Her Fae Lovers

Bodach moved through the antique shop, searching for any signs of Lola. He could hear Lu and Merrow doing the same. Their movements didn’t cover up the footsteps he could hear above them. He wondered if it was Lola and what she could be doing here.

He was more in tune with his primal side when it came to her. He paused, hearing the whispers of voices as Merrow moved closer to him.

“She’s here.” Bodach whispered.

Merrow nodded his head, looking up. Lu came out of the kitchen, her purse clutched in his hands.

“Aye.”

A loud crash pulled their attention upwards. It was quiet after that, and Bodach felt anxiety well up in the pit of his stomach. He moved towards the stairs, Lu and Merrow on his heals as they tried to keep their steps quiet.

Lola’s shout made them give up the pretense of keeping silent as they rushed towards the attic.

The closer they got, the more they could hear the sound of Lola pleading. The admission that she was with child as she begged for him not to touch her made his heart beat faster.

Bodach slammed the door open, he stormed in. Red glowing eyes moving to where Lola lay, sprawled beneath Erik. Her head turned to the side. Eyes squeezed shut as his lips moved along her neck.

Erik looked up towards them. His tongue moving over her skin before Merrow pulled him off of Lola. Throwing the man across the room into one of the bookshelves. Books fell onto him and he let out a growl, shoving them to the side as he moved to stand.

Bodach walked forward, cracking his knuckles. He could hear Merrow and Lu checking on Lola, pulling her closer to the door.

“You shouldn’t have touched her.”

“She is mine. She was willing to trade herself for your safe passage.” Erik said, his lips twisted into a smirk. As he glared at Bodach. “I am your king.”

“I bow to no one.” Bodach said as he launched himself forward. A right hook clipping Erik’s chin, making him turn his head to the side at the force of the punch.

“You’ve gotten stronger.” Erik said as he rolled his shoulders, “So have I.”

He reached out, shoving Bodach hard in the chest. Smiling as his teeth grew to sharp points and his horns sprang from his skin.

Moving faster than Bodach was ready for. Erik shoved him again, causing the man to backwards. He watched Erik pull his leg back. Scrambling to his side, knowing he wasn’t going to be able to avoid the blow.

Bodach looked up at Erik. He felt the swirl of magic before he saw her.

The queen was entering the battle. He just hoped she was on his side.

Erik landed another kick to Bodach’s side as the other man climbed to his knees. He fell to the floor, breath having been knocked out of him as his dark hair fell into his face.

Lu rushed over, trying to help him take Erik down. They both knew there was no way that they could kill the fae king. The queen could, without as harsh of a punishment.

Bodach wouldn’t risk the judgement of being sent back into the box.

He wasn’t willing to let that fate happen to Lola. Pushing himself to stand, he felt a soft hand grip his shoulder.

“Bodach, I will take care of this.” Her voice was soft. Like the wind whistling through the trees as her long blonde curls danced with a magical breeze. “Lola will take you to the gate.”

“My queen-”

“Go, this has been a long time coming.” She smiled, her eyes turning cruel as they meet Erik’s. The air felt thick with the power that flowed through it. “The king needs to be put back in his place.”

Nodding, Bodach moved to Lola. “You know the gate she speaks of?”

“Gate, no. I’ve got no idea what she’s talking about.” Lola said, as she took his hand in hers, pulling Bodach towards the door.

“Did you see any enchantments?” Lu asked from behind them. Merrow at his side. Their steps were quick as they moved down the narrow hallway.

“There were markings in the cell.”

“Show us.” Bodach said.

Lola led them towards the room where she had been kept. The walls rattling around them as they heard a masculine groan of pain.

They stepped in Merrow’s eyes went wide.

“It’s a prison, so many trapped souls.” His words were soft as he stepped forward. Only Lu keeping him from going towards the boxes.

“Best if we get to the gate, They are here for a reason.” Bodach said, stepping closer to the gate.

“His nephew-” Lola whispered, and Bodach let out a sigh.

“He’s here for a reason.” Merrow said as the ceiling above them rattled as the two forces fought above them.

“We need to get out of here.” Lola’s voice was filled with fear as she let go of Bodach’s hand. Swiftly, she moved to Merrow and touched his arm. “You will meet him one day.”

“Aye, we will.”

Stepping closer to the cell, Lu bounced on his toes. “I can feel it, it’s already started to open.”

“We shall be home soon, my friend.”

Lola worried her lower lip as she pulled Merrow with her. She needed to see them off so they could be with Puca.

“Someone has already started the enchantment.” Lu said as he stepped closer. He looked over his shoulders at the others. “Do you think it was Puca?”

“It was me. Is this what the queen meant? When she spoke of the gate.”

“Aye.” Lu said, trailing his hands over the markings. Watching as they grew brighter. “It should take us home.”

Lola nodded her head as she looked down. She knew that she should say her goodbyes. Merrow’s fingers tangled with her fingers, pulling her attention to him.

“Lola, we’ve so much to show you.”

“I can’t-” she muttered. Looking up at Bodach and Lu as they started working on the enchantment.

“What? Did you think we would be leaving you behind?” Lu asked as looked back at her.

Merrow smiled as he pulled her closer to the brightly sparkling runes. “We could never return without you. Lola, you are our home.”

“It’s time.” Bodach said, stepping back as the colors seemed to swirl into a shimmering pool of light. He looked over his shoulder at her before stepping through the gate.

Lu looked back at her with a smile, “Let’s go home Lola.”

She glanced at Merrow and he squeezed her hand as they followed Lu.

Epilogue

FOUR YEARS LATER

Pushing her hair out of her eyes, Lola let out a huff as Lu rounded the corner. A bright green-eyed toddler clinging to his back. Her copper curls bouncing in the slight breeze as he bounced her around the yard.

“There’s your mum.”

“Mummy,” the girl shouted, she pointed over her father’s shoulder, “Auntie Queen is here.”

“Lu, be careful with her.” Lola chided with a small smile as Lu galloped her around the yard. She turned her head, looking over at the Queen.

“Your majesty.” She said, dipping her head.

“Lola, how many times have I asked you to call me Callie?”

“It still feels strange.”

“We’re family. You’re sister and I are ruling the courts together.” Callie said with a smile.

“I know, it’s just still strange to know that I have a sister and she’s the Unseelie Queen.” Lola said, as she went back to pulling the weeds from the garden.

“She’s doing a far better job than Erik.”

Lola smiled at that. She didn’t like to think about her onetime friend. She was glad that he was locked away for now, she just dreaded the day that he escaped. If ever.

“I’m glad to hear it. Hopefully, it keeps her busy so she won’t fuss over the baby too much.” Lola said, placing a hand over her swollen middle.

“You know she won’t be able to stay away, speaking of which. I’m going to go play with Mana.”

Lola watched the queen as she walked over to Lu and their child, her fingers tickling the girl. She let out a squeal as she launched herself from her father’s back.

A shadow fell over Lola and she turned to look up at Merrow. A grin spreading across her cheeks as he smirked down at her. The sunlight streaming through his white blonde hair making him glow. Her breath was taken away by his beauty. Dusting her hands off on her apron, she frowned. Realizing that she was trapped.

Gardening was hard work for her during pregnancy, but touching the ground made her think of her grandmother and how much she would have loved her great-grandchildren.

“You got stuck down there again, didn’t you?”

“I refuse to dignify that question with an answer.” Lola said, pressing her lips together with a glare at her lover. She brought her hand up to rub her swollen middle. “This one doesn’t let me move around as much as big sister did.”

“Annwn says that’s normal.” Merrow held his hand out to her, rolling his eyes as she pressed her hands to the ground, trying to push herself to stand.

Bodach pushed himself away from the tree that he had been leaning against. “You need to get ready, acushla. Your mother and sister will be here soon.”

“Don’t remind me.” Lola said crossing her arms over her chest, If it was anything like the birth of Mana. She knew they wouldn’t let up with the constant mothering that would happen to her during labor and once the baby arrived. She could only hope that the court would call her sister away.

“We could always tell them to stay home.” Bodach pressed his lips together as he tried to fight back a smile.

“And have you guys freaking out, I think not.” Lola said finally giving in and holding her hands out to both of them.

“What? We do great with Mana.” Merrow smiled as he helped Bodach pull Lola to her feet.

“You guys would let her get away with murder and then hide the body.” Placing her hands on her hips, she glared up at them.

“What can I say? She’s our little princess.”

Bodach moved forward, wrapping his arms about her waist. The fluttering movements caught his attention. He placed his hands on her belly. “This one, he will be our little prince.”

“I told you I didn’t want to know what I was having.” Lola said, pushing his hand away. Stomping her foot and turning towards the house.

“Ghra, it’ll be any day now.” Merrow called out, chasing after her. Smiling at the way she waddled into their cottage. “We’ve all been harassing him to know what it is.”

“I still wanted it to be a surprise.” Lola said as she scrubbed at her eyes. She hated this part of being pregnant. The overwhelming emotions that she felt and how easy it was to cry. It didn’t matter whether she was happy or sad. The tears just flowed. “Do you think that, Puca-”

“That I what?” Puca asked as he walked down the stairs, a book in his hands

“Nothing.” Lola said as she blushed, walking closer to her love.

“Lola, you know you can always tell me anything.” He said, bringing his hand up to cup her cheek. His fingertips caressing her skin, making her shiver as desire shot up her spine.

“That you’ll be excited to know it’s a boy.” Lola looked down as he pressed his hand to her belly, feeling the fluttering kicks.

“Nothing could make me happier. Maybe the next set will be twins.” His lips twitched into a smirk as he watched Lola grimace.

“I don’t think I could handle you guys with twins, this baby and Mana.” She looked up at him through lowered lashes.

“Lola, you’ll always have us. More babies would be a blessing. They’d be a part of you, of us.” Puca whispered before pressing his lips against her forehead.

A knock on the door pulled her attention away and she let out a sigh, “Let’s worry about this one’s birth first.”

Puca nodded, letting her slip away from him to let in her family.

That thought filled her with happiness. She had a family. She had a home and it was with her fae men.

THE END