by Anjela Renee
*****
Kieran waited in his house for the meeting scheduled with Adrian. He received a text that he would meet him at 10 pm so here he was waiting, but not patiently. He paced the living room; he was hoping he would finally come through and bring his love Cam back to him where she belonged. There was a knock at the door and Kieran answered it without looking to see who it was. That would turn out to be a big mistake. Suddenly there were Fae soldiers everywhere; he recognize them. They were his own men. How could they betray him like this?
“Unhand me, I am your King.” He sputtered out as he was taken into custody.
Lachlan approached him with that evil smile he was so famous for. “You are an imposter, isn’t that right Cayden the long lost brother.” Lachlan laughed.
Harrison stepped forward and took Kieran from the soldiers. “It is the King’s Decree that you be sentenced to house arrest for the rest of your days. You will be guarded at all times. If you escape you will be handed to Lachlan for punishment. Do you understand your sentence?”
“Yes.” Kieran grumbled out, they led him out of the house. Now they would drag him back to the other Realm to live out his punishment. He was so stunned. How could his brother turn on him; after all he had done to set him free?
Chapter 22
Kieran sat in the small house in the woods where Cayden had spent his life reading romance novels. They were everywhere; the bookshelves were to capacity with steamy covers of bare chested men and women with generous breasts. He picked one up remembering the nights he had shared with Cam, how she had been completely innocent before he came along. All he wanted was a family, to start a family with her away from the prying eyes of the Fae.
He never felt betrayal like he was feeling now. First Cam refused him, and now his brother. He would never trust another Fae or human again. Kieran looked as someone came through the door. It was Fiona, she looked sad as she came up and hugged him.
“Oh, my sweet boy.” Fiona whispered softly, doing her best to comfort Kieran.
“He betrayed me, Cayden betrayed me.” Kieran murmured
“Does this surprise you? You did the same to him.”
Kieran broke from her embrace and gave her a look of dismay. “What do you mean? I freed him; I helped him to get a life.”
“When it suited you, you freed him. Where were you all these years while he rotted in this house, with no friends, no women to keep him warm at night? We are Fae we like to be social and feel another body next to ours.”
Kieran paced the room, the fury building in him. He stared and Fiona with a hatred he never thought he could feel for his nanny. “Get out, and never return!”
Fiona’s face fell; she pursed her lips and gracefully started for the door. She opened it and stopped just before leaving. “I am all you have, just like your brother, when you change your mind, just contact me.”
Kieran was so angry and frustrated he started kicking all the books stacked everywhere. Every book he found he threw or kicked on the floor until books covered every surface. He sunk onto the couch and put his face in his hands. This was now his life, his sentence, to be alone and miserable forever. Kieran sat what seemed like forever when his brother Cayden the new King appeared in the Fae communication portal.
“Brother, it is good to see you are settled in. I see you are not a fan of my books.”
“You are a traitor; after all I have done to make you comfortable. I never wanted this for you, I only wanted to keep you safe.”
Cayden’s kind face suddenly turned full of hate and contempt. You left and forgot about me, only when you wanted something did you release me! Then I come to the castle to find the women frightened of me, you have been taking advantage of them. It disgusts me; you had such a wonderful, caring, beautiful wife and all the while you were going around the castle. How could you, forcing yourself on those under you?”
Kieran looked at Cayden with such hurt in his eyes, how could his brother his twin think such horrible things of him. “I may have been free with my affection but I never forced anyone.” Kieran sputtered out at his brother. How he wished he could be having this conversation in person instead of through the portal. “Cayden, please let’s talk face to face. Let’s discuss this.”
“This conversation is over.” Cayden’s image disappeared and Kieran was once again left alone in the cabin.
*****
Gretchen awoke to see the sun setting; she got up and found Adrian just waking up as well. Adrian rolled toward her and pulled her in for a deep sensual kiss. He pulled Gretchen in and she parted her lips as he probed her with his tongue, kissing and tasting her. He reached for her and took her breast in his hand her nipple immediately became erect to his touch. Gretchen moaned in his mouth as his hands did sinful things to her. She pulled away from him momentarily. “Good morning to you too.” Gretchen murmured breathlessly.
“What would you like to do today?” Adrian asked, as he got up from the bed still completely naked. He just looked too damn good.
“I need to work at midnight, so I need to go home and get ready.” Gretchen said as she slipped on her clothes from the previous night.
Adrian stopped and froze in the middle of getting dressed. “Gretchen, you can’t be serious. He’s too dangerous; he’ll stop at nothing to possess you.”
She walked over to Adrian and kissed him. “I need to work, I have a house and bills to pay.”
“Then you can work for me.” Adrian blurted out.
“For you, are you insane?”
“I need help, and I hate dealing with Fae politics. You can be my partner and assistant.”
Gretchen felt excited at the possibility of a new job and the fact that she would be so close to Adrian. Excited and scared her at the same time. She would love to take the job but what if it didn’t work out? Then Gretchen gave Adrian a slow sensual kiss, taking her time to taste and probe him with her tongue.
“I want to take the job but only part time, and I’m still going to work at the club for right now.”
“Why? I will pay you more than enough; you won’t need to work there.”
“I need to be sure it will work out before I quit. Give me a few weeks to see how it goes.”
“If you insist on working there I will have someone go with you to make sure Tanek behaves himself.”
“No way! I am a grown woman I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Gretchen, I know this is new for you but I feel you are my Fae match, my destiny. Please don’t fight me, I want to make sure you are safe.”
“Oh fuck, fine. What did you mean when you said, I’m your match?”
“In human terms marriage, in Werecat terms a mate.”
“Adrian, I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything yet; let’s enjoy each other for right now.” Adrian said as he kissed Gretchen, taking her breast in his hand. Just as Adrian was about to take her nipple in his mouth he heard the very distinctive sound of the Fae portal activating. He stopped immediately and kissed her on her forehead.
“That’s the Fae portal. Come on, you work for me now.”
“Enforcer Adrian. This is Queen Maryebella of the superior Unseelie Court.”
Gretchen stood in front of the Fae portal with Adrian where they faced Queen Maryebella. She wore all leather and looked dangerous. At her feet sat two men completely naked except for a dog collar on their necks.
“My Queen you look beautiful as usual.” Adrian said dryly. “I would like to introduce my new partner Gretchen.”
“Oh Gretchen you are a treat, Is she your lover Adrian?” the queen asked.
“Yes, we are committed and partners. She may speak on my behalf if I cannot be reached.”
“Very well, how is the search going?”
“The warrant has been revoked, Camellia wished to stay here in the human realm.”
“Revoked, how did this come about?” she asked seeming less than interested.
“I’m not exactly sure, but Lac
hlan contacted me directly.”
“Lachlan! That’s it! Adrian do you see what I see, in your lover’s eyes?”
“What are you taking about?”
“She is a descendant of Lachlan, I can see it. She has his eyes. I feel his essence in her.”
“This is not possible!” Adrian shouted.
“Oh, yes, this is wonderful. Gretchen descendant of Lachlan the punisher, now Fae enforcer.”
“Please tell Camilla I welcome her in the Unseelie court when she bores of the humans.
“Camellia is my roommate. I will be sure to relay the message.” Gretchen spoke up.
“Enforcer Gretchen, I would like to formerly invite you to be my guest in the Unseelie realm. I will hold a banquet in your honor. A formal invitation will arrive shortly.”
Without even a goodbye the Queen was no longer there just clear glass. Gretchen looked at Adrian stunned at this whole conversation. “Adrian, who is Lachlan?”
“Come sit down.” They walked over to the couch and sat down. Adrian wasn’t sure how to break the news to her. How you tell someone they are related to evil.
“Gretchen, Lachlan is a bad man, I don’t know any other way to say it.”
“Please Adrian, just tell me.”
“He tortures Fae, it’s his job. He is an evil man. You’re nothing like him, it doesn’t matter,”
“Please Adrian if he’s my relative I need to know.”
“He is an advisor to the Seelie royal family. Sometimes instead of imprisonment, Fae are given over to him for endless torture. He is sadistic. He loves it and enjoys his work a little too much.”
Gretchen couldn’t grasp what he was telling her; she knew one thing for certain. She needed to get to the bottom of this, but now wasn’t the time. This would have to wait.
“Come on, let’s go to my place, I want to forget all about all of this Lachlan business.”
Adrian smiled and followed her. He knew in his heart this was just the beginning for them and he wouldn’t let her go. She was his, his match his love.
Epilogue
Gretchen looked at her mate sleeping soundly in her bed. It had been a crazy six months, but wonderful. Adrian moved into Gretchen’s house soon after they declared their love for each other.
They decided to be mated like all Werecats with a simple mating followed by a small intimate commitment ceremony. She agreed to the Fae commitment tattoos that would let all the other Fae know they belonged to each other. She loved it every time she looked at the whimsical band, it reminded her of the love she felt for him. Adrian stirred and looked up at her sleepily. They had been out late last night looking for a Troll who was eating the homeless in the city. They finally caught up to him but it was a difficult capture, not to mention smelly. She was surprised how much she loved her new job and how good at it she became so quickly.
“Morning, my wife.” Adrian said as he awoke.
“When will you stop saying that, husband.” She said jokingly.
Adrian reached up and grabbed her bringing her in for a kiss, and like every morning it wasn’t just any kiss, it was a toe curling, heart-stopping kiss.
“You never fail to disappoint.” She laughed. They both looked when they heard the portal depositing a warrant.
Adrian got up and walked over to the closet and opened the door. They kept a special portal in the closet just for warrants. He picked it up looked at it and frowned. “Oh Fuck!”
“What is it?” Gretchen asked
“A warrant.”
“I know that. Who is it for?” She asked becoming increasingly concerned.
“It’s for Richard. Gretchen it’s for your brother.”
THE END
