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If Ali and I had known each other in Faere, I would have been seen as beneath her. Even as a Highborn leader among my people.
I don’t often focus on the reasons I left my home realm, but when I recall how heartbroken I was, it’s hard to fathom.
Being rejected by the mate my family intended me to take to unify our tribes ended up being a gift rather than the curse it felt like at the time. She was unimpressed by my giant heritage and wanted a full-blooded orc for a mate.
Back then, it felt worse than a death sentence.
As I place myself down on the couch with Ali on my lap, I can recognize it for the gift it was. I would have married Draena to solidify our hordes. And I would have been miserable in my immortality.
Ali snuggles into my chest, and I stretch to grab the take-out container. She’s a typical fae, at least as far as her eating preferences. She’ll occasionally eat white meat, but she’s far from my mostly carnivorous diet.
“A veggie burger from Jim’s?” She lights up and it makes my heart flame in response.
It’s how I know she’s meant to be mine. Well, that and the fact I’d burn down the world to keep her safe and happy.
I’m fucking starving too. I spent a long night manning the door and ensuring no assholes got into it over at Venom.
Feeding Ali fills me with an unmatched level of pride and satisfaction. I can wait a little longer to stuff my own face. I offer her bite after bite, carefully watching to ensure she’s getting enough calories.
Recently, I’ve seen her go entire days without eating anything until I push the issue. It’s the busy season at The Den. Once winter rolls around, things will settle down. Many of the aquatic and cold-blooded monsters will move farther south to stay in a more temperate climate during the colder months.
The fact that Dread found his mate hasn’t helped matters. Usually, the owners are so far stuck up our asses that you can’t turn around without bumping into one of them, but they’re all infatuated with Emerson at the moment.
Their priorities have shifted, something I understand. I had a similar reaction when I met Ali.
I came to Haven, intending to blow off steam and enjoy the club. The pink-haired fae stumbled into me as she took a corner too fast and, suddenly, I had new plans.
I needed an excuse to stay in Haven, and she was stressing that a member of the security team quit without notice.
Do I financially need to work at The Den?
No.
I was able to bring quite a bit of my own wealth when I entered the human realm.
I still come to work every night, because that’s always been my ticket to getting close to my heart’s flame. It took me close to three years to get her to say more than a handful of words to me at a time, but all my effort is finally starting to pay off.
Once she slows on letting me feed her bites, I exchange her food for mine. It doesn’t exactly take long for me to down the double bacon cheeseburger.
She groans when I offer her a couple of fries from my container, but she eats them from my fingers. A wide smile crosses my face. There’s nothing in the world comparable to caring for my mate. It fills my chest with a warmth I’ve never experienced. She grins up at me, licking the salt off my finger as she grabs the last fry I hold out.
I smirk. She’s definitely growing bolder and more confident in our connection. She might not fully recognize it yet, but this little fae is mine.
“You’re spoiling me, but I’m stuffed,” she groans, rubbing her stomach over her silky dress.
“Caring for you isn’t going above and beyond.” I grab my drink, holding it out so that she can have a sip. She might not love human food, but she does have an obsession with carbonated beverages. Perfect pink lips wrap around the straw, and I stifle a growl.
My cock isn’t nearly as controllable, and it pulses under her ass.
She grins, bringing her face back to rest on my shoulder as I take a quick drink before setting it aside. I shove the food containers on the small table and kick off my boots. Stretching out on the couch, Ali lies on top of me with no fight or hesitation.
It makes me feel like a goddamn king. In the fae realm, she was the untouchable princess. Even here, she’s gained a bit of a reputation as the ice queen.
I believe it’s a facade she uses to protect herself, or maybe the way she was raised is to blame. It’s taken considerable effort to end up where we are now. I revel in every second of the contact.
I haven’t slipped inside her tight little body yet, but I have dreamed about it many times over the years. As she runs her fingers over my clavicle, it’s hard to remember I’m letting her lead the pace.
I ache to lick and kiss every inch of her skin, but instead, I concentrate on how easily she’s accepting my care. Over the last few weeks, especially, she’s gotten more affectionate, and she puts up less of a fight when I do things like braid her hair or feed her by hand.
