by Lynn Hagen
It was like tasting the nectar of the gods. He pulled in deep drafts, craving every last drop. Hunger consumed him, making him feel like an animal that had trapped its prey.
“Silo.” Palmino beat at Silo’s back. “Stop, you’re taking too much!”
Silo felt his feathery wings shoot out, the fine dust falling all around them. Their lives raced alongside each other in a stream of brilliant colors. In the end, they collided, and Silo felt his mate slowly fading beneath him.
He pulled his fangs free and stared down at Palmino. “What just happened?”
“Fairy blood is a drug and craved by many. If we hadn’t been mates, you would have drained me.” Palmino pressed his hand against the wound. He stared up at Silo, his eyes a bit glassy.
Silo shook his head to dispel the need to take more. “I’m…sorry.”
Palmino grabbed Silo around his neck and pulled him down for a slow, burning kiss. When they broke apart, his mate groaned. “Fuck me, Silo.”
With a feral growl, Silo reared back and hammered into Palmino’s puckered hole. His mate grabbed his cock and stroked it to their rhythm. Soon Palmino cried out as ribbons of seed splashed between them. The muscles of his ass clamped down on Silo as he thrust harder, deeper.
Silo threw his head back as his body exploded, his cum spurting deep inside his mate’s ass.
“Oh, shit. You have wings!” Palmino said as Silo’s body continued to buzz with his orgasm.
Silo wiped his forehead on his upper arm, and slowly placed Palmino’s legs back to the floor. “Only other winged beasts and my zaterio can see them,” he said. He hissed as he pulled himself from the fairy’s body, and then collapsed beside Palmino.
“They’re beautiful,” Palmino said. “They make mine look like bug wings.”
Silo chuckled. “Just because yours are smaller doesn’t make them any less beautiful.”
As his head cleared, Silo spooned Palmino, remembering a part of his mate’s life stream that had caught his attention. “Are you Seelie or Unseelie?” he asked.
Palmino yawned. “I have no clue what you’re talking about.”
The man had just outright lied. Silo didn’t demand the truth because he already knew the answer.
Silo closed his eyes, wrapping his arm around his small mate and pulling him close. He wasn’t sure how long he’d dozed off for, but when he woke, the room was dark, and Palmino was gone.
Chapter Four
Palmino paced his bedroom as Silo slept on the floor in the living room. He was mated, and Palmino should be happy about that, but his hidden secret killed that joy.
He’d seen the truth in Silo’s baby blues. The man knew the answer to his question. It wasn’t as if Palmino had asked to be born an Unseelie. He didn’t ask to be a part of the dark fairies. That was one of the reasons his father had been fed up with Palmino. Not only because of his lack of motivation, but because Palmino had refused to learn the dark arts.
Could he tell Silo that? No. Everyone believed all Unseelie were evil, and Palmino didn’t want to lose his mate.
Palmino stopped at the window and stared out into the back alley. Beyond the alley were houses, and beyond them, he could see mountains. Over the course of the last month, Palmino had fallen in love with this small town. He wanted to make it his home but wasn’t sure if that was possible.
It all depended on how Silo behaved now that he knew the truth.
“Why are you standing in the dark?”
That deep voice made Palmino’s eyelids fluttered closed. “Avoiding the inevitable.”
Strong arms wrapped around him, pulling Palmino close to Silo’s broad chest. He breathed in Silo’s masculine scent, wishing he’d been born Seelie. “And what’s the inevitable?”
Palmino moved away. He didn’t want to be in Silo’s arms when he was rejected, when his mate told Palmino just how disgusted he was before walking away. It already hurt just thinking about it.
Though Palmino had thought at first that staying in this town was a mistake, he was amazed at how bothered he was at the thought of leaving.
“You know,” Palmino said. “Let’s not play dumb. It doesn’t suit you.”
Silo didn’t say anything for the longest moment. The longer he remained quiet, the further Palmino’s heart sank. His mate was probably trying to think of a way to break things off between them. It had happened before to Palmino. He’d been dating this sexy-as-sin wolf shifter, and as soon as Moe had found out what Palmino truly was, the guy had hauled ass as fast as he could.
Palmino turned, facing the window again, refusing to let Silo see the tears threatening to spill. His family didn’t want him, and now his mate would reject him. It was almost too much for Palmino to bear. “Say something, damn it.”
If Silo was about to walk away, Palmino wanted it to be quick. He didn’t want to stand there and listen to Silo berate him.
“What do you want me to say?” Silo asked. “You’re a dark fairy.”
“What does my skin color have to do with anything?” Palmino tried laughing at his weak joke, but his laugh sounded bitter. “Fine, yeah, I was born Unseelie. But I’m not evil,” he quickly added. “I swear I’m not.”
“Didn’t think you were.” Silo grabbed his arm and pulled him back into an embrace. Palmino wasn’t sure what was going on, but he leaned into his mate’s chest, soaking up his strength and shelter. “I knew there was something different about you, but that doesn’t matter to me.”
“Why not?” Palmino wasn’t trying to push Silo away, but he wanted the air cleared between them. “Do you know how many people fear my kind? If anyone in this town found out my true nature, they’d probably raise a mob armed with pitchforks to get me out of here.”
“Then we don’t tell them,” Silo said. He rubbed a soothing hand over Palmino’s back, which Palmino deeply appreciated. He craved the man’s touch and never wanted to lose it.
“You’re being awfully understanding.”
“You’re my zaterio,” Silo stated, as if that settled everything. “I would no sooner turn my back on you than I would cut off my own arm. You’re mine, for better or for worse.”
Palmino had a feeling that part of Silo truly believed he was evil. He would’ve argued his case further, but showing Silo that Palmino was a decent man would help put to bed any doubts his mate had.
“Are there things you can do that don’t require dark magic?”
Biting his lower lip, Palmino nodded as he took a step back. He waved a finger at his hair, concentrating on the color of bubblegum pink, and then he felt the color streaming from his hand to his hair.
Silo burst out laughing. “I love it.”
“You do?” Surprised, Palmino twisted his hands together and grinned. “You really do?”
“I do.” Silo ran his fingers through the long, pink strands. “It’s so soft.”
“I only changed it to its natural color because Kyle told me I needed to blend in.”
Silo shook his head. “I want you to be who you are, babe. The only thing I want you to hide is the fact you come from dark fairies. Not because I disapprove, but because others might get the wrong idea and things could get ugly.”
Palmino saw the way Silo’s jaw clenched. The man didn’t like thinking about Palmino being harmed. That made him think of another problem on their plate.
“There’s something else I’m worried about,” Palmino admitted.
“And what’s that?” Silo kissed along Palmino’s neck, making it almost impossible to think. Palmino pulled away slightly. Silo’s lips were magic, and had the ability to make all thoughts flee Palmino’s brain.
“My father might’ve disowned me, but if he ever found out I’ve mated, he’d pull me back through the veil. And since you’re not fairy….” Palmino curled his lips in and let Silo draw the conclusion for himself.
“I wouldn’t be welcomed.”
“It wouldn’t be just that,” Palmino said, hoping Silo would still want him after he confes
sed the truth. “My father would order your death.”
* * * *
“Well, uh….” Silo wasn’t sure what to say to that.
“I know that’s a lot to take in,” Palmino said. “I can understand if you want to walk away. You didn’t sign up for this.”
Was his little fairy crazy? Silo was intelligent enough to know that when or if he’d ever found his zaterio, it wouldn’t be a happy walk in the park. Life just didn’t work that way for a lot of preternatural creatures. “Sorry, babe. I don’t back down that easily. I know it’s your dad, and I won’t take the fight to him, but I’ll be damned if I lie down and show my belly.”
“He stopped being my father when he disowned me. He threw me away like trash because he said I wasn’t beautiful enough.”
Silo’s brows furrowed as he stared down at the most beautiful man he’d ever laid eyes on. “So, your father is blind?”
That got a small chuckle from Palmino. Silo was glad. That had been his goal. “Hardly. But his beliefs run deep. He’s what people would call an extremist when it comes to upholding traditions.”
“Okay, so no family gatherings. I can deal with that.” Silo coaxed Palmino toward the bed. “But enough talk. I’m tired. You’re tired. We both need rest. Besides, you have to be up in the morning for work.”
Silo curled around Palmino, hugging his zaterio close.
“You still want to be with me?” Palmino asked into the dark room.
“Try and tear me away from you, babe.” He kissed his mate’s head as he tightened his arms around him. “Just as long as you don’t go dark and evil on me, we’re all good.”
Palmino wiggled until he was turned around and staring up at Silo. God, he could get so lost in those green eyes. “I’d never give in to those urges.”
“Urges?”
One of Palmino’s shoulders lifted and fell. “I’m a dark fairy. Those urges are ingrained in me. But I’ve fought against them my entire life, and I’m not about to turn into Darth Vader now.”
Silo chuckled. “Glad to know that. If you ever walk into the room calling me Luke, I’m gonna duct-tape you and throw you in a closet.”
Palmino’s smile was beautiful. “Deal.”
His mate snuggled close. Silo meant every word he’d said, and he would do whatever he had to in order to protect his little fairy, but he couldn’t help but wonder if Palmino’s father monitored his son. Palmino’s race was small in number, but they were powerful. He didn’t see the father completely cutting his son off, ugly duckling or not.
The thought of anyone calling Palmino anything less than breathtakingly stunning was ridiculous. Yet he wondered if Palmino bought into that crap, if he thought he was less than perfect.
Silo knew if something was drilled into someone enough times, that person tended to start believing it. He hugged his pink-haired beauty to his chest as he closed his eyes. Come tomorrow, and every day after, Silo would make it a point to let Palmino know just how sexy he truly was.
* * * *
Silo hated leaving Palmino’s bed, but it was his night to be on patrol. After leaving a quick note on the pillow, he met up with Ruthless by the town hospital and the two started their rounds.
The streets were dark and quiet, just like Silo liked them. An occasional car passed by, and a dog or two bark, but other than that, he’d seen no signs of hellhounds or anything else afoot.
“When were you gonna tell anyone about finding your zaterio?” Ruthless asked as they cut down one of the residential streets.
“I just found him yesterday and was too busy claiming him to send a group text,” Silo said sarcastically. “Sorry, I’ll remember to hand out a memo next time.”
Ruthless snorted. “You know there won’t be a next time.”
True. Palmino was it for him.
“Is he really a fairy?” Ruthless asked.
“Wings and all.” Silo wanted to change the subject. Although he trusted his brethren, he didn’t want anyone knowing about Palmino’s little secret. Silo didn’t think it would happen, but he didn’t want the winged beasts treating the fairy differently because of who he was.
Silo slowed when he spotted two men standing in a driveway. From the way one guy was animatedly swinging his arms around, it looked as if they were having a heated discussion. When he and Ruthless got closer, he recognized the men.
Mr. Cooper and Gary.
Why would they be out at one in the morning arguing? As soon as the two men spotted him, they hurried inside the house. Silo didn’t know either man well. In fact, he’d seen them only a handful of times in town. Although they could possibly be friends, his gut told him something else was going on.
Ruthless had been staring at the driveway, as well, but he turned his attention away from them and kept walking. As Silo passed the house, he saw their silhouettes in the window. One guy was poking the other guy in the chest. It seemed they’d taken their beef inside.
“So, is it true?” Ruthless asked.
“Is what true?” Silo finally pulled his gaze away from the window and caught up to Ruthless.
“That all fairies are like…you know.” Ruthless waved his hands and said, “Ahh,” in a way that sounded like a Catholic choir. “Angelic-like. They’re all heavenly beautiful?”
Silo crinkled his nose. “Where on earth have you been getting your information?”
“Rumors,” Ruthless admitted. “So answer the question.”
Silo thought about what Palmino’s father had said, which only made his back molars grind. “I’m not sure about all fairies, but I think mine is gorgeous.”
“I hear they’re as different as snowflakes. Their skin color, their hair, body markings, body piercings, personality.”
“That could be said about any race,” Silo said. “You really need to stop listening to gossip.”
The man shrugged. “I’d still like to meet him. At least I could get some answers from the source.”
The last thing Silo wanted was for Ruthless to bombard his mate with a thousand questions. “You are not about to put him through the Spanish Inquisition.”
“Ah, come on. I just want to ask him a few questions.”
“Like?” Silo asked and then tuned Ruthless out. He spotted a man walking toward them. Silo wasn’t concerned by the fact someone was on the street so late at night but by how intently the guy was staring at them. Then again, Silo knew how intimidating the two of them appeared. The guy just may be afraid to pass them, thinking he may be mugged.
The stranger glanced down right as he passed, and then his arm bumped Silo’s. The guy’s head shot up as his eyes widened. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I should’ve watched where I was going.”
He smelled human, and Silo could also scent the man’s fear. The guy took a few steps back, and nearly stumbled over the rock with the house number painted on it that sat at the edge of the lawn.
Silo instinctively reached out to stop the man from falling, but the stranger cringed away. Silo let his hand fall. “No problem.”
The man hurried away.
“Humans are so weird,” Ruthless said. “He looked like he was about to piss his pants as he approached, so why did he drop his gaze at the last second?”
“Fear,” Silo said. “He didn’t want to make eye contact while he was that close.”
“Still weird,” Ruthless muttered.
The strange feeling in Silo’s gut intensified. There was something in the air, but he couldn’t figure out what that something was. As he started to walk again, Silo paid better attention to his surroundings.
* * * *
“Did you plant the bug?” Joe Hephner asked as Louis came in through the side door. The man was jumpy as hell to begin with, and Joe had considered using someone else, but he’d always gone with his gut feeling, and his gut told him Louis would be the perfect person for the job.
“You never told me they looked like two mountains.” Louis’s hand shook as he carded it through his thinning hair. “I was ter
rified they would figure out what I was up to and kill me right there on the sidewalk.”
Joe patted Louis’s shoulder. “Ya did good. So, did you get it planted?”
Louis nodded, the combed-over hair on the top of his head falling out of place. He brushed it back as he swallowed tightly. “Yeah, I stuck it on the back of one of their jackets. It’s close to the hem, so I don’t think they’ll notice it.” The guy looked as if he’d pass out at any second. “I had to bump into one of them, and he was a solid build. I really thought I would bite the big one tonight.”
Joe stopped his eyes from rolling as he took a seat at his desk and pulled the headphones on. He hit a few buttons and then listened.
“Will you drop the subject?” one of the men said.
“What the fuck, man?” the other said. “Why you being all pissy? I’ve never met a fairy before, and I’m just curious as hell.”
Fairy? They couldn’t possibly be talking about a real fairy. Joe scribbled a few notes before setting his pen aside. The bug was working perfectly, and he planned on gathering a lot of intel before moving his Hunters into strategic places around Pride Pack Valley. He had one or two Hunters deeply embedded in the community already.
Joe Hephner was determined to expose those freaks for what they truly were, and if a war happened to break out because of their exposure, well, you can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.
Chapter Five
Silo removed his boots at the door and then tossed his leather jacket onto the chair before sliding onto the couch. He pulled Palmino into his arms. Those simple actions shouldn’t have given Palmino a second thought, but Silo did them with such ease that it almost felt as if his mate were coming home after a hard night of work. Home.
“I woke up and you were gone,” Palmino said with a pout. He glanced around the apartment. This wasn’t home. It was just a place for him to live until he found something better. Palmino had lived on the other side of the veil his entire life, and now that he’d see what the human side was like, he wasn’t sure what he wanted. Living in an apartment over a tavern wasn’t it. But for now, it would do.