Page 72 of Fae Mates

A long sigh heaved from my lungs. Clearly, Pokeweed hadn’t seen any DVDs of Maury Povitch because the paternity test episodes taught me that the father was always the person you least suspected.

I pulled him to the edge of the bed and placed my hands on his shoulders, making him sit. Pokeweed pulled me onto his lap.

“You told me that the Duke of Nevermore got sent to negotiate with the United Nations?” I asked.

His brows drew together. “That’s true.”

“While he was away, your mother went into heat, and someone mated with her?”

He dipped his head. “They say she mated with a satyr—”

“What if the most powerful faerie on the island could sense a female’s heat before everyone else, and he conveniently sent her mate away so he could have her for himself?”

“That is possible,” he said, sounding skeptical.

I slapped a hand on Pokeweed’s chest. “Think about it. Someone cursed your mother while she was pregnant. Why?”

“She told my wet-nurse that it was my father’s mate.”

“And why do fae noblemen cast away their half-bloods?”

“Because of the lore of inheritance…” Realization flashed in his eyes. “The queen?”

“She probably didn’t want the Duchess of Nevermore’s child to inherit the throne.” I poked him in his chest. “You.”

Pokeweed dipped his head. “That’s why someone tried to assassinate me with nightsbane.”

My shoulders drooped, and I leaned into Pokeweed’s chest, enjoying our closeness. This was the biggest irony of all. Lots of fairy tales described terrible curses broken by true love or a kiss, but they resulted in happy ever afters. Poor Pokeweed just discovered he was the son of King Oberon and an heir to the throne, but the good news was shadowed by his impending death.

I rubbed the side of my face across his. How long would I have this smooth-skinned, golden-haired Pokeweed before the poison turned him to dust? “About that,” I murmured. “What’s going to happen—”

“As soon as we mated, a surge of power burned through the nightsbane. Whoever poisoned me can never hurt me again.”

I drew back, my heart somersaulting with joy. “That means—”

“Yes.” Pokeweed kissed me on the cheek. “Thanks to you, I have broken all my curses. We can finally be together.”

My smile froze. What would the princes say when they discovered I had also mated with Pokeweed?

“Unity.” He drew me into his chest. “What’s wrong?”

“Before coming to you, I mated with the four princes.”

His expression didn’t change, so I guessed this wasn’t news to him. “Your love broke my curse, but that could never have happened if you hadn’t absorbed their powers.”

“You’re not upset?” I placed a hand on his broad shoulder.

“Of course not.” He tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “But you look terrified.”

“I’m not sure how things will work, now that I’m also mated to you.”

Pokeweed gave me an understanding nod. “In a battle of mating supremacy, the stronger faerie wins.” Before I could utter a word, he said, “If they were happy to share you with three brothers, a fourth won’t make much of a difference.”

I bit down on my lip, wondering if the princes would agree with Pokeweed’s logic. This new, handsome version of Pokeweed seemed infinitely more confident than before, and he didn’t look like he would take any shit.

McVittie’s voice echoed as tiny footsteps bounded up the stairs. “Right, then. I have another plan.” He entered the room, took one look at me sitting on Pokeweed’s lap, and skittered back. “Your Majesty! This humble cat didn’t mean to intrude.”

Pokeweed ran a hand through his golden hair. “Come back, McVittie, it’s me.”