated stare as I walked into the cabin. She especially enjoyed my open tunic, and I had to do a bit of flexing to make her want me more.

It was like a damn bird dance. I was puffing my chest out like an idiot because I wanted to seem more immense, more intimidating, when I was one of the most giant warriors. Sundew gave a shy smile as I grabbed her hand.

“Do you feel this?” I put her hand on my chest as she gasped. My muscles tightened at her touch. “It beats for you,” I whispered, and pulled her face closer.

I had never wanted a woman more than this moment. I wanted to show her the pleasure that no woman had ever experienced from me.

Our lips brushed each other, and I felt the warmth of my soul coming back to life.

Braxton

Neolla’s hooves drove into the ground as I kicked her lightly. She was one of the fastest horses in Bergarian besides Montu. Noella would hardly sweat as she pounded the dirt with her fury. She was on edge, as I was. I was tired of hunting, fighting, and regretting.

I had given up. I had given up on finding my mate. Sure, my king and two brothers had found theirs, but I had seen mine long ago. She was in the Shifter War fighting against us. Her body was ravishing as she stood naked with her pride. A black panther.

Her skin was the color of cocoa that had a sheen of gold. Her eyes were bright green, and her fangs were glorious. I wanted to march right across the field and claim her as mine, let everyone watch as I took her to bed. I was elated and began starving the very moment her eyes laid on me. I smiled at her, letting her know I was friendly and wanted her.

The only problem was this was a war, and we were on the opposite sides. Her pride had sneaked into our campsite at night, slashing many fae and elves in their sleep. A cold tactic, but all was fair in war, I supposed.

When our eyes locked, I was ready for a truce, even if the rest of the nation didn’t see it. Stopping the war and being with her would have made my life happier. Until the smile on my face had faded because her hiss shot me down cold. Quickly changing into her panther form, she raced toward me. Not able to use my wings I held out my blade to block her attack, only to have her dart away and slash me in the shoulder.

I could feel my voice calling to her, “Mate, wait!” I begged and pleaded with her to stop as she wrestled with me on the ground. Her growls, hisses, and swipes to my neck made my soul break more. Maybe she had become rabid or didn’t feel the bond? Holding her maw away from my neck, I could still feel the sparks in my hands despite the fur. “Mate, stop!” I cried as I tried to let up and be gentle, but she never relented.

My brothers came to my side. Everett used his boulder of a body to knock her off as she whimpered, skidding to a stop ten feet away. Shaking off the dust of her fur, she charged again. Holding my sword in front of me, bracing for impact, I felt my brother push me forward, causing me to take a knee, and my sword impaled her through the underside of her body, straight through her heart.

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