Her Fae Lovers

Lola dropped her hands to her sides, spinning around to face Erik. Watching him as he came into the room, she hoped he couldn’t tell that she had been up to something.

“I thought you might be hungry.” He said, moving closer to the cell. He sat the tray on the chair that sat outside of her cage, pulling out a ring of heavy looking keys.

“You could always let me out,” Lola said, crossing her arms under her breasts. “To eat, I mean.” She added, not holding her breath.

“Now Lola, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Erik chided as he unlocked the door. Moving to pick up the tray, “What happened to Puca?”

Looking down at the floor, Lola didn’t say anything as she pressed her lips together, closing her eyes.

“So you killed him?”

Lola felt her stomach drop at the smile in his voice. How could he talk about killing Puca with such an easy-going manner? Her breath caught in her throat as he moved so quickly to stand in front of her.

“It’ll get easier, dealing with his death. I take it the queen took care of his body?” He asked.

Lola nodded her head, not meeting his eyes. She didn’t want him to see the truth in her eyes. The hope that still dwelled in her heart, that Puca would survive.

She couldn’t help but wonder if she would be able to get past him and out the door of the shop before he caught her. At Erik’s chuckle, she looked up, hoping that he couldn’t read her mind.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. You’ll never make it to the front door in time.” Erik said. Giving her a crooked, half smile. “Your eyes are so expressive, my dear.”

“Should I call you your majesty?” Lola asked. Raising an eyebrow and pressing her lips together as he moved closer to her. Hoping that he could see what her eyes were telling him now.

“I’d rather prefer my love. It’s good to see that Puca’s death didn’t hurt you.” Erik said as he tucked a strand behind her ear.

Lola flinched at his words, lowering her arms to wrap them around her abdomen as if it would somehow keep her and the baby safe. “You should eat, you’ll need your strength.”

Turning, he started to move to the door of the cage. Mentally making a list of all the things he’d need to take care of for Lola and himself.

“Erik?”

“Yes, Lola?” He asked, turning to look back at her.

“Does the deal still stand? My life for theirs?” Lola asked, looking up at him.

“Yes,” he said with a smile as he moved closer to her and away from the cell door.

Close enough to touch, yet he didn’t touch her. She was thankful for that. She didn’t want to think about him touching her after the way that Puca had touched her.

Lola bit the inside of her cheek as she looked up at him, “What do you mean when you say that I have to give myself to you. Like a sacrifice…”

Chuckling as he watched her trail off Erik’s smile widened. “That’s what I love so much about you, Lola. The way that you see things is so unique. I could never sacrifice you. I want to marry you.”

“Marry me?”

“Yes, every king needs a queen and I think that fire in you suits me well. Why don’t you sit and eat and I’ll be back in a moment? I’ve got arrangements to make. Then we can discuss your future more in depth.” He said turning away, leaving her in a shocked stupor.

Lola didn’t know how to respond to his words. Placing her shaking hands on her stomach, she looked down, searching for any sign of life. She couldn’t help but wonder what would happen to the fetus that was growing inside of her. If what the queen had said was right and not some sort of fae trickery.

Would Erik help her with the child if she did as he asked, or was it destined never to survive?

That thought made her throat tighten. How was she supposed to carry a child to term if it might not survive?

Stepping closer to the small table. She sat down on the floor, eyeing the green beans and baked chicken. How was she supposed to trust anything that he had given her?

She picked up the silver dome and placed it back over the food. Hunger wasn’t an issue, she needed to worry about getting out of here.

Moving back to the wall, she started picking at the wallpaper again. The more that she revealed, the more she noticed that it was glowing. Not as bright at the runes that were on the box that held the fae men. Or the ones that were on the chest that her grandmother had given her. Just a faint shimmering iridescent glow.

***

Merrow’s eyes snapped open with a gasp. Lu let out a relieved sigh as he leaned closer to study the pale merman.

“He’s gone.”

“Puca?” Bodach asked, crouching beside his friend.

“He’s gone.” Merrow repeated, shock marring his sharp features as he clenched his teeth together. The muscle in his jaw twitching as he tried to hold his emotions in check. Not wanting to accept his lover’s death. He’d never known a time that he wasn’t connected to Puca and the hole that was his life force felt like an open bleeding wound.

“No, there has got to be a mistake.” Lu said, watching as Merrow pushed himself to sit up with a wince.

Bodach extended his hand to help Merrow stand and gave him a sad smile. “I can trace where he last was. His magic still lingers on your skin.”

“You don’t think it was Lola, do you?” Lu asked as he moved to stand, his shoulders drawn as he dragged a hand through his hair. He could remember how his body had felt when he had laid with Lola. Even now he felt it was worth the risk.

“I don’t know what to think.” Merrow said, looking back at his lover. “If it is, she’s going to need us.”

“Let’s go,” Bodach said from the front door. He was ready to find Lola and bring her home. Then they could figure out what happened to Puca.

***

Hanging up the phone, Erik smiled to himself. Things were falling into place this time around more smoothly than they had in the past. He was glad that Callista hadn’t interfered as she had like last time.

Her love for that mortal man, the one that was Lola’s father, was sickening.

At least his love was part fae. Erik could excuse her human side for that. He already had a spell in mind that he knew would help her get rid of those complicated feelings that she felt for Bodach, Merrow, and Lu.

Snarling as he moved about the kitchen. He didn’t like to think about the other men touching Lola. About what he knew had happened between them.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Shaking his head as he fixed himself a glass of water from the tap. He realized that he would get over Lola and her dalliances much better than he’d handled her mothers.

Erik supposed he was biased, Lola was special. It wasn’t just that he had loved her mother. He had, with everything that he was. Or so he had thought.

Until Lola had gotten older and worked her way into his heart. He didn’t think there was anything that she could do to make him stop loving her.