It worried me, seeing him down there with those scarlaths, but it also didn’t because I know he’s so strong.
“All right, now we can be properly introduced,” Jerrek’s mother says, turning to me with a smile of relief. “Can’t really focus when I’m worried about my kingdom being incinerated.” She puts a hand out for me. “I heard this is how humans greet each other.”
I shake her hand. “It is indeed. My name is Sandra, and—”
She cocks her head. “I can see almost everything about you. One of my powers.” She slowly walks around me in a circle. “Wonderful. A perfect mate for my son. However…” She trails off, pausing. “Jerrek did tell you we’re on a bit of a time crunch?”
“Yes,” I say. “Um, what should I call you?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, so rude. Call me Kerren.”
“Right, yes, Kerren. If I could ask, why did you let someone put a reservation on Lorien? If you love your son, how could you do that?”
Kerren’s red eyes grow somber. “Jerrek has certain weaknesses. The council wouldn’t allow me to simply leave him off the market without insurance that one day someone would take him in hand.”
I snort. “In hand?”
Kerren sighs. “Warriors have high testosterone. Even the best of them needs female supervision, and—”
I really don’t want to get in a fight with my potential future in-law right now. Plus, I don’t understand fae customs yet. But… “Still, he shouldn’t be forced.”
She nods. “I know. I love having him around in my kingdom because I love him and he’s strong. I don’t see the weaknesses I’m told of. But the academy doesn’t lie, and his grades weren’t good enough to stay solo without a reservation. Also, he was highly desired, and kidnapping would have been likely. This reservation protects him.”
“Can’t Jerrek protect himself?”
She narrows her eyes at me, then looks at Jerrek. “You need to tell her more about your world.” She eyes me. “When you understand our customs, you can judge me.”
“I’m not trying to judge you. It’s just… You’re right. I need to understand everything first.”
She puts a hand on my shoulder. “It’s all right. I’m touched that you’re looking out for my son. And frustrated by my own position. I’m queen, but I can’t protect him.” She shakes her head. “Not against the elders.” She flinches. “Not that I don’t trust Gilla,” she says. “That’s the queen that has the reservation. She’s the strongest of any around. Well, you’ll meet her eventually.” Kerren looks at Jerrek. “You’ll need to start her whip training soon.”
Jerrek nods.
Someone calls for Kerren, and she looks over to give them a nod, as if to say she’ll be there soon.
“Well, it was amazing to meet you, Sandra. I hope to see more of you soon. Though, as Jerrek can attest, I’m a bit of a workaholic and obsessed with protecting my kingdom.”
I grin. “Believe me, I get that.” Beneath our differences, we both work hard protecting our own. I respect that.
She kisses her son on the cheek and then strides away, beautiful maroon hair swaying behind her.
“So that’s your mom,” I say hesitantly.
“That’s my mom,” he says. His armor disappears, leaving him in robes again. “
“So where should we go now?” I ask. “By the way, amazing job with that scarlath.”
He grins at me, so handsome I could fall over every time he looks my way. “Where would you like to go?”
“You know what I want to see?” I say eagerly. “The dream fae academy you and Lorien and Reve keep talking about.”
He cocks his head. “Really? Why would you want to see that?”
“Well, if we were visiting your hometown in the human world, we’d probably drive by your school or high school, right?”
He just stares at me, wine eyes perplexed. His muscles flex as he folds his arms. “We would?”
“Yes,” I say. “And I want to, so let’s go.”
He just laughs, raising a hand to create a portal of swirling rainbow energy like the one that bought us here. “As you wish, soul bond.”
7
Jerrek
The academy looks just how I remember, though Sandra lets out a gasp at how beautiful it presumably is.
I simply remember a lot of pain and struggle.
I wasn’t like Lorien or Reve. I had all the promise of a top warrior, but my scores could never seem to catch up.
I have so much power, but I couldn’t seem to control it. A thousand years later, people still assume I’m aggressive and need to be taken in hand.
All of which led to my current situation with my soul bond, who has only a week to fall in love and want me forever.
It hurts that it’s even going to take that long since I’ve wanted her for what feels like forever already.
At least I don’t have to follow human rules while trying to win my mate.
“Is the entire thing made of glass?” She walks through the low, iridescent metal gates that part for us to walk into the large courtyard of sparkling marble.
There are huge buildings connected by small, covered walkways.
“There are many windows, but no, not the entire thing. But it’s believed that it’s good for the community to see their warriors at work. Plus, it gives queens a chance to observe them.”
“And they don’t train queens here?” She looks at me, puzzled as usual that women are in charge in this realm.
However, given the state of her world, perhaps humans should consider it.
“No,” I say. “I’m not sure how queen training works. It happens in private, within kingdoms, from queen to queen. There are more warriors than queens, and they are more dangerous, so they’re trained together.”
“Got it,” she says, looking beautiful in robes the color of my kingdom, her dark skin glowing in the sun. Her short, natural curls form a halo around her face, and she looks so at home here in the fae world you’d think she was born here.
She’s tall, like most fae women are, and curvy, as I prefer.
She’s everything I want and everything I’ve ever needed, yet she doesn’t want to be mine.
To be any man’s.
And I have only a week to get to the bottom of this.
“Prince Jerrek! It’s good to see you,” a familiar voice calls out. “I had thought you were on sabbatical to find your mate.” It’s Andrus, the head elder of my main class. He’s tall with long gray hair and elegant fae features. He’s wearing the iridescent robe all academy elders wear, and his hands are tucked into the sleeves.
“I was, Andrus,” I say, coming forward to enfold him in a customary hug. We press each other’s back lightly, then step back, smiling at the pleasure of seeing each other again. “May I present Sandra, my dream mate?”
Andrus gives Sandra an amused, admiring glance and nods at me. “Of course.” He takes her extended hand and gently shakes it, looking at her curiously. “A human. Or at least a dream fae raised in the human realm.” He cocks his head. “It’s my first time seeing one.”
I put my arm through hers, pulling her in close so he can’t circle her awkwardly. “Sandra is here to see the dream realm with me. She’s considering becoming my mate.”
Andrus’s eyes go wide. “You mean she could resist your first attempt at wooing her?” He grins. “I haven’t done my job well enough in training you.”
“Her customs of courtship are different,” I say. “There was no failing in your teaching, Andrus.”
He smiles warmly at Sandra. “Jerrek is one of my favorite students. A little unruly, but—”
Sandra puts a finger to her temple and lets out a little sigh. “What does that mean, unruly? Everyone keeps saying that about Jerrek, and to me, he’s always been a perfect gentleman. I haven’t seen him misbehave. I don’t see the need for this reservation—”
“Ah, that’s right,” Andrus says. “Gilla. Hm. What are you going to do about that?”
“There’s nothing that needs to be done,” I say, putting my hands on my hips. “I’m going to mate Sandra, and that’s final.”
Andrus grins at me, then Sandra. “I hope so, my boy. And as for your question, queen, perhaps I can answer. Jerrek is powerful, kind and sweet, as many dream fae warriors are. But he’s also impetuous, with high levels of testosterone and power that’s almost too strong to be controlled.”
“But why would such power be a problem in the hands of someone like Jerrek?” Sandra asks. “After all, he’s a good person, at least from what I’ve seen.”
It feels like faint praise, coming from my dream mate, but I’m just happy she’s defending me at all.
Andrus looks confused slightly. “It’s a bit hard to explain unruly without showing you unruly.”
A group of warriors exits one of the buildings and walks our way, chattering happily.
They’re young, teens by our standards, hair in an array of colors based on the magic passed down in our kingdoms.
They stop when they see me with Andrus, along with Sandra.
One motions to the other, jabbing him with his elbow with a smirk. The other nods back, his eyes narrowing on Sandra.
Possessiveness inflames me instantly, and I step in front of Sandra, pulling out a ball of magic flames in my hand.
“Step back!” I yell at them. “Come any closer, and I’ll burn you to death!”
They all pause, the one in the lead raising an eyebrow in pure confusion.
Andrus puts a hand out in front of me, silently telling me to stay in place while he goes to talk to the other boys.
They all put their heads together for a moment while I huff, keeping Sandra behind me.
“You’re overreacting,” Sandra says, pushing out from behind me. “No one even said anything.”
“I don’t care,” I say instantly. “They looked at you. I know the way they looked.”
“Hey, beautiful!” the one in front, who has sky-blue hair, says with a wave. His blue eyes glint mischievously at me just before I send a fireball flying straight at his face.
He ducks it, and there’s a loud fwoosh as a nearby tree takes the hit, immediately going up in bright-red flames.
Andrus runs over, waving his hand and immediately restoring the tree to its former glory. Then he jabs his fingers, pointing for the youths to go back inside, and walks over to me, shaking his head.
“I got to duel Jerrek! I’m going to be legendary!” The blue-haired warrior punches the air as the group goes back inside, and I turn to face Andrus with a shame-faced grin.
“I guess they were just testing me,” I say hesitantly, rubbing the back of my neck.
“Obviously,” Andrus says. “Your possessiveness is the stuff of myth. I see you still haven’t gotten it under control.”
“It is what it is,” I say. “I love her. I can’t stand anyone to look at her. I remember your training, elder. That it will only bother my dream mate, but—”
“It doesn’t bother me,” Sandra says next to me, folding her arms and cocking a hip. “I mean, I find it kind of hot that he’s so possessive. Isn’t it?” She looks around. “Just me, then?”
My heart warms that she could accept me just as I am, despite my flaws. “Thank you, dream mate.”
“No, I’m being honest. It’s hot.” She looks at the tree thoughtfully. “Though, I get what you mean about unruly. Were you going to kill that kid?”
I scoff. “No. Any warrior of any age would be able to dodge such a slow projectile. It was a warning.”
“Didn’t look slow to me,” she says, almost nervously. Her arm slides through mine. “All right, Andrus. Tell me all about Jerrek and his time at the academy. I want to see this place. The rooms, everything.”
Andrus nods instantly. “I would never refuse an order from any queen.” He smiles. “It would be my pleasure.”
“This is fun,” Sandra says as we head toward the man building. “Kind of like my law school, probably.” She looks up at me. “What do you want to do after this?”
I grin down at her, happy even thinking about the next thing I have planned. “I’ll have to show you when the tour is done.”
She nods. “Whatever it is, I just want you to know I’m having fun here, Jerrek.” She squeezes my arm, sending heat rushing through me. “I’m really glad I came.”
“Me too,” I say, squeezing her back with my hand over hers as we walk into the large building where I became who I am. “Really glad.”
8
Sandra
After we toured the academy, we went back to the palace to nap. It gets really warm in the afternoon, and fae like to go inside to rest.
I honestly didn’t mind curling up on Jerrek’s chest, on a bed as big as my bedroom back home, in a room the perfect temperature.
Being here is crazy but also a little like any vacation where you travel far away. Some things are beautiful and exotic, a few things are familiar, but either way, it’s nice to have a break from your daily life.
Especially when your daily life involves someone trying to kill you.
Maybe it’s just from living in a dangerous world all my life and having a terrible, non-protective father around, but I appreciate Jerrek’s protectiveness, even if it makes him “unruly” to the other fae here.
We’re just dozing lazily when Jerrek pushes himself up and gently gets off the bed, reaching his strong hand forward for me to come also.
“We’re going to do that other thing I mentioned. Have you rested enough to go out?”
I stretch, grinning at him. “Ready to do more than just rest.”
“Soon, dream mate.” He smiles. “I have something special planned for us tonight. But today, we’re going to the rainbow fields with my family for a picnic. Many of my kingdom will be there.”
“Rainbow fields?”
“I would have taken you there anyway, but we go every time we finish a battle against a wave of scarlaths. We eat, spend time together, and just enjoy one of the most beautiful parts of our lands.”
“Sounds good to me,” I say quickly. “Are they really rainbow?”
He winks. “You’ll have to wait and see.” His shoulders look so broad and square in the robes he’s wearing, which are belted at his trim waist. But I kind of wish I could pull that robe off, see him in clothing that’s tighter…
“Come on, dream mate.” He takes my hand and pulls me into the hallway. Sunlight beams in, casting little rainbows along the floor as we walk.
When we reach the bottom floor of the castle, we walk out, and Jerrek waves his hand, making a portal. He steps through it, pulling me with him, and air whooshes past us as we walk forward through a blurry tunnel that opens out into one of the most amazing scenes I’ve ever beheld.
In front of me, rolling hills of endless, waving color sprawl in all directions. The grass is thick with shimmering flowers of all colors, so dense that the entire area seems to beam with rainbow hues. Pinks, blues, greens, yellows. I squint and realize that even the grass is made of rainbow hues. Each blade has a little rainbow running up the side of it.
So incredibly beautiful.
Fae are gathered in small groups across the entire area, wearing robes of pastel pink or deeper hues of red, sitting with their families or just lying on their backs, staring up at the sun.
There’s pleasant conversation and plates of food spread out, and Jerrek takes us to a nearby group, where I’m surprised to see his mother sitting with a group of other fae.
She smiles up at us. “Jerrek! Glad you could come. Sit with us and introduce my friends here to your gorgeous mate.”
Jerrek introduces me to the fae who are gathered around Kerren, and I’m still just overwhelmed by the beauty here as I sit down and run my fingers through the grass.
“You okay?” Jerrek asks, sitting next to me and snapping his fingers to make a basket appear in front of us. “I have lunch, to keep up your strength. I know from experience it can be tiring, being in a n
ew world.”
I look around me, farther than the grassy area I focused on before. There’s a tall forest in the distance and, between it and the hills we’re on, a huge, shimmering pink lake. I squint, noticing fae swimming in the beautiful water, splashing one another.
It’s really too idyllic here.
Fae stroll around us, picking flowers and handing them to one another. Children play around parents, teasing dads who easily pick them up.
There isn’t any disharmony.
I take a deep breath, just enjoying the feeling of peace that is all around. “It’s just so beautiful here. All the colors.”
“That’s because everyone is happy today. Our magic is combining to make this a more beautiful place. All fae environments are affected by our magic. But this place always is fairly beautiful. It’s only the vividness that’s affected.”
“I love it,” I say. “It’ll be hard to go back to the human world after this.”
He puts a hand over mine. “That’s why I hope you won’t. I hope to show you why this world is good.”
My heart stutters as I look into his eyes, such a beautiful color, like freshly squeezed berries. I never thought I’d meet a man with eyes this color, let alone fall for him.
Am I falling for him?
“For you,” Jerrek says, picking a flower next to him and handing it to me. “The most beautiful flower in the world.”
“Cheesy,” I say with a snort. But then I give him a peck on the cheek. “Thank you, Jerrek.” I lean back on my hands and gaze at the shimmering hills. “I needed this.”
“I need you,” he says, scooting in so we’re shoulder to shoulder as we sit and watch the day. Then he sighs and opens the lunch basket, pulling out food. I’m munching on a fae version of a sandwich when a shadow falls over us, and I hear Jerrek let out a grunt of surprise.
“Gilla, what are you doing here?” He looks up at a tall woman with dark-purple hair, glaring down at us both and plastering a fake smile on her gorgeous face as soon as we look up at her.
“Just thought I’d come check on my reservation.” Her smile tightens. “He’s mine, you know. I paid for him.”
Wildest Dreams (Rogue Dream Fae Book 3) Page 5
