Chapter 5 #2
I shook my head. “No, I’m not going to wake them.
It can wait until we get a break between storms or until they pass completely.
I can also send an email if we can’t get a video connection with them.
But I would love to learn more about the fae and their origins.
I’m a bit surprised yet not that you’re unsure about things.
We don’t exactly know all of the old stories from our created ones and the original eight. ”
“Original eight?”
I nodded. “Yes. Each created one was sent an original eight that were once humans that the goddess deemed worthy of such a gift of being changed into whatever she chose: warlock, fox, bear, wolf. All of them. The created ones then taught their original eight how to be what they were. Warlocks, bears, foxes, wolves, and so on. After a time, they all set out and formed their own covens, packs, dens, and so forth.”
“Wow, that’s really interesting.”
I nodded. “It is. My family is from an original eight line from Master Edison’s original eight.”
Asher’s eyes widened. I chuckled again.
“It’s not that big of a deal. At least not to our family.
We’re just us. My father is Rainier, and my dad is étienne.
Father is the warlock,” I said, nodding my head.
“And Dad is the red fox shifter. Pierre is a warlock, I’m a fox, and Benjamin is a warlock.
Elias, or Eli, who is Ben’s fated One, is also a red fox shifter. ”
Asher smiled. “So we’re the odd couple?”
I gave Asher a confused look. “How so?”
“I’m not a warlock. Not really. I do have magical powers, but I’m no warlock.”
“I wouldn’t necessarily call us the odd couple.” I leaned in and kissed Asher’s forehead. “I understand that in my family, there are a lot of warlock-and-fox-shifter pairings, but not all.”
“There are more?” Asher asked, surprise in his voice.
I couldn’t help but chuckle and pull him closer for a tighter hug.
“My grandparents are Frederick and Oliver, both warlocks, and both are Master Edison’s original eight.
They are the only two that ended up together.
The other six found mates elsewhere. But my grandparents had eight children themselves, and my father Rainier was one of them. ”
Asher’s eyes continued to widen as I told more of my family’s background.
“That’s a lot of kids. But I’ve known fae couples that have more.
It can be really crazy. We’re highly sexual beings, and, well, things happen when you can’t seem to keep your hands off of your mate.
That usually leads to lots of pregnancies.
Some couples only have a few, others, lots.
It doesn’t seem to be much by way of in-between in my village, but other villages, I’ve seen people with a dozen or more kids trailing behind them. ”
“Yeah, I mean…I would have a dozen with you if it’s what you really wanted, but—”
Asher silenced me with a hand on my mouth, and when he looked at me, it was with wide eyes.
“No. A few. Seriously. I was honestly joking when I said six. I mean, maybe? But not all at once, you know? Maybe we’ll have a few, and when they grow up and leave, we’ll decide to have a few more. I’m not sure.”
I pulled his hand away and held it in mine. “That sounds like a good plan.” I thought about what he’d said just a bit ago. “So fae are highly sexual, huh?”
Asher’s cheeks turned pink, and he suddenly became interested in either my neck or the collar of my shirt.
“Asher?” I raised his face again so he was looking at me.
Asher shrugged and took a deep breath. “I mean, usually. I’ve never had sex before though, so maybe I won’t be.
I have no way of knowing. Some fae don’t wait for their mates, but those are the ones who are usually in their sixties or older.
” Asher offered a lopsided smile. “I’m sorry to say that I’m not going to know how to please you.
I hope you understand and are willing to teach me. ”
“Oh, sweetheart, you not having had any experience isn’t an issue for me.
I promise you that. And I will always be understanding and patient.
We’ll start slow, and I’ll do to you what I like to have done to me, and we’ll explore together what you like and don’t like.
Always feel open to speaking out if you don’t enjoy something I do. I never want you to be uncomfortable.”
“I don’t know what I like or don’t like. Sitting close to you like this is pleasant. I’m enjoying that.”
I tightened my arms around Asher again. “I like it too. And I love that you’re small enough to do it and it not be awkward.”
Asher laughed at that. It was such a beautiful sound, in my opinion. It was safe to say that I was most certainly smitten by my mate already.
“I also liked your kisses. Both of them. And the one on my forehead. It felt different but still special, just in a different way.”
I leaned down and kissed Asher’s forehead again.
“Forehead kisses are a way of showing affection anywhere. They are sweet, show that you are with a person and they are with you, and can be given anywhere. Some places don’t really like more affectionate displays of affection, and forehead kisses are a way that we can show affection and how much we care no matter where we are. ”
“You care for me already?”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Of course I do. I understand why you ask though. We’ve only known each other a very short time.
Not even a few hours yet. But you are my mate.
I’m completely wired to love, protect, and care for my mate.
That’s how shifters work. In return, we hope the same happens with our mate.
I’ve known a few who didn’t have a returned bond, and it wasn’t a pretty relationship. ”
Asher looked thoughtful for a little bit before he finally nodded. “You mentioned places not liking affection.”
I winced. “Yes. Some places aren’t accepting of male-male pairings or female-female pairings.
” I sighed. “Unfortunately, where we are currently at can be a hit-or-miss place. Some locations are safe, like our hotel room. Others, not so much. I have worked with Dr. White for a long time. He and his office would be what I would consider a safe space. But he’s not from here—just happens to be living and working here.
He’s actually from England, which is where I was born. ”
“What about where your family lives?”
“Well, Pierre still lives in France. France is safe. So is England, although I no longer have a house there because I sold it. As for Montana, yes, very safe. My father works for the paranormal council. They are obviously safe. There is a den, a pride, and a pack in the immediate area, and they, too, are safe places. Unfortunately, the towns themselves do have some humans in them as it’s a touristy area.
That means that when you are pregnant, you cannot be seen out in town. ”
“But when I’m not? We could be together there?”
I grinned at my mate. “Absolutely.”
He nodded once. “Good. I like the idea of Montana more and more. Do you know, are there any other fae in that area?” Asher asked as he laid his head on my shoulder.
“I’m not sure. I can ask Father, and he can find out for us.
I’ve only visited the once, and although I did go for several runs while there, I didn’t spend a lot of time with anyone other than my parents and Ben and Eli.
Their twins were newly born, and I happened to be there because of the babies. ”
Asher sighed. “That sounds lovely. I hope to meet them someday. If your brother is anything like you, I’m sure he’s nice.”
I smiled again as I rested my chin on Asher’s head. “Yes, Benjamin is nice. Eli is sweet, and despite everything he’s been through, he’s open and friendly.”
Asher moved, raising his head to look at me. “Been through?”
“All I will say was he was kidnapped, and it wasn’t a good time. It’s not really my story to tell. Just know that he was held by very bad people, and he had to work through a lot of things because of it.”
Asher’s scent turned to sadness. “That’s terrible. I’m sorry he went through something like that. We have bad apples in our realm as well. You never truly know how someone will turn out.”
Asher laid his head back down on my shoulder, and I snuggled him a little tighter. “No, you don’t. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You didn’t.” He sighed. “This is so nice. I know you have things to do, and I should let you do them, but can we cuddle like this for a little longer?”
I smiled and then kissed the top of his head. “We can cuddle as long as you’d like.” I would hold him all day and night if that was what he wished.