Chapter 10 Matthew
Matthew
There was something to be said about a good tea. Especially when that tea did wonders for calming your stomach while tasting good.
“Here’s your tea, sweetheart,” Cornelius said as he walked over to the couch, carrying a steaming mug of tea.
I reached for it, more than ready to calm my stomach.
A couple weeks of eating more protein and taking multivitamins all but fixed my dizziness issues.
Now I was in full-swing morning sickness. Only it lasted all day.
“Thank you. I love you, you know that?” I said as I took the tea and brought it to my lips, taking a big drink of the hot and slightly sweet brew. When I looked back up at Cornelius, he was standing there, staring at me. “Is something wrong?” I asked.
“You love me?”
I was shocked. Surprised. Hadn’t I… No, I hadn’t yet told him. But then again, neither had he. The start of our mating was a whirlwind of crazy and chaos.
“Oh, Cornelius. I’m sorry,” I said as I quickly set my tea on the end table and reached for my mate. Thankfully, he came willingly. “Of course I do. I know you can feel it through our bond, as I can how you feel about me. I guess we just never said it.”
“We’ve been busy. And then you got sick,” Cornelius said as he got down on his knees in front of me.
I had both legs tucked up on the couch, so he placed his hands on my thighs before leaning in toward me.
“I love you too. And I’m sorry I haven’t said it before now.
You deserved to hear the words before now. ”
I reached out, cupping Cornelius’s face in my hands.
“Don’t stress or worry. I knew. And am just as guilty.
But we’ve said it, and that’s all that matters.
” I leaned in and was thankful that my mate met me halfway.
He gave me a quick peck of a kiss, and that was fine.
I understood. I wasn’t feeling the best, and the slightest wrong move was all it took to have my stomach rolling and coming back up.
“How are you feeling? You haven’t drunk your tea. Does that mean you’re feeling better?” Cornelius asked hopefully.
“No. I’ve just been distracted. I’m not really moving much, and I ate some crackers and those scones that Grantham sent.
Do you think I’ll be able to meet everyone in the coven soon?
I’ve been here for a few weeks now.” Cornelius got up from the floor and picked me up, cradling me in his arms before sitting where I’d been.
“I know, love. But you’ve barely been able to stand up, let alone walk around. Every last one of them understands. They really do. When you’re feeling better, we’ll venture out and you can meet everyone. Agreeable?”
I nodded. I felt bad because I knew from Dr. C that Cornelius and I were the talk of the coven, although in a good way. They were excited to meet me and were happy to have my mate back home. “Okay. Did you have fun chatting with Balthazar?”
“Actually, yeah. Until we were sent to Timber Valley, we hadn’t really spent a lot of time together. Then we were roommates for all those months.” Cornelius handed me my tea, and I took the hint. Drink up.
“Oh, hey. I don’t think I asked where the tea came from. I mean, I know it’s from my realm, but how did it get here?” I took another sip, and while I rolled the sweet drink around on my tongue, I hugged the mug to my chest and sighed.
“It’s a chain of events, really.” Cornelius chuckled before continuing while gently rubbing his right hand up and down my lower thigh. It felt nice. “Master Arthur contacted Alpha Forest, who got ahold of his brother, Canyon.”
“Oh, he’s mated to the fate Thomas that brought me here.”
“Yes. Someone named Dan said he would gladly have the tea set near the portal for them to pick up regularly. I guess one of the ingredients is only found in your realm?”
“Hmm, I don’t know. Can’t we bring it here and grow it here, then?” I asked before taking the last drink of my own tea. My stomach was quite calm, and I was completely content while sitting in my mate’s arms.
“Afraid not. Marian said it would be dangerous.”
“Who’s Marian?” I asked, looking up at my mate. He was so handsome. And patient. I was so lucky to have been gifted him.
“She’s one of the fates. She and Gwendolyn are the ones that help ensure the realms are happy and healthy.
They were the ones that said we couldn’t bring that particular plant here.
But not to worry. They’ve figured something out.
” Cornelius leaned down and kissed my forehead before he leaned back into the couch and sighed.
“You okay?”
“Better now that I’m holding you. I can sense your stomach has calmed. I have been so worried. But knowing the tea helps, it’s a relief.”
“I didn’t mean to cause you worry,” I said as I laid my head on his chest and closed my eyes.
“It’s nothing you can control. You’re my One. I’ll always worry about you.”
I sighed. “True, but I could have drunk that foul-smelling tea and didn’t. If I’d done that from the beginning, you would have worried about me less.”
“Perhaps, but most likely not. Besides, that’s the other part.
Marian agreed that your tea could be brought to this realm without any consequences.
They’re going to be making the tea, and it’ll be exchanged for other things that weren’t in the fae realm.
I don’t know the exact specifics, but the tea is not only great at calming morning sickness, it tastes and smells so much better than what Master Edison had been able to come up with. ”
“That’s good, then. I would have drunk the yucky tea though,” I said as I yawned.
Now that my stomach was no longer in knots, I was sleepy, something that I’d not been getting a lot of lately—and not for the reasons I wanted to be missing sleep.
No, Cornelius had done nothing more than cuddle me since we’d been in Amherst.
“Do you want a nap, love?”
I slowly shook my head. I didn’t want a nap. It seems like that was all I’d done lately. I wanted…more. I just wasn’t quite sure what though.
“You know, if it’s all right, I think I’ll put on my coat and just stand on the balcony for a bit. Is that okay? I think some fresh air might be good for me.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“You don’t have to. You’re welcome to though,” I added in a hurry. I didn’t want Cornelius to feel he wasn’t welcome. He was.
“Do you…do you want time alone?”
I shook my head. “Just really think some fresh air might be good. I know it’s cold.”
“It is. The high today is supposed to only be in the lower twenties. You will need your adorable hat too.” Cornelius stood up, taking me with him. I would have been worried, but I was already used to him carrying me around regularly.
I smiled when I was suddenly wearing my coat, hat, mittens, and thick fur-lined boots.
A quick glance told me that my mate was dressed similarly, and then we were outside on the balcony.
When Cornelius set me on my feet, I looked around.
There was a wide expanse of snow everywhere I could see, and the trees were barren, having lost their leaves months ago I’d been told.
I was experiencing my first winter, and so far, I was a fan.
“Here, sit,” Cornelius said, drawing my attention to the left.
I scowled at first. That double seat wasn’t there moments ago. Neither was the tower that appeared to have flames in it. “Umm, Cornelius…”
“Yes, I just conjured them. You wanted to sit outside. But it’s cold, and I can’t have you getting sick. So, clean, dry, warm furniture, and a heater is a must. Please don’t argue. I don’t wish for you to become ill, sweetheart.”
I could only nod in agreement because he obviously knew what was better in this situation.
I walked over and sat beside my mate, allowing him to tuck me tightly into his side before we were suddenly covered with a thick, warm blanket.
I sighed, content because I was with my mate, and the fresh air, although cold and tickled my nose and lungs when I breathed deeply, felt good.
“This is nice,” I whispered before yawning again.
“It is. I didn’t have a balcony below. But in the summer and early fall, we would spend a lot of time out back on the large deck. This place is beautiful in the fall. I’ve never seen anything like it in any of my travels,” Cornelius said.
“Sorry I cut ours short.”
“Don’t be. We have years to travel.”
That was true. Even with Cornelius being almost three hundred, I was still in my twenties, and that meant we’d have at least three centuries together.
“How long do warlocks usually live?” I asked, curious.
For fae, it was usually around five hundred.
But of course, it would be cut short if we lost our mate.
“I can’t believe I’ve not mentioned it.”
Cornelius’s tone sounded a bit alarming, and it had my eyes opening and I was no longer feeling sleepy.
“Shh, calm down. Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“What’s wrong? What didn’t you tell me?”
“You were sick. And you’ve been sleeping a lot. We’ve received word that despite the past, when Thomas found Canyon and he accepted his claim, things shifted.”
“Huh?” I was confused. How could a mate accept or deny their mate? You just did. They were a perfect match for you.
“I’ll get into that later. But the thing I was referring to was that we’re all going to live a very, very long time. As in indefinitely, barring any tragedies.”
“Seriously?” I asked, sitting up and looking up at my mate.