Page 21 of Fairy's Forbidden Touch
He stepped inside, taking in the small space with curious eyes. “It has excellent energy,” he declared. “Very much yours.”
Maya coughed pointedly from where she was unpacking kitchen items. “Hello to you too, Your Highness.”
Thalen turned to her with a slight bow. “Maya. Thank you for assisting Jesse with his relocation.”
“Just trying to get him off my couch,” she said cheerfully. “Though I’ll miss having someone to blame when the milk disappears.”
I rolled my eyes. “That was one time.”
“Three times,” she corrected, then glanced between us. “Well, I should get going. Let you two… settle in.”
The suggestive emphasis made me groan. “Maya…”
“What? I’m being supportive of your interspecies relationship.” She grabbed her jacket, then paused to look at Thalen seriously. “Take care of him, okay? He acts tough, but he’s got a soft center.”
“I am well aware of Jesse’s qualities,” Thalen replied with equal seriousness. “I value them greatly.”
Something passed between them—an understanding or acceptance—before Maya nodded and headed for the door. “Call me when you’re ready for a housewarming,” she called over her shoulder. “And maybe install some soundproofing first!”
The door closed behind her, leaving Thalen and me alone in my new apartment. He immediately moved closer, cool hands framing my face in what had become a familiar gesture.
“Your cousin is protective of you,” he observed. “It is good to have such connections.”
“She’s seen me through some rough patches,” I admitted. “Including the most recent one.”
His thumbs traced my cheekbones gently. “I am pleased you have your own dwelling now. It will afford us more privacy.”
The implications of that statement sent a pleasant warmth through me. “No more cramped couch encounters.”
“Indeed.” His lips quirked in that almost-smile I’d come to recognize as genuine amusement. “Though your cousin’s furnishings have certain… nostalgic value now.”
I laughed, leaning in to kiss him. What started as a simple greeting quickly deepened, his cool tongue sliding against mine with practiced familiarity. After six weeks, we knew each other’s bodies well, but the desire showed no signs of diminishing—if anything, it had only grown stronger with time.
When we finally separated, I noticed tension in his features that hadn’t been there before. “What’s wrong?” I asked, immediately concerned.
He hesitated, his fingers absently adjusting one of the silver cuffs on his ear—that nervous tell I’d come to recognize. “There is a matter I must discuss with you. Something that has… arisen.”
The seriousness in his tone made my stomach clench. “That sounds ominous.”
“Not ominous,” he corrected quickly. “Merely… complicated. Perhaps we should sit.”
My apartment came with minimal furniture—just a bed, a small table with two chairs, and a secondhand couch Maya had helped me find. Thalen chose the couch, perching on the edgewith that perfect posture that always made me feel slouchy in comparison.
“So what’s this complicated matter?” I asked, sitting beside him.
He took a breath, composure slipping just slightly. “Our relationship has not gone unnoticed in my realm. The fact that you can touch me when others cannot has become… a topic of significant interest.”
“I figured as much from all those stares when we visited your place,” I said, trying to keep my tone light despite my growing concern.
“Indeed. Initially, it was mere curiosity. But now…” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “There are those in the Court who believe your ability represents something significant. A bond of magical importance.”
“What kind of significance are we talking about?”
His fingers went to the ear cuff again. “In fae tradition, when a royal finds one who can withstand their inherent magic—their perfect counterpart—it is considered a true bond. A… destined connection.”
Oh.
“Like soulmates?” I ventured, my mouth suddenly dry.
