Page 36 of Fae's Mate
I give them a watered-down version of our conversation, using the High Lord’s puzzle analogy and leaving out what we did against that tree.
“Well shit,” Alex huffs, “so he only wants to claim you as his mate, so he gets his full magic? That’s a dick move.”
“I don’t think it’s like that,” I explain, fully aware that I am defending him. “The way he said it… it was like the magic part was secondary… like a bonus or something.”
“You’re considering it, aren’t you?” Alana demands.
“I… I don’t know.”
“You’re kidding right? He’s an asshole,” scoffs Alex.
“Just because he tried to put you in a dress, doesn’t make him as asshole Lex,” Yaz teases.
“It does in my book.” She huffs, repeating what we have said with sign language to Yaz, who giggles.
“Don’t you want to gohome?” Yaz asks.
“Yeah, of course I do, it’s just…”
I sigh and rub my forehead. How can I tell them I enjoy his company? That I can’t stop thinking about him? That when I close my eyes, all I see is that look in his—like I’m the best thing since sliced bread. No one has ever looked at me like that, no one has ever made my toes curl with just a glance, or made me come so hard…
“It’s complicated.”
“I think you’re crazy for even considering this, Sek. You should stick to your guns. Tell the High Lord to fuck off and keep your distance until they figure out a way to send us home.”
I shrug at Alex’s advice, not sure what to say, and let the silence stretch between us.
“My tummy’s grumbling. Can we go get breakfast?” Yaz asks.
Alex signs what I assume is ‘yes’ to her and they both stand and head for the door.
“I’m not hungry,” I tell them.
More like I can’t face the High Lord right now, despite how much my stomach complains.
“Suit yourself,” Alex says as she and Yaz leave the room.
“What’s up withher?” I ask Alana.
“I don’t know. She’s been weird for the last few days. Probably getting homesick or something.”
I nod, even though I don’t feel the same. I consider what I have to go home to and don’t find myself feeling sick at all. The only person in my life really is my mum. But when she calls, which is rare, it’s only to give me a hard time for dropping out of college and not having a ‘real job’. I don’t really have any friends, I’m closer to Alana, who I have only known for a couple of weeks, than anyone back home. My apartment is a shithole and the same size as my room here. I’m up to my eyeballs in debt from opening and trying to keep my bakery running, as I barely make enough to cover expenses and pay my essentials. The week before we all got sucked here, I’d eaten sachet noodles three nights in a row because that was all I could afford.
“For what it’s worth,” Alana interrupts my thoughts quietly, “I don’t think it would be so bad to stay here…”
“You don’t?”
“No,” she shakes her head, “I read a lot… I have always dreamed of being whisked off to a magical realm, and now I live in one… if I had a faemate, and they were nice… I’m not sure I would return home.”
“You don’t have anyone or anything to go home to?”
She shakes her head ruefully. “Nope… I have little luck with dating, and I don’t have any family… not really… I mean I like my job, but that’s a pretty boring reason to go back,” she giggles.
I nod, my mind now racing with indecision.
“Sure you don’t want to come down for breakfast?” Alana asks, pushing her glasses up her nose.
“No… I don’t want to face him right now.”
