Des'tai

[laura]

For a moment, Ty forgot all about who and what Faye was, his desire for her clouding his better judgement. Up until now, he knew bedding her wasn’t an option – not only was she a human, but she was also his life mate and everyone had heard what that was like. Sex between life mates was supposed to be intense, consuming, it took you over, made you something more than just two beings; then there was the first time, it was the ritual to cement two mates to one another… it would scare the life out of Faye. And that was the last thing he wanted to do.

Taking a steady breath, Tyron forced himself away from her, mentally reminding himself not to do anything like that again. Faye was human. Faye was human. She looked like an animal caught in headlines, frightened and flustered, not sure what to do next.

“Green.” Tyron answered. “Why?”

Faye blinked as he moved, the further he stepped, the more she appeared to relax. He tried to ignore the ache in his chest – she really didn’t want him near her, his attention or his desire; she didn’t want any of it.

“I want us to know each other better – I want to know who you really are.”

“My favourite colour won’t tell you that.”

“Yes, it will,” She smiled, making the ache in his chest intensify. Damn the goddess above, he wanted to touch her more than he wanted his next breath. “What’s your favourite food?”

Why did she want to know the pointless things about him? No-one wanted to know that, not even his own mother.

“Cram.”

She nodded, pretending to know what it was. “Tea or coffee?”

Ty grimaced. Coffee was something the elders had tried to bring into Siofra from Earth, but the high caffeine levels hadn’t bonded well with their race – it had sent a few of them crazy, the dark nectar acting like a drug. “Tea, I suppose.”

She leant back against the rocky wall, pondering her next question. “Oh, I know! When did you have your first kiss?”

Ty frowned, “You’re really asking me this?”

Faye nodded, watching him expectantly.

Fine, she asked for it. “I was sixteen – she lived in my village.”

She nodded. “And?”

“And what? We kissed, that’s it. There’s no story to tell.”

“There’s got to be a story, Ty. You don’t just randomly meet someone and lock lips…” She trailed off, frowning at her own words. “Did you only kiss her once?”

“Yes, she met her life mate a few weeks later – she was happy to only be kissing him from there on out.”

At the mention of mates, Faye’s ears perked in interest. “She met her life mate, at 16?”

“She was 18 – that’s when we hit our maturity, it’s when the hormones that make life mates possible kick in. She was considered very lucky, to have found her love so quickly. I hear she’s already birthed a daughter.” Tyron hadn’t seen Shina in years; she’d been a pretty little thing, with bright red hair and round golden eyes – the male who could call her his was indeed a lucky one.

Why couldn’t he have been matched to someone like Shina? Instead, fate had dealt him a sick, cruel hand and given him a human female. One that was incapable of feeling the same things that he did – did she even feel like pull like he did? Would it all be the same, like it would be for a female elf?

“Next question.”

“Um…” She swallowed. “I have one question, but it’s not a personal one...”

Ty splashed himself in the face, trying to cool down. There was a small cluster of freckles on the inside curve of her left breast; the image of his lips grazing over that one spot refused to leave his mind, no matter how many of her ridiculous questions she asked. “Just ask it, Faye.”

She hesitated at first, wringing her hands together beneath the water. “Well…is it possible for…um, well…y’know…” Her cheeks turned a light shade of red. “…for a human and an elf to…”

“Have sex?” He finished for her. “Yes, it’s possible. I’ve read enough history books to know that much. We could test the theory, if you’re really that curious.”

A devilish smile tugged at his lips – until the red vanished from her face, replaced by a ghostly white. Tyron immediately turned serious and backed up further. Seeing her so frightened made him ashamed of himself.

“I’m sorry,” He edged toward the falling water at his back. “I would never expect you to do that with me, to force you into something you don’t want. Just…please don’t look so scared, I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you.” Ty groaned, rubbing his hand across the back of his neck. “I can’t help it. I’m not normally like this. I lose myself and forget and my brain goes foggy when I get too close and – I’m just sorry. It won’t happen again, I promise.”

With that, Tyron quickly ducked beneath the fall. He needed to get out of this lake and away from Faye, before he scared her more than he already had.

[Manda]

Faye was quite shocked at Tyron's reaction to her questions. She was slightly glad he'd moved away from her so her body temperature could return to a more normal degree, but the further away he moved, the colder and more uncomfortable she felt. Standing in the water, which had been relaxing a few short minutes before now felt chilling. Faye stared at the curtain of water rushing between her and Tyron before she found herself moving through it and calling out for him.

“Tyron Thorn, stop!” she called across the crystal clear lake, her voice bouncing off the water and echoing throughout the temple.

Tyron, of course, had already made his exit from the water and was in search of his clothes. Pausing momentarily to glance at Faye, he shook his head quickly and continued to load up his arms.

“Why are you running from me? I just wanted to get to know you better...is that too much to ask of someone who is supposed to be your mate?” she continued wading through the water towards him.

As she watched him swiftly move around the lake, she felt her pulse quicken at the thought of kissing him along his jaw line as he appeared to be clenching his teeth in order to not lash out at her. She had a feeling she was about to be scolded as she watched his chest heave up and down heavily before he slowed his frantic pace and finally stood still to stare at her in the waters of the lake.

“You are not just my mate Faye. Elves mate with each other often for pure pleasure. Lifemates feel the purity of their heart and soul within each other. They yearn for each other's presence. Finding your lifemate can completely encompass your entire life mind, body, and soul! So please, be more careful with your words because if you truly are supposed to be my lifemate, we won't simply be mating...you will...I mean I will...”

Faye had been slowly making her way across the lake to where Tyron was standing and as he helped pull her out of the lake his explanation of mate versus lifemate seemed to fade away. Once again, Faye felt warm and cozy in her own skin and she realized it was because she was standing within a few inches of Tyron. If they were too close to each other, it felt like her skin was ablaze but too far apart she became lonely and cold. Faye pined for his touch, but just to be close to him was satisfying enough. Just as Tyron said, she yearned for his presence.

Feeling a courage she didn't know she had, Faye took a bold step forward and reached her hand out to run her fingers along Tyron's jaw. He was once again clinching his mouth closed and breathing heavily. She wanted to test these waters, slowly. She was indeed an innocent virgin so the sex talk had throttled her nerves, but she was eager to understand the feelings swirling deep within her.

“Tell me Tyron, when I touch you...do you feel the same thing I do?” she asked quietly trying to gauge his reaction carefully. Faye watched as Tyron's eyes appeared to gloss over and for a moment, she wondered if he was no longer with her in this moment. He'd been telling her the truth behind the falls and she knew exactly what he'd been talking about. Her brain became a cloud if she allowed her mind to center on the way her skin tingled when they touched however if she focused on something else, she could keep herself restrained.

Tyron blinked once before he tilted his face into her hand and kissed her thumb gently.

“Yes,” he sighed quietly, dropping his clothes onto their bare feet as his hands found her hips.

Faye could tell Tyron was holding back as his hold on her practically bare, wet skin was firm mixed with a gentleness he'd shown her even in her fairy form.

“I'm not scared you're ever going to hurt me Tyron,” Faye whispered, her hand dropping to his chest where she could feel his heart racing beneath. Although Faye barely knew this man making her heart flip flop in her chest, she knew deep down to the center of her core he would never purposely hurt her.

The fear in Tyron's eyes seemed to ease slightly at her confession and she felt him slowly pulling her closer to him. She knew if he fully embraced her, she would lose her courage and her mind would fog over. She had to stay in control despite wanting to fall deeply into the depths of these new feelings. Resisting his pull, Faye swallowed hard to try to clear her concentration.

“I never imagined my first love to be so serious,” she admitted. “I want this to be, for lack of a better word, fun. I don't want you to run away from me like I'm a leper when you make me so...” Faye's mind was having a hard time finding the right words to describe her thoughts and feelings. Instead of thinking through things, she went with the first word she could think of. “...so hot!” She felt a deep blush cascade across her skin, but Tyron's gaze remained directly on her eyes. Thinking back to what he'd said as he was prowling around her behind the falls, she decided to indulge him. “I desire you too, like a freaking ton but, I'm just a virgin Ty.”

Tyron had remained silent during her speech and she was beginning to worry she was losing him. “If you're willing to go slow and teach me...I'll try to have patience and follow your lead.”

[laura]

Tyron cupped Faye’s cheek in his hand; if anyone was going to need patience, it would definitely be him. “We’ve got all the time in the world.”

It was nice to see Faye so optimistic about their pairing and despite how Ty was starting to feel about the situation, there was still a niggle at the back of his mind, telling him that none of it was real, that it wouldn’t last – it didn’t matter what Luna and Artemis said, Faye would go home sooner or later. She wouldn’t want to stay in Siofra, to give up her life on Earth completely. The King wouldn’t let her.

“Come on,” He bent down to scoop his clothes up once more. “Let’s get changed and go find Moira – hopefully she’s found something to eat.”

It was the smell of cooking meat that led them back up to the conservatory, where they found Moira perched over a small fire pit, slowly roasting her kill. Whatever it was, it smelt delicious even if it didn’t look it.

As they neared her, the young elf looked up, a large smile brightening up her face. “You’re back! And just in time, too. Dinner is ready!”

Ty sniffed the air, triggering a growl from his stomach. He was suddenly all too aware of his hunger, now dinner was staring him in the face. Faye moved to sit by Moira, her gaze fixated onto the headless animal. “Where did you find this?”

Moira’s smile grew wider. “I caught it. My malanai taught me to make the best traps, quick and precise; they’ve never failed me.”

---

Luna looked into the cold, calculating eyes of Eva and smiled. Eva Greenhorn, head of the Kings Guard and one of his elite soldiers, she wasn’t exactly the friendliest of elves – and here she was, standing in Luna’s cottage.

“And what do I owe the pleasure, Eva?” She peered over the rim of her teacup, regarding the stern faced elf with mild amusement. There were few beings in this world, or any other, that scared her and the leather clad thug in front of her was not one of them. “What could be so important that the king would send one of his best? Colour me curious.”

Eva narrowed her leaf green eyes. “I think you know why I am here, Luna. Where is your nutcracker husband?”

“Cracking nuts somewhere, I imagine.” Luna set her cup down. “Is that why you’re here?”

“Are you aware of…disturbances as of late?” Eva enquired, her boots heavy on the floorboards. “There are stars falling and essences are being cut off. The King is blind…and that has only ever happened once before.”

Luna smiled. “A blind King, however will he be able to see his own glorious reflection now?”

“Do you think I am laughing, Luna?” Eva stopped her pacing. “The last time our King lost his Sight, it was just before the humans invaded. Only this time it’s worse, it’s affecting his magic and the heavens. Something is happening and I’m here to find out what it is.”

“And what makes you think the problem is here?”

“Erin helpfully informed us of unnatural goings on before her untimely death – and she pointed us in this direction. Artemis hasn’t reported anything and you look perfectly relaxed…”

Luna waved a dismissive hand in Eva’s direction. “Which should tell you that there’s nothing to worry about.”

“No, Luna,” Eva stopped beside the table, the tip of her knife graving along the carved surface. “It tells me that you’re hiding something and I will find out what it is.”

[Manda]

Faye rubbed Moira's back gently and flashed her a brief smile, “Your moth, er, malanai, sounds like she was a very resourceful woman.”

The bright smile Moira emitted immediately after the compliment had her almost glowing, “She was! She was so kind and brave. She had to be...” Moira's shine dimmed a bit. “Especially after my father was killed. She had no choice but to learn to hunt and forage. She made the best of things as they were.”

Smashing her lips together, Faye leaned closer to the young teen and wrapped her arm around her. Moira continued to rotate the small animal on her make-shift rotisserie but nestled her head into Faye's shoulder.

“You don't talk much about your father,” Faye spoke quietly, ignoring Tyron's glare as she prodded a bit. She wanted to know the young girl who was sent to help them, she wanted to understand why she was there.

Moira's mind seemed to be else where as she spoke slowly, her eyes completely set on her task, “He was killed when I was very young. I never got to know him, but my malanai and Luna spoke very highly of him. My malanai used to tell me stories of how they met and how much her life changed when they found each other.”

Faye had been rubbing her hand along Moira's arm, trying to comfort her as she spoke about her parents. Faye could sense she missed them terribly.

“And then when my malanai...” Moira paused as she pulled the small woodland creature away from the burning embers to examine it. Turning it again, she returned it above the small pit. “In the end, the pain her heart felt from the loss of my father outweighed everything. She became someone else.”

Faye's eyes teared up at the pain and loss Moira had gone through and although Faye didn't know all the details, she had heard enough, “I'm very sorry Moira. You're so young to have gone through something so difficult.”

Moira's gaze fell from the firepit and slowly looked directly into Faye's eyes. They twinkled slightly before she blinked and grinned, “I'm okay Faye. I had Luna to help me through the roughest part of things. Shall we eat?”

And with that, Moira shifted from a quiet, solemn faced girl into a bright spirited teen. Faye had to take a moment to adjust to the sudden change and glanced towards Tyron in question who simply shrugged his shoulders.

“It's a small tree rat, but it should get us through until supper,” Moira explained as she pulled out a small pocket knife and sliced through the skin. Tearing a few pieces of meat away from the bone, she handed some to Tyron and then to Faye.

“Tree rat? Like, a squirrel?” Faye questioned, turning her nose up at the food being offered to her.

“Don't be rude Faye, it's meat which will give you plenty of proteins to stay healthy. Most of what we have in our bags are fruits and nuts,” Tyron grumbled through his bites.

“Nuts have proteins too,” Faye pouted as Tyron rolled his eyes at her in annoyance.

Swallowing hard, Faye had to tell herself it was only chicken as she took a very small piece out of Moira's hand and brought it close to her mouth. Moira was intently watching Faye as she examined the piece before she plugged her nose and put the meat onto her tongue.

“See, that wasn't that hard now was it kat...Faye,” Tyron piped back up, seeming to forget he wasn't allowed to call her his favorite pet name.

After a few moments, Faye released her nose and found the taste wasn't as bad as her thoughts imagined. It actually tasted pretty good, despite being a squirrel. Once Faye swallowed, Moira pulled off a few more pieces for Faye before digging into her own share.

A short while later, after they had cleaned all the meat off the bones and licked their fingers clean, Moira stood up and dusted herself off.

“So, I told you I was sent here by Luna. The two of you, well, mostly Faye, are going to need some training,” she grinned brightly, holding her hand out towards Faye to help her to her feet.

“What kind of training? I'm too full to move,” Faye whined although did allow Moira to help her to her feet.

“Ty's not always going to be there to protect you from the wrath of Siofra as a human. You're going to have to hold your own at some point.”

Faye thought for a moment and suddenly jumped, kicking her feet out and putting her fists up, “I'm like a ninja! I got this,” she laughed, however her stance was too wide. Moira quickly and easily kicked one leg out from under Faye who toppled back down to the ground.

Tyron burst out laughing at the small squeal Faye had emitted as she fell. Both Faye and Moira shot him a death glare as if this was the most serious moment in the world.

“Oh, come on now, that was funny,” he tried to joke but was shot down by Moira who tsk'd in the back of her throat.

“You're going to have to help train her you know, I'm not doing it alone,” Moira bent down and helped Faye back to her feet.

“Yeah, I'm a klutz and am going to need as much help as you can give me.”

Tyron's head fell forward and hung there for a few moments before he looked back up at Faye, his sly grin showing, “I'm not sure there is enough...”

Faye could sense where he was going with his statement and quickly cut him off, “Thorn, I'm warning you.” The sound of her voice was playful yet serious. Moira jumped in and agreed with her.

“Me too...Thooorn. Two females against one male. You lose,” Moira giggled as she grabbed Faye's hand to lead her out of conservatory and down into the temple.

[laura]

Moira was good, he'd give her that - twice in the last ten minutes she’d managed to trip him up, once with his own foot. Ty was no solider, but he'd prized himself on what fighting skills he did have; they'd come in handy working in the bar. Raising his arm up, he easily blocked her attack, catching her wrist in his grasp and pulling her toward him - but Moira quickly spun around, freeing herself. She was behind him before he'd registered that she'd moved, locked on to his back, her childish giggle echoing around him.

“I win,” Moira cheered happily, her arms locking around Ty's neck. “You're much better than I expected though.”

“How are you so good at this? You're a twelve year old ninja.”

“Well, I'm nearly thirteen...so yeah. I've learnt a lot of it from Luna and her guards and I've definitely inherited moves off my Desh'ketai. I know that now.”

Faye groaned behind them; she’d dropped down there thirty minutes ago, moaning about how Moira had been too hard on her. Ty smiled and nodded toward her, making the young girl slid off his back. Watching Faye wail about, trying to dodge Moira’s attacks, had been one of the funniest things he'd ever had the fortune to see. The very speed Moira had moved in had left Faye speechless.

“Ready to go again, Faye?”

Bright blue eyes glared in their direction. “No.”

“Oh, come on,” Ty strolled toward her, his hand extended. “Just me and you this time. I promise I'll go easy on you.” Honestly, Tyron just wanted to get his hands on her again and helping her to train was the perfect excuse - there was a sensation that came when his skin touched hers, something he couldn't quite describe, but hell, did he like it.

She folded her arms stubbornly, “I don't see why I have to know this stuff. It's not like I'll ever need it.”

“Of course you will,” Moira answered, a deep frown creasing her brows. “Everyone should know the basics to self defence - you're a human, in an elf world, if someone came at you now, you'd be dead just like that!”

Faye glanced from one to the other, her folded arms slacking. “No I wouldn't be...”

“So would.”

“Wouldn't.”

“Would.”

“Wouldn't.”

“Okay!” Ty held up his hands in exasperation. “You both need to shut up. Moira, sit down over there and don't say another word until we're finished. Faye, get up,” He held his hand out to her once more. “You're going to know at least one move before this day ends. And stop looking at me like that, glaring won't get you anywhere - “ Ty cut himself, an impish grin shaping his lips. “ - Well, that's a lie, it'll get you somewhere, because that stare gets me hot as hell.”

Her cheeks flushed a bright pink. “Tyron.”

His fingers wiggled at her. “Up!”

Muffling something beneath her breath, Faye finally took his hand, allowing him to hoist her up on to her feet.

“First things first,” he braced his hands on her hips - he was most definitely going to take advantage of this - his fingers teasing beneath the material of her shirt. “How do you feel about me putting you on your back?”

Faye blinked up at him a few times. “Excuse me?”

He shot her a grin before he did just that; with a flick of his arm and a small swipe at her ankles, Ty had Faye's back pinned to the ground, her arms locked above her head and his body nestled perfectly between her knees. It was a position he found both perfect and comfortable.

Hovering above her, Ty brushed the tip of his nose against hers. “The element of surprise is always your friend.”

By gods, had he ever wanted a female as much as he wanted Faye? Maybe it was just because she was making him work for it...no, even as the thought entered his mind, he knew it wasn't that. It wasn't the sex that his body craved so much, it was the pairing - hell, every cell in his being was calling out for it, demanding it have what was meant to be his. It was the strangest feeling he'd ever encountered.

Ty cleared his throat. “Now, erm, let's try that again. Only this time, I want you to stop me.”

[Manda]

Despite Faye's best efforts, she was unable to thwart even some of Tyron's simplest attacks. She was nervous which added to her anxiety as well the shock of how fast the elves moved. At one point, Faye pulled at her hair and screamed, “Just slow down! I can't keep up with how fast you move! I'm not as quick as you are.”

If she tried to focus on Tyron or Moira, they'd dart around her so fast she'd feel as if she were spinning. Frustration quickly set in as she told her friends she gave up and walked off to pout, but overheard Tyron and Moira having what they assumed was a private conversation.

“She'll get it Ty, just give her time,” Moira urged. “I have faith in her. She's a lot stronger than she thinks she is.”

“I don't think she's trying very hard,” Tyron returned in a very frustrated tone. “I know that we're faster than she is, but she has got to have something inside of her that says to defend herself.”

And the truth was, Faye hadn't been trying very hard. She had never needed self-defense on earth because she always had her pepper spray to protect her against an attacker. Thinking back to when she first landed in Siofra, she remember her pepper spray bottle was now fit for a small doll, not a human. It would be of no use to her here.

Digging the toe of her shoe into the dirt, Faye cursed her parents. Couldn't they have given her the gift of athleticism rather than the gift of the mind? During this moment, Faye made three promises to herself.

1. She was going to try her hardest to fight for herself.

Being on her own in Siofra was showing Faye she truly couldn't handle her own if necessary. She realized she needed to become more of a woman and less of a child to be strong for herself and those around her.

2. She was going to teach her children to run and jump and be active as well as find time to enjoy a good book.

Her third promise was something she'd decided when Moira had discussed her malanai.

3. Faye would never let her love for some man cloud her heart for her children.

Although Faye's mother didn't choose her husband over her children, she had chosen her career over them and Faye found it to be just as cruel. She would love her babies more than she loved anyone else, including Tyron if he truly was to be her lifemate.

Planting her hands on her hips, Faye turned and slowly made her way back to where Tyron and Moira had been seated, discussing how poorly Faye's training was going. Coming up behind them she found they were still in deep discussion however she could no longer make out what they were talking about. Thinking back to what Tyron had told her when he began his portion of the exercise, she slowly crouched down behind a tall fern. Taking in her surroundings, she found the best way to surprise attack the two would be from above, but how would she be able to crawl up the tall sycamore without being heard?

“I'm just going to have to try,” she whispered quietly to herself.

It only took two attempts, but Faye finally pulled herself up on the lowest branch she could get her hands around and ended up having to army crawl along a rather thin branch to get just above Tyron and Moira. She had been sure they would've heard her by now, but neither one budged as they continued their chat.

“I seriously hope they aren't trying to humor me by pretending not to hear the ruckus I've made,” she thought to herself before she dropped out of the tree right behind them and smashed their heads together like some bad Three Stooges joke.

Thinking through her next move, Faye quickly grabbed Tyron and Moira's wrists simultaneously and pinned their arms as high up on the center of their backs as she could. She hadn't thought through this part of her plan, but it was the only thing she could think to subdue them both. Plus, this had been the only way she could get her twin brothers to quit picking on her so the tactic came in handy.

Moira was the first to try to wriggle free but Faye simply pulled their arms higher in which Moira complained slightly.

“Okay, that smarts!”

“Say mercy,” Faye demanded, pulling a bit harder on Tyron's arm as he tilted his head back towards her and glared.

“No,” Tyron huffed, a small smile pulling at the corner of his lips.

Pulling a bit harder, Moira caved first, “Mercy! Mercy! Don't pull my arm out of my socket!”

Releasing Moira, Faye flicked in her ear and warned her, “Try anything else while I'm dealing with Mr. Thorn and...”

Moira was quick to her feet and backed away from the situation, “I won't,” she promised. Moira's smile was as bright as the summer sun as she watched Faye in admiration.

“Okay, Thorn, you've asked for it,” Faye purred into his ear as she pinched the lobe and pulled hard enough she figured he'd complain, but instead he used his free hand Faye had forgotten about to wrap his arm around her leg, reversing the position and once again, Faye found herself on her back with her arms pinned above her head, Tyron crouching between her knees. She could hear Moira laughing, but Tyron's face was inches away from her and she could feel his breath on her lips.

“I said you'd learn at least one move by the end of the day...the element of surprise,” he leaned down and captured Faye's lips in a heated kiss. “Good job kat...eh...”

“Just call me katinar and kiss me again,” Faye grinned, lifting her head just a bit to meet Tyron in the middle.

“Katinar,” Tyron growled deep in the back of his throat as he gave in to her demands and kissed her once again.

[laura]

After dropping off a nights supply of wood in the conservatory, Tyron headed back to rejoin Moira and Faye, who were still down in the temple training. For the past seven days, it was practically all they'd done, the young elf was determined to turn Faye into the fighter she knew she had the potential to be. Ty on the other hand, had enjoyed watching; there was something about the two of them together that fascinated him. Then there was the otherworldly residents of the building they currently resided in - as the days had gone by, more and more had shown themselves to him. One of them even enjoyed sitting with him as he watched the females train; the same one that had tried to kill Faye in her sleep on their third night there.

Ty had woken up in the early hours of the morning, a cold chill in the air despite being cocooned by two bodies, only to find a ghostly apparition floating above Faye's sleeping form. His sudden burst of essence to protect her had taken the spirit off guard, scaring her away immediately. Apparently, it hadn't been something she was expecting - an elf protecting a human - but she'd returned, keeping a safe distance away and only appearing when Tyron was alone. She couldn't speak, none of them could, instead she used her hands to communicate.

It was the fourth time he'd seen her, when he was perched on a balcony overlooking the hall Faye and Moira was training in, that she finally asked the question he knew was coming.

She laid her hand over her heart then nodded toward Faye. When Ty didn't answer her, she tapped more forcibly at her chest. He sighed, “She’s my lifemate. I think you know that already.”

Her expression didn't change as she nodded. Of course she knew, she'd watched them enough to know - even the dead could see the strange things that happened when Ty and Faye got heated and a kiss became something more than that.

Tyron glanced toward the transparent form. She was dressed like a woman from her time, a gown that covered from her neck to her ankles and her hair was pinned back out of her face, braided neatly down her back; she couldn't have been much older than him. “Are you stopping others from going after her?”

Hesitantly, she nodded. “Why?” Ty asked her.

A small smile touched her lips as she looked from him to Faye, who was suddenly knocked flat onto her rear, a loud curse sounding out.

“Well,” He smiled, watching as Moira hoisted Faye once more to her feet. “Whatever you reasons are...thanks.”

With one more tap to her chest, she vanished, disappearing like she'd never been there to begin with. Tyron knew why the woman wasn't going after Faye anymore; she'd seen how different she was from the humans that had killed her, all those hundreds of years ago. She saw Faye for the soft soul she really was.

“Ty?” Moira’s voice echoed up to him.

He leaned down over the ledge. “Here.”

“How long have you been up there? Have you been watching? Isn't Faye doing amazingly? She tripped me twice! I knew she could do it, didn't you?” He jumped down during her questioning, landing a few feet in front of Faye. He gave her an encouraging wink. “Though, I do think there's something holding her back.”

Faye rose a quizzical brow at the girl. “No, there isn't. I'm giving it my all!”

Ty touched her cheek in greeting as Moira spoke. “No, no, I mean...like...I think that maybe once you pair up with Tyron you'll be able to enhance your abilities. It might magnify them. Maybe...I mean, I don't know for sure if it will or anything...” She was looking anywhere but at them.

“That means that you do know that will happen. So, you're saying that if Faye and I officially pair up, it'll help her be a better fighter?” He didn't sound convinced.

“Yes!” The word burst out of her excitedly. “She'll be mated to an elf! Which means she'll be able to enjoy a fraction of your speed and skills. You're souls will be intertwined, remember? It will -”

Tyron cut her off with a wave of his hand. “Yeah, yeah, I get it. What have I told you about the whole lifemate thing?”

“Not to go on about it all the time?” She huffed. “Whatever. I see the fire go out or light up when you two start getting hot and heavy and I've definitely seen the stars fall. If you two hold off any longer, there won't be any stars left in the sky! And my essence goes wacky too. Luna was right, you'll be a pair like none other.”

“That's it,” Tyron slapped his hands together. “I warned you. Time out, young lady.”

Moira made a move to run, but Ty was faster, hoisting her over his shoulder like he'd done to Faye half a dozen times before. “You're going to sit in the corner and think about what I've said.” Her protests quickly turned to giggles when he climbed the stairs to the conservatory, a stream of apologies coming shortly after.

[Manda]

“The time is drawing near, Chev,” Artemis spoke softly to his wife as he made his way across her workshop, his hands stuffed in his pockets.

“They're not ready. Tyron is fighting Faye's pull. They haven't paired yet,” Luna whispered, exasperation filling her tone.

“The sands of time will only allow Moira to be with them for so long before it runs out,” he reminded his wife as he reached out and pulled her long locks away from the nape of her neck to kiss her gently below the ear.

Luna rolled her neck as her skin tingled, her lifemate's touch bringing her body to life.

“I know. Can you sense if the King is getting any closer?” she swiveled in her chair, her dress flowing softly around her ankles.

“His senses have taken the hardest hit. I'm going to see him, he's expecting me to report in and I can't delay any longer. Tyron needs to return home before they begin searching through the villages and he's the only holder who comes up missing.”

“Just a few more days, give them a few more days,” she pleaded with her husband.

“I will give you three, but any more than that and a search party will be sent to Earth for me,” he bowed his head and brushed his lips across his wife's soft smile before turning to make his exit.

“Artemis?” she asked quietly, “Faye's family?”

“They believe she's studying abroad in France. All is well.”

---

Faye grinned at the sound of Moira's giggles and haphazard attempts to keep Tyron from 'punishing' her by hauling her off to the conservatory in which a playful dispute would ensue, Tyron always winning. Faye had enjoyed watching their relationship blossom and she'd had an inkling Moira looked up to Tyron as a father figure. It was sweet and although Faye wasn't sure he noticed, Tyron had easily taken on the role. He was playful with her when she was sad and stern when she needed to be kept in line. Tyron would make a perfect parent some day. Faye, on the other hand, didn't feel she could quite live up to the job. She quickly lost her patience when Moira pushed too hard and couldn't make the girl laugh nearly as well as Tyron could. Faye, however, seemed to hold the magic touch of comfort and used it to her advantage when necessary.

Smiling again when she heard Moira's squeal sound throughout the temple, Faye resumed a stance Moira had been teaching her earlier in the day. Spreading her feet only as far apart as her shoulder's width, Faye maneuvered a round house kick into thin air except her right hand had become tangled with the cord her moon amulet was secured by and she ripped it off in one swift move.

Within seconds, Faye began seeing faces, angry faces, charging towards her from all different directions. She swiped through the air, but her slashes only met with cold mists, each burning her skin upon contact. Screaming for help, Faye turned to run towards the conservatory but something caught her ankle and tripped her. At first she assumed she'd stumbled over her own two feet, but upon further inspection a long dead vine, which appeared to have fallen from the cluster of them strewn across the ceiling, had wrapped itself around her leg and was holding her down.

Screaming out again, Faye clawed at the ground, hot tears springing to her eyes as she kicked her feet in an attempt to free herself. The harder Faye fought, the tighter the vine pulled into her ankle until she felt it cut through her skin. Turning on her side, Faye sat up and tried to pull the vine free but something stopped her. Seemingly floating in front of her was a very tall, menacing apparition. His eyes were dark and his face looked rugged, his clothes, not of this era, were torn and tattered. As Faye stared at him in shock she began to feel a constriction around her throat. Grabbing at her neck, it was in this moment she realized her amulet was missing. She frantically began clawing at her neck, her nails digging deeply into her skin as she tried to remove the invisible noose from crushing her wind pipe.

Just before everything faded to black, another apparition appeared, a woman who seemed to be frantically screaming at the menacing phantom. Unfortunately, the struggle mixed with her heightened anxiety had left Faye's lungs with a minimal amount of air and the last sound she heard was Moira, screaming for her malanai.

[laura]

Everything happened so quickly, one minute there was a blissful calm, next all hell broke loose. Faye's scream tore through Ty like a knife and he all but flew back in to the temple to her. A cluster of spirits had gathered around her, bombarding her from all directions, vines were tying around her ankles, pinning her in place.

Moira was shouting something he couldn't hear, his panic and rage were clouding all his senses. All he could think about was getting to her. Using what pathetic amounts of essence he had, Tyron forced himself through the thick layers of mist until her reached the centre, his first thought to focus on the vines - at least until he saw menacing form hovering above her limp form, it's hands locked around her throat.

Suddenly, Moira appeared opposite him, her fierce glare set on to the ghostly form. “Let go of her. NOW!” On her last word, a force so strong rushed out of her, smashing everything but Tyron back. The vines evaporated and the spirits were held back by the power emitting out of Moira.

Tyron looked at the young girl in wonder; how the hell did she have so much essence? An elf of her age should barely have enough to open a door, let alone hold off two dozen angry ghosts. She turned her focused gaze into him. Her once blue eyes were now a bright silver. “The necklace!” She cried. “Get the pendant!”

Frantically, Tyron searched the ground for the mood pendant, only to find it a few feet from Faye's body. He snapped it back around her neck, half expecting the spirits to fall back the moment he did; only now, they knew what she was, there was no hiding it.

“We need to get out of here!” Ty exclaimed, lifting Faye into his arms. “They won't leave us alone now that they know. Can you hold them off until we reach the wall?”

She nodded. “Yes, just go, I'm right behind you.”

He ran without looking back, but by the way doors opened and branches moved out of their way, he knew Moira was directly behind him. The main gate to the city flew open, slamming back into the walls, then colliding back together once they'd passed through them, locking its occupants inside.

---

Moiras shoulders slumped as she let her power drop, her complexion pale and pasty. Getting them out had taken everything she had, leaving her muscles aching and her head pounding. She'd never had to use so much of her essence at once before - at least, not since her malanai had died.

“Faye...Katinar...wake up!”

At the sound of Tyrons voice, Moira turned around to see him setting Faye into the ground, her body motionless, her neck red raw with scratches. If she didn't know better, she'd say it was self inflicted. “I-Is she breathing?”

“Yes.” Ty brushed gently against her neck, turning the bright red marks into a lighter shade of pink. He didn't have much essence to offer, but what he did have went straight into healing his mate.

Her chest ached seeing them seeing them like this, to the point of pain. She'd never got to see them together as she grew up, never got to witness the love they shared for one another, how devoted they were, all she'd gotten was Luna’s stories and that hadn't done them any justice. Her malanai had always found it too heartbreaking to talk about; she'd pull a face, like she was about to cry, then change the subject.

If one thing came out of this trip, it had to be that - to give her parents the life they deserved, the life they should have had, not the one they ended up with. Luna had told her once that she wasn't supposed to be the only one to come from their union, but in the future she lived in, Moira was most definitely alone. She was the only Thorn left.

Clutching at her own pendant, Moira dropped her head back to look at the darkening sky. She needed to find out the name of the woman who started everything off, the one who sparked Tyron and Faye's ill-fated future, before it was too late. Moira knew her face, she'd seen it in a hundred nightmares, but her name still remained a mystery. Luna knew but refused to tell her.

”This is something you must learn for yourself. Telling you would do no good, it would serve no justice.” Luna's voice echoed through her mind like she was speaking the words to her there and then.

“Katinar, look at me.” Ty's soft voice broke through her thoughts.

He was holding Faye tightly against his chest, her face between his hands as his thumbs gently brushed at her pale cheeks. Her eyes lids flickered open and he smiled, his handsome face lighting up. “There you are.”

“Ty...” She croaked.

“Shh, don't speak, just rest. You're safe.”

“Where are we going to go?” Moira asked, standing over the couple, her hand resting on Ty's shoulder. “You can't go back to the city yet, it's not safe.”

“My malanai’s house, in my old village. It's the only place I won't Faye to be right now.”

Moira smiled - they were going to the village, they were going home! She wanted to sop out of relief; the safe, warm embrace of village she'd been born and raised in was only an arms reach away and she couldn't wait.

[Manda]

As soon as Faye had been awake long enough to confirm she could walk, the threesome quickly and quietly made their way back through the blood red forest. All three were exhausted from the chaos back at Fin Falls, but Moira had seemed to take the hardest hit. Instead of being cheerful and upbeat, she was silent as she leaned heavily on her staff to walk. Tyron had stopped numerous times in order to allow Moira to catch up, but she declined the need to rest.

“We can stop and camp for the night if we need to Moira, we could all use the rest,” Tyron offered, shifting his hold on Faye's waist in the event she became weak, however she'd been holding her own for the past few miles despite having a very noticeable limp.

“No, I don't want to stop until we're at your malanai's,” Moira stated firmly, leaning against her staff for support.

“Moira, I think Ty's right...” Faye tried to talk the young teen into Tyron's plan, but she became frustrated and refused.

“No! We absolutely must get to Maya's tonight. We can rest there. We have at least two more hours of nightfall left, it gives us plenty of time,” and before either Faye or Tyron could dispute, she began walking ahead of them.

Tyron and Faye gazed at one another in question until they slowly followed her lead.

---

“Eva!” the King's voice bounced through the walls of his castle, silencing anyone and everyone who had been in the surrounding area.

Rushing into the throne room, Eva dropped to one knee in greeting, “Sire?”

“Fin Falls,” he spoke deeply, his brow furrowed in thought and his eyes were glazed over.

“No one has been there in...” she began, gazing up at her leader as his eyes cleared and he glared at her.

“Someone is there as we speak. She has an essence I have never felt before. It's much stronger than I've ever known. She's blonde. Go!” he bellowed after his brief explanation.

Eva nodded and was quickly out of the room marching through the kingdom already mapping out, in her mind, the path she would take to her destination as she called to a few of her comrades to join her. She was on a mission to please her King, he'd been able to find the blonde from Erin's vision and she was about to meet her fate.

---

Just as light began to peek through the trees above Tyron, Faye, and Moira, they broke through the edge of the forest near the Northern Village where Tyron had grown up. Moira had grown weaker the further they walked and by the time they were walking down the cobbled path leading into the village, Tyron finally had to release his hold on Faye to scoop up Moira. Cradling the young girl in his arms, Tyron turned his attention on Faye who had already began twisting her hair into a low bun to cover her ears.

“I know, keep them covered,” she spoke quietly, making sure her rounded ears were hidden from sight.

“Are you alright?” his eye were soft and apologetic.

“I'm fine Ty, really, just tired,” she smiled. Taking a few small steps towards Tyron, she leaned over Moira and gave him a quick peck.

“My staff,” Moira mumbled, her voice low as sleep threatened to take over her consciousness.

“I've got it,” Faye lifted the long wooden stick in her hand for a moment. Brushing Moira's long blonde locks away from her face, Faye gazed up at Tyron.

“What happened to her?”

Tyron simply shook his head and told her he'd explain it all later. Faye hadn't seen Moira use her essence to save the three of them, but she'd hand an inkling if it hadn't been for the young elf they wouldn't have survived.

“Will she be okay?”

“I hope so. I think she just needs rest. Let's go, we've still got a small walk ahead of us,” he explained as they continued their journey towards his mother's home.

[laura]

Maya’s cottage was located on the outskirts of the village, away from the hustle of the market place and nestled within a wooded grove. No-one would see them sneak through the night to his childhood home.

Faye knocked at the door as Ty climbed the few steps onto the porch, an unconscious Moira slumped in his arms. Maya was quick to answer the door, wrapped tightly in her night gown. “What the...Faye?”

Ty pushed forward, “Malanai, we need to come in.”

Maya quickly stepped aside, hurrying them into the safety of the cottage and closing the door tightly behind them. She placed her hand against the wood, sealing it shut with her essence - nobody would be getting in or out but them. “Tyron, where have you been!?”

He ignored her worried stares and carried Moira through to his old room. Thankfully, the bed was always ready made, a habit his malanai couldn't shake, and he placed her gently onto the soft bedding.

“Tyron Thorn, you will answer me.” Maya stormed into the room, her eyes trained firmly on her son. “You disappear for over a week with no word, I had to call Artemis to ask for a Sighting - only to have him tell me there was no need, that he'd sent you away...why would he do that? What business did he have with you?”

He tucked a blanket over the young girl. “You’re worrying for nothing. I had to take Faye away, that's all.”

“Where did you go?”

Tyron straightened. “Finn Falls.”

The mix of anger and horror dawned over her face, a second before her hand snapped out in front of her, clasping into Tyron’s shirt and dragging him toward her. “You stupid boy! You know how dangerous that place is, Tyron, why would you go there? Why would you endanger yourself like that?!”

He opened his mouth to answer, but Faye appeared in the doorway, catching Maya’s attention fast. She dropped her hold on Ty and instead fisted her hands at her sides. “You...you’re the reason my Tyron is putting himself in harms way. Do you even realise what you're doing to him? Do you even care. Humans...they're all the same; selfish creatures with no regard for anyone else.”

“Malanai, no,” Placing his hands into her shoulders, “It’s a long story and I promise to tell you everything in the morning, but we're all exhausted and -”

“And who is she?” Maya didn't wait for her son to finish; she pointed to Moiras sleeping form, a deep frown still etched into her brows. “Why is she with you?”

He pinched the bridge of his nose, “Malanai, please not tonight...”

“And why,” Maya grounded out, “Does she have elf ears?”

Ty looked at Faye and at her ears - her perfectly rounded, human ears. What in Siofra was his mother looking at? His gaze suddenly fell to the moon pendant hanging around her neck. Maybe that was what it did to hide her from sight; make her like everyone else.

He shook his head. “It's the necklace, Luna gave it to her to hide her. And Moira is a friend, she's helping protect Faye.”

“Someone else putting their life on the line for her? How remarkable.”

“Malanai...”

“Oh, fine!” She released a deep sigh. “I will leave you tonight, but come the morning I want to know every little detail, understand? You can both sleep in the living room, there's spare blankets and pillows in the cupboard.”

[Manda]

This was definitely not the Maya Faye remembered from over a week ago. Sure, she had been quiet and rather distant, but she'd given Faye books to assist her with her stay in Siofra. She'd also been kind and protective, however Faye hadn't been putting Tyron at risk then.

“I'd prefer to stay with Moira tonight,” Faye managed to squeak out. She didn't want to upset Maya, but she was worried about the young girl and because Tyron had yet to tell Faye all of the details of what happened after she was attacked, she wanted Moira to know she was thankful for whatever it was she had done to save them.

“Are you sure?” Tyron nodded his head in understanding, but Maya didn't seem impressed by the way her throat clicked.

“Yes,” she gave Tyron and Maya a shy smile as she bowed her head and turned towards the bed.

For a moment, Faye was alone in Tyron's childhood bedroom with Moira, but seconds later Tyron re-entered the room and the closed the door behind himself.

“Faye, are you sure you're alright?” he whispered quietly brushing his fingers across her cheek and gazing deeply into her eyes. “You would tell me if something was wrong, wouldn't you?”

Tyron's demeanor was very soft and gentle as he stroked Faye's cheek and wrapped his arm around her waist to pull her into a warm and heartfelt embrace. Faye's entire body began humming at his touch.

“I'm fine Ty, really,” she whispered against his lips before brushing them gently with her own. Her heart was swelling at how concerned he was.

Fortunately for Faye, she didn't remember most of the attack besides the angry faces. They were so distraught and vengeance seemed to be their motive for attacking her. Sadly, she couldn't blame them for wanting to hurt her, not because she'd harmed them personally, but because of what the human race had done to their world.

“Go,” Faye said softly as she broke the kiss and touched her forehead to his, unknowingly connecting herself with Tyron in the traditional lifemate greeting. The initial shock of being able to hear Tyron's thoughts made her lose her breath, her eyes wide.

Tyron only appeared surprised momentarily until he smiled and whispered, “I'll explain later.”

With that, Tyron kissed her softly on the forehead where they'd connected and quietly exited the room to a fuming Maya who stood on the opposite side of the door, her hands firmly planted on her hips. Faye worried she would've burned a hole through the door if she'd been able. On second thought, Faye wondered, could she?

It had been a long day and despite the billions of questions she had floating through her mind about what had happened during the attack to how she'd just been able to hear Tyron's thoughts, Faye was eager to crawl into bed next to Moira.

Shortly after Faye had comfortably cocooned herself around Moira, Faye ran her finger through the girl's hair and began to hum softly which eventually lulled herself into a deep sleep.

Sometime during the early morning hours, Moira had turned in her sleep and curled herself into Faye's chest in which Faye unknowingly wrapped the girl into her arms. In their close proximity, a place the two had never been before because Tyron usually slept between them, their moon pendants became active and silently clinked together like magnets before they began emitting a soft blue glow causing the two women to share the same dream.

Inside a small cottage, Faye was laying in a large wooden bed holding an infant girl close to her chest, humming the same tune she'd drifted off to sleep to. It was also the same song she'd hummed to Moira in comfort on the nights back in the conservatory when Moira had night terrors of her deceased parents. Tyron appeared next to Faye as he wrapped his arms gently around Faye and the baby, kissing them both on the forehead softly and smiling proudly.

Gently opening her eyes, Faye found the exact same baby blues she'd just observed on the infant gazing into hers and in that moment, Faye knew who Moira was. She wasn't sure how and she wasn't sure why, but she knew.

[laura]

Tyron stretched out along the uncomfortable couch, his neck stiff and the muscles in his back tight from the awkward night’s sleep. He’d dreamed of Finn Falls and its spirits within, of Moira and the powers she possessed…and of Faye. Most of his dreams these days involved her in some way, no matter how small. However, when he opened his eyes, it wasn’t the ceiling he found, but the angry green eyes of his Malanai, leaning over him with her hands planted firmly on her hips.

“Time for answers, Tyron.” Her tone told him there would be no more excuses and no more escaping her.

---

Maya leant back in her seat, a deep and worrying sigh passing through her lips. She now knew everything there was to know – from the beginning to where they were now, including what Faye was to him; or at least, what Artie and Luna claimed she was.

Maya placed her hands onto her lap. “Lifemate? But…how is that possible? She’s human. Humans don’t have anything as deep and profound as what we do, they never have.”

Ty ran his fingers through his dishevelled hair. “It could be possible, Malanai…I mean, when the war was raging, there were rumours of interbreeding, maybe she has elf in her blood somewhere -”

Maya cut him off. “You know that’s all they were, rumours, nothing more. It’s unheard of. It’s also impossible, Ty – humans can’t have young with elves.” She paused, a sudden thought passing across her face. “She won’t be able to bare you children, if she is indeed your lifemate. Then what? You’ll be deprived of one of the greatest gifts life has to give.”

He groaned deep at the back at his throat. “I’m not thinking of anything like that, Malanai. She might go back to earth soon, back to her life – the idea of impregnating her isn’t at the forefront of my mind.”

“Well, I hope she does!” Maya snapped out in a harsh whisper. “I’m sorry, I just…I’m scared for you, Ty, I’m scared for what her being here might do to you. I worry for your future my marara.”

Ty leaned into her hand as she touched his cheek. “I know, but you worry too much. You’re not going to lose me.”

A gentle smile graced the woman’s lips. “But…I want grandchildren.”

He laughed and gripped at her hand. “Can you do one thing for me? Don’t take this out on Faye. She didn’t ask to come here, for any of this and she certainly didn’t ask for an elven lifemate. If I could send her home, I would, because that’s where she wants to be, not here.”

Maya’s face softened. “This is what I didn’t want to happen, Ty.”

“What?”
“The heartache that will come when she leaves you.”

---

Moira had skulked from the room silently, leaving Faye to sleep, when she’d overheard Tyron and Maya talking. It was a physical fight with herself not to speak up, to correct in all the places they were wrong. And Maya…she was just like the woman Moira had known; the soft and protective soul that did whatever it took to keep her family safe. It was that that had been her final downfall. A couple of years after her Desh'ketai’s death, Maya had hidden Moira away, as the ruthless Eva had torn the cottage apart in search of her – she’d paid the ultimate price for keeping the little girl safe.

A tear ran down her cheek as she remembered it; of unanswered cries for her Marwen, waiting under the floorboards for her killers to leave and even longer for her Malanai to return. After that, it had been one less family member, one less person to love and be loved in return.

“You can come out, Marara.”

Maya’s soft voiced cut into her thoughts, tearing her back to the present. She stepped out from around the corner, her hands wringing tightly in front of her. “Please forgive me. I wasn’t eavesdropping, I swear it.”

The woman stood up and pointed to the spot beside her son. “Take a seat, I’ll make you something to eat. Then you can tell me who you are.”

Ty stood up. “I’m going to check on Faye quickly. Make me whatever she’s having.”

When he disappeared around the corner, Moira sat down. “Um…I’m Moira.”

“I knew that already,” Maya laid out her ingredients carefully. “My essence is going crazy, I can feel it, deep within my soul when I look at you. Only I can’t figure out why.”

Moira swallowed hard. Tricking Faye and Tyron was one thing, but her Marwen was something else entirely.

[Manda]

After her realization, Faye laid in bed with her eyes closed for a long while willing herself to not weep. If Moira really was her child, she had to have been sent from the future which meant a number of things. Faye was never going home. Faye and Tyron were meant to be together and they would birth a child. The most heartbreaking thing for Faye, though, was the fact Moira had lost her parents so young. Tyron had gone first and Faye had followed after. In a future Faye didn't know anything about, she had a small family and the only one left was her daughter. Luna had to have sent Moira to this time for a reason and although Faye had no idea what that reason was, she was determined to care for her child as best as she could for as long as she was able.

In the past two weeks, Faye had been thrown into a world in which she was enemy number one. She'd been paired to be the lifemate of an elf. She'd been a fairy. She'd been tortured by ghosts, taught how to fight like a make-shift wannabe ninja, and was introduced to her future child. The whole situation was overwhelming and it took every ounce of emotional strength Faye had to not burst into tears as she continued to lay next to Moira until the young girl eventually woke up and silently left the room.

Slow, hot tears streamed down Faye's cheeks as her chest heaved up and down heavily. Reaching for her moon pendant, she held onto it tightly praying she would wake up on earth, in her own bed where she wasn't a burden to anyone.

Suddenly, she felt a pull coming from deep within her stomach and she'd taken a few deep breaths to calm herself. She knew Tyron was coming to check on her before he even entered the room and although she didn't understand it, she was thankful for the warning. Wiping her tears and turning her back to the door, she forced herself to calm down. This was going to be her little secret. She was going to have to figure out a way to save Moira and Tyron, even if it meant giving herself up when the time was right.

As Tyron entered the room, Faye felt a chill rush through her body. Her palms became sweaty as every thought and worry rushed to the surface. When she felt the bed dip behind her, she rolled over and found those gentle silver eyes she'd grown very fond of gazing down upon her.

“Faye, what's wrong?” Tyron asked upon seeing her tear stained cheeks.

Crawling up onto her knees, Faye released all of her pent up anxiety and emotional tension on Tyron. Pushing him down onto the bed, Faye gently swung one leg over and was sitting atop him. Lowering herself down, she flourished kisses along his neck and cheeks before gently nipping at his chin. She felt his hands grip onto her hips, but they remained in place as she continued to assault him with her lips. She'd found a bit of courage and despite their surroundings and who may be just beyond the bedroom door, Faye was going to go for it.

Tyron remained silent as Faye brushed her lips along his, nibbling gently before she sat up and untangled her hair from the messy up-do she'd pulled it into last night. Letting it fall to her shoulders, Faye shook it out and glanced down at Tyron who was watching her intently.

Closing her eyes, Faye grasped the hem of her shirt and swiftly pulled it over her head allowing her blonde locks to drape casually over her shoulders and back.

“I want you,” she whispered as she opened her eyes and gazed into Tyron's, her cheeks instantly warming and her heart rate increasing. 'Please, please say you want me too,' she thought as she waited for him to make some sort of move.

[laura]

It took Tyron’s brain a minute to catch up with what was happening; Faye’s lips were acting as a very good distraction, her eager hands only making it worse – but somehow, her words had him snapping out of the haze. His hands cupped her neck, pulling her up straight so he could look at her properly. Her cheeks were still stained from her tears and by the bags under her eyes Tyron could tell she hadn’t slept properly, if at all.

The pad of his thumb brushed across her cheek. “I want you too, Faye, so bloody much…” He shook his head, regretfully. “But not like this. I don’t want your first time to be now, with my Malanai and Moira on the other side of the wall, with danger at our tail and especially after you’ve been crying.”

She moved to shake her head. “I haven’t been-”

“Don’t lie to me, Katinar.” His eyes locked onto her own; the usually bright blue orbs were streaked with red now. “What has you so upset?”

For a second, Faye looked like she wasn’t going to answer him, she glanced in one direction and then another, at anywhere but him. Then, finally, she whispered. “I’m never going home, am I?”

Ty blinked at her question. That was the last thing he was expecting, especially in that moment in time. Instead, he guessed it would be something along the lines of the lifemate thing, or the spirits, or even the King. But, no.

He rolled them over, dropping her onto her back and carefully hovering above her. She grabbed at her discarded shirt and draped it across her chest, much to Ty’s dismay. “You are most definitely going home, Faye. I don’t know when, but I’m going to do everything I can to get you there.”

“It won’t work. Nothing will.” Another tear formed in the corner of her eye. “I’m always going to drag you down. I’m always going to be your burden.”

“What?” He frowned. “You are not a burden-”

“Now it’s my turn to tell you not to lie. All I’ve done since I landed here is turn your world upside down, put you in untold danger and…and…you’re just better off without me.”

While most of what she’d said was true – after all, she had turned his world on its head – the last part hit a nerve with him. “No,” Tyron shook his head angrily. “I’m not. I don’t want you to go back to earth because it’s what I want; it’s because I see how unhappy it makes you to be here. But…it makes me happy that you are here.” He rubbed awkwardly at his neck. “I don’t get on too great with females – for sex, sure, but anything else? Anything more than that? No. I don’t like to be around them for anything other than physical reasons. I just don’t connect with them. Then there was you and…as much as you annoyed the hell out of me, I found that I just liked being around you. I like this,” His fingers brushed at her cheek. “Who you are. Human and all. So, don’t think that you’re a burden…because you’re not.”

Faye looked up at him, all traces of her tears now gone. Ty smiled and pushed up onto his knees, his hands catching at her ankles and dragging her off the bed with him. “Come on, time to eat something.”