Chapter Four #3
Wylder rolled his shoulders. “Okay.”
“The meadow that we’re about to reach is poisonous. No matter how much you want to enter it, you must resist,” Alek told his human. “The flowers will kill you.”
“I’ve always been more of a plant guy anyway,” Wylder said with a shrug.
“Let’s go get Theo,” Mitch declared and stepped off the bridge.
* * * * *
Theo
He couldn’t move his body. Not a toe, a finger, or his head. Nothing. It was a horrible feeling not having control over his own body. Theo had been through a lot in his life but he’d never not been able to at least protect himself.
Whatever he’d been doused with was effective and Theo was pissed. He had not walked all freaking day just to be thrown in the back of a cart and wheeled to his death. Or whatever the unseelie king had in store for him.
At least Bo and Garrett lay next to him in the cart. The very big cart that was able to hold Theo, a gargoyle, and a troll. Six massive beasts that were terrifying were hauling the cart, huffing steam and growling as the cloaked figures walked along the side of them.
Oh and Steve. Steve was walking too. The little shithead wouldn’t shut up either.
He bitched and moaned about walking but he was the only one that was talking.
Served Steve right if he got blisters on his feet for being such a douche canoe.
Theo was going to take pleasure in watching his mates take care of Steve when Theo told him what Josh’s cousin did.
Although Theo hadn’t trusted Steve from the start.
He just didn’t think that Steve was delivering him and Garrett to the unseelie.
He thought he had time to decide what to do with the dryad although Theo had been thinking of involving Josh since they were cousins and Theo didn’t know the proper way of dealing with fae.
Something he was going to have to learn when he got back home.
He really should have known better. No one in fae should be trusted. Not even the cousin of one of Theo’s newest friends. Not that there was anything Theo could do about being dumped into the cart.
At least Theo’s feet didn’t hurt from walking so ha ha ha to Steve for that.
If Theo was one of the unseelie, he’d demand that Steve shut his mouth.
Steve sounded like such an asshole and just kept bitching and bitching.
Theo would never be friends with him back in his own realm.
In fact, if Theo lived through this, he was going to make sure that Josh knew every single dirty thing that Steve did.
“Portal ahead!” someone shouted.
The cart slowed then came to a stop.
Bywater peered over the edge at Theo. His pale cheeks were flushed. The guy was attractive even if he gave off serial killer vibes. Shame.
“The unseelie king awaits,” Bywater told him.
Hey! Theo could roll his eyes! That was kind of cool. And he totally did that in response to Bywater. It might not be fighting back but it was something.
“Cute.” Reaching over, Bywater caressed Theo’s cheek. “Maybe the king will give you to me as a reward for destroying this generation’s chosen. I have been a very loyal soldier for decades. He is also very generous to his trusted few. I am one of those.”
Huh. If Bywater thought that was even a possibility, then he was as dumb as he was attractive.
Theo loved his mates. That was right. He loved his mates so very much.
No one compared to his mates. They were perfect in every single way.
Dario was so caring and soft with Theo. He made Theo feel safe.
Wylder was showing Theo there was always something good around the corner.
That it was okay to laugh. Alek was serious about everything and that included making sure that Theo was ready for what was coming.
Alek believed in him. And Mitch. The demon warrior seemed so hard but he had the gooiest center that Theo had ever seen.
Theo would have said all that if he could freaking talk.
“Opening portal,” someone yelled.
“Let’s go meet a king, little kitty,” Bywater said as he straightened. “I’ll have you purring in my bed soon enough.
Creep! Theo was going to ask Dario to shift and eat Bywater.
Did dragons eat the unseelie? He bet Dario would do it for him.
Or maybe Mitch would spear Bywater with his sword.
Alek had probably learned torture or something crazy with his experience.
Wylder would beat him up like he’d done to the bullies at university.
The beasts began to move.
Theo was expecting much the same as when he’d been summoned and pulled through the portal.
Instead, there was a pop as the beasts went through.
No wind. No flying. He’d just been transported from one place to another.
Theo had feared this? Theo snorted. He was going to make Mitch portal everywhere.
There was going to be so much ice cream in his future.
Blue surrounded his vision that was so bright that Theo had to close his eyes when they started to water. When he opened them, Theo was staring up at an ornate ceiling. Painted in red and gold, showcasing some weird scenes of…was that sex positions? Those totally looked like sex positions.
His leg twitched and look at that! Theo could move. Grabbing the side of the cart, Theo pulled himself up into a sitting position. He glanced at Garrett and Bo but neither of them seemed to be able to move quite yet.
In front of him on a stage was an elaborate chair. Okay, that was totally a throne. Just as ugly and gaudy as the ceiling. Someone there had terrible taste in décor. They could learn something from how nice Dario’s apartments and their individual rooms were.
“Out you come, kitty cat.” Bywater lifted Theo from the cart like he didn’t weigh over a hundred and twenty pounds.
“Don’t touch me!” Theo slapped at Bywater’s hands. Jerk!
Bywater huffed. “You really aren’t dressed for an audience with the king.”
“It’s not like I planned to be here,” Theo quipped. “I could go home.”
Pressing his lips together, Bywater shook his head. “Only in your dreams. You are ours. You belong to the unseelie king now.” He leaned closer. “I’ve seen him make men cry for decades at a time.
“Why don’t you go suck his dick if you love him so much. I have mates already.” That was probably the meanest thing that Theo had ever said. He didn’t even regret it. Or he didn’t regret it much. Theo didn’t like being mean.
Bywater laughed. “I like your spunk.”
“Yippee,” Theo deadpanned.
Bywater shook his head again. “Seriously this won’t do at all. The king will be unhappy, seeing you dressed like that. There are protocols to consider.”
That wasn’t really Theo’s problem. He turned back toward the cart. “My friends. Why can’t they move? They need help.”
Waving his hand, Bywater made the entire cart along with Garrett and Bo disappear.
“Hey!” Theo pushed Bywater’s shoulder. “Bring them back.”
“Don’t worry about them,” Bywater told him. “They are the least of your worries. The king does not like to be kept waiting. We need to get you outfitted.”
“How about you bring my friends back?” Theo suggested.
“Aurelia!” Bywater shouted.
Theo jumped then jumped again when a small three-foot creature popped up beside them.
“Yes, Master Bywater?” the little creature said with her hands folded in front of her.
Theo wanted to grab her up and give her the biggest hug. The little thing was just so cute and looked terrified of Bywater. And why had she called him master? She should have called him asshole.
Hellcats. Theo was really turning mean.
“Please take our guest and get him outfitted to meet our king. Take good care of him. See to whatever needs he might have,” Bywater ordered while leaning close to Theo. “I will be seeing you again very soon.”
“Yes, Master.” The creature placed her hand on Theo’s arm.
The room wavered in front of him. In an instant Theo was standing in a large bedroom. That was even better than using a portal.
“Where are we?” Theo asked.
The little creature bowed. “Guest bedroom, Master.”
“I’m not your master,” Theo said gently. “You can call me Theo.”
“Yes, Theo. Would you like something to eat or drink?” Aurelia offered.
“No.” Theo would kill for food and drink. He was so hungry! And dying to drink at least a gallon of water. Knowing he was in the unseelie king’s palace or whatever, Theo was going to have to watch his words and not accept anything.
If his memory was correct, he was guessing that Aurelia was a brownie or sprite or one of the service fae. Many of whom were taken from their families and forced to work off debts. Poor little thing. Not that Theo was in a position to help the little one, but he needed to try.
“I shall acquire you clothing to meet the king,” Aurelia said.
“No. Don’t. I will not accept the clothing.”
Aurelia twisted her fingers together. “Smart. I have orders, though.”
Theo nodded. He was utterly exhausted. A few minutes to rest would be nice but Theo didn’t think that he would be getting that. Taking a few steps back, Theo sat on the side of the bed. He sank in and groaned to be off his feet as he took a moment to think.
“Aurelia, what is your species?” Theo asked as politely as he could.
Aurelia bounced a little as she giggled. “I’m a brownie. Don’t you know?”
“No,” Theo replied. He was happy that he remembered something else from the journals. He was kind of on a roll. He could probably work with this. Brownies took their jobs very seriously. It was all Theo had. “I’ve never been to this realm.”
Aurelia sniffed. “You do smell weird.”
Well, that wasn’t nice. “Like what?”
“Sort of mildew and mold?” Aurelia sounded confused. “But in a good way.”
How was that good? “I am a feline shifter from the human realm. One of the chosen.”
Aurelia pressed her lips together. “I know the chosen. You are not the chosen.”
“I’m the new chosen,” Theo replied. “This generation’s chosen.”