Page 30 of Fairy's Forbidden Touch
I grinned. “Different realm, but yeah. Most of the old gods are real beings from various realms that intersect with ours. That’s been one of the weirder revelations.”
“Jesus,” she muttered. “Next you’ll tell me Santa Claus is your neighbor.”
“Winter Court adjacent,” I said casually, then laughed at her expression. “Kidding! Probably.”
She shook her head in disbelief. “I still can’t believe my disaster of a cousin ended up magically married to fairy royalty.”
“Fae,” I corrected automatically, earning an eye roll.
“Whatever. The point is, you went from crashing on my couch to living in a crystal palace in the trees. That’s quite the upgrade.”
“I still have my apartment,” I reminded her. “We split time between realms. The café even kept me on for three shifts a week.”
“How’s that working out? Having a prince serving coffee to other fairy—sorry, fae?”
“He doesn’t actually work there,” I clarified. “He just visits during my shifts. And Pix loves it—says having royalty hanging around is good for business.”
We continued catching up—Maya filling me in on family gossip and her dating life, me carefully editing my tales of fae court to keep them somewhat believable. Despite the extraordinary turns my life had taken, these normal moments with Maya remained precious—anchors to the human world I was determined not to leave behind.
After dinner, as we were cleaning up, Maya asked the question I’d been dreading: “Have you told Mom and Dad yet? About any of this?”
I winced. “Not exactly. I mean, they know I’m seeing someone serious, but I haven’t gotten into the ‘he’s from another realm and oh by the way I’m going to live for centuries’ part of it.”
“You’ll have to tell them eventually,” she pointed out. “Especially once the physical changes become more noticeable.”
“I know.” I sighed, leaning against the counter. “Thalen’s actually been pushing for it too. He thinks we should invite them to a formal introduction in the fae realm.”
Maya raised her eyebrows. “Mom would absolutely lose her mind. In a good way, probably.”
“Or she’d think I’ve joined a cult with really good special effects,” I countered.
“True.” She finished drying the last plate, then turned to face me directly. “Seriously though, Jesse. Are you happy? Really happy? Because that’s all that matters to me.”
The question made me pause and really consider the whirlwind my life had become. The daily navigation between worlds, learning fae protocols while teaching Thalen human customs, the occasional political tensions that still surfaced around our bond. It was complicated, exhausting sometimes, and unlike anything I could have imagined for myself.
And yet…
“I am,” I said with absolute certainty. “Happier than I’ve ever been. It’s not easy, but it’s right. He’s right.”
She studied my face, then nodded, apparently satisfied with what she saw. “Good. That’s all I needed to know.”
As if summoned by our conversation, the crystal communication device in my pocket chimed with Thalen’s distinctive tone. I pulled it out to find a message floating above its surface:
Proceedings concluded earlier than anticipated. May I join you at your cousin’s dwelling? I have acquired the “ice cream” you recommended for social gatherings.
I smiled, typing back a quick affirmative. “Thalen’s on his way,” I told Maya. “Hope that’s okay. He’s bringing ice cream.”
“The fairy prince is bringing dessert to my apartment,” she said with a laugh. “Sure, why not? My life has gotten way more interesting since you started dating outside your species.”
“Very funny,” I said, though I couldn’t help smiling.
Twenty minutes later, a precise knock announced Thalen’s arrival. I opened the door to find him standing there in what he considered “casual human attire”—perfectly tailored trousers and a simple silk shirt, his silver hair in a loose braid over one shoulder. He held a bag containing what appeared to be several pints of premium ice cream.
“Greetings,” he said, then after a beat, added a more casual, “Hello.”
Three months of exposure to human customs had made him more comfortable with informality, though he still slipped into princely formality when nervous or tired.
“Hey,” I said, leaning in to kiss him briefly. “Come in. Maya and I were just finishing up.”
