by Joyee Flynn
“Fairies do not live in this realm normally. We have our own plane or world, if you will, that’s parallel to your own. Might I ask what that word ‘mate’ meant?”
“Most shifters and paranormals have destined partners for life called mates or soul mates. We can tell who they are by smell. When I caught your scent, I knew you were mine.”
“Oh! So you’re my keeper! Well fate gave me a wonderful-looking one, and you’re very nice as well. Stopping to help me and now feeding me while keeping me safe. I quite like fate today.”
“I don’t know about being your keeper, Imogen,” I hedged. “I’m not the boss of you, but your partner.”
“Yes, yes, we call that a keeper since you will keep my heart when I give it to you when we bind ourselves together.”
“Yes, that’s what a mate is then. I thought you meant keeper like you were my pet or something.”
“I am no one’s pet or food,” Imogen snarled, his eyes flashing bright violet again. Well, well, well! I wasn’t the only one who had claws here. I was glad for that. Who wanted some pushover mate?
“I didn’t say you were, but that’s what a keeper normally means in my world. Like a parent responsible for a child or something.”
“Oh, all right, I understand the difference in the meaning with your dialect. I apologize for snapping. I’m quite a powerful, completely magical being, and the vampires were treating me like a toy. I’m afraid I’m a tad sensitive about it right now.”
“I’m sorry, sweetie,” I said gently as I reached my hand over and took his. He smiled brightly at me and slid closer across the bench seat, tucking himself under my arm after unbuckling himself. “You fit perfectly.”
“We fit perfectly,” he replied, practically whimpering. “We will need to have sex again soon. I had a big magic release, but I’m still built up.”
“I have so many fucking questions,” I mumbled as I pulled into the drive-thru. We ordered, my tiny mate getting more than I thought possible for him to fit into his body. But after I paid and he started chowing down, I realized I’d been very wrong. And very glad I’d ordered extra drinks as well.
“I would like to know where we are going but first let me explain a few things I’m sure are confusing you. Please forgive me if I explain something you already know, I don’t mean to treat you like a simpleton, but you did say you knew nothing of fairies.”
He was oddly formal in a way, though incredibly sweet in how he wanted to make sure not to offend me. “No, please tell me everything. I have no clue about how your world works. I didn’t even know fairies were real.”
“When we reach the age of an adult, eighteen in your human years, we explode with power. Quite literally. Fae are purely magical and in a way like our own power plant. I’m trying to think of a comparison, but the best I can think of is blood pressure. You know how when you’re overly stressed, the pressure builds and builds. You either have to find a way to stop it or find some type of release.”
“So yours is sex?” I asked in shock, glancing over at him before focusing back on the road. Well that was a new one. It really gave the term “release” a whole new meaning for me.
“Sexual in nature, yes.” He giggled. “It can be sex, jacking off, or a blow job, but a release through sex is best. I believe the human term is nymphomaniac. Fae are known for being very sexual, very horny creatures. Plus we do not have the same hang-ups about fucking as your world.” I saw him shrug out of the corner of my eye. “Fucking is just a fuck sometimes. There’s no sin, no shame, and we fuck all the time on my plane.”
“When you have your release, it’s like you’re letting off steam in a way. That’s why I felt that shock and got some of your magic?”
“I knew you were smart!” He stuffed some more “potato sticks” in his mouth. Yes, I was going to tease him about that from now on because it was just too cute. “And to answer you, yes. That’s why you almost jumped over the truck when hopping into the driver’s seat. And the more you’re the person I find release with the stronger you will become.”
“Are fae monogamous? I mean when we mate that’s it for us, Imogen. I’ll tear anyone to shreds that tries to touch you except our other mate.” I didn’t want to sound like an ass, but I wanted this crystal clear from the start.
“We have two?”
“Cat shifters always have two, but let’s stay with you right now.”
“Good point, otherwise we’re going to get too confused,” he said approvingly. Imogen bagged all his empty wrappers, setting them on the floor, before scooting back over and under my arm. “I will never cheat on you, Sasha. I find I’m enamored with my feisty kitten. If you say we have another of your mates, then we will be monogamous with them as well. No others.”
“I like the pet name,” I purred as he ran his fingers lightly over my thigh. “I’ll be your kitten, baby.”
“Make sure to growl when we have sex again. I found that very appealing.” He made the cutest whimpering noises, and I felt more then saw his pants go tight with his thigh touching mine as he got hard.
“I’m sure I can swing that.” I chuckled. “Okay, so you’re magic, and I’ll get some of your magic. But that won’t hurt you, right? I’m not stealing it or going to weaken you?”
“No, nothing like that when I give myself to you willingly. The problem comes when vampires try to drink from me. My blood to them is like catnip to felines. It’s even addictive and powerful enough where they can become strung out on it.”
“How did the vamps get you?” I wanted to ask if he was so powerful how the hell did he get caught, but I thought this way was nicer. A plus for me in the effort category.
“They didn’t smell like normal vampires,” he answered with a shiver. “It was more like a rancid human, which normally means they are riddled with disease. These were more like mummies in the way they walked and acted. And they didn’t seem to feel any pain no matter how many times I zapped them. That’s how I couldn’t get away from them. When I wouldn’t stop fighting, they knocked me out, and I woke up on a bed being five vamps’ lunch.”
“Shit, I think I know what snagged you,” I snarled, hating that they’d done that to my mate. I explained about the zombie vampires we’d just learned about who were once human and changed into some mindless, dead beasts.
“So they literally took me to their leader.” Imogen groaned and shook his head at his own lame joke. “That makes more sense for some of it. I could see the vamps wanting their own fairy though I have no clue how they found me. I’d just crossed over from my world and they were on me.”
“How do you cross over here?”
“There are portals all over the world, why?” He leaned his head against my shoulder and yawned. He had to be exhausted.
“Because I don’t think it was you they wanted specifically,” I answered after a few moments of thought. “What if they learned where these portals are and were waiting for someone, anyone to cross over?”
“Then my entire race could be in deep fucking shit. No one can cross over into the magic if they have ill intent for us, but anyone coming out would be sitting ducks,” Imogen whispered and started to shake. Fuck! It seemed nonstop with the drama. I just wanted a couple of days where everyone took off and nothing bad went down. But no one always gets what they want. And I was pretty sure I’d used up my good luck for the day finding my mate.
Chapter 2
We drove in silence for a while, processing our own new information we’d learned. I’d filled Imogen in on where we were going and the evacuation of all supernaturals to more secure locations. Then, suddenly, I had a thought. “So the vamps just bit you, right? I mean you said that none would give you release.”
“They didn’t have me very long,” he whispered and snuggled closer against me. “Three days, but they beat me and kept rebiting me instead of just one bite and drinking. I think they liked that I screamed, and it kept them from draining me. Then they’d leave me to heal and replenish.
/> “And since fairies heal faster than them or shifters, it was only a few hours until I was good to go for them to use again. My magic was working overtime fixing my body, and logically it would fit that doing so drained my power or magic. But it’s more like a rolling snowball, growing larger once it starts.”
“I’m sorry they hurt you.” I kissed his temple, and he rubbed his face against my shirt over my nipple. I started purring in delight except I think my mate was so exhausted that the happy sound helped him drift to sleep. Understanding the circumstances, I didn’t take offense in his crashing on me when I was getting wound up.
The hours passed, I stopped to get some coffee, and he never woke up. Maybe I was being silly, but I leaned over to check his pulse. I didn’t know anything about fairies, and I wasn’t taking any chances with my mate. For all I knew he could have internal injuries or something. I sighed in relief when I felt his pulse strong and regular.
Originally, I had planned on getting a few hours of the drive under my belt before stopping for the night. But everything changed now with Imogen, and I wanted to get him to Conley’s estate where he’d be safe. Plus I had a feeling he knew something key that the vampires on our side would need to know to help in the fight against the Hunters and the zombie things. Also, I was so fucking tired I needed people I trusted to help me think of what came next.
We were just outside of Sheridan when my mate distracted me from thoughts of my parents’ farm and having to move them from it. He started whimpering and slid down my side so that his head was in my lap.
“Need release,” he begged and then let out a cute snore. Was this how he started when his magic got built up? Not sure what to do I started rubbing his hard-on though his pants while I drove. It ended up either not being enough, or I woke him up because I felt him unzip my pants. Before I could even ask if he was awake, he was sucking my cock like a Popsicle.
I quickly got off at the next exit and pulled over. He was the one who needed to come, so I moved us in a flash so he was lying down on the seats, spread out like a buffet.
“Fuck me,” he whispered as he stared at me with lust glazing over his eyes.
I shook my head and undid his pants, peeling them off of him. When his impressive cock sprang free and slapped his stomach I moaned at how erotic it was. I didn’t even bother to take his pants off and pushed his knees to his chest. Then I dove right in.
I stroked him hard and fast while licking his tight little pink hole. It opened right up for me, and I froze.
“I’m magic.” Imogen giggled. “My body responds. I told you I was always ready. Please give me that huge slab of meat you call a dick.”
I said the only thing a sane, horny man says at such an offer. “Okay.” Quickly I unzipped my jeans and got them down my hips. I slammed into his tight, perfectly stretched ass. I liked that trick!
“Harder, my feisty kitten,” he begged, thrashing on the seat in pleasure.
“I’m twice your size and I’m the kitten?” I snickered as I fucked him with all I had. We both came shortly after we started since we were both needing it so bad.
“Awesome,” he gasped when we were done.
“I need to claim you soon,” I groaned as I pulled out of him. Then I growled at the sight of my cum running out of his hole I’d just fucked. My tiger liked that he was marked with our seed. I think he realized that I liked it because he didn’t lower his legs and flexed his hole so it leaked more. Gods, I could just eat him up.
“I could go for another round!” He winked at me impishly and shook his ass as an invitation. Oh, it was so tempting, and my cock was recovering, pleading to do him again.
“Not here,” I whispered gently as I lowered his legs. He gave me a questioning look as I leaned over and kissed him. “You’re too special, my mate, to claim in the cab of a moving truck. And we need to talk about what’s involved in me making you mine.”
“You’re going to love me, aren’t you?” His smile was so bright that it was infectious. I thought the question strange and blunt, but I wasn’t all that shocked because it seemed to be so like Imogen to ask.
“That’s the plan. I hope we fall in love. I can’t wait until we do to claim you though, Imogen. Cat shifters are different than most paranormals. We have forty-eight hours to claim our mates from the time we smell them before we start getting sick. My brother overheated after meeting his from holding off, but I’m okay since we keep touching and fucking.”
“Let me tend to you, my keeper.” I nodded and he used his magic as he did before to clean us both right up. I realized something else off about the apparel he dressed himself in since it was a hot summer evening.
“Why the vest?” He wore gray suit slacks, a white button-up shirt, and a suit vest with it. Oddly formal but I figured everyone had a different style. At least this time he left off the tie.
“It hides my wings,” he whispered, suddenly looking anywhere but at me. “Most fairies wear them when on this plane.”
“Can I see them? I’ve never seen wings before.” I wasn’t sure Emily Post would think me polite for asking, but I just really wanted to see them.
“I know I’m small and feminine, but my wings are really girly.” Imogen still wouldn’t look at me as he moved to sit up and scooted toward the door.
“Are they pink?” I teased and felt like an ass when he nodded. “I’d still like to see them. Please, Imogen?”
He nodded again and didn’t look at me as he gave me his back and started taking off his vest and shirt. I gasped when I caught sight of what he’d been hiding. They were pink, but they weren’t. It was more like they were iridescent and reflected light. They weren’t huge angel wings like ones I saw in the movies but smaller ones where the tips maybe went as far as his knees.
They folded in several spots, making them look almost like a strange, colorful, feathered backpack. It was like nothing I’d ever seen, and they were really beyond words in their exquisiteness.
“That’s so cool that you can fly,” I whispered in awe as I ran my fingers over his wings. “These are beautiful, baby.”
“You think so?” He glanced at me over his shoulder, and I could see the pleading in his eyes that I was telling him the truth. I growled and moved closer to lick his lips. He sighed against my mouth, and I could almost feel the relief coming off of him.
“I think every inch of you is amazing, and I don’t think wings that can let you fly are girly.”
“Thank you!” Imogen cried out and turned around so fast that I barely saw him. He knocked me back on the seat and started peppering my face and neck with kisses. I laughed as he attacked me, the first real laugh I’d had in weeks since the order came down from the Council to evacuate paranormals and change our world forever.
“You know how you said you’re a nympho?” I asked quietly as he settled down and we simply lay there hugging each other.
“I didn’t mean that literally, Sasha.”
“I know, but I’m one, too, in a way.” He froze, and I quickly explained about the honeymoon heat, lunar cycles, and the other basics he’d need to know about being mated to a saber-tooth tiger shifter. By the time I was done, we were long since back on the road and almost to Billings, Montana. Imogen was quiet the whole time, and we sat in a long silence while he processed all of it, making me worry.
“Think we’ll ever get anything else done besides sex?” I glanced over at him, wondering if he was joking or upset. The puckish grin he was giving me let me know he didn’t have a problem with the idea.
“I’m sure we’ll make a few hours in the day to eat,” I answered with a snicker. “Why don’t you get some more sleep? I saw your bites were almost healed, but you’ve been through a lot.”
“I am quite tired,” he said and yawned as if proving his point. He used my thigh as a pillow, and a few minutes later, he was snoring softly. It was the cutest damn snore I’d ever heard. I thought a lot about what had happened since seeing the blue light that ended up being my mate.
I ended up texting Aaron with an estimate on when we’d be at Conley’s compound since I didn’t feel like talking right then.
My life had changed drastically in the past several hours and while I hoped it would all be for the better… It didn’t mean I wasn’t still nervous.
* * * *
“Wake up, baby,” I said gently a while later as I pulled into Conley’s estate. I’d already been cleared by the guards, and I was watching the large cast iron gate slide open. “We’re here.”
“Does that mean I get fed again?” he asked sleepily as he rubbed his eyes and sat up. Damn! He was adorable even when waking.
“What would you like?”
“Cock,” he answered with a lazy smile. “I think I’ve become addicted to you, my feisty kitten. And I find myself thrilled about it.”
“Me, too.” I slid my hand into his as I pulled up front. Imogen stared around, not in awe of the huge mansion as I was but more as a tourist did in a foreign country. I wondered again how hard it would be for him to acclimate to living on this plane. We’d not even discussed that yet or even if I could live where he was from. Add it to the mental list of things to chat about later.
“So we will be living here from now on?” he asked as I parked the truck and turned it off. I thought about how to answer that as I opened the door, got out, and helped him down.
“We need to talk about that. I sent my stuff here ahead of me with another truck since we’re not supposed to live on our own anymore, and the pack in Sheridan was too small to keep everyone safe. But can you live on this plane permanently? Or would I go live in your world?”
“We’re not allowed to let outsiders live there,” he answered as he shook his head. “We can visit my family, but only fae are allowed to live there. It’s our sanctuary from this world, and it wouldn’t help to bring people from this world over there.”
“I feel like I should apologize for that and making you move.” I nodded to the guard who opened the door for us. They knew to expect us so we didn’t have to jump through too many hoops.