by Lexi C. Foss
My lips curved. “Promise?”
“We promise,” he murmured, kissing my cheek.
I call your pussy this time, Exos said in my head, causing me to choke on my own tongue.
Exos!
What? He gave me a devious look from where he stood beside the food. Do you prefer me in your ass?
Stop. My mom is here. Right there. Staring at me.
And what a beautiful blush you’re now wearing, he teased, winking at me from across the room.
I attempted to swallow, but Cyrus’s warmth against my back made that difficult. Then Sol and Vox gave me heated stares from across the room as well, and it was like I’d become one of the unruly candles.
All of you need to stop, I said, blasting the message through the bonds.
I’ve not even started, Titus replied, his gaze reminding me of embers as he faced me.
“Nesting party time?” Cyrus offered softly. “What do you say, little queen?”
“Party time,” I agreed.
“Not all presents are good for eating,” Gina interjected, her commentary random and so completely like her.
I glanced back at Cyrus, who only shrugged in response.
“And the fun has arrived!” Lance announced as he swept into the room with his arms stretched wide and nearly knocking a candle to the ground. He righted it with the ease only a Fire Fae could possess.
“Lance,” Titus hissed. “You’re supposed to be visiting with Mum and Da right now, aren’t you?”
“Mum and Da?” I repeated on a squeak. I hadn’t seen Titus’s family in years, and while they seemed to like me, Fire Fae ran a bit, uh, hot, to say the least. And Titus’s relationship with his parents, as well as his brother, wasn’t the best. He’d lost control of his powers when he was younger and had killed several extended family members in the process. Including Lance’s favorite cousin.
“You didn’t tell me your parents were here?”
“Because they’re visiting my brother, not—”
A Fire Fae with gleaming red eyes and bulky muscles pushed into the room, halting Titus midsentence. His father paused to gape at the room, his heat causing the holly decorations around him to wilt. Sap dripped on his shoulder, making him frown. “Okay, we’re here. Where’s the food?”
“Pyros,” his wife, Ruby, chided. She was a sweet little thing with bright red hair. For whatever reason, she always reminded me of cherries. “Say hello to your son’s mate.”
The Fire Fae cleared his throat. I had a feeling that my Fire-Fae-in-law—an adopted term I used for all the parents of my mates, even though it wasn’t technically accurate—was not someone to be disobeyed. “Hi, Claire. Congratulations on the faeling.”
That done, he made his way to the food and took his time filling one of the plates.
Titus came up beside me, and his lips brushed my ear. “Don’t mind my da. He’s just sour that a Water Fae got first dibs on an heir. It’s yet another fault he’ll lay at my doorstep.”
Cyrus snorted, having overheard the comment.
Ruby approached, giving me a soft smile. “You look radiant, darling,” she said as if in consolation to her husband’s rudeness.
“Thank you, Ruby.”
She patted my hand before taking a seat beside Gina. She moved on to making pleasant conversation, all the while not so subtly trying to encourage the Fortune Fae to tell her when she could expect a little Fire Faeling to appear.
Releasing a long breath, I allowed Cyrus and Titus to guide me to a chair. Then Sol handed me a plate he’d already prepared, and my mates crowded around me with dishes of their own.
It took me a little while to fully relax, but when nobody moved to dismember my decorations and instead found their way around them, I started to enjoy myself.
Vox fussed a little over the food as glitter continued to spoil his “perfect creations.” However, Sol insisted it added a crunch that had been missing, much to Vox’s detriment. My Earth Fae mate really loved all food, regardless of the origin or type.
Cyrus and Exos also caved and gave me the updates I wanted regarding the academy. They were all positive, save the Hell Fae issue.
“We might need to consider moving forward without them,” Cyrus said.
I shook my head. “We need them.”
“They’ve not been part of fae society for centuries, Claire,” Exos murmured.
“And I want to fix that,” I insisted. “Think about it. If an Interrealm Fae Academy had existed before, this never wou—”
“Would have been an issue,” Exos and Cyrus finished for me.
My water mate blew out a breath and shook his head. “I promise to keep trying.”
“That’s all I ask,” I replied.
“I know.” He cupped my cheek and bent to brush a kiss over my lips.
“So where did you train?” Lance’s voice carried across the room. He’d chosen to sit next to Zephyrus—something that clearly made the Midnight Fae uncomfortable. Aflora seemed to find it amusing, though.
When Zephyrus didn’t respond, Lance added, “I’ve held the Powerless Champion title for the past three years.”
Still no reply, but I suspected the Warrior Blood was talking to Aflora mentally, because her eyes were sparkling with unrestrained laughter.
“Do the Midnight Fae have any fighting rings?” Lance pressed.
The Warrior Blood narrowed his eyes, giving a succinct answer. “None where an Elemental Fae would be welcome.”
Lance puffed his chest up, taking that for the challenge it was. I bit my lip, wondering if I should intervene before the hotheaded Fire Fae had his ass handed to him.
When I was about to get up, Titus pushed a present under my nose that smelled of… a sort of cinnamon?
My stomach pitched.
Normally, I liked cinnamon, even the fae variety, but I wasn’t sure I could handle more fae food right now. My stomach was already rolling from the food my mates had put on my plate, and I’d barely touched it.
So, yeah, trying something new did not appeal to me right now.
“It’s from my family,” he explained, obviously proud of the gift. “You did remember to pack it correctly, right?” he asked Lance pointedly.
His brother rolled his eyes. While his muscular build reminded me of Titus, he had a harsher edge to him, taking after their father more, whereas Titus more closely resembled their mother. “It’s exactly as you instructed,” the younger Fire Fae assured him before turning back to a still-uninterested Zephyrus.
Titus gave the package a light shake, then planted it in my lap. “Open it,” he encouraged me, keeping his lips close to the curve of my neck as he brushed my hair aside.
I smiled and undid the tie, then unwrapped the shiny red foil to reveal an adorable little cinnamon cake etched with glowing embers.
“Will it burn me if I try to eat it?” I asked, my stomach churning. I really hoped this didn’t make me sick.
How humiliating would it be to vomit at my own nesting party? Ugh.
I loved when Titus surprised me with new fae treats, but this couldn’t have been worse timing.
Titus brought the treat to my mouth and swayed it under my nose, causing my insides to churn in protest.
Yeah, this wasn’t going to work.
“It’s a fire cake,” he explained, oblivious to my agony. “I think our little faeling will love…”
Just when I felt like the contents of my stomach were about to come up, the cake erupted into a massive flame, making everyone shriek.
Shit. Did I do that?
I most certainly hadn’t cast any magic, but the fire element that burned the gift to a crisp—literally—had come from me.
Or… from within me.
Pyros barked out a laugh. “Now that’s a fire cake. Nice.”
“But I didn’t—” I protested while Titus stormed over to his father.
“Do you think this is some sort of joke?” Titus boomed. “Why are you here if you’re going to ruin
everything?”
Titus’s father puffed out his chest. “I didn’t burn your cake, if that’s what you’re implying.” He landed a hand on Lance’s shoulder, making the fae flinch. “Although, it was pretty funny, wouldn’t you say, Lance?”
The younger Fire Fae did not appear to be laughing at all, nor did he seem amused by his father’s hand on his shoulder.
“I’m afraid it’s my fault,” Cyrus interjected. “I rather detest fire cakes. It’s a Water Fae thing. Maybe Claire is taking on some of my preferences during the pregnancy?”
Titus frowned, but the suggestion wasn’t enough to cool him off.
Gina held up a package she’d plucked from under the tree. “Oh, look, a present from Sol’s family!” she announced. She hurried to me and brushed away the drifting ash before dropping the gift onto my lap. She leaned down and whispered, “A distraction will keep the Fire Fae from blowing up.”
Titus grumbled but returned to my side as I unwrapped the item. The decorative tissue held a large green leaf. I held it up to the light. “Do I, uh, eat this, too?” I asked, afraid it might erupt into flames like the last edible item did.
Sol chuckled. “It’s a swaddle, little flower.”
I turned it over and raised an eyebrow. “Oh… um, thanks?” I said, giving him a weak smile before putting the leaf back into the tissue paper.
The gift-giving continued as the fae offered me more presents—some of which I hadn’t even noticed beneath the tree, thanks to magical enchantments crafted by Aflora and the others.
Each present was stranger than the last.
Gina gave me a row of sticks that supposedly would help me predict nap times.
Aflora and Zephyrus gifted me with a seed that they stated I would not want to plant. Something about burning thwomps and only using it as a protective measure.
Vox’s family had sent a rather annoying set of wind chimes that I suspected had a curse attached to it.
My mother and Mortus provided the most normal present of them all—a book of elemental stories to read to our faeling when she or he was older.
I started to read it as a distinct sensation made me cross my legs and start to squirm. Crap.
“What is it?” Cyrus asked, placing a hand on my knee.
Sol wrapped his fingers around the curve of my shoulder in that possessive way I liked. He had sensed my sudden discomfort, too. I almost allowed it to lull me into a state of comfort.
Until my bladder protested and forced me into action.
I shot up, flinging my mates off of me. “Bathroom!” I shouted, not caring how everyone openly stared at me as a sudden, inexplicable urge swept through my body. “Gotta… pee!”
Gina’s prophetic words followed me as I bolted out of the room.
Welcome to pregnant life, Claire. It’s going to keep you on the run.
CYRUS STOOD outside of the bathroom, waiting for me.
“Ready for another gift?” he asked, a hint of promise in his voice.
“Is it sex?” I guessed.
His lips quirked upward at the sides. “That’s a given, not a gift,” he drawled, holding out his arm for me. “Come on, Exos and I want to show you something. And no, that’s not a euphemism.”
“With you two, it’s hard to know for sure,” I muttered.
“Definitely hard,” Exos echoed.
The two males laughed, and I just shook my head. “I rest my case.”
Cyrus wrapped his arm around me, steering me away from the nesting party and toward the building’s exit. “Where are we going?” I asked.
“Home,” he replied.
“Without saying bye to everyone?” I asked, frowning.
“I’ll mist you back for that,” he promised as Exos took my hand and walked along on my other side.
“All right. I’m holding you to that.” Not that I really wanted to return to the party, but it seemed rude to leave without at least expressing my gratitude to everyone. Especially Aflora and Gina, who had traveled the realms to get here.
Titus, Vox, and Sol joined us outside, their gazes all filled with questions.
“You don’t know what their gift is, do you?” I asked them.
A chorus of negatives met my question.
Which meant this was all Exos and Cyrus. Great. “Nothing good happens when you two are working together,” I grumbled, not really meaning it. But I wanted to know what they had planned for me.
“Nothing at all?” Cyrus replied, his hand slipping lower onto my backside. “You seem to enjoy it when Exos and I work together.”
I shivered, Exos’s comments from earlier warming my mind. “Well, maybe there are exceptions.”
Titus grunted.
“Jealous, Firefly?” Cyrus taunted him.
“Fuck off, Jackass,” Titus retorted.
“That’s Royal Jackass to you,” Cyrus corrected.
My fire mate just shook his head, his demeanor displaying his exhaustion. He’d worked hard keeping all those flames under control today. Because I hadn’t been able to help.
My lips twisted. I really needed to say something, but how did I bring it up? Like, Oh, by the way, I can’t access the elements. Okay. Good chat.
They were all being so protective already. That would just make it worse.
Except, my not talking to them also caused problems.
I really should—
“Cyrus has been bragging about his present to you all week,” Titus murmured, distracting me. “But he wouldn’t tell us what it is.” He glowered at the Water King. “I had been hoping to overshadow him with a fire cake, but that blew up in my face.”
Vox chuckled. “Literally.” He patted the Fire Fae on the arm as we started up the path to our home. It wasn’t too far from the Chancellor’s office—since I was the Chancellor. But we had built the two buildings separately, unlike my predecessor, who lived and worked in the same place.
“We can make one together,” Vox added, taking pity on my fire mate. “I’d love to learn the recipe.”
Titus opened the door to our house. “There was a reason I had my brother bring the present. It’s a highly guarded secret through my mum’s line. Good luck getting it out of her.”
“Challenge accepted,” Vox said, his eyes gleaming as he stepped through the threshold. My air mate seemed determined to learn all cuisine secrets, human, fae, or otherwise.
My stomach rumbled, reminding me that I hadn’t been able to enjoy any of his typically scrumptious meals for a few days now. I hoped whatever Cyrus and Exos planned to surprise me with came with a side of hamburgers and fries.
Cyrus undid his tie as we entered our home and stepped in front of me. I lifted my brow. “And what do you plan to do with that?” I asked.
“Blindfold you.” He wrapped the soft silk over my eyes, and Exos released my hand to step behind me and helped his brother tie the strands against my hair.
“You said this wasn’t about sex,” I reminded him. “Not that I’m complaining.”
He chuckled. “I just want to make sure you get the full effect,” he promised. Although, the tug in our mate-bonds suggested he wouldn’t mind a little foreplay follow-up later.
Exos took my hand again. I knew it was him because his kiss of spirit magic always called to my heart. It made me miss my elements even more.
However, my mates’ magic seemed to surge through me more and more lately, as though providing me with much-needed nourishment directly from the elemental source.
It felt odd to describe it that way.
Their magic had never given me that sensation before, but their touch somehow eased my hunger, so I clung to Exos, drawing out the tingling strand between us as we walked.
My mates guided me through our home and toward the secondary bedroom we had set up for guests or visiting family members.
Not that we really ever entertained any.
Our nightly activities made it kind of difficult. And my mom lived just off campus with Mortus, so she didn’t ever ha
ve a reason to stay.
Hmm, in retrospect, with the bedroom just two doors down from ours, it was a poor choice for guest quarters. But it was one of the bigger rooms, so it had once made sense to use it for guests.
Except, now I suspected my mates had a different purpose in mind, which caused my heart to flutter at the gift Cyrus and Exos had intended for me. I tried not to get my hopes up, telling myself this probably wasn’t at all what I thought, but the subtle kiss of water in the air—a kiss that hadn’t been there this morning—had all my instincts firing to life.
Someone opened the door, and approval surged through my mate-bonds, making me even more anxious to see. “Can I take off my blindfold?” I asked, my nostrils flaring at the alluring scent of mist and a calming fragrance that reminded me of the spirit realm.
“Not yet,” Cyrus said, water warming my bare arms, making the hairs stand on end as if electrified. He guided me another step forward, then whispered, “Okay, now.”
I jerked off the silk tie and gasped at the sight before me.
“Oh, Fae,” I said, taking in the enchanted nursery scene swarming with water and spirit magic.
A purple butterfly kissed my cheek, causing my eyes to wander sideways to Exos. He grinned, then gestured to the array of beautiful spirit-infused creatures fluttering about. No pixies, just butterflies. My favorite.
A fountain resided in the corner, the gorgeous structure pumping moisture and magic into the room with a small basin beside it that would be good for bathing a newborn. I moved forward to brush my fingers through the warm spray, smiling at the sense of calm provided by the source itself.
Beyond the fountain was a window providing a breathtaking view of Sol’s white Christmas trees.
But the most elaborate piece rested against the wall.
I stepped up to the ornate crib with glowing blue spirals. I touched it, expecting to find glass, but my fingers grazed a warm, smooth texture that slightly gave way underneath my touch. It was unlike any material I’d ever seen.
“It’s a magical water construct that’s safe for teething,” Cyrus explained, his hand going to the small of my back. “I had intended on buying human furniture, but when my father’s mate showed me what the royal line had access to, combined with our own enhancement magic, well, I knew you’d love it.”
