Page 21 of Fae Farewells

He touched his chest like he was offended before frowning. “I’m not in the doghouse.”

“Sure, Mage,” Stone smarted, nodding his head.

“Is she still mad at me?” he deliberated quietly. “I didn’t think she was.”

“Who knows…” York shrugged and bit at his lips, hiding his smile.

Palmer looked at Novak, and the vampire held his hands up.

“I’m staying out of it. Figure it out for yourself. I learned my lesson.”

I raised a brow at Novak. “Maybe we should start teaching them?”

“Fuck off,” Stone said. “I don’t get in trouble.”

“I mean, you do get in Trouble…” the vampire sang, a wicked grin stretching across his face.

Stone rolled his eyes, then glanced at Palmer. “Will you shut him up so we can go inside?”

“Don’t mute me,” Novak warned. “I’ll just scream in your mind and hum that weird circus song that Trouble likes so much.”

Yeah. Fuck that.

I tuned them out as I surveyed our surroundings. A small cottage stood in front of us, the thatch roof weathered. Moss creeped along the roughly cut square rocks that made up the outside walls. Flowers littered the yard, and a birdbath sat unused near the single stair.

The fluffy grass and overhanging forest canopy gave the outside a homey atmosphere that made me want to bask in the few rays of sunlight touching the ground. It was quaint, in a bubble of its own, and not what I expected a retired king to live in. But to each their own.

A replica of Vaughn peeked through the glass door before stepping outside to greet us. His dark hair was messy, a thick white strip lining the left side.

How old was this guy?

I wondered if our fae had a brother he didn’t know about, but then I saw the wrinkles stretching from the corners of his light blue eyes toward his temples. They swirled near his cheek bones, creating intricate patterns that didn’t appear natural.

Would Vaughn look like this in a few hundred years?

His skin was the same slate blue color as our fae’s, but deeper, richer in the blue hues. They definitely shared the same facial expressions, too. I’d bet they differed in mannerisms. There was no way this man was a control freak in his hippy-style clothing.

He’d fit in well with some shifters I knew, though.

“Gentlemen,” Sarge called to get everyone’s attention. “This is Valano. He’s Vaughn and Freya’s grandfather.”

“I’m assuming some of you men are Freya’s mates since Sergio is here.” Valano shook the dragon’s hand as he appraised us from his perch on the single step. “The rest of you are friends of Vaughn?”

“These two are Frey’s mates,” Sarge told the old king, hooking his thumb at Levi and Zyus. “The rest are Vaughn’s friends and Sloane’s mates.”

“Yes, the daughter of Kings. She should stay out of the towns,” Valano advised, shaking his head. “Many rumors have spread about her and what it will mean for the fae when she gets here. It would be best if she and Vaughn handled business with the current queen before they venture beyond the palace walls.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “You’ll need to explain that to her when they get back.”

“They’ll be back soon. I felt Vaughn cross through the portal while I was at the temple. I’ve already blessed it for them, so there’s no need to wait for me.”

“You knew he would go there first?” I couldn’t hide my disbelief.

These guys had been brothers to me for years, yet none of us expected Vaughn to drag Sloane away like he did.

“I had a feeling when he came back it would be with a mate… Or to take his throne. Either way, he would need a blessing.”

“Why were you already at the temple?” York inquired, suspicion heavy in his voice, just short of accusation.