AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Story of my life.
CHAPTERFOUR
Turik’s homewas pristine like it came straight out of a magazine. However, of the five bedrooms, only two of them had beds. Apparently, there was a clean mattress shortage. But not toiletries. All three bathrooms were fully stocked. The house even boasted a firepit and patio furniture out on a back deck that begged for entertaining.
The only room that was less than spotless was the den. It had pieces of paper all over the desk. The random squiggly drawings didn’t depict anything I could identify, and I briefly wondered what the subject was supposed to be. I didn’t ask, though. I didn’t want to offend Turik.
“This place is beyond beautiful,” I said when he concluded the tour in the kitchen. “You and Vorx are lucky to live here.”
He grunted, his gaze never leaving my face.
My brief interactions with the fey had strictly revolved around gathering supplies. I hadn’t spoken to them more than necessary or shown any interest in conversations regarding them. It wouldn’t have been healthy for me. But I couldn’t continue my ignorance if I meant to live with them.
“I don’t know a lot about the fey,” I said. “I know you came from some caves that were exposed during the earthquakes a few months back and that you didn’t have women or children with you.”
“That is all true.” His gaze dipped to my midsection. “Do you like children?”
The random question shot a bolt of panic through me, which I managed to keep off my expression.
“I like kids just fine, I guess.” I used to have that whole white-picket-fence dream before I married Nat. He quickly showed me that children would never survive.
I moved to the couch and made myself comfortable. Turik took the nearby chair. He continued to observe my every move with a level of scrutiny that reminded me of Nat, and it made me nervous. I talked too much when I was nervous.
“Someone told me that the fey couldn’t die in the caves but that you can up here. Is that true too?” I asked. It was a fact that Nat had been desperate to prove and one I hoped wasn’t true.
“Yes, and no,” Turik said. “We could die in the caves but were always reborn in the resurrection pools. We didn’t understand that wouldn’t remain the same once we were on the surface.”
“How many times were you reborn?” I asked.
“Many.”
“So you’re really old, then?”
He frowned thoughtfully for a moment.
“I don’t know. Our days and nights weren’t the same as they are here. There was no sun to measure our time. Only the crystals lit the darkness. And the hours each cave remained lit were different.” He shrugged slightly. “Mya thinks we were in the caves for thousands of years. Perhaps even hundreds of thousands.”
“Wow. That’s a lot.” I studied his chiseled physique for a moment. He was as largely built as the rest of them—a good foot and a half taller than myself—with biceps the size of my head. His grey skin was smooth perfection. Not a wrinkle in sight. Except for laugh lines around his mouth and eyes.
I met his gaze, seeing him, the individual. He had the hint of a divot in his cheek that I would bet turned into a dimple with a full smile. The evidence of his capacity for humor didn’t take away from his strength; it simply added to his deadly charm.
“You sure don’t look that old,” I said, picking up the conversation again. “I would have guessed late twenties, early thirties at best. Your age sure doesn’t slow you down either. I’ve seen how strong and fast the fey are. It must be disconcerting to be around people who are so fragile in comparison.”
His expression shifted to one of surprise, and he quickly leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees.
“Yes. The stupid ones break so easily. Their heads come right off. I was extra careful when I put the men with you to sleep, but many of them will wake with headaches.” He shook his head. “Shax is worried about the baby. Angel says he will be fine, but he’s played with Timmy and Savvy. They fall and bleed from hitting the ground. They sneeze, and they cry. I want children, but I don’t want children.”
He was so emphatic that a small smile curved my lips before I could smother it. He smiled in return, humor lighting his expression and making him more handsome.
I smothered that thought and focused on our conversation.
“I understand what you’re saying. Kids are a lot of work and responsibility. A lot to care for.” And that was why I’d had an IUD put in shortly after Nat and I had gotten married. I couldn’t protect myself. How would I have ever been able to protect a baby? Especially when Nat really enjoyed hitting me in the stomach.
My gaze drifted to my empty left hand while my thoughts drifted to those darker moments. Fear curled inside of me, and I fisted my fingers.
There was no going back now. Only forward.
“What else is different about the surface?” I asked to distract myself from thoughts of Nat.
