Puck
“I’ve never sweat this much in my life,” I mutter as I hurtle down the portal, my arms around Lysandra’s waist as she snuggles into me.
“With good reason,” Edina calls. I lean over my shoulder to shoot her a scathing look. Eldoris, who is holding her the same way I hold Lysandra, laughs heartily.
After the coronation, I knocked down the door between the king and queen suites, and we moved in together. I may have done it before she gave permission, but I refused to sleep without her for another night. Lysandra pouted and bratted about it, claiming she needed her own space, but I fucked the argument right out of her. We’ve been happily living together ever since.
The Spring Court has thrived under our joint rule. It took a bit to fall into a rhythm—both of us are headstrong enough that we bicker constantly—but were figuring it out. We’ve already implemented acts that have bridged the gap between the rich courtiers and the poorer townsfolk, bolstered our trade agreements with the other courts, and even found ways to increase tourism. Lysandra is an amazing queen, and I’m so lucky to rule alongside her.
“I seriously wasn’t this nervous when I met your grandmother, and she’s a fucking harpy. They eat males like me for lunch.”
“Vicious rumors,” Lysandra says and kisses my jaw. “You’ll be okay, they’re going to love you.”
Lysandra motions to the door coming up on our right-hand side and we jump, soaring through the mist toward my doom.
We land in a simple hallway with white wooden floors and clean white walls. “I understand your pain,” Eldoris says as the females walk ahead of us. “I almost peed my pants when we went back to the mortal realm after Edina and I got back together. And you hurt both her best friends.”
“Thanks, appreciate it,” I deadpan.
There’s a chorus of joyful welcomes that are so at odds with my nerves. I attempt to stall, but Eldoris claps me on the back before he takes the lead. I follow sheepishly behind, hands in my pockets as I will myself to become one with the wall.
We round the hallway into an open living space in the same beachy style. The white floors are littered with children’s toys, blankets are haphazardly strewn over the gray couch, and there are plastic plates and utensils on the marble kitchen island.
Edina and Lysandra make room for Eldoris as he crosses the room toward a very pregnant human woman who can’t be more than thirty. Her hair is tied up in a messy bun and she’s only wearing a men’s shirt that hangs long on her, even with her belly. “You look radiant as always,” he says.
She waves him off. “I look like I have three kids and my partner keeps knocking me up,” she says, her tone light and sarcastic. He wraps her in a hug as Lysandra pads back to me, having already kicked her shoes off like she owns the place.
“Come on,” she says, wrapping both arms around one of mine as she tugs me into the main area. “Katie, this is Puck.”
The witch turns to me and looks me up and down with narrowed eyes. Goddess, even her eyes are intimidating. They’re a unique shade of auburn that almost glows red—seriously, what human has red eyes—and I can sense the magic radiating behind them. I’d reckon she’d give some Fae a run for their money with how much power she has.
After a long appraisal where every one of my friends just waits, I finally break and say, “It’s nice to meet you, Katie. I’ve heard nothing but good things.” A lie. Edina and Lysandra love their best friend, but they also tell me she’s a savage who will probably cut my balls off for hurting them. It doesn’t matter that I’ve made amends, and now Lysandra is mine, Katie holds grudges.
She scoffs. “There’s no way you’ve heard only good things.” She slowly approaches, and my knees practically knock together. “I assume one of the negative things you’ve heard is that you have two strikes, and if you ever hurt one of these females again, I will end you. Not kill. End. As in, people will question whether or not you existed in the first place.”
Fuck.“I swear, on my immortality, I’ll never hurt either of them.” She arches an eyebrow. “Again,” I amend.
“Good.” She cracks a smile. “Then, welcome to the family. I hope you’re good with kids.”
She doesn’t hug me, but she does give me an awkward pat on the shoulder.
Two girls in dripping-wet bathing suits come shrieking in through the sliding glass doors. “Aunt Ly-sa! Aunt E!” they screech, swarming their aunts. A beast of a man follows, carrying a boy who can’t be more than two in his arms. If possible, the man looks just as intimidating as his wife, though he at least pretends to be friendly while squeezing my hand so tightly he almost breaks my fingers.
“Who’s that?” one of the little ones asks, her finger firmly up her nose until Edina playfully bats it away.
“He’s my…” Lysandra breaks off. We’ve never put a label on our relationship. We didn’t feel the need. Everyone in Faerie knows she’s mine and I’m hers, and until we’re betrothed, there isnt a word that works. “King,” she decides. The child looks confused, but shrugs and runs over to hug my legs.
As the day turns to night, and the children are put to bed, I start to relax, falling into an easy banter with the couples. Katie has no qualms about ribbing me, and when I return her jabs, she looks positively delighted.
As soon as it’s fully dark outside, the portal door clicks open again, and Vlad walks in.
I haven’t seen the vampire since he dropped Lysandra on my doorstep and threw my entire world for a loop. The witch who broke Titania’s curse is with him, and she does a quick wave before zipping to the back to say goodnight to the children.
“My, my,” Vlad drawls, taking in my arm around Lysandra whos curled into my side. He straightens his tie and gives us a fangy smile. “What do we have here?”
“Don’t pretend like you’re ever in the dark about anything,” Edina chastises as she stands to hug him.
“I haven’t heard it from the source, and I believe I’m owed a thank you.”
“A thank you?” I ask incredulously.
“Of course. I’m the reason the two of you rule Spring Court and are happily in love.”
“Pretty sure you pitted us against each other,” Lysandra says.
Vlad laughs. “Don’t underestimate me. I knew what I was doing.”
“He’s shipped you together since you came to live in Salem, Ly,” Katie says. “He reads too many romance novels.” It startles a laugh out of me.
“I do love a good enemies-to-lovers situation,” he jests, kissing Katie on the cheek before taking a seat in a wingback chair Edina summoned for him. “Well? I’m waiting for you to shower me in gratitude.”
“You’re immortal,” Lysandra says. “I think you can wait a little while longer.”
The group laughs at that, and we return to our easy conversation. Lysandra snuggles into me, and I kiss the top of her head.
“I’m glad you get along with my family,” she murmurs.
“According to Katie, they’re mine too.” Her smile is megawatt as she leans up and kisses me. Her smile, her kiss—her happiness—makes all the nerves of today worth it. I’d do anything to make her happy.
And I have the rest of eternity to do just that.
You didnt think Id drop a line like, “When we get home, I’m going to sit on our throne, and you’re going to sit on my face, without following through, right?