Page 52 of Fae Mates

“Let me go,” he said. “I must warn them.”

“How do I know she won’t reinfect you with that curse?”

A frustrated breath heaved out of his nostrils. “This is your first heat.”

“Yes?” I replied, not quite understanding his implication.

“During this period, any male you mate with becomes yours.”

I stared into his green eyes, waiting for his nose to wrinkle or for him to utter a haughty remark about being saddled with an unworthy halfling, but all I found was acceptance, and concern for his brothers.

“Unity.” He cupped my face with his large hand. “I’ve misjudged you, and I’m sorry for standing by while Gala tried to rob you of your destiny and burned what we thought was your body.”

My gaze dropped to his chest. “The enchantment was very powerful, I suppose.”

He leaned forward, placed his fingers under my chin, and tilted my head up. “I’ll be grateful to you until the end of days for your courageous act, but I need to save my brothers.”

A lump formed in my throat. Why was I so reluctant to let him leave? My feelings for the other three princes ran so much deeper than those I had for Prince August.

He placed a kiss on my forehead. “I’ll return with my brothers, and they will each form a bond with you.”

“Hasn’t my heat finished?” I murmured.

Prince August chuckled. “A female’s heat can last up to two days, depending on her level of power. Let me bring the others, and you can save them, just as you saved me.”

“How are you going to sneak your brothers out if Lady Gala’s watching them all the time?” I asked.

“She has a complex beauty regime she conducts each evening after dinner. I’ll wait until then and bring them to you.”

My faerie instincts tugged at my insides as though to warn me not to let go of the powerful male.

“Do it,” said a little voice at the door.

I twisted around to find McVittie sitting on his haunches, holding a belt between his teeth. He sat beside a messy pile of men’s clothes he had dragged up the stairs.

My shoulders sagged. “Alright.”

Separating myself from Prince August’s erection was the most difficult thing I’d ever done. A pang of regret shot through my heart, and my core clenched with complaint. I had to remind myself that four dicks were better than one, and if things went right, I’d enjoy three for each hole plus a spare.

After releasing his restraints, I stepped back in case his gentle words had been a ruse to catch me off-guard. Prince August wrapped his strong arms around my shoulders, brushed a lock of magically darkened hair off my face, and placed a soft kiss on my lips.

“I will return soon or send a message with the location of a safe meeting place.”

Prince August picked up the garments McVittie had lent him, gave the black cat a nod of thanks, and launched himself upward. His wings sliced through the air, propelling him out of the tree’s opening.

“Eat something and rest,” said McVittie. “If you thought mating with one faerie was tiring, you’re going to need every ounce of energy you can muster for three.”

Chapter 13

I sat on the edge of the bed, watching Prince August ascend into the sky. His buttercup-yellow wings reflected the setting sun, which also shaded his golden hair the same color.

A sigh slid from my lips. I hoped that our mating had protected him from Lady Gala’s enchantment and that he would be stealthy enough to steal his brothers away without her noticing.

He disappeared out of sight, leaving a massive space in my heart. I rubbed my chest and slumped onto the bed. He hadn’t been gone for thirty seconds, and I already missed him.

Tiny footsteps padded across the wooden floor, but I didn’t raise my head. The mating had been wonderful, but my muscles ached, and my head felt like it was filled with clouds. A draft swept over my skin, cooling it to its regular temperature.

McVittie jumped on the bed. “The guards buggered off half an hour ago. I take it that was when you formed a mating bond with Prince August?”