Page 8 of Entwined

As he followed his ma through the forest, he considered her advice. After all, she was eons older than him and knew about the humans of old. Maybe everything would work out just fine and he’d soon be carrying their child.

Oh, I hope so.

Because whenever he thought about the handsome alpha and how safe he’d felt by his side, how soothing his touch had been, his scent—the memory would make him shiver and tingle all over.

Because he’s the one fate meant for me. Bram pressed his lips together as determination filled him. And I’m the one meant for him.

Darby didn’t stand a chance.

* * * *

Darby’s best friend Rebecca gaped at him as if he had two heads.

I feel like I do.

His hangover hadn’t been kind.

She sat back in her chair in the diner they always shared their weekly Saturday breakfast and crossed her arms.

“A fairy? A pregnant fairy who threw your Chinese take-out against the wall before threatening you with firebombs?” She snorted. “How much vodka did you have?”

Darby took a noisy sip of his fourth cup of coffee. His stomach hated him for so many reasons at that point. “He’s not pregnant.” Darby frowned, his cup in mid-air. “I don’t think.” He took another sip then set it down. “And he didn’t mean to hurl my food against the wall. It happened when he was twirling through the air.” His face heated at the realization of what he’d just said out loud.

“Bwahahahahaha!” She slapped the table so hard, the dishes rattled.

Darby shrunk in on himself as every person in the busy restaurant whipped their heads around to stare.

“Becca, please.” He pushed away the mug of his rapidly cooling coffee. “It was a dream, that’s all. All I was wondering is whether you thought it would make a cool short story for that fantasy magazine I’ve always wanted to be in.”

“Fantastic Realms?”

He wiped his mouth then tossed his crumpled napkin on the omelet he’d barely touched. “Yeah. They have a mythical creatures call right now. I hadn’t had an idea before, but this…” He shrugged. “I dunno. I thought it might be cool. You know, different.”

She snorted again. “Yup. It’s different all right.”

He arched his eyebrows. “Any other thoughts?”

Becca rubbed her chin. The petite, strawberry blonde cutie with short hair, freckles and a bob cut could almost pass for a fairy herself. Even though she’d turned thirty around the same time as him, she could still pass for eighteen.

“Well… It’s kind of cute. But maybe take out the part with him being pregnant. I doubt anyone would want to read about that.”

Darby frowned. Okay, so maybe he’d laughed at Bram when he’d said it, but the more he’d mulled it over, the more he’d thought it was awesome. After all, he’d hoped to have a family one day and how great would it be to have his significant other carry their child?

Nah. Too far-fetched.

He sighed. “I’ll type up a basic outline later then maybe tinker with it for a while, see how I feel about it.”

Becca snickered. “Tinker. That’s funny.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Becca…”

She smacked the side of his arm. “Sorry, couldn’t help it. Fairies. Tinker.”

Darby rolled his eyes. “Yeah, okay. I get it.”

Silence stretched between them as he flicked a sugar packet and she smashed her remaining pancakes with a fork. “So…anything else you’d like to share? You know, news of any importance? Recent unexpected occurrences in your life?”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “Why?”