How to Keep a Fae (Coveted Fae #1)

Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

Adaline

“ T hey need me in the warrior hall…” Jayga trails off his excuse, one of many, when he sees me plant my hands on my hips. There has been a catalog of reasons why he can’t come to meet August’s mother since the invite to tea arrived this morning.

Enough is enough.

“Fine,” I say, lifting my chin. “But in the face of this negativity, I don’t believe I shall be inclined toward sucking your cock for a week… maybe two.”

He swallows and sends a pleading look August’s way.

August raises both hands, smirking. “You’re on your own. I’m not getting involved in anything where dick-sucking is being taken off the table. Also, we’re both pussy whipped, given the damn chaise longue is still taking up space in our bedroom. Pick your battles, my friend.”

Jayga sends a murderous glance toward the offending piece of furniture. He glares at it every time he walks into the room. August appears more amused with Jayga’s response, although he does fuck me on it often and enthusiastically, like he is sending a subliminal message to the king.

My mates are both possessive in their own ways.

And have their weaknesses, which, as Jayga nods with an air of defeat, I duly note for the next time I don’t get my way.

Besides, I wouldn’t push this if I didn’t feel it was important. I don’t want Jayga to feel left out. August’s family, especially his mother and siblings, is a huge part of his life. My hand settles over my belly and the new life growing there. We will have a family of our own soon, and I cannot help but reflect that I can learn much from the women August speaks so affectionately of.

Jayga is part of the family now, both ours and the extended one. If he really hates it or it’s too much too soon, I won’t push him again. But I have come to trust my instincts more of late. The foresight training goes beyond the inspection of dreams, and I have learned a lot about my intuition and how it goes hand in hand with healing.

I sense Jayga has a lot of healing ahead of him. Family will play a big part of that.

I’m also curious about August’s relationship with his mother and siblings. He can be cool and distant sometimes but always smiles when he talks about them.

Family will be good for all of us in our own ways.

Despite my excitement at the invitation to tea, I’m also nervous about meeting August’s mother for the first time—I changed my dress three times and rearranged my hair many more before we left home.

I shouldn’t be; she is lovely. Her designated quarters are spacious, a necessity given the brood of whooping children that descend on us the moment we walk in the doors.

“Adaline, Jayga, may I introduce my mother, Cara,” August says. He is already scooping up a young boy and tossing him over his shoulder without missing a beat.

“Spin me!” the boy demands.

“Not in the house,” August says sternly. “You know our mother gets upset if we break things.” He grasps the lad by the ankles and somehow swings him down to the ground. Two young girls jump up and down beside him. He reaches to ruffle their hair and picks them up—one in each arm.

They are adorable.

August with them, more so.

If I wasn’t already good and bred, I’d be getting broody about now.

Cara laughs and sweeps over to enfold me in a hug, engulfing me in a cloud of sweet breeder scent, one I remember from my childhood. “Welcome, Adaline. Welcome, Jayga. I’m so delighted to meet you both. Come on through. I have tea waiting. Some of the children are a little shy, so brace yourself for when they get over that.”

Her laughter is sweet, and her smile is welcoming as we are guided into the day room and offered a seat on a long couch. Cara takes one of the chairs opposite. Between us is a low table, laden with all manner of sweet treats.

Jayga lurks awkwardly to the side. Like August, he wears plain leather pants and a casual white shirt in lieu of armor. He looks handsome with his neatly trimmed beard and dark curly hair gleaming.

I give a pointed look at the space to my left, and he finally sits.

Another girl, a little older, is peeping around the door leading to the bedrooms, I presume. Another, younger one, who was a moment ago in August’s arms, clings to her skirts.

Yet another girl is nursing a baby, and her mother calls her over and takes the baby from her .

“This is Sally,” Cara says. “The demanding one on August’s lap is Rose. Emos is the energetic tyrant set on breaking every item in the home, and this little cherub is William. Ruby and Rose are a little shy of visitors, but they have a soft spot for August, so expect them to join us soon.”

Goodness. I think they all have a soft spot for August. He is so very natural with them. He puts Emos on the seat to his right and scoops Rose up, putting her on his lap, where she snuggles while peeping at me and Jayga with curiosity.

Sally pours me tea and smiles shyly as she presents me with the cup. “Your hair is beautiful,” she says. “How did you pin it like that?”

“My best friend in my former feeder house had skills in hair arrangement,” I say, thinking fondly of Dede and wondering what my indomitable friend is up to now. “I could show, perhaps on another visit, with your mother’s permission, if you like.”

She beams and turns to her mother, who smiles back. “Of course, dear.” Cara turns to me and Jayga. “It’s a pity the others are busy. It would have been nice for you to meet them all.”

“There are more?” Jayga asks, his expression one of disbelief.

“Two older boys in the warrior training,” Cara says. “Here, would you like to hold William? He takes well to cuddles and is a little obsessed with men’s beards.”

The two girls, peeking around the door, giggle at this.

“I’m… Um…” Jayga sits bolt upright as Cara places the baby in his arms, instructing him how to hold.

I catch August’s smirk. “Welcome to the family. Expect to be assaulted every time you walk through the door,” he says dryly.

“August,” his mother scolds.

I don’t think Jayga is breathing, and his body radiates tension. I bite my lip to contain my smile. The gruff alpha looks terrified, holding the tiny baby until William waves his small, chubby arms and breaks out a smile.

Jayga’s resistance folds. “Aye, he’s a cute little mite.” He shares a look with August and me, grinning from ear to ear.

I nearly blubber on the spot.

William’s fist makes contact with his chin and grips a handful of beard. His small, chubby legs kick with growing excitement as he tries to liberate Jayga of his facial hair.

“Gods! He has a powerful grip,” Jayga mutters.

The girls at the door forget about hiding, giggling as they come over to help themselves from the plentiful spread.

“You were warned,” August says, laughing.

“Not very well,” Jayga says dryly. He carefully unpeels William’s grabby fingers. “My mate likes how my beard tickles, so I’m going to have to ask you to be polite.”

I blush to the roots of my hair.

Cara laughs and covers it by asking Sally to offer me a slice of cake.

I can’t take my eyes off of Jayga. He will make a wonderful father, pouring all his heart into it, making up for all he missed out on growing up. I know he worries that he has no role model. Doesn’t he know he is everything our children could need exactly how he is?

Time and children of our own will resolve his internal conflicts.

August has his share of conflicts, too. His birth father is a cold and distant fae whose ways have definitely rubbed off. Yet I also see today how he is with his many siblings, how clearly they adore him, and how playful and loving he is with them.

“Do you want to see my picture?” the younger girl, Rebecca, who had been shy at the start, arrives with a stick drawing for me to admire. One of the figures is particularly misshapen, which she informs me is August.

“He’s always had trouble fitting his head through regular doorways,” Jayga deadpans.

“His hair looks beautiful,” I say, cutting Jayga a glare. “Do you have any more pictures?”

It is like a stampede as half the children disappear to collect ‘artwork’ for my approval.

“Don’t laugh about it,” August cautions, grinning. “I have a strong feeling that next time, the star of the show will be you.”

We enjoy a pleasant afternoon that passes far too quickly and leave with a promise to return for a visit soon.

Later that night, as I snuggle between my mates, I reflect on the winding, sometimes tumultuous road that brought us here.

But I don’t linger upon that for long, instead looking forward to our future, and about the babe I shall one day soon meet. I would do all of it again in a heartbeat, for this happiness is our reward.