Her nails bit into the flesh at his neck and back, anchoring herself through the onslaught of sensations coursing throughout her entire system. Sweat was no longer just a graceful sheen on the surface, it now dampened her shirt, the heat he produced so intense. But she didn’t shy from it. Oh no, she clung to it like a sun starved flower. The lizards she’d seen sunbathing on rocks the one time her parents had taken her and Alyss camping knew what they were doing. It was like being absorbed by a sauna, while someone else continued to pour water on the stones.
Suddenly, he thrust her away and pushed back from her, dropping her feet jarringly to the ground. Her body was bereft from the cool air chilling her to the bone from his absence. They were both flushed, except his was enhanced by the iridescent markings shining brightly on his hands, face, neck and – from what she could see glowing beneath the cover of his shirt – on his chest and back. She remained plastered to the wall as they both caught their breath.
"Barring the guards' visit," he panted, staring intently at her with eyes that glowed the same as the markings slowly fading from his skin. "Please be careful not to let others touch you."
She could only nod. Not sure what else to say. This was all one big, giant roller coaster ride for her. Between the Unseelie, the guards, her newfound heritage and especially him, she found herself at a loss for words more than she was accustomed to lately.
Nodding in confirmation to her agreement, he seemed satisfied. "I can't guarantee my restraint."
She took in another deep, cleansing breath before, finally, her brain started to function again. "Fallon." His eyes snapped to attention and met hers, rather than surf her body, like they were rather appreciatively. "This mate thing," He raised his brows in question. "Is it like some of the monogamous animal mating’s? I— I mean not that you're an animal. Just that –“
"Jessandra." He stopped her. "Though we are not animals, we are also not human. I understand what you are meaning."
She sighed, relieved that she hadn't offended him. "Though I assume you're asking if we mate for life. The answer to your question is yes."
Air caught in her throat at his words. When she was able to take a clear breath again, she asked one more question. "So," she swallowed. "When we, um, have sex, we'll be mated for...forever?"
"Yes." His eyes still shined brightly even though his markings had faded away.
She nodded absently, starting to turn away to process everything, when he suddenly snapped a hand out and brought her to him again, his body still burning when he growled at her, "Make no mistake, Jessandra. That, though we haven't officially mated, you are entirely mine already." Then, just as suddenly, he released her, opened the door and walled out, leaving her to deal with her pounding heart alone.
After taking a timeout in the bathroom first, she stepped out of her room a few minutes later. The marketplace looked almost as if nothing had happened. Tables and carts had been righted, debris swept up and people had scattered back to wherever they had been before the interruption. Before she stepped away from the door, two large forms appeared at her side, Finn and Keegan.
Their heads were hung low on their shoulders as they approached her,
Finn spoke first, which surprised her, Keegan had done all the talking earlier. “My lady, please forgive our sudden absence this evening, we know you may have seen it as an abandonment.” They kept their gazes down as he spoke until she stopped him.
“Finn,” Finally they peered up at her. “Stop. I don't think you abandoned us.” Their shoulders relaxed at her words. “Why did you leave, though?”
They both took a relaxed stance, but it was hardly casual when Keegan answered.
“The Seelie kings guard find it most opportune to…manhandle and mistreat the females when us males are near. We feared our presence would have only made their treatment of you worse above. It’s the males they are really focused on wounding when they come to the Nead.” It made complete sense to Jess except…
“What's does Nead mean?” She rubbed at her arms absently.
They both stood proud when Finn answered, “Nest.” At her frown, he spread his arms wide, gesturing all around him. “This, is the nest. Nead.”
So it was, she realized. It was a nest of families and friends. There probably wasn't a single person who’s name they didn't know, and their children’s. It was fitting. They all worked together and provided. She’d learned from Roshea that there were many women who worked above ground. Of course, the males weren't able to work above ground, at least not on the books, so the women took a more provisional role. The girl from the meal hall earlier, for instance, she obviously worked at a café during the day. Jess wondered how many people she missed seeing because they worked above ground during the day and slept in the evenings when the rest of the nest was buzzing about.
***
He waited in the gardens, as instructed. He hated waiting, but he was bound to wait for this man. The surrounding calmness of the rose bushes, the trickle of a fountain in the distance and the fresh, clean air did nothing to settle the itch to leave and forget about the meeting entirely. Rather, the pristinely pruned plants, nicely squared and trimmed, were devoid of their fragrant buds, reminded Banner of himself: A well-groomed soldier, with no mind of his own. A drone in the cog of other’s plans.
One hand resting on his holster, he cocked his hip out where it hung low. It’d been ten minutes already and his teeth were protesting the strain he was putting on them from gnashing them as he stood there waiting like a fool.
Hearing the soft footsteps approach from behind him, still hidden by the taller hedges that made a maze throughout the garden’s space, Banner drew to attention as they grew nearer.
Finally, when the other man approached him, he found himself thankful that he could get this over with. He had other business to attend to.
Stopping a couple feet from Banner, Bain raised a groomed eyebrow at him and said sarcastically, “Your patience is ever growing.”
Banner rose to the bait for a second, “You said midnight.”
Bain looked to be amused at his tone, which only seemed to agitate Banner even farther. Still, he knew his place, so he kept from saying more. It wasn’t the expensive cream colored suit that he wore that reminded him of his position. The gold rings on his fingers glinted from the false light above.
The slight tick at his lips was the only indication that Bain found the whole scene entertaining for a brief moment. It disappeared quickly before he asked, “What did you find?”
Banner stood straighter as he made his report. “No new matings this time around. Things appear the same except for a human down there, just as you said there’d be.” Belatedly he frowned and asked quizzically, “How did you know, sire? That there would be a human amongst them?”
“None of your concern, soldier,” Bain replied. It was a slap in the face though. And Banner was a seasoned general, not a wet behind the ears lackey.
Banner reframed from lashing out and decking the man, still his fists clenched at his sides, knuckles popping with the strain.
Banner watched as a pleased look washed over Bain, the sick bastard probably got a kick out of knowing that the other man couldn’t defend himself without signing his death warrant. He was collared and leashed, and they both knew it. .
Knowing it wouldn’t do him any good to hold it back, the man would find out anyways if he wanted to, Banner divulged one last bit of information. “There was a half breed there too, close to the human,” he said.
“Unseelie,” Bain spat as if a nasty taste filled his mouth just by saying the word.
“Do you want me to go back and collect them for you, sire?” Banner offered. The possibility of having a little hand-to-hand with some Fomorian filth by the prospect of going back and messing with their females, had him revving up a little. A way to relieve some of the pent up rage was enticing.
“No,” Bain snapped, causing Banner to frown. Seeing that he had caught some suspicion from the other
man he said, a little calmer now, “That won’t be necessary.” He smiled, which only unsettled Banner even more. “The mutt doesn’t concern me.”
Banner nodded, accepting his words.
Seeking to ease the earlier reprimand, Bain waved a hand slowly over a nearby bush. Instantly, a deep red bud began to sprout and grow until it reached full maturity and bloomed it’s pedals opening wide, it’s magnificence ready to be worshipped. Plucking it, he stepped closer to Banner, close enough that he could smell the underlying scent of whiskey on his breath. Banner watched as the other man spoke, threading the stem of the rose through the mail on his shirt. “Thank you, general,” Bain said, bringing out the title with a soured sort of sweetness that rubbed Banner wrong. He just bowed his head respectfully. Before his gaze had even reached the ground, he could hear Bain turn on his heel and make his exit. Taking his time, he rose slowly upright again. When he was sure Bain had cleared the room, he snarled and snatched the flower from his shirt, tossing it to the cobblestoned ground. As he strode away, the abandoned flower began to shrivel and wilt, the pedals collapsing within its center. In a matter of a few short moments it was a dried, yellow papered memory of itself, left to be swept up by the groundskeeper.
Life appeared to go on as usual once cleanup was complete, though there was more hustle and bustle with preparations for the meal with the Unseelie queen later. Which Kaer had returned with a message of acceptance. In just under a couple hours, the Fomorian king would be dinning with the Unseelie queen. Needing to speak with said king, Jess didn't see him in the main cavern nor did she find him upstairs, though she did see that the table was set with fine china plates, polished silverware and slim candles with ivy leaves surrounding the bases, all atop a bright white satin tablecloth. Though the table was long enough to probably fit fifteen people, there were only six place settings.
Jess’ focus jerked from the table to the main entrance when a woman walked into the large room from the street side, dressed like she'd just come in from a tea party at the White House. The cream dress she wore had roses vining along the bodice and mid-thigh hem. Her auburn hair was artistically arranged with large bouncy chestnut curls framing her face and fell just past her shoulders with one side gathered behind her temple, held in place with an expensive looking silver comb. Made up of a beautiful Celtic heart knot, with a pearl in the center of the two halves, the comb looked to be brand new. The woman sporting it, was busy typing on her smart phone as she walked blindly through the usually empty room, when what was left of her peripheral vision registered the large table to the side of her course, she looked up, catching sight of Jess, locking eyes. First, there was confusion, then suspicion clouded over the amber irises in a split second, pinning Jess where she stood.
“Who are you?” She asked, using her phone to point at Jess, looking her up and down, already condemning the plain jeans and rumpled tank top.
“I'm Jess. Fallon brought me,” she answered, well aware that she was the interloper, even if it was an unwilling one in the beginning.
And just like that, Jess could see the woman's expression darken to loathing.
Being the first person she’d seen in the nest to not welcome her, if at least pleasantly, Jess felt a tiny bit of shock. Maybe this woman wasn't Fomorian and didn't know the reason for Jess’ presence, she wondered. It irked her, to say the least. Who the hell was she to be sending judgmental vibes at her. A guest, none the less!
"Shana," someone said from behind her. Turning, Jess saw it was Kaer who spoke, followed closely by the woman who Fallon asked to arrange the table and food. She must have changed her shirt though, as she now sported a sky-blue tank top with a painted view of a sunset on the ocean. "Where've you been, Shana?" He asked, in a tone one might use on a wayward child.
"Shopping," Shana answered matter-of-factly. "Fallon said I should get something for the ball."
Kaer frowned at her, coming to stand beside Jess as the other woman went to check on the place settings and centerpieces. "Shopping for two days straight, eh?"
Shana frowned back at him. "Well, I had to stay close to get it fitted." She spoke as if it made complete sense.
Through their exchange, the other woman had remained silent, until she finally had finished her inspection of the table and looked up. Jess watched as her eyebrows shot up and her mossy green eyes squinted in disdain at something she saw of Shana. Not saying a word, she walked back to Kaer to place a hand on his shirt sleeve, signaling for him to bend down slightly as she whispered something to him. When he nodded slightly, she simply turned her back on the others to walk back to the stairs and down to the nest.
"What's going on here?" Shana asked, waving the phone at the table and chairs.
Kaer answered before Jess could. "Fallon's having a meal with Queen Brianna."
A look of delight crossed the woman's face. "Is that so?"
Kaer crossed his arms and widened his stance, saying, "It is."
"Well then, I’d better go get dressed," Shanna all but purred, going to push between him and Jess.
"This meal is to be private, Shana," He called after her.
Turning on her heal gracefully, she smiled and said, "And surely, Fallon expects me to be at his side for it."
"No. He doesn't."
Jess, who had turned to watch the two, saw Shana's eyes shoot daggers at the warrior, not saying a word as he met her gaze dead on. When she turned those eyes onto Jess, understanding finally dawned.
"We'll see about that," she said through a clenched jaw before turning on her heal and marching to the stairs.
They watched her go until the last echoing click of her heels had faded. Turning back to face Jess, Kaer wore a dimpled smile.
"Princess, may I escort you back to your room so that you may prepare yourself for the meal?" He said, holding out his arm.
Giggling a little at his well-played gallant knight impression, Jess hooked her hand in the crook of his arm. "You may."
As they walked down the stairs themselves, Jess asked him, "Who was that?"
"Shana?" He asked, Jess just nodded. "She's what you would probably consider a noble in our culture. As is Moira."
"The other woman you came in with?"
"Mm, hm. Moira is a second cousin of Fallon's. The three of them grew up together, but Shana sees herself as...apart...from Moira's status, shall we say," he said, choosing his words carefully.
"Oh," Jess said, considering. What she'd seen so far of Fomorian politics were definitely not what she was used to when she thought of kings, queens and nobility. Fallon certainly didn't live like your average king or royal. "Did she and Fallon ever..." she looked up at him, hoping she wouldn't have to finish the question.
"Ever what, Princess?" He asked, blinking down at her. The hustle and bustle met them as they entered the nest's marketplace. He led her through a throng of warriors as they planned their sentry detail during the meal as a precaution.
"Oh god," she grumbled before taking a deep breath and blowing it out. "Were they ever together?"
"Together, Princess?" He said, confused. "I did just say they grew up together."
She yanked on his arm to stop him and finally said, under her breath, "No. I mean, were they ever together as...mates, or whatever?" She was definitely out of her element.
Kaer burst out laughing right then. Seeing that she'd been played, Jess swatted at his arm. "Seriously?! You ass!"
"Yes," he said, between roars of laughter. "That I am. But it was well worth it." He allowed her to smack his arm a couple more times until finally she chuckled with him. When he'd finally sobered, he continued to walk towards her room.
"The answer is no. They've never been together in that way."
"Can you?" Crap, did I really just ask that? She berated herself.
To her surprise, instead of teasing her again, he answered her straight. "We can. Though it’s really frowned upon. We can't produce children from doing so, and it's less pleasing than when it's done with your m
ate."
Hmm. Jess thought. Good to know. Up until now, she hadn't given it any thought whether Fallon had had any past relations with another woman. Jess had to keep reminding herself that she was dealing with an entirely different culture of people. Species. She wasn't dealing with the same species. Hell, she wasn't even human. Damn, this was all just too confusing. Keep it simple, Jameson, she tried to tell herself, though there was nothing simple about any of this.
At her door, Kaer stepped back as she turned the knob. "Moira took the liberty of finding you something to wear. It's just on loan though, mind you. She likes her dresses and she saved up a lot of tips for that beauty." He winked at her before turning to leave.
Stepping inside, and shutting the door behind her, Jess looked around her room. Seeing a gray garment bag lying on the bed, she walked over to unzip it. Fingering the sheer material of the skirt, a pleased feminine smile touched her lips.
Finn and Keegan knocked on her door forty-five minutes later. She was thankful that she was able to find all of her toiletries, including her make-up in the mess of bags and boxes they had brought in earlier. Though some of the make-up had been ruined from the Seelie guard trampling on them, she salvaged some shades for the occasion. Alyss had come out from her hiding place in the media room, where her and Finn had found a kinship in their love for World of Warcraft, to help fix her hair. It was now loosely gathered at the crown of her head with curls tumbling down to brush her neck and shoulders. The dress’ skirt was a powder blue with specks of glitter here and there. Slightly gathered wide panels of the same blue fabric spread over her shoulders to cross down her back to meet below the waist. The bodice was made of a thicker material, with more glitter than the skirt, that pressed her breasts up and together, giving her the illusion of a larger cup size. Flaring just a little from the waist, the multiple layers of sheer fabric draped down her legs to hang just above the ground. She found a strappy pair of silver heels that worked with the outfit, which had her toes peeking out from beneath the brush of the fabric that waved like water in a softly flowing brook.
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