Fae's Fate: Fated Mates of the Fae Royals (Summer Court Book 7)

8. Ciara

Irubbed the heels of my hands over my tired eyes. The words were blending into each other. We’d been researching for days on end with very little sleep. Alister had shown us the sleeping barracks in the library and the tight enclosed space had sent my panic spiraling into a tight band around my chest. Malachi had squeezed my hand and led me outside once again. Setting off strange tingles along my skin. He’d been my rock as always. The one constant in my life I counted on. I had to shove the unfamiliar desire aside. We’d even dozed under the stars in the garden once we were tired, our arms brushing in the way they had for years, but now the yearnings inside me for more than friendship had made the moments more intimate for me at least. Malachi was still my Malachi. My best friend.

“You should sleep,” Malachi’s deep voice rumbled tiredly from across the table.

“So should you.”

“We can head back to the Summer Court and sleep there?”

“With the way the spring is and Father…” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “It’s too risky. What if we couldn’t make it back?”

“What if we’re stuck here?” Malachi whispered, his gaze darting to the side as though being trapped on Earth with humans was a terrible idea.

I frowned and chewed my lip.

“Maybe we should head back?”

“I can’t,” I whispered. “If I see Father again the way he was when we left then I might not leave his side.”

“Us sitting by his side won’t help him.”

“Logically I realize that, but my emotions say otherwise.”

He stretched across the table and placed his hand on top of mine. The comfort was there like always, but my skin leaped into awareness at the contact.

“We’ll keep going then.”

I shook my head. “Neither of us is much good when we’re this tired.”

Malachi stretched and yawned. I couldn’t help noticing the way his shirt clung to his chest. Nor the sudden pounding of lust igniting my body. I pressed my legs together against the sudden desire filling me from the inside out. Dropping my gaze, I skimmed the book before he caught me staring at him. Gazing at him with lust. Warmth infused my cheeks. I didn’t dare look at Malachi again.

“There has to be somewhere else we can sleep. What about the caravans of Fallon’s old troupe? Aren’t they close by?”

“I suppose,” I said. “But that means less time in the library.”

“Ciara, stop being stubborn.” He stood and dragged my hand upward tugging me to my feet and all I wanted was for him to wrap me in his arms and tell me he felt the same way I did. “Come on, let’s get out of here for a few hours.”

“Fine.” I sighed.

We walked along the length of the library looking for Aislinn and Fallon who weren’t claustrophobic like me and had slept in the barracks here. They were in an aisle removing books from the shelves and placing them on a cart.

“Did you find a good section?” I asked.

“Perhaps,” Aislinn said. “There are so many books it’s hard to tell.”

“Aye.” I rubbed my eyes again. Even the shapes of people were blurring with how tired I was.

Aislinn narrowed her eyes at me. “What’s wrong with you?”

Dia, did I look bad?

“I need to sleep. We both do.” I flicked my hand toward Malachi. “I can’t do it here though.”

She stepped closer. “Is it your claustrophobia? Your powers?”

I nodded. “Malachi remembered you saying Fallon’s troupe transported their caravans here. Are they still nearby?”

“They are,” Fallon said. “Why didn’t I think of it sooner? You can go sleep in them. They’re a short walk through the forest. We can take you.”

“No, stay here and keep reading,” I said. “We’ll find them.”

“It won’t take much time for us to take you,” Aislinn said.

“We have little time left.” I rubbed my palms together. “Don’t you sense it?”

Aislinn’s scowl deepened. “I do. I’m trying hard not to though.”

“We can’t pretend any longer.”

“You’re right. Go have a nap and we’ll keep searching.” She turned to the cart of books as though renewed with vigor to research our problems.

Fallon gave us directions to the caravans then Malachi and I walked through the library. There were so many humans inside it was strange to think until a few days ago we’d never met one. They weren’t so different from us. Except for our magical powers and soon we might not have those. I longed to cry, but I didn’t have the time or the luxury to succumb to my desolate emotions.

My guards fell into step with us, and we told them the plan. They didn’t look happy, but they kept to their duty to protect me.

The garden was quiet when we stepped from the underground stairs. Everyone appeared to be in the library. Butterflies hovered from flower to flower and for once the sun was shining. Since we’d been here, the weather was gray and cold. The beams of sunlight put an extra bounce in my pace to get to the caravans. I’d never seen them before either, but I had read about them in human books back home.

Malachi extracted a knitted hat from his pocket and slid it onto my head. My scalp vibrated from the brush of his fingers. “There you go as human as you’ll get.”

I smiled. “At least you don’t have a crown to hide.”

He flicked his fingers through his hair. “There are perks to not being royal.”

My smile grew. I loved how he wasn’t afraid to tease me. My royal status never affected our friendship so these new feelings I was experiencing for him shouldn’t affect us.

“Aye, but not as many as there are to being royalty.”

“Please,” he scoffed. “You realize I have it way better than you.”

“Only because you’re friends with me.” I stopped at the door in the wall.

Ivo walked through first then motioned us forward. We walked through the village, and I couldn’t help but watch the humans go about their daily lives. They took little notice of us this time as they all appeared to be busy scurrying between houses and shops. Little children ran past us laughing and giggling. It reminded me of the way Malachi, and I had been so carefree in the Summer Court as children.

“We have to help them too,” I said. “We can’t let Earth die either.”

Malachi gave me his patient smile. “One problem at a time.”

“Aye.” I stomped off.

He caught up to me and captured my elbow in his warm palm sending those conflicting sensations through my body.

“Stay close,” he whispered. “You may appear human, but you’re not.”

“Neither are you,” I whispered back heatedly.

“You’re so grumpy when you’re tired,” he muttered under his breath.

“I heard you.”

“Too bad.” He let go of my elbow. “The sooner you have a nap the better.”

“I’m not a child,” I ground out between my teeth.

“Oh, I’m very aware of the fact.” His jaw clenched and unclenched as we walked side by side out of the village and across the hillside.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing,” he snapped.

“Don’t tell me nothing. We tell each other everything.”

Why were we picking a fight with each other?

He hauled in a deep breath. Once again, my gaze lingered on the muscular form of his chest. I longed to throw myself into his arms and be against his body. Have him hold me tight and tell me I wasn’t the only one having lustful thoughts. I was sleep-deprived. Perhaps this was why I couldn’t stop looking at Malachi like he was the tastiest blueberry in existence.

“Not everything.”

“Wait.” I skidded to a stop outside the forest as pain flared in my heart. “You don’t tell me everything?”

Now I sensed the tears welling in the backs of my eyes. I believed he was my best friend. The one person I counted on. We had absolute truth between us and now he was telling me we didn’t. Why did that hurt me so much?

He flicked his gaze away unable to look me in the eye and lie to me.

“Well,” I said, walking off along the track into the forest. “I’m glad I’m aware now.”

“Ciara, wait,” he called.

“What for?” I hurried my pace. “So, you can lie to me?”

“I’ve never lied to you?”

“What then?” I spun around walking backward a few steps.

“I don’t tell you everything which differs from lying.”

“But it’s lying by omission.”

“I bet there are things you haven’t told me.”

He placed his hands on his hips and scowled at me.

I flicked my hair over my shoulders and spun back around ignoring his bait. I’d told him everything. All my secrets, my fears, my hopes. Well… apart from these new sensations I was having around him here on Earth and when I wished he was my fated mate… no I was right to keep my feelings to myself. Wishes like mine didn’t matter for fate would send us our mates and nothing we said or did would change our destiny.

The forest trees grew thicker. The pathway turned gloomier. Mossier too. My feet slipped on the moss, but Malachi saved me from falling over with his muscular arms. Damn him for always being there. For holding me so tenderly. For the raging desire my body was now experiencing whenever he touched me.

And damn him for not being my fated mate.

It wasn’t fair. We were perfect for each other. He kept a hand hovering over my lower back ready to catch me if I fell again. He’d always catch me. I trusted him, but what hadn’t he told me? And why wouldn’t he tell me? What could be so bad he wouldn’t tell me his best friend?

The path ended in a clearing. In the middle of the forest lay a field of wildflowers. Pretty pink, white, and blue flowers dotted the landscape of vibrant green. Standing tall amongst the beautiful nature were stunning caravans painted in bright colors. They stood out amongst the flora, but they also complimented it.

“Which ones can we use?” Emer asked.

“Fallon said any of them.”

Emer nodded. “I’ll take the first watch while the rest of you sleep.”

Ivo stepped forward. “I’ll keep watch too,” she said. “I slept in the barracks back in the library, so I’ll be good until we get back there.”

My gaze snapped to Malachi and then away right away. Why had I suddenly thought about sharing a caravan with him? I didn’t want to be alone, but we couldn’t sleep together. We were only friends. Friends didn’t sleep together. Plus, the desire building inside me when we touched would make it hard.

“I’ll take the blue one. I think Aislinn said this one is Fallon’s.”

“Right,” Malachi said. “I’ll sleep next door then.” He turned to the guards. “Wake me if you need to. I’ll help protect Ciara.”

I rolled my eyes and stomped up the stairs of the blue caravan. As if I needed protection. I was strong. Powerful. I was a Fae royal princess. I opened the door and shut it more forcefully than necessary. Annoyed. Emotional and on the verge of collapse.

So that’s what I did. I fell face-first onto the mattress, buried my head in the pillow, tugged the blankets over me, and let go of the tears I’d been battling.