Discovering Fae

I think I scared Mal, because he sort of froze and went pale for a while before his ears turned red. He agreed, but only after we had our first date. And that was how he scared me.

Mom was thrilled to take me shopping and we ended up in just about every store the mall two towns over had to offer. I thought I was going to die when she elbowed me and wiggled her eyebrows when we passed by Victoria’s Secret. Wasn’t she supposed to be my mother?

Now, I was wringing my hands in my lap as I stared into my cold teacup while Mom tried to distract me. It wasn’t working.

“You’re going to get an ulcer,” she teased me, nudging her elbow into my arm a little bit. “There’s nothing to be nervous about.”

“I’ve never been on a date before,” I admitted quietly. “What do you do?”

“I hear first dates are pretty awkward,” she shrugged.

“Wait. You’ve never been on a date either?” I squeaked as I panicked a little.

“With your father, yes, but it’s not really the same as a normal first date,” she said. “We’re Bonded, so it’s not like we have to go through the whole “seeing if it’ll work” phase because it’s guaranteed to work. There is literally nothing to be worried about.”

“I can’t help it,” I huffed and slumped into the chair.

“Just do what you do normally,” she said and put her hand on mine, pulling me up and interlocking our arms. “If you think about it, you’ve had lots of dates already. The movie nights where you sit up eating popcorn and ice cream, when he took you to the fair and you came home with that goldfish that died three days later.”

“Those weren’t dates, those were random spontaneous outings,” I whined. Yes, literally whined. Gods above, I was turning into a toddler, and I totally blamed Mal.

“Don’t argue, there’s a point,” she chuckled. “I swear, you and your father are just alike.”

“I’m pretty sure Dad wasn’t about to tinkle himself,” I grumbled, and she laughed so hard, she had to hold on to the wall to keep herself standing while she held on to her stomach. “I fail to see the humor in this, Mom.”

“I’m sorry, honey, but the thought of your dad “tinkling” is just too much,” she laughed harder.

“Glad my anxiety amuses you,” I rolled my eyes as she gets it together again.

“It’s perfectly normal to be a little nervous, even if you know it’s a sure thing,” she patted my hand on her elbow as she led me into the bedroom she and Quinn took over when they got here. “You’re dating your soul mate, not some high school crush.”

“Well...” I made a face and she laughed.

“Please tell me you had a crush on him,” she laced her fingers together.

“For about a minute, then he opened his mouth, and a jackass came out,” I snorted, and she laughed again.

“It could have been worse,” she shrugged and had me sit on the edge of the bed while she brushed my hair. “At least you weren’t half naked when you first met.”

“Oh, my gods, no!” I gasped.

“I was attacked and... well, your father saved me,” she said. “I was raised as a princess. Proper lady and fine etiquette and such. I had no survival skills to speak of. I’m actually a little shocked I made it as far as I did before something bad happened.”

“That was when you made your Call?” I asked.

“Yes,” she nodded.

“Funny, Mal saved me when I made mine, too,” I said and looked up at her. “I’m sensing a pattern.”

“How did he save you?” she asked, her forehead wrinkled.

“I was tripped into a pool. I can’t swim,” I blushed.

“Give me a name,” she glared.

“It’s fine, Mom. I haven’t seen her since I left school to go into hiding.”

“Fine, but if I find out...,” she said then smiled brightly. “You just focus on your date with Mal.”

“Why would you remind me of that?” I grimaced.

-----

It’s just dinner and a movie. It’s just dinner and a movie. There’s nothing to be freaked out about. It’s just dinner and a movie.

I was hoping saying it enough would make me believe it, but it would seem that I am now incapable of lying to myself. My hand shook so hard as I tried to put my mascara on, that I ended up poking myself in the eyeball, which resulted in my eye watering and making everything run. I ended up swearing under my breath and washing it all off.

“Future reference, foundation only,” I said as I reapplied.

Once I finished with it, I put on a little bit of lip balm and cringed. I was so nervous; I didn’t know if it was a good idea to eat dinner at all. Maybe Mal would be open to skipping and going right to the movie.

“You look beautiful, little one,” Dad said from the door. “Too beautiful. Go change.”

I looked down at the light blue summer dress I was wearing. It had a square neck and sleeves that sat between my shoulder and elbow. It fit my body closely until my waist, where it continued in loose folds to below my knee.

“Mom picked it,” I said, looking up at him.

“And it’s lovely, isn’t it Quinn?” Mom said appearing behind him and poking him in the side.

“Too lovely,” he muttered.

“What would you have her wear instead? A trench coat?”

“I have one,” he looked hopeful.

“Don’t you have something else to do some place that isn’t here?” Mom asked, annoyed as she came over and did a few tweaks to my hair. “Remember what I said. Nothing to be nervous about at all.”

Dad muttered to himself for a while before he crossed his arms and sulked as I walked by.

“Come on, dear. It’s not like we have anything to worry about,” Mom was saying as I walked towards the stairs.

I paused for a moment to pluck up the last little bit of courage I had before walking down the stairs. Mal was pacing in front of the door in a pair of black slacks and a white button up shirt, a jacket over one of his arms. Like he could sense I was there, he looked up.

Just like the first day I saw him, I couldn’t look away from those green eyes of his. It wasn’t until he took a step towards me that I realized I had stopped three steps from the bottom. I could feel my face getting warmer the closer he got to me before, suddenly, he was right there.

I couldn’t have said anything even if my brain was working enough to form a proper sentence. It was like everything in me had just frozen, like a deer in headlights. I finally understood that phrase and I pitied deer everywhere. But Mal didn’t give me a choice.

I was grabbed and crushed to him tightly.

“Hi,” he whispered in my ear, making me giggle softly.

“Hi,” I said back before closing my eyes and leaning into his arms.

The sound someone clearing their throat snapped us out of our little moment as we looked towards the glowering source at the top of the stairs. Mary scoffed in annoyance and grabbed Quinn by his ear, pulling him back down the hallway.

“He’s going to kill me, isn’t he?” Mal asked quietly.

“I’m sure he’ll settle for seriously injured,” I shook my head.

“Scary,” he shuddered. “Are you ready?”

-----

Winston’s was a restaurant across town that was as close to fine dining as we were going to get without a two-hour drive. It was a really nice place, with dark red carpet, soft lighting, and crisp white tablecloths. We were shown to a table and Mal held my chair out for me, gently brushing his fingers across my shoulders when I sat down.

“I’m going to be honest, I’m not sure I’ll be able to eat anything right now,” I said, blushing harshly.

“Why not?” he asked, an edge of worry in his voice. “Are you okay? I was worried it’s too soon after coming back from where that place was. We can go back home, if you want.”

“No, that’s not... I mean, I’m not quite 100%, but it’s... Gods, I’m just nervous,” I said, wringing my hands under the table.

“Me too,” he said, and I looked up to see that annoyingly charming smirk on his face. “But it’s just us, Fae. Me and you. We’ve done this before.”

“This is different,” I smiled weakly.

“A little bit,” he shrugged and put his hands on the table palms up, asking for mine, which I gladly gave. He gave them a gentle squeeze. “Even if tonight is a complete bomb and nothing goes right, which I’m praying doesn’t happen, we’re still going to end up where we’re always going to be. Together.”

“Keep talking like that and I’ll think you’re secretly a romantic. Imagine the teasing you’d get from Ben,” I joked.

“Only if you told on me,” he winked.

-----

The theater had large seats that were more like recliners than anything. I was glad for that after ten minutes when I shivered and left my seat to join Mal in his. He managed to shrug his jacket off without getting up and I put my legs across his lap. Once I got comfy, and I was very comfy, he put the jacket over my legs and let me lay my head on his shoulder.

“I like this arrangement better,” he whispered.

“Me too,” I smiled.

This part, we had done before. Every movie we started watching, even if I was sandwiched between my parents in the beginning, always ended with me right here, just like this. It was like I was meant to be here and nowhere else. Not that I would ever want to be anywhere else.

I closed my eyes, enjoying the closeness, and smiled. I had been so nervous about tonight and there really was no reason to be after all. It was how it’s always been. Easy and natural. The way he moved as he breathed, the sound of his steady heartbeat, the flex of muscle as he tightened his arms around me. This was safe and calm and warm. Everything I had been missing was right here and I knew I wasn’t going to ever give it up.

“I love you, Malachi,” I whispered to him, and I felt his whole body go stiff. I looked up at him and smiled at the look of pure shock on his face. “This is the part where you tell me you love me, too.”

“Gods above, Fae,” he said, crushing me to him so hard, I had to take small breaths. “I love you more than you know.”

I don’t know about Mal, but I didn’t pay any attention to the rest of the movie. I could feel the difference in the Bond already. It wasn’t finished, but it was stronger now than before we came into the theater. I could feel shadows of emotions that weren’t mine, which according to Mom and Dad, shouldn’t have been possible until the Bond was complete.

I didn’t care about that, though. I was too busy feeling what Mal felt. His feelings were warm and fuzzy and slightly electric, matching my own closely, though they were clearly different.

He meant it when he said he loved me too. I could feel how deeply true it was and it almost made me cry. I could feel the protectiveness that ran through him like a never-ending current, touching every thought he had. I felt the guilt and the shame, as well.

I frowned at that. Such dark feelings didn’t belong between us, and I wanted them gone. I put my hand on his cheek and made him come to me, putting my cheek on his. The softness of his freshly shaved skin made me smirk. He hated shaving after noon, for some reason, yet he did it for our date tonight.

“I never would have guessed the jerk in my Algebra class would end up being this sweet,” I sighed and, somehow, I relaxed even more into him.

“Only for you, Fae,” he chuckled softly, the sound vibrating in his chest.

“Can we leave early?” I asked.

“Thank Fate. I’m completely lost,” he smiled and helped me up.

He handed me his jacket and took my hand in his, threading our fingers together and bringing them up to his lips for a quick kiss on the knuckles before he led us out of the darkness.

“Well, isn’t this a shock,” some guy said, and Mal groaned as the man stood in front of us.

“I really hate small towns sometimes,” he muttered.

“Is this a problem?” I whispered, not taking my eyes off the other man as another joined him.

They looked similar, so I guessed brothers, and they were older than us by a few years, at least. They had sandy blonde hair, dull blue eyes, and were slightly taller than Mal. They also had a thicker build; the same one Mal would have if he continued whatever insane workout he had before until he was their age.

“Kane and Lane,” Mal replied softly. “Annoying little pests and, unfortunately, my cousins, though they’d never admit that.”

“Considering the last cousin of yours that I met tried to kill me, should we be concerned?” I asked, my grip on his hand tightening.

“It’s rude to whisper, you know,” one of them said.

“No. They are, for the most part, like mosquitoes. Annoying and, if they bite, leave a little welt that itches, but that’s it,” he said loud enough to be heard.

“Mosquitoes carry diseases,” I pointed out, making Mal laugh loudly.

“They do,” he agreed. “Just remember, all it takes is a little zap and they leave you alone.”

“We’re here to inform you that your father has renounced his claim of your birth and you are no longer permitted to bear the name of King,” the other brother said with a malicious smile.

“You are given three hours to leave the King residence, taking nothing with you that you, yourself, did not purchase with funds not given to you by the Kings,” the first brother sneered.

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. It was just too funny.

“What is so funny?” the first brother snapped.

“I am wondering this as well,” Mal said.

“You do realize that you’re going to be a king regardless of what they say, right?” I asked Mal.

“That is pretty ironic,” he laughed, then he laughed harder. “Your parents are going to be furious.”

“And that’s a bad thing?” I asked.

“I mean, no, but... Bianca has no idea who she’s kicking out,” Mal snorted. “I hope I’m there when she finds out.”

“But... your father did it, right?” I asked.

“Not entirely, no,” he shrugged and pulled me along with him. “This is his way of saving me from the family’s scheming. I told you I was set to be married, right?”

“Don’t remind me,” I fumed, and he chuckled as he put his arm over my shoulders.

“Trust me, I’d rather forget it as well,” he said flatly. “I’m nearly nineteen and I guess the old man figured I could take care of myself now. Bianca is likely the one behind the short time frame to pack and leave.”

“Whatever. Let’s go inform my parents that we’re all being kicked out,” I giggled as he opened the door of his car for me.

“I’ll get the popcorn while you find us some good seats,” he smiled before he closed the door.