Page 31 of Fairy's Forbidden Touch
He stepped inside, offering the bag to Maya with a slight bow. “I brought frozen dairy confections in various flavors. The shopkeeper assured me these were of superior quality.”
Maya accepted the bag, peeking inside. “Häagen-Dazs. Definitely superior quality. Thanks, Your Highness.”
“Thalen, please,” he corrected gently. “Titles are unnecessary among family.”
The simple statement—acknowledging Maya as family—made something warm unfurl in my chest. Through our bond, I felt Thalen’s sincerity, his genuine affection for my cousin who had, in his words, “nurtured Jesse through difficult times.”
“Well, Thalen,” Maya said, getting bowls from the cabinet, “you’re just in time to help me convince Jesse to tell our parents about your whole situation.”
He raised an eyebrow in my direction. “Indeed? I have been suggesting the same for some time.”
“Ganging up on me isn’t fair,” I protested as Maya began scooping ice cream.
“We merely wish for you to experience the support of your full family circle,” Thalen said diplomatically. “My parents have expressed interest in meeting your progenitors as well.”
“And that doesn’t sound intimidating at all,” I muttered. “Hey Mom and Dad, meet my boyfriend’s parents—the immortal king and queen of the fairy realm!”
“Fae,” Thalen corrected automatically, making Maya laugh.
“You two are adorable,” she declared, handing us each a bowl of ice cream. “Like an old married couple already, with your little corrections and inside jokes.”
Thalen looked pleased at the observation, the patterns beneath his skin brightening slightly—visible now even through his clothing in moments of strong emotion. He had explained that this increased visibility was another sign of our bond strengthening, allowing his natural magic to express itself more freely in my presence.
As we settled in Maya’s living room with our ice cream, the conversation shifted to lighter topics—Maya’s latest dating disaster, Thalen’s ongoing fascination with human technology, my adventures in navigating fae court politics. The easy flow of discussion, the way Thalen had integrated himself into this human setting, made something settle within me—a confirmation that bridging these two worlds was not only possible but rewarding.
Later, as Thalen and I walked back to my apartment (he still preferred walking to more magical forms of transportation when in the human realm, finding it “grounding”), he took my hand, cool fingers intertwining with mine.
“Your cousin is a remarkable human,” he observed. “Her energy is similar to yours—bright and resilient.”
“She’s the best,” I agreed. “Saved my ass more times than I can count.”
“And now you are finding your path,” he said with obvious pride. “The court advisors speak highly of your quick adaptation to our ways.”
I snorted. “You mean they’re surprised the bumbling human hasn’t caused a magical catastrophe yet.”
“They are impressed,” he insisted. “As am I. Few humans could navigate the complexities you have faced with such grace.”
Through our bond, I felt the sincerity behind his words—the genuine admiration that always made me feel both proud and slightly unworthy.
“I have good motivation,” I said, squeezing his hand. “Makes it easier to learn all those complicated protocols when there’s someone worth learning them for.”
The patterns beneath his skin brightened visibly, a pulse of light that momentarily illuminated our joined hands. Three months into our bond, and I still found new ways to make him react, new expressions of emotion to discover.
“I have been meaning to discuss something with you,” he said as we approached my apartment building. “A proposal of sorts.”
“Another one?” I teased. “I’m already magically bonded to you for centuries. What’s next?”
He smiled—those genuine smiles that had become more frequent since our bonding. “I was thinking we might establish a more permanent dwelling in the human realm. Something larger than your current apartment, perhaps with a garden where I could cultivate certain fae plants.”
I stopped walking, turning to face him. “You want us to buy a house? Together?”
“Is that not a common step for committed humans?” he asked, uncertainty creeping into his voice. “I have been researching your customs, and cohabitation in a jointly selected dwelling seems significant.”
The thought of house-hunting with a fairy prince—finding a place that could be truly ours, not just my apartment or his royal chambers—made something twist pleasantly in my chest.
“It is significant,” I confirmed. “And yes, I’d love to find a place together. But fair warning—my credit is still pretty terrible from all those bad decisions I made before meeting you.”
He waved a dismissive hand. “Financial constraints are not a concern. The royal treasury has a substantial allocation for cross-realm establishments.”
