Dragonkin Are from Mars, Changelings Are from Venus

by Devin Harnois

  “Just sleep.” Tiago held up his hands. “I can sneak back out later.”

  “What if someone checks on me? Or what if they go to check on you and you’re not there?”

  “Then we’ll tell the truth.”

  The idea of his parents walking in on them made his cheeks burn, but it wasn’t like they didn’t know. And he would honestly be able to say nothing happened.

  Tiago moved toward the bed.

  Aiden remembered something. “I’m not wearing pants.”

  Tiago let out a bark of laughter and quickly covered his mouth. After a moment he said, “I’ll be good, I promise.” His smile wasn’t quite innocent, but Aiden knew he was just teasing.

  Aiden scooted over and threw back the covers. He couldn’t send his boyfriend away when he was so scared he couldn’t sleep. “I’m glad you’re here. I was having a hard time falling asleep too.”

  Tiago slid in and kissed Aiden’s cheek. “It’s just… my parents.” He sighed.

  “I know.” Normally Tiago was so brave, but when it came to his parents, he freaked out. Not for a second did Aiden think any less of him for it.

  They settled in next to each other, Aiden with his arms around Tiago. “Kinda funny,” Tiago murmured. “It’s our first time sleeping together.”

  Aiden blushed again. They’d planned on spending the morning together the first time they had sex, but then Tiago’s parents attacked. Now, in a strange way, Tiago’s parents had given them a chance to finally sleep in each other’s arms. “I like this.”

  Tiago shifted and made a deep, contented noise. “Me too.”

  If only they didn’t have to worry that they would be attacked any second.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Aiden and Tiago walked together down a winding path, holding hands. Warm contentment filled Aiden, and he pushed Tiago against one of the huge old trees. Tiago’s lips parted, welcoming and eager. Aiden kissed him, and their hands roamed over each other, alternately caressing and gripping. No one was around. Maybe they could…

  Something bright caught Aiden’s attention, and he looked down to see an orange bird hopping along the ground.

  Awareness rushed through him, making his head tingle. “This is a dream.”

  “What?” Tiago blinked at him, then looked around at the forest. “This is…like the dream where I met your fae mom.”

  Aiden gripped Tiago’s shoulders, as solid and warm as in real life. “Holy crap, you’re really here.”

  “We’re dreaming together?” Tiago’s brown eyes were bright with wonder.

  “How is that possible?”

  Leaves rustled and branches snapped. Aiden tensed as he turned toward the sound. What if Morgan was coming after him? He should have thought to bring the dagger to put under his pillow. There were wards around the house to keep them safe, but Aiden had gotten used to sleeping without the dagger and he’d left his dreams vulnerable.

  A figure appeared, partially obscured by the tall undergrowth, and Aiden held his breath. His magic answered him, and he put an arm out, nudging Tiago behind him.

  The person crashed through the leaves, and Aiden sagged with relief. “Nuala!”

  “Aiden. Are you all right?” Her face was full of worry.

  “Yeah, I’m fine.” The lingering soreness from his injuries hadn’t followed him here. “This is Tiago. I guess you already met him.”

  “Yes.” She still looked worried, but she smiled. “Your lover. Thank you for carrying my message to my son.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  The dream walker appeared on the path a few feet away. “Ah, you found him.”

  “Oh, maybe you know,” Aiden said. “How are me and Tiago in a dream together? I know dream walkers can bring someone with them, but I’m not…” Or maybe he was?

  Caelan came closer. “He is your lover, yes? If your bodies are in contact, then he can be pulled with you when I step into your dreams.”

  “Like the flower.” Or the leaf he’d brought to Morgan. Holding those objects close to his body had allowed him to bring them into his dreams.

  “Curious that this has not happened before,” Nuala said.

  “This is the first time we’ve actually slept together,” Tiago said.

  Her eyebrow arched. “I thought humans usually shared a bed with their lovers.”

  Aiden’s face heated. “They do, but we’re young and I still live with my parents and I can’t just ask him to sleep over when I know they know and—”

  “It’s complicated,” Tiago said. “It really doesn’t bother you that we’re both guys?”

  “What are guys?”

  Even with the weird old-fashioned way she talked, Aiden sometimes forgot she didn’t understand modern terms. “Men. Males.”

  She frowned. “Why should this bother me?”

  Tiago shook his head, a smile tugging at his mouth. “Maybe we should go live over there.”

  “In the normal—uh, human realm, some people think it’s wrong to have lovers of the same sex,” Aiden explained.

  “I have heard that humans have very strange ideas about sex.” A concerned look crossed her face. “You have not been harmed for this, have you?”

  “No.” Only words. Sticks and stones…

  “I felt as if you were in danger. That is why I came.” She brushed her hands over him as if looking for injuries.

  “I was in danger. I’m safe for now, but…” Realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. “Maybe you can help us.”

  Aiden told her about the breakout. “There aren’t enough wardens, and I don’t know how we’re going to fight Morgan and the others when they come back. Even without the help of dark fae, the extremists took out half the wardens. But if I can open a portal to Faery, you can come and help us.”

  Nuala touched his face. “I would do anything for you, but this is a fight I cannot win.”

  His stomach twisted. “Maybe you can bring help. Other light fae.” Although Aiden didn’t know why anyone else would be willing to come to the human realm to fight for people they didn’t care about and then probably end up stuck in this world forever.

  “I will try.” Her jaw tightened, and she glanced over at the dream walker.

  Caelan shook her head. “I am not unsympathetic to your plight, but I will not leave Faery.”

  Nuala sighed. “I will find others. But you must start the potion immediately—”

  “I, uh, sort of already did.” Aiden looked at the ground. “Just in case. But I’ve only been doing it for about a month. That means we still have to wait another two months.”

  “With more blood, the potion would be ready sooner. The amount required to open the portal now would kill you. But you could take it from others—”

  His head shot up. “No!” Cold dread gripped him. This was all a trick after all.

  “No, Aiden. I do not mean you should hurt anyone. But if others with strong blood were to offer theirs, it would strengthen the potion. Your Shadow Valley is full of powerful beings. If they wish for the fae to help them against their enemies, then they must provide a way for us to cross.”

  “You can have my blood,” Tiago said.

  Aiden squeezed his hand. He hated the idea of taking Tiago’s blood, but it was also good knowing Tiago would do anything for him.

  “You will need many others,” Nuala said.

  Aiden took a deep breath. “Okay.” That meant talking to Mr. Johnson and explaining that he’d been secretly in contact with his fae mom. But if it was a way to save Shadow Valley, then the warden couldn’t be too mad. Right?

  “I will speak to those I know. The Summer and Winter Courts have an uneasy truce, and I believe there are some warriors who would be eager for a chance to battle dark fae. Ah, but I must find a way to explain how I know this without revealing who you are.”

  Or the queen of the light fae might come and kill him. God, his life was weird. “You talk to your people, and I’ll talk to mine, and we’ll meet again tomo
rrow.”

  Hopefully that wouldn’t be too late.

  * * *

  “I can’t believe you were so reckless.” Mr. Johnson wasn’t shouting, but he didn’t need to.

  Aiden swallowed and dropped his gaze to the polished wood of the desk. “I know, but she’s my birth mom. I had to know if it was true. I had to talk to her.” They were in Bryn’s study, which had practically become their secret meeting room.

  “It could have been a trick. It could have been Morgan or some other fae trying to gain access to this realm.” Mr. Johnson paced on the other side of the desk.

  “I know.” He explained the precautions he’d taken. Despite being nervous and guilty, his anxiety was barely there. Maybe yesterday had taken too much out of him.

  Mr. Johnson sighed. “You should have talked to me about this.”

  “You would’ve said no.”

  The look Mr. Johnson gave him made it clear Aiden was right.

  Aiden waved his hands. “Forget about all that for right now. She’s offered to help us against Morgan and the others.”

  Mr. Johnson’s eyes narrowed. “And just how is she going to do that?”

  There really was no good way to bring this up. “We can use the same spell Dylan used to open a portal to Faery.” Aiden tensed for the reaction.

  “Of course.”

  “I know what it sounds like, but it’s not like that. She didn’t bring it up until I told her about what happened yesterday. She’s worried about me. And she doesn’t want to use the spell, it’s just the only way she knows to come to our world.” Aiden had known convincing him wouldn’t be easy, but from the expression on Mr. Johnson’s face, this was hopeless. “You don’t understand. I felt it. She’s really my birth mom, and she wants to keep me safe.”

  “Even if I agreed to this, the spell takes three months to prepare, and we likely don’t have that kind of time.”

  Aiden squirmed in the chair. “Uh, well. She said we could speed it up by using blood from a lot of powerful supernaturals.” He definitely wasn’t going to mention the blood potion he was already working on. “So if you and Bryn and other—”

  “How convenient.”

  Frustration and worry combined to raise Aiden’s temper. “What else are we going to do? Do you have a better plan for defeating Morgan and the extremists? Those dark fae went through the prison wards like they were nothing.” The memories welled up, and Aiden pushed them back. “The extremists alone took out almost half the wardens and police. We’re sitting ducks.”

  Oh goody. Here came the anxiety.

  Mr. Johnson took a deep breath. “I’ll discuss this with the council. Given our current circumstances, it may be worth the risk.”

  “You agree with me?”

  The warden held up a hand. “Until they make a decision, I don’t want you to communicate with Nuala. Put the enchanted dagger back under your pillow and keep it there.” Half to himself, he added, “I’ll have to give one to Tiago as well.”

  Aiden’s boyfriend had managed to sneak back out of the room without anyone catching him, so no one knew they’d spent the morning together. “Do you think the council will say yes?”

  “I’m not going to speculate, Aiden.”

  “But—”

  “I’ll explain everything to them, including your assurance that this fae woman is telling the truth.”

  If Aiden could take Tiago with him… “If you want to meet her, I could take you with me. At least, I’m pretty sure.” Even if that would be really awkward.

  A flicker of something that might have been curiosity crossed Mr. Johnson’s face. “That won’t be necessary.” He stood. “And do not contact her until I give you permission. Is that clear?”

  “Yes.”

  Mr. Johnson eyed him for a moment. “Swear it to me.”

  Hurt and anger made Aiden’s chest tight. Mr. Johnson didn’t trust him although in this case the warden was right not to. Aiden had no intention of staying away from his birth mom, especially if she could help. He had to word this carefully. “I swear not to contact Nuala until the council has made a decision.” Magic tingled through him, making the promise binding.

  “Thank you.”

  Aiden wondered if he’d made a mistake.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  School had been canceled due to the breakout and the fear of another attack, but after two days, warden training started up again. Mr. Johnson explained that it was even more important for them to get the current group of recruits through the program.

  Dylan was already in a bad mood before he even stepped into city hall. Aiden was a mess, and halfway through the drive Dylan had worried they might have to turn around because his friend was on the verge of a panic attack.

  Aiden had only left Dylan’s house once during the past two days to grab a few things from home. Tiago and Rosalind were still staying with Dylan’s family too. It was weird but kind of nice to have more people in the huge house. Well, except for the reason they were staying over.

  “You sure you’re okay?”

  “I’ll be fine,” Aiden said.

  Dylan walked into the classroom. Of course today had to be rules and regulations.

  Warden Bully stood leaning against the desk, eyes narrowing when he spotted Dylan. “You may have Johnson fooled, but I’m watching you.”

  “What now?”

  “Isn’t it convenient that you were there when the breakout happened?”

  Dylan’s jaw actually dropped. “What?” No, he wouldn’t dare. Behind him, Aiden echoed his question.

  Warden Bully straightened and took a few steps toward Dylan. “You were awfully cozy with the Rhodeses. You spoke at the protest. You’ve made no secret of how much you hate wardens—”

  “I saved your fucking life!” And he’d never regretted it more than now.

  “Maybe that was part of the plan. They knew they were losing and they’d need someone on the inside for their next attack.”

  “That’s crazy,” Aiden said. “Dylan would never—”

  “Of course you’re on his side. Maybe you’re in on it too.” His gaze flicked between them.

  It took all Dylan’s self-control to keep from lunging at the man. A faint scent of heated rock rose around him as his magic responded to his anger.

  “Please, Mr. Galloway. Please try it. I would love nothing more than to walk you next door and put you behind bars where you belong.”

  “We could’ve died.” Aiden’s breath came fast. “We were victims just like everyone else.”

  Dylan glanced around. The classroom was half-full, everyone staring at them. One woman had her arm in a sling, others had bandages and bruises. Several of the desks were empty, and one of them always would be. Mr. Johnson had told them one of the recruits had died in the attack.

  Thinking about it fueled Dylan’s rage until he was choking on it. “You’re so full of shit. You have it out for me so bad now you’re making up conspiracy theories.”

  Aiden took his arm. “Let’s go. Let’s just go.” His racing heart signaled a panic attack.

  “Please do. You don’t belong in this class.”

  For a second Dylan considered throwing it all away and punching that asshole right in the face. But that was exactly what Warden Bully wanted—an excuse to get Dylan in trouble. Dylan would love to get out of his promise to become a warden, but it wasn’t worth going to jail for. And it wasn’t worth leaving Aiden alone to take on the burden for Dylan’s mistake.

  Would it even matter though? The extremists could come back and destroy the town any minute.

  Aiden tugged at his arm. “Come on.”

  “I’ll be back,” Dylan promised, only because he didn’t want Warden Bully to think he’d won.

  * * *

  Heat broke out over Aiden’s body, and his legs started to shake. “I need to sit down.” After everything he was already dealing with, Warden Bradley’s accusations were way more than Aiden could handle.

  It wasn’t
fear that set off his anxiety this time, it was anger. He couldn’t do anything against Warden Bradley. Aiden almost never wanted to lash out, but he wanted to now. Attacking the warden would get Aiden thrown in jail, and yelling at the warden would only make things worse. Holding in the rage made it loop back on itself, growing until spots danced at the edge of Aiden’s vision. It was a trapped, frustrated feeling, and he wondered if this was what Dylan had dealt with all those times.

  “Here.” Dylan guided him to a door, then told him to wait.

  Aiden stared at the floor, white marble with little flecks of gray, and tried to breathe slow and deep.

  “Okay.” Dylan took his arm again and led him inside a dark room.

  A big table dominated the space, and Aiden sank into a chair. It looked like some kind of meeting room. Aiden leaned his head against the table, the smooth wood cool against his hot face.

  “Just breathe, man.”

  Aiden tried to think of calming things—flowers in a sunny field, a gently flowing brook, Tiago’s smile. The world around him slowly came back into focus. Dylan rubbed circles along his back. Aiden tilted his head up to see the concerned look on his face.

  “You okay?” Dylan asked.

  “I’m so pissed.” It was under control, but the anger was still there, clawing away inside him.

  Dylan’s eyebrows went up. “I thought you were having a panic attack.”

  “I was, but not because I was afraid.” Aiden slowly got to his feet, checking his stability. “Let’s go see if Mr. Johnson is in his office.”

  “You gonna go tattle on Warden Bully?” Dylan looked even more surprised.

  “I’m gonna get his ass fired.” Aiden clenched his fists.

  Dylan leaned back. “Who are you, and what have you done with Aiden?”

  “Just because I’m not as aggressive as you doesn’t mean I can’t get mad. I’ve had enough.” His heart started going too fast, and Aiden took a deep breath. “He’s accusing us of working with the extremists. We’ll never get fair treatment from a guy that makes up conspiracy theories about us.”