Discovering Fae
Learning Things Sucks

I showered for the better part of an hour, scrubbing and cleaning until I thought my skin was going to come off. I brushed my teeth at least five times before I felt like they were clean again and my hair... I don’t want to talk about the shape my hair was in.

Mary cooked the whole time I was showering while Mal stood outside the bathroom door. Quinn, of course, was inside the bedroom door, making sure Mal stayed put until I was finally satisfied with my hygiene and dressed in a pair of shorts and a shirt, both from Mal’s closet, since the shorts had a drawstring. None of my clothes fit me anymore after living off termites and the occasional fruit Geezer brought me. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the Find ɴøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Ben and Blaine came charging into the dining room, literally crawling over one another before I was once again squished in tight embraces. There were questions coming from all around but I ignored all of it as I ate two burgers, a steak, three helpings of mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, two rolls with butter, five cookies, and a piece of pie. Finally full of something not living as I ate it, I ended up falling asleep stuffed between Mary and Mal.

I yawned as I stretched out and grabbed on to Mal’s arm, dragging him closer so I could get a good, hard snuggle in before Quinn came in and started glaring.

“The Warden is going to have something to say about this,” Mal chuckled as he rolled over and wrapped me up in his arms.

“He’ll get over it,” I said with a happy sigh. “I missed this.”

“Me, too,” he said.

We laid there in comfortable silence for a while before a tiny flutter in my chest made me sigh.

“What’s wrong?” Mal asked.

“You’re right here but it still feels like it’s not close enough,” I said and buried my face against his chest for a moment. “Like this is just some twisted illusion made to keep me peaceful.”

“Why would you need to be kept peaceful?” he asked.

“I was sort of destroying a sacred cave in order to get sent home,” I shrugged.

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” he chuckled. “But I know what your talking about. It’s not as bad, but it’s like we’re still separated somehow.”

“It’s the Bond, isn’t it?” I asked, looking up at him. It’s amazing what a good night of rest can do for a person. “We’ve done nothing but strain it since the Call. Is it... is it breaking?”

“Nothing can break a Soul Bond, Fae,” he said, looking back. “Nothing. It’s probably because we’ve been apart so much recently.”

“It doesn’t feel like it did when you got me out of that dungeon,” I frowned. “Something’s... wrong.”

“We’ll ask your parents at breakfast,” he said, tucking me back against him. “For now, just stay like this. Please?”

“Mal, I will stay like this for the rest of my life if you let me,” I smiled.

I’ve seen movies where two people have been apart for a long time cry when reunited and I never could relate. Not until moving here. I was home here.

It wasn’t the town. I could take it or leave it. It wasn’t the house, either. This was Mal’s father’s house. No, home was right here. Mal was my home. Mary, no doubt making breakfast already, was home. Quinn, who was likely on his way to come glare at Mal for cuddling with me, was home. Ben with his jokes was home. Blaine and his dry humor and wit was home.

But mostly Mal.

“I missed you so much,” I said, cringing at the watery sound of my voice.

“I missed you, too, princess,” he said, giving me a squeeze. “I have an idea and I’m not sure if you’ll go for it or not.”

“If you say separate vacations, even joking, I will choke you until you pass out,” I said, flatly.

“Over my dead body,” he growled, crushing me. I squealed with glee and wiggled closer, making him chuckle. “Cuddle bug. No, I was going to suggest we go on a date.”

“A date?” I snorted.

“We’re kind of a thing already, but I’ve never taken you on a date,” he said. “The best part is, even if I totally botch it, which I won’t because I’m that awesome, I have the assurance of knowing we’re meant to be together. It’s literally Fate.”

“What about all those times you kidnapped me from the strip club?” I giggled.

“The where?!” Quinn exclaimed from the door, making Mal jump away from me. He moved so fast, he fell off the bed and landed on the floor with a thud and a quiet “ouch”.

“Are you okay?” I asked, peeking over the edge of the bed and trying not to laugh.

“Did you say, “strip club”?” Quinn asked, marching into the room and glaring at me.

“Former strip club,” Mal and I both said. I laughed and sat down as Mal got up, rubbing his shoulder where he hit the floor. I looked at the very not amused dark fairy and shrugged. “We lived there for a while. It was Ben’s idea, so skin him for it. Actually, don’t. I like his fur. It’s so soft.”

“And what was my daughter doing living in a strip club?” he glowered.

“Mom!” I shouted. “Dad’s doing that thing again!”

“Quinn! Don’t make me come up there!” Mom shouted back.

“We aren’t finished with this conversation,” he glared at me, but he winked as he left. “Bringing your mother into it won’t always save you.”

“I’m pretty sure it will,” I laughed.

I beamed at Mal, who smiled back before I launched myself off the bed and into his arms.

“You know I don’t have any clothes for this date you have planned, right?” I said as I let him go and lead the way towards the dining room.

“Your mom is practically frothing at the mouth to take you shopping,” he laughed. “But in a few days, after you’ve had some time to recover a little more. I don’t think anyone will react well if you actually do shop ’til you drop.”

“I think my brothers are a little clingy right now,” I whispered loudly as we walked into the dining room. Ben and Blaine were already there with coffee cups while Quinn and Mary put the last of the food on the table. “And I’m pretty sure my dad is plotting your “accidental” maiming. The jury is out on whether or not Mom is in on it.”

“You’ll never know until it’s too late,” Mary smiled a charming smile that, honestly scared me a little bit.

“So, now that you’ve showered, thankfully,” Blaine wrinkled his nose at me.

“Hey! Jerk,” I threw a biscuit at him.

“What happened?” he finished, catching the biscuit and pulling it open to butter it.

“Stupid magical bats are what happened,” I spat before telling them everything that happened while I was wherever the heck I was.

There wasn’t much that was interesting, aside from the fact that I was about ten seconds away from literally pulling a cave down around myself. Mary calmly pointed out that next time, I should destroy a cave from the outside to avoid being crushed, which had everyone but Quinn looking at her like she was the most terrifying person in the world.

She kind of was, to be honest.

After breakfast, Ben and Blaine left, saying something about training, while Mal and Quinn disappeared outside somewhere, leaving me with Mary.

“You look tired still,” she said as we sipped coffee in the library.

“I slept better than I have in months, actually,” I said. “It’s just...”

“What?” she asked, taking our cups and sitting them down.

“Can a Soul Bond break?” I asked.

“Why on earth would you think that?” she asked, recoiling with confusion.

“It’s hard to explain,” I frowned.

“You forget I’m Bonded to your father,” she said taking my hands in hers. “Try. I’m sure I’ll understand.”

“You know how it feels, being away from each other? It still feels like that,” I said, rubbing my chest. “This morning, with him right next to me. It’s worse now, even though I know he’s just outside, and it stings a little bit sometimes.”

“Well, I can only guess, but,” she said thoughtfully. “Have you two finished the Bonding process?”

“Not yet,” I said slowly.

“It’s been a long time since your Call, right?” she asked, picking up her coffee again.

“Seven months, I think,” I screwed up my face.

“Wow, that’s... A lot,” she said wide eyed. “Can I ask why?”

“Well, Mal kind of kept that little gem from me for a while then took off,” I snorted.

“I still want to rip his face off for that,” Mary said venomously.

“Then I was sort of taken and all,” I waved my hand. “When I woke up, we were dealing with Nando’s funeral, finding out you and Quinn were my parents, and the fact I almost died. He didn’t want to “muck up the water”, as he said.”

“Well, he wasn’t wrong to wait for a while after you woke up. Completing the Bond has different side effects for different people,” she said with a shrug.

“Why do you make it sound like a disease?” I wrinkled my nose, making her snort.

“For your father and I, we were quite emotional,” she snickered. “I cried a lot, and he got all broody. We literally had to touch constantly, otherwise I’m sure one of us would have done something drastic.”

“Clingy much?” I smiled. “And isn’t he always broody?”

“Oh, very much,” she said seriously. “It was pretty intense. It’s kind of like the honeymoon stage of a relationship.”

“I’m not sure if I like that analogy,” I mumbled.

“It’s sort of to be expected, you know,” she giggled. “Soul Bonds are literally made to be together, and that includes... intimately.”

“Please stop,” I said covering my now flaming cheeks.

“And, as much as your father thinks otherwise, we can’t really stop you,” she smiled like the devil. “You both are adults and I’m more than convinced it’ll be consensual.”

“For the love of all things sacred, stop talking,” I said and hid in one of the pillows on the couch behind us.

“Just be smart and use protection,” she grinned widely, and I glared at her as my whole face burned.

“Are you related to Ben, because right now, you two look very much alike,” I muttered into the pillow.

She just laughed and patted my knee.

“So what are they doing out there?” I asked looking towards the wall that I just knew they were behind. “Dad isn’t going to hurt Mal, is he?”

“Eh, maybe a little bit?” she cocked her head to the side and leaned back on the couch. “You’re disappearing stunt shook everyone up pretty badly. Aside from Mal, Ben took it the hardest.”

“Why?” I asked, confused.

“They couldn’t find you, Fae,” she said seriously. “Again. Losing two of your Bonded has left them feeling... inadequate, I suppose.”

“That’s absurd,” I scoffed.

“No, it’s perfectly understandable and they aren’t wrong,” she said. “When you made the Call, you were Bound to four warriors. Four people that are intended to physically protect you as well as mentally support you until the time comes the Bonds fade. They make you stronger, just as they make each other stronger.”

“It feels like there’s a lot missing,” I nodded sadly. “But Zane is still alive. He’ll come back and it won’t be so bad, right?”

Mom looked at me seriously for a moment before she leaned forward with a sigh and put her cup on the table next to mine.

“Fae, honey,” she said and my heart went cold.

“No,” I shook my head and stood up. “Don’t you dare say it.”

“Zane has been Hazed for a very long time now,” she said, holding her hands out, palms up.

“He can come back. That’s why Blaine and their parents keep looking for him. To bring him back,” I nearly shouted.

“A Morphi loses its humanity the longer the Haze lasts. There’s not a single one that comes out of it after three weeks,” she said gently. “I’m sorry, honey, but the man you knew Zane to be is gone. All that’s left is the Haze.”

“I don’t believe that,” I shook my head as my eyes stung. “No. He can still come back. Nothing is normal with me, so there’s a chance. There’s always a chance! Why are they still looking for him if there’s no chance?”

“I think you know why,” she said, standing up and reaching for me.

“No,” I said, backing up. “No, I’m going to find him, and I’ll fix him. We can do that, right?”

“No one can fix him, Fae,” Mom sighed. “Zane is gone. There’s nothing left to save, just the animal. He’s basically rabid right now.”

“I’m going to find him,” I said firmly and wiped my face.

I left the library and went upstairs. I was zipping my bag of clothes shut when Mal came into the room and took my hands in his, holding them to his chest.

“I’m sorry, Fae,” he said softly.

“Don’t,” I snapped, pulling away from him. “I know you two didn’t get along very well, but Zane was the first person I met when I got here. He was the one that included me when the entire school was out to get me. There has to be a way to bring him back.”

“If there was a way, don’t you think his family would be doing that instead of-,” he asked.

“Instead of what, Mal?” I hissed. “Hunting him down to kill him? I’m not accepting that outcome. This is Zane we’re talking about. Loyal to the bone, stubborn, wants to literally rip your arm off, Zane.”

“If there is any chance anyone could possibly bring him back, I have no doubt you’ll figure it out,” he said reaching out and taking my shoulders again. “But some people are just lost, Fae. Zane is gone.”

“He’s not gone,” I glared at him. “Until there’s a body, he’s still alive and there’s still a chance.”

Mal hung his head between us and sighed heavily.

“I love that you’re so sure he can be saved, Fae. But this time, you’re wrong,” he said. He looked up and shook his head. “I know I can’t stop you, so I’ll go with you. I’ll help you find him and maybe try to save him. But I have conditions.”

“I might agree,” I crossed my arms.

“Wait just a few days,” he said. “Get your strength back a little more so you can make the trip to the Sidhe without ending up in a wheelchair again.”

“Fine. Three days,” I nodded.

“No. Five, minimum,” he said firmly. “No negotiating.”

“Fine, but I’m less inclined to agree to the rest,” I huffed.

“Stay with me, always,” he said. “I know you. You’ll go running off by yourself if you thought it was for a good enough reason, but the Sidhe is not a friendly place, especially where a Hazed Morphi can go unnoticed.”

“Agreed, but only because I have no clue what to expect over there,” I rolled my eyes.

“Don’t do anything without discussing it with me first,” he said, and I scoffed. “I’m serious, Fae. You can’t take risks like that. If you want to go talk to some shopkeeper about a piece of cloth, I want to know about it first. Total and complete transparency.”

“That’s a two-way street, Malachi,” I poked his chest. “I have conditions, too.”

“Fine, but I make no promises I’ll agree,” he sighed.

“We take Ben and Blaine,” I said.

“Done,” he agreed. “What else?”

“The last time I was in the Sidhe, it wasn’t exactly a good trip,” I said, and his lip twitched in a grimace. “I want to know that, if we do end up separated, for whatever reason, we can find each other a lot easier than last time.”

“What do you have in mind?” he nodded.

“We finish the Bond,” I said.

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