Chapter 61 - Theoden
THEODEN
When Theoden kisses Aerin Tolvare for the first time in eight years he feels like a water-deprived fish finally returning to the sea. Like life is being breathed back into him, like for the first time in eight years he can take a whole breath.
Of course, that breath is rudely interrupted by the sounds of male posturing. Theo pulls his lips away from Aerin but doesn’t let her face go quite yet. Instead, he simply looks at her. The tension in her facial features tells him everything he needs to know.
Releasing her, he turns to face the room. The Dragon-Fae and the Wolf are the ones who growled. Theo grins, his full, mega-watt, smile.
“Emrys, Malice, you remember Theoden Marrow,” Aerin says as a means of introduction. Theo doesn’t care for it. There are much more pressing things, like getting his head between Aerin’s thighs as soon as possible.
Though, in the seven weeks since Aerin spoke to him at the party, Theo has done a bit of research.
Malice, a Dragon-Fae from Iron Spine was assigned as Aerin’s personal guard the weekend the contract voided.
Since then, they’ve become inseparable. Theo theorized that Malice is one of Aerin’s bond-mates, considering anyone else would have been murdered and dumped in the sea before they were allowed to invade her privacy.
Aerin has a low tolerance for such things.
Two days ago, Aerin was photographed in Zeneith where her Paramyr, Prince Khortland Hale, “gifted” her a Wolf. Theo immediately knew this Wolf to be Emrys. There is no other Wolf Aerin would risk herself for. Her third bond-mate.
Theo can admit he’s surprised both to find a Human in Aerin’s apartment, and that the Human kissed Khortland Hale upon his arrival. Theo’s surprised to see Khortland at all, considering the last he’d heard, the ice Fae did not want anything to do with his Paramyr. How, Theo has no idea.
The Wolf asks, “What is he doing here?”
At the same time, Malice grumbles something about the wards of the apartment.
Aerin opens her mouth to explain but Theo has other ideas. He bends down and scoops Aerin up over his shoulder, holding the back of her legs with one arm as her upper body hangs down his back. Aerin squeals in surprise and delight.
“Sorry boys, she’s mine tonight,” Theo announces to the prickly Dragon-Fae and the shocked Wolf.
“Theo!” Aerin cries with a laugh, half-hearted at best, as he carts her down the hall.
“Which door is yours Pretty Girl? I’m about to give you the best stress relief of your life.”
Aerin’s laugh is the best sound Theo has heard in eight years.