Fated Fae (Fractured Fae 1)

“I saw what was happening and I knew you were cooking until Bella came back. So I rushed over here to take over while you tended to her. Is there anything I can do to help now that you are back?” He steps away from the pan so I can take over. They looked like they’re close to finished.

“Do you think this is enough for everyone? I don’t want to leave our people hungry," I frown as I analyze what I prepared. Figuring it’s best to be safe, I pull out several loaves of bread and start cutting, but Andras never answers. I glanced over and he’s staring at me with an odd look. “What?! Is something on me?” I twist around but don’t see any crazy-looking fae bugs.

“No, I just like how you said our people. And yes, that’s plenty,” he says with a flirty grin, before turning back to the paper bowls and stacking them on the serving table. Now it’s my turn to be shocked. I guess we’re flirting now? I can work with that.

Trying to keep my goofy smiling in check, I finish cutting up the bread and announce to the crowd that dinner is served. Motioning over to Andras, I wait for him to step over before pointing to the bowls.

“Help me take food over to Bella and Allwyn?” I ask. He steps up and takes two bowls from me. I grab two more and lead the way to her tent. She’s still passed out so I hand the bowls and bottled water to Allwyn. When I step back out, Andras hands me one of the bowls. “Thanks, want to have dinner with me?” Please say yes.

“I know just the spot,” he says without even a moment of hesitation. He turns and leads me over to the closest bridge and sits down with his feet dangling over the edge. They’re high enough that no creepy river monsters can bite our feet off. I shudder at that fun thought as I sit down next to him.

“So, tell me about your life before the war,” It seems so weird that this quiet landscape was once a world full of people and animals.

“It was a quiet life. I worked in the main library of Spring. It was a glorious building, brimming with books. The King put me in charge of research projects for the court and distributing books to the schools. It was amazing, I loved it.” He has a faraway look in his eyes and a big smile while he describes his work. He’s even more adorable when he’s passionate about something, his smile bright and green eyes sparkling. His hair is shorter than the long hair Allwyn rocks and it looks great on him. The fae are an attractive species in general, but he has a quiet fierceness to his personality that makes him even more attractive.

“What about family?” I ask quietly. He doesn’t seem to mind my question, though he stares at the water and continues to describe his old life.

“It was just me and my sister. My parents died long before the war. She worked in the kitchen at the castle. Unfortunately the castle was the first to fall and she didn’t make it. Gods, she was such an exuberant person. Always making those around her laugh, but she protected her family with an almost feral fierceness. There was this one time that she came to the library one day to bring me my favorite sweets from the kitchens. One of the tutors from the school was yelling and calling me incompetent for a mistake he made. I don’t handle confrontation well, so I was letting him get his anger out before explaining for a fifth time that I sent him exactly what he asked for. She walked right up to him, half his size, and tore into him until he was apologizing and walking out scared. It was magnificent. You remind me of her,” he says as he gives me a glance before turning back to his view. His faraway look is now tinted with sadness and I feel like an ass for asking about them. Needing to do something to make it better, I reach over and take his hand, giving it a squeeze for reassurance. He looks at me in shock and I quickly let go, realizing I misread. Way to ruin the moment, you idiot!

“Sorry, I thought it would be okay. I was just trying to offer you some comfort, since I stupidly brought up your past," I mumble and start to get up to leave, but he pulls me back down.

“Don’t be silly, I was just surprised. Please don’t leave,” he gives me a pleading look and I settle back into my seat. “Tell me about your family?”

“There isn’t much to tell. My parents kicked me out the day I told them I was gay. They were really traditional and had plans for my life that I clearly didn't want for myself. They refused to see reason, but I was thankfully old enough to go off to college, so I left. Other than Sam, Bella was my only family. Now she’s all I have. That’s why I wanted to come here. I couldn’t let her leave me behind, and I had nothing worth staying for on Earth. I left my apartment for Sam and that was the last of the loose ends I cared about," I explain. He looks so sad for me, and I appreciate that he cares, but I’m so beyond over that bullshit. “It’s really okay, I’m stronger because of it.”

“I’m so sorry. It wasn’t a problem here, unless you were royal. I’m also sorry about Sam," he adds.

We eat in silence for a few minutes before I continue on. “Don’t be sorry about Sam. He stopped loving me and didn’t have the nerve to tell me. We were doomed for a while and I tried to fix it. I’m honestly not as sad as I thought I would be. I’m happy with things now,” I reassure him.

“Well, I’m happy you’re here,” Andras says as he takes my hand this time. A smile spreads across my face before we both turn back to the water.

Hello. I wanted to speak to my fae on Earth. It was brought to my attention that some of you stayed only because you may have mixed families now. But I want to make it clear that they’re welcome in Faerie with us. Just remember time flows differently, that traveling back and forth is hard for humans. The choice is theirs. We await your arrival. Be well, my brothers and sisters.

The intrusion in my head is so abrupt that I yelp and almost fall into the water. How the hell am I hearing this? Andras laughs as he keeps me from falling forward with a strong hand on my arm.

“You’re in Faerie now, so you hear her too. I guess you should go see her. But I enjoyed our dinner,” he says with a smile.

“Me too.” With a sigh I stand up to leave our little bubble of peace. I give a small wave before rushing to Bella. But all I can think about is Andras, the man who is apparently making me feel things I hadn’t felt in a long time, even with Sam.

Chapter 11

When I open my eyes the first thing I realize is that I’m not in the gardens anymore. Instead I’m inside of a tent with Allwyn on the floor next to me. The moment he realizes I’m awake he rushes forward.

“The stone," I demand immediately. I feel awful for not getting a chance to contact the people already. Without overthinking, I quickly relay my message. Once I’m done I lean back on the bedroll, feeling like I’ve been run over by a truck. “I feel so weak," I tell Allwyn, hoping he knows why.

“I think you overexerted your magic, which is surprising since you have such an extensive supply,” he explains. I expect more information about it but I should know better by now. He acts like he doesn’t notice my annoyance as he puts a few pillows behind me to prop me up, then bringing over a bowl of food. I try to take it from him but my hands are shaking too much to even try to pick up the spoon so he keeps it and feeds me instead. It’s the kindest gesture anyone has ever done for me, aside from Jacob, but I can’t help but feel like a fucking failure. Some queen I am, I passed out on my first day and now Allwyn has to feed me like an infant.

“I’m sorry, my guard," I say in a soft voice, full of shame.

He looks up, confused. “Why would you be sorry?” He feeds m

e another spoonful of the roasted vegetables, but never takes his eyes from mine. The crystal blue depths swirl with curiosity.

“I’m a failure of a queen. Day one and I'm being hand fed because I’m weak," I explain. It should have been obvious.

“You, my Queen, are not seeing yourself correctly. You may have found your magical breaking point, but you also immediately woke up and contacted your people. Faerie wasn’t your home, yet you are here trying to save it. You‘ve done all of this, only because you have a big heart. That right there, is exactly what a queen does. You’re the most humble, beautiful, and giving queen I have ever had the honor of serving,” he says reverently. I blush at his compliments, not believing them fully but appreciating his confidence in me nonetheless.

“Thank you, Allwyn. You never cease to surprise me," I say with a small smile.