Page 43 of Nugget

“Good luck with your mate.” Rainier gripped his shoulder before opening the portal.”

“Thanks, man.” Gavin stepped through his side of the portal. When he stepped out, he was standing in the long hallway of Rainier’s upstairs.

Gerald slid out of the shadows in front of him. “Master Gavin! I wasn’t expecting you. I have just pulled a fresh fruit pie from the oven. If I recall, you also enjoy black coffee?”

Gavin grinned. “Thank you for the offer, Gerald. Rainier opened the portal. It seems that River snuck my future mate into the realm.”

“That boy.” Gerald smiled wide. “He does keep our king on his toes.”

“That he does,” Gavin agreed.

“I believe the pixies have been taking your mate fruit from the garden,” Gerald told him. “I knew they were up to something.”

“I’m glad he’s being taken care of. I’ll just slip out and shift to collect him.”

“Very good. Please let me know if you need any assistance.”

Gavin smiled at Rainier’s butler. “I appreciate it.”

Gerald led the way down the stairs and through the kitchen. He held the door open, allowing Gavin to exit. Gavin stepped out to the backyard. If someone would call the outside of the property a yard.

The fae realm was filled with intense colors. Brighter than the human world.

The flowers and plants bigger.

Everything just a little more sharper.

It was an amazing place. Gavin would have loved to have been the one to bring his mate to this realm. To take Stryker flying. Show Stryker the good part of the paranormal world.

There were times when Gavin got lost in the past. When all he could remember was tragedy and pain. That wasn’t what the paranormal community stood for though.

They were survivors. Centuries of adversity and threats making the ones that were still alive stronger. Family meant something when you’d lost everything.

Gavin had been struggling. He’d just needed the reminder.

This reminder.

He’d worked hard to rebuild the life that was stolen from him.

Gavin ditched his clothes quickly, leaving them on a chair at the edge of the yard. He strode forward to the clearing that he knew wasn’t far. Once he reached his destination, Gavin held his arms up to the sky.

The power inside him started to build.

Across the purple sky, lightning streaked. A rumble shook under his feet. Gavin took off at a run. He leapt and called on his shift.

He flapped his large wings once, twice. He dipped before rising into the air.

The magic of the realm pulsed down his spine.

Gavin did a few wide circles above the clearing then the house. He could feel the moisture in the air, could smell the waterfall not far away, and headed in the direction of his mate.

* * * * *

Stryker

“Thanks, buddy!” Stryker accepted another bright red apple. He added the piece to the stack. “I really do have enough to eat. I appreciate it but I don’t need anything else.”

The little red-orange pixie chattered, spraying some sort of glitter over him.

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