TamingSweetPuck

by Jackie Nacht

  “Get the fuck out of here,” Torque choked out. He moved quickly to try to retrieve his clothes but was trapped between the wall and the jerk.

  “I don’t think so. I’m sick of playing this game. Your brother keeps telling me to back off but he’s so hung over, he won’t wake up until next week.”

  He lunged and jumped on top of Torque. Torque did the first thing that came to him and began screaming at the top of his lungs while wildly kicking. The covers hindered him in the beginning but after a few he was uncovered and connecting with his target pretty damn good. He must look like a complete jackass but this guy was a lot bigger than him. There was no way in hell anyone drunk or dead was going to sleep through that scream. Donavon looked at him in rage and pulled his fist back before connecting with Torque’s face, instantly cutting off his cry for help.

  Donavon threw several more punches to his face and body, until Torque could do nothing more than lie there, hoping that someone would come soon.

  Donavon straddled him, shirtless but still in his jeans, thank God. “One more fuckin’ peep out of you and your brother won’t recognize you when I’m done.”

  Torque must have started to lose consciousness, because with the last words Donavon spoke, he saw a visible cloud of cold vapor. Before he could think too much on it, the door flew open, separating from its hinges. Puck stood there with swirling green eyes that looked on the sight before him in pure rage. The room temperature dropped dramatically and ice began to form on the walls.

  Donavon looked over at Puck. “Get the fuck out of here. I’m—”

  He never finished his sentence. Somehow Puck moved faster than the eye could see. He lifted Donavon up with one hand before throwing him into the icy wall. Donavon slid to the floor with ice crystals crashing down upon him, then lay unmoving.

  Puck loomed over his prey for a few more seconds before turning to look at Torque. He slowly moved towards him with both of his arms out, as though Torque were a frightened animal. He wanted to tell Puck, no matter how scared he was right now, he was so badly beaten that there was no way he was going to be moving any time soon.

  * * * *

  “Torque, I’m going to need you to trust me right now. I’m getting you the hell out of here. I’m going to get you some help for your injuries and you’re coming to stay with me.”

  Torque nodded like he understood but his pupils were blown, dilated and rolling around. In a matter of seconds, Torque was out cold.

  Puck tried to control the icy storm that was building within him. He knew he needed to remain calm. The room was icing over at an incredible rate and he knew his human needed to keep warm.

  There was a lone two drawer plastic bin in the corner. He went over there to see the top was filled with books and various little knick-knacks. Closing it, he opened the bottom drawer to find socks and boxer briefs. He pulled out a black pair of briefs and began to dress Torque. It would have to do since there was really nothing for him to wear, and Puck had Torque’s new clothes in the car. He grabbed the blanket that Torque was lying on and wrapped him in it before picking him up. He was on his way out the door when Torque’s still drunk brother came stumbling over.

  “Who the hell are you? Are you the one making him scream like that?” The brother began to take menacing steps towards him.

  He’d had enough. With his inhuman speed, he knocked out the protective big brother. Puck had always had the ability to see the core of a person, and deep, deep down, there was a tiny spark inside Torque’s brother. He could tell the only thing this guy cared about was his brother, even though he had a lousy way of showing it.

  He tucked Torque into the front seat of his car before going back into the house. He needed to move quickly. Maybe Oberon would kick his ass for this one, but he still picked up the brother and threw him in the backseat none too gently. He needed to get back to fairyland with Torque, which meant he needed another human for Titania. Oh well, this guy is going to have to do. He had more important things to worry about than a Seelie queen’s anger at getting a misfit human.

  The Veyron was loaded up with all the clothes he’d bought and the supplies Puck need to bring back. He made sure the ride was smooth but fast for Torque’s sake. They made it in record time to the forest’s edge. He knew he didn’t have time to take the car back. Someone would eventually find it. It wasn’t his problem anymore.

  Puck unloaded the vehicle and began chucking shopping bags across the veil, hoping no one was on the other side getting hit with them. Since time was different from place to place, he would have to carry over the brothers at the same time. He’d just got finished unloading everything except Oberon’s beer, when he heard moaning coming from the backseat. He came over to squat in front of the brother and smacked him awake.

  “Hey man!”

  “Okay, here’s the thing. One of your buddies beat the shit out of your brother and I need to get him some help.”

  “Wait…what? Who touched him?”

  “You would already know, asshole, if you weren’t drunk off your ass. Now pay attention. See those two bags? I need you to carry them for me while I carry your brother.”

  The guy started shaking his head as he moved to sit up. “No, I’ll carry my brother.”

  “I don’t think so. You can barely walk, let alone carry him. I’ll take care of him from now on.” Puck moved to the passenger side to carefully pull Torque out of the car. He let out a pitiful cry before tucking his head into Puck’s chest.

  Puck looked down at Torque. “I know this is going to really hurt, but I need you to wrap your arms around my neck.”

  Slowly, Torque began to lift his arms around his neck. It gave one of his hands a little bit of freedom so that he could guide his brother through the veil. The brother was standing on the other side of the car, looking on with a worried expression.

  “Is he going to be okay?”

  “He’s going to be just fine. Now come on.”

  Puck grabbed the brother’s hand before he walked them into the mist that was the veil between the fairyland and earth. Only powerful Fae were able to move through the veil, so there was no worry that humans would stumble their way through. It took strong Fae magic that only a fairy such as Puck could manage.

  The walk was only about ten yards before he felt the leaves beginning to crunch underneath his feet. The air warmed with each step and the mist began to dissipate until they were standing in the in-between. He could see shopping bags strewn all over the forest bed. He found an open spot and laid Torque down gently.

  He turned to look at his brother, who was looking at the forest in bewilderment. Puck acted quickly—he grabbed the brother by the wrist and walked him over to one of the big trees that were covered in vines.

  “What the hell?”

  “Sit.”

  “No way! What are you going to do with my brother?”

  “Your brother is no longer your concern. You need to start worrying about yourself.” The vines began wrapping around the brother, tripping him until he lay on the floor of the forest. Puck adjusted him to a sitting position with his back against the nearest tree. He looked through a bag where he found the note Oberon wanted to give Titania along with the changeling. He took a safety pin out and pinned it to the front of his shirt.

  “My brother should be out here shortly. You won’t be out here by yourself for long.” Puck turned and grabbed Torque, taking him to his new home.

  Chapter 5

  Puck opened up the black marble doors, attempting to walk straight to Oberon’s throne. He could see the curious stares as he walked by the other UnSeelie. It seemed that Puck fell upon an hour when everyone had the need to be in Oberon’s hall. He spotted tall, white messy haired Khellan and made his way over to him. Khellan was one of the few that Puck trusted in the court. They had grown up together and were the mastermind to a lot of the tricks that the UnSeelie pulled on the Seelie. Outside of Oberon, Khellan was his closest friend.

  “I need you to go by
the veil and pick up the shopping bags I left there. Leave the human for the summer court.” He turned knowing his friend would help him out and made his way towards Oberon.

  Puck knelt in front of Oberon, bowing his head while still holding Torque. “My King, may I have a private audience with you?”

  Oberon rose from his throne. “Absolutely, come with me.”

  Oberon led them down the black marble hallway to his private chamber. Upon entering, Puck saw the familiar onyx bedding with white furs. The ceiling had ice shards hanging down with icy tendrils creeping down the black walls. There was enough seating over by the cold fireplace for a small gathering. Puck had thought it amusing as hell to come in one time and ice sculpt a fake fire in the fireplace. Oberon liked it so much it had been sitting there ever since. Many said it was a prank gone bad.

  Oberon sat in one of the black, cushy chairs, gesturing for Puck to join him. With great care Puck sat with Torque next to him on the black couch. He was a little worried that the mortal hadn’t awakened through this entire ordeal. This would have to be a fast meeting. Puck needed to get him to the healing lake.

  Oberon raised his eyebrow and pointed at Torque. “Is that Titania’s changeling? Where did you find him, under the tire of the car that ran him over?”

  “Not funny. No, he was attacked by another human and he’s our changeling. Titania’s is tied to a tree by the veil. There was no time to wait for anyone to get there so he could be handed over in person. Hopefully, Foster will be running his hunt for game soon and discover him. He’s usually the only one the Queen allows to run through there anyways. I left him with your message to the Queen.”

  “There is no way this human will make it here. You might as well go back over there and get two more and just hand this one over to her.”

  “No, he’s mine!” Puck put a possessive hand on Torque’s shoulder. The King himself wouldn’t take his changeling away from him. He would leave and live on Earth if it meant he couldn’t keep him. He couldn’t explain it, but in such a short time this person had come to mean a great deal to him, and he knew Torque needed him just as much. There was no way Puck was going to hand him over to the other court, either. The Seelie would see him as tainted for having his light covered in the pain of his past.

  Rubbing his face in frustration, Oberon argued, “He can’t stay here, Puck. He’s summer, not winter. I know you can see that. You think the others will leave him be? The court will not accept one such as him.”

  He knew that Oberon had a point. The darkness that resided in the UnSeelie court was a volatile thing that could erupt at any moment. As the King, he could see everything that kept his court in relative peace amongst themselves. Puck knew that Oberon could bring his wrath down upon them, but he was smart enough to know that foresight went a lot further than having his court being fed with wrath.

  “I know he’s summer, but I am half summer too. In all these millennia, I’ve never asked for anything. Can you please let me have this one mortal? I know he’s supposed to be for all of the court, but I’m a selfish bastard and I took him because I wanted him all to myself.” Puck looked up at his friend. He had always been the one to only think of what was best for Oberon. This was the first time he had asked for anything for himself.

  Oberon leaned back in his chair with a little smirk on his face. “I don’t think you have ever used that word before.”

  Puck furrowed his brows. “What word?”

  Chuckling, Oberon answered, “Please. Okay, you can keep him. This probably will be the most entertainment I will ever see in the court. My trickster emissary trying to keep one little human safe from all the others he’s pulled pranks on. Oh, don’t give me that look—I’ll put the word out that he isn’t to be touched. Now, why don’t you take him to the lake and heal his wounds?”

  “Thank you, my friend.” Puck bowed then gathered Torque and made his way out the door.

  * * * *

  Oberon sat watching his oldest friend leave with his mate. He would be the only one to see what the human was to Puck because Oberon was the only UnSeelie mated, and that was to Titania. He knew right when he spotted Puck walking in what the human meant to him. Puck might not even have realized it, but his pheromones were kicking into high gear to claim the mortal.

  Despite rumors, this would be the first time in history that a human was taken to immediately mate with an UnSeelie. It must have to do with Puck’s other half. The Seelie had several examples of humans coming over to be claimed by a fairy before the sun had set. UnSeelie tended to see them as little more than entertainment and hazing. Maybe after a few centuries—when they became more UnSeelie as opposed to human—they would find a match, but it took time.

  Oberon almost told Puck what the human was to him but he’d found that some things were always better left to discover themselves. If his friend didn’t figure it out soon enough, he would intervene, but these things usually had a way of working out without interference. Knowing Puck would be going on mating instinct, Oberon just wanted to watch the human because this wouldn’t be instant love for him. His most trusted friend was in uncharted territory, even for Oberon.

  He only hoped the waters would help heal the young man. Despite the joke to lighten the mood, the guy looked really rough. It was no wonder the other changeling was tied to a tree. With that thought, there was only one more thing to do before the entertainment began—go see who Puck had brought for Titania. He had a feeling it was going to cause her as much a headache as this one was going to cause him.

  Chapter 6

  Torque’s head felt like someone was pounding nails into his temple. His mouth felt like dried cotton and he thought that maybe some ribs were broken. It was getting harder and harder for him to breathe. He tried to open his eyes but it seemed they were nearly swollen shut.

  “Torque, hang tight, we’re almost there. You’ll be feeling good as new in no time.” He recognized the voice as Puck’s.

  It wasn’t too much longer before he heard the sound of waves breaking on a beach shore. He looked over through slitted eyes and saw a beautiful beach with black sands and crystal blue waters. Puck never even slowed down—he made his way into the soft waves and began to submerge both of them in the clear waters. A rush of cool water washed over his bruised body.

  Immediately, he felt the pain begin to dissipate, and he quickly squirmed out of Puck’s arm to submerge his body completely underwater. The water was the most exquisite feeling against his skin. He could feel the bruises on his face that Donavon had inflicted begin to disappear. Knowing it was strange for his marks to be disappearing so fast, he reemerged to question Puck.

  “How did I heal so fast?”

  “The lake has healing elements to it. I knew if I could just get you here, you would be okay, and you are.” Puck looked over his body as though to check that the waters had in fact healed all his injuries.

  Not knowing what else to say, Torque turned to get a good look at his surroundings. Beautiful was too simple a word to explain the vast landscape before him. Looking across the water, he could see a piece of land that had full blooming flowers. People were dancing and swimming on the white sandy beaches. There was a beautiful pathway that led up to a castle with blooming vines creeping up the crystal and golden walls, making it look like a living castle. Torque had never seen anything like it before, even in books.

  Then he turned around and the smile slipped off his face. He saw that besides the black beach, which was relatively warm, the rest of the land behind him was devoid of warmth and life. All the trees that were off the beach were leafless and covered in ice. Instead of the beautiful castle on the other side, this side had a castle of complete black marble that looked like the stuff of nightmares. Dark and dreary was what came to Torque’s mind.

  “Where are we?” Torque asked, smoothing his hands on the surface of the water.

  “The valley…land of the Fae, whatever you prefer. You were badly injured and I brought you back to my home to
heal you.” Puck looked away, hiding his expression.

  “What aren’t you telling me, Puck?” He began to wade over to Puck to get a good look at his face.

  Puck gave a much practiced smile that Torque was sure over the years had gotten him out of loads of trouble. He wasn’t going to fall victim, though. He was made of sterner stuff than to let a smile get Puck out of whatever he’d done wrong.

  “Well, I thought we were getting along so well that maybe you might want to visit…but since you can’t leave once you enter the fairy realm…”

  “Wait, what did you just say? I can’t leave here? What are you talking about?” Torque could feel his anger bubbling up.

  Puck sighed. “You’re in land of the Fae. Once you enter, you can’t leave again.”

  Torque snapped his head back. “The hell I can’t. Now show me the door.”

  “I’m telling you, you can’t go back. I hadn’t planned for this to happen, you know. I was just going to spend some time with you on Earth and then take two other changelings back with me—”

  Torque put his hand up to stop Puck from going on. “Did you just say Earth? Are you an alien? You kidnapped me but planned to take others?”

  Torque’s mind was going a mile a minute and when that happened he prattled a little. He pointed his finger at Puck. “You…you human trafficker! Wait, are you going to experiment on me?” He ducked back under the water.

  Within seconds, Puck pulled him back up, laughing at him. “You mortals have quite the imagination. I told you, you are in the fairy realm. I’m a fairy, not an alien. Yes, I planned to take others but I found that I had taken quite a liking to you.”

  Torque crossed his arms. “How fortunate for me.”

  Puck’s faced turned angry. “You are fortunate! You want to go back to a life where you were treated poorly, abused at the hand of your brother’s friends? You had nothing there except pain. There are many of us here that can give you an education that far surpasses the one you were getting. You will want for nothing and be taken care of very well. This is a fresh start for you, one that you need badly.”