Page 73 of Fae Mates

The cat poked his head through the door. “Me, who, Your Majesty?”

“This is Pokeweed,” I said.

McVittie took a tentative step into the room. It was the kind of action some cats made when they entered the realm of a stray dog. His yellow eyes rounded, and his little paws trembled as they hit the wooden floor.

“Is that really you?” he asked.

“It looks like there’s another heir to the throne.” I ran a hand down Pokeweed’s huge pec and stared into a face even more handsome than the king’s.

“Well done, Unity,” McVittie said with a chuckle. “I knew you hadn’t given up on the wishbone.” He sat on his haunches and gave me a wink.

For the next hour, we talked about what to do next about this new revelation and tried to guess the identity of Pokeweed’s poisoner. McVittie thought it would be the Duke of Nevermore, still furious with his wife for mating with an unknown male and birthing Pokeweed. But the more we talked about it, the more we believed that the queen had sent the assassin.

“If the Duke of Nevermore murders the king, the next in line for the throne is you,” said McVittie.

“I won’t let that happen,” he said.

“Why not?” The cat swished his tail on the mattress. “King Oberon got your mother pregnant and left you to live a servant’s life.”

Pokeweed’s lips tightened, but he didn’t reply. Perhaps it was because McVittie had understated the torment of a lifetime of being reviled.

I wrapped my arms around Pokeweed’s neck. “Saving the king might be his only chance to connect with his last living parent.”

McVittie muttered something about sentimental bipeds, jumped down from the bed, and walked out of the room with his tail pointing to the ceiling.

“You’ll have to be careful of Queen Titania,” he said. “If she knows you’re not cursed, she might send someone after you.”

He shook his head. “I doubt that any of her minions have the power to land a curse that will stick.”

“Pokeweed—”

He silenced me with his lips and laid me back on the bed.

“What are you doing?” I stared into his sea-blue eyes.

Pokeweed’s face split into a mischievous grin. “Your heat might be over, but I still want to explore your body.”

A pleasant shudder ran down my spine and settled between my legs, and I let him lay me down on the mattress. Pokeweed straddled my body, balancing his weight on his forearms, and pressed a series of toe-curling kisses down my breasts. My core tingled with want, but the urgent heat had gone.

He ran his large, warm hands down my thigh, and I arched into his touch. Pokeweed took his time, kissing and licking every inch of my flesh until I became slick with desire.

Pokeweed’s thick fingers circled my opening, and one of them slipped inside. He paused. “Where’s your maidenhead?”

“What?” I raised my head, staring at the gorgeous faerie between my spread legs.

“It’s supposed to return immediately after a heat.” His fingers slid further into my pussy, stretching me open.

Biting down on my bottom lip, I arched my back and moaned. “Maybe my magic is keeping it open. With five mates to satisfy, there’s no way I’m only going into heat once every four years.”

His lips crashed onto my aching clit, and he pumped his fingers in and out of my core. Being a former human had its advantages. Unlike other faerie females, I looked forward to having sex every day.

* * *

Pokeweed made love to me the entire afternoon, only breaking for something to eat. It was strange having someone identical to King Oberon fetch me drinks and snacks, but by sunset, the idea of having five mates filled me with excitement. I only hoped the princes wouldn’t feel betrayed.

At nightfall, we walked to the weeping willow and knelt at the edge of the pond. The frogs had left their lily pads, and the water was still enough to form a clear reflection.

“I can’t believe the likeness.” Pokeweed touched his face with trembling hands.