8

Apparently, this whole semester was going to be about sex because a couple of days later, I met up with Neldor at his request. I knew it was about what we had already started to discuss, I was just shocked at the answer.

"Let me explain, baby doll," he begged when he saw whatever was on my face.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to cheat," I mumbled, rubbing my forehead. "My telepathy—after this last power jump, it's taking energy to keep it off. Sometimes when I go through the portals instead of like my ears popping it's like my magic turns it back on."

"Or it's trying to warn you to do that for security like your barriers, Your Highness," Ara said gently as she set bags of food down in front of us. "I was in the mood for gyros, so we got those huge ones with the awesome fries."

"Thanks," we said together and got everything set up as my security went to eat out in the garage.

I put up a barrier and stared at my food. Of everything I thought Neldor would say to me, I really didn't think he would demean me and what we could have as just sex.

"Please, please, let me explain," he whispered, reaching over and wiping the tears that had fallen off my cheeks.

"Sorry." I sniffled and hurried to try and get myself under control… While moving away from him. "Just thinking of how you said you wanted me because it— I was so easy. It feels like that."

He grabbed me before I could try and flee or teleport away. "It's not. It's not like that at all. I don't know what you caught, but you got the ending or—" He kissed my forehead and sat me back down, moving food in front of me. "You brought up a lot of good points. I thought about them a lot. I did. I'm a lot of things but not flippant. I'm not flippant with you ."

I wanted to believe that, but sometimes he had been. Fine, time had passed since that, but given what he'd once thought—wanted from me—it wasn't easy to change gears in my mind.

And heart.

"First of all, if we tried to date in secret, I think that would be the quickest way for us to get outed," he said quietly when I started eating. "We spend a lot of time together already, and your father is right that I've snuck in some dates like when we did the budgets. I realized that was part of the disconnect in my mind because in some ways—"

"We've already had a bunch of dates. At least in your mind."

"At least in my mind," he agreed with a sigh. "Right or wrong, it's—this is all complicated. You were right, and it was more complicated than even I saw. I was mixing things, and it was all… I was acting like we were mated and not just…" He shook his head. "I know my limits, and I could keep making those same mistakes if we went out on actual dates."

I nodded as I started eating. I wasn't sure what to say and I was hungry. I heard him. I could accept what he was saying, but it sounded weird because those hadn't been dates.

Was I splitting hairs though?

"But more than that, I want our first date to be real," he whispered. "If there can be a true time we can be in public, that is what I want to have be our date. And a first date in our world , Tams. A date like you should have. I want you to see Faerie back and at its splendor. That should be our real date, not one in secret.

"Yes, I know I'm nitpicking and trying to convince myself more than reality if I'm also saying we've had dates. I know this. I know part of this is my own delusion that this wasn't our reality at times. I just…" He let out a slow breath. "We've lost so much. I want you to gain something."

"I don't understand," I admitted in between bites when he was clearly waiting for me to respond somehow.

"Everything is different in Faerie, Tams. Even the dates," he explained. "I want to take you to one of the restaurants on the ocean and use our magic to catch our dinner." He nodded when I froze in my next bite. "Fancy places don't use menus. Our magic catches dinner and the chefs prepare it right at your table with what you give them.

"It's all on the fly and amazing. They create dishes right there according to your tastes and even the mood they get from you. And there's always festivals in Faerie. Street markets and—we'd dance all night. We'd eat and dance outside and it would be magical in a way you've never seen. That's what I want for our first real date. Not a hidden sneaky something."

I nodded as he talked, but I had to bust him. "Plus, you want sex."

"Plus, I really want sex." He chuckled when I wasn't upset with him. He reached up and tucked some of my hair behind my ear. "If everything was different, this would be a different conversation, baby doll. This is not about you being easy or wanting things to just—it's not like that anymore. I was stupid. I was a stupid fairy."

I swallowed loudly as he said that, knowing exactly what he was implying and that I cared for him enough to include him in that like I did the other guys.

Stupid fairy.

I focused back on my food and I knew he saw it, but luckily my stomach covered for it. It wasn't so much what he'd said but what I'd caught in his mind.

It was good because I completely, totally, and utterly believed Neldor now that he didn't want to be with me because it was easy or he thought he deserved me because of fate or whatever.

It was also complicated because now I knew one of the main reasons Neldor wanted to be with me was because I never saw his mother when I looked at him. I didn't see the prince of the dark realm. I didn't see a Donovan and his past, family, or history.

I just saw him. I only saw Neldor, and he never knew how much he'd needed that in his life—how important that could be to him.

I didn't know what to think about that. It wasn't exactly something related to me, Tamsin as a person, but just someone who did that.

But wasn't that a lot of how relationships worked? Neldor gave me a lot of what I needed or wanted from someone , but he had the combination of everything together that made him him and what I might want.

So wasn't that what he was thinking as well and I just caught one part of it that could be a bit odd and hurtful?

Telepathy really was a horrible, horrible curse that I would never be able to fully handle.

"Tams?" he whispered a bit later.

Or a lot later. I glanced around and realized I'd eaten everything in front of me and more that he must have set out because there were containers just piled up.

And I was trying to eat air.

I sighed, wiping my hands and sitting back in my chair. "I just need to think. Sorry, there's just so much that my head feels like it's going to explode some days."

"That's fair. Yeah, I did the same." He studied my face. "But you're leaning towards…"

"It all making sense," I told him honestly. "I just need to… I think I need to get a few things out of my head to get the brain power to really get this settled and handled in my head." I nodded, thinking that was best. "Yeah, thanks for the talk."

I mentally winced when he frowned.

Thanks for the talk?

Yeah, I hurried to get out of there. Idiot.

But then I caught a thought that he worried I'd caught his thoughts about me seeing him only as Neldor and he wondered if that was why he loved me instead of loving me as Tams.

So yeah, not the best thing to hear and alleviate my worries. Not at all but again, I worried the same about the others and if they loved me because of fate and the gods or for me.

And vice versa.

I headed out and actually found myself at the baked potato place in Vegas that I'd first tried on my trip there but had gone back to with Luke. I snickered as I sat down with my overloaded tray. It was like the supe version of pouring one out for my homie, but instead of booze it was our bottomless pits.

My security sat around me but left me alone to stare out at the strip and just get lost in my thoughts.

Ara got my attention and shook her phone at me, signaling we had to go.

I nodded with a sigh. Right, the meeting I'd set up. Idiot.

I ordered more to go and we arrived loaded up. I handed a potato to Shael and gave her the nod to handle it.

"Before we get started, I know too many of you have made comments or had opinions on how much our future queen eats," she said as she addressed the large group gathered. "I would suggest you cease that practice. Fairies in general use all of our meetings as a chance to eat and fuel up our magic. Going forward, if you feel the need to slander our ways, we will retaliate."

"And you won't be invited to the next meeting," Neldor added. "Including your aides, guards, and everyone else you leak information to and pass whispers around like children instead of having the guts to say it directly to us or on the record." He stared everyone down without fear. "I will also be doing the same."

"You are?" I asked, glancing at him. "I'm doing it because… I forgot."

He snorted, but all the fairies with us seemed amused as well. "Because of your large power jumps and the healers want to see how high you can push for the waking of fairies tomorrow. I am doing the same. Plus, the studies of protein powder and other options to help us have concluded."

"Really? How did it go?" I asked.

"Well. Very well, Your Highness," Calarel answered. "I apologize that we couldn't get a meeting with you before this one to tell you, but hopefully we can have a quick one after this. We have several surprising findings."

"Good. Well done," I praised. "And the next steps?"

"To test which we like and with what," Neldor answered. "Which we're doing during this meeting as we suspect it will be a long one." He snorted when I sighed.

Meaning that people were going to be babies about shit to annoy us.

"And I am doing some other training tomorrow, so I need to fuel up to my max capacity as well."

"Glad we have a plan." I handed him a potato.

"Just one?" he asked, looking disappointed.

"Fine, but get me more tomorrow. I was really craving them."

"They are excellent," he agreed, asking specifically for the BBQ meat-loaded one.

I sighed and ended up losing all but two of my potatoes as I gave them over to the other commanders as well. I didn't even like some of them, and I fell for their pout faces like my cute dogs.

Jerks.

Still, I was glad because they were going to handle this meeting for me.

It was all of the councils and dragon royals gathered at our invitation to discuss the weather crystals and our sharing of them.

"We are not just giving them over," Shael said loudly and firmly when someone immediately interjected and demanded we cut this "showboating" and just give them over if we had something needed for their world. "Enough. Stop trying to bully our future queen and her advisors because she is young and female."

"Do it again and we will end the talks," Onas cut in, dipping his head to Shael that he would take over. "Or simply exclude your group."

"And we can't just give them over," I said firmly. "It's fairy magic only able to be used by fairies like our runes. Unless some of you want to admit to unlocking our magic from items you have illegally procured and shouldn't be in your possession? Please, tell me you have."

Neldor snorted and kept eating.

"Plus, we're not going to be blamed when some of you undoubtedly abuse this miracle to try and make our leader look bad," Onas added. "So enough or this meeting is over."

"And that would upset several parties here," King Fergus warned, his tone cold. "We have had record heats in Europe and much of our infrastructure is not set up for air conditioning. Droughts and—even cutting through the worst of it now and again is something that could help our whole world, huge parts of which is on fire . Enough of the selfishness!"

Glad I wasn't the only one tired of the crazy.

The problem was balance and how to really work this out. Several of the councils wanted to be the gatekeepers of this.

Except there was still a lot of corruption, so that would be a bust.

But we weren't about to let just any Alpha or leader come demanding use of them from us like we were their personal magic. They needed to be respected better than that.

People started debating, and I was glad when the protein shakes started. In typical bottomless pit fashion, we were just all sharing.

I thanked the fairies who handed me a piece of paper with everything typed out. I looked over it and was pleased to see this was being taken so seriously. I was curious as to what it meant and how it would pan out, but it was simple enough to mark which ones I liked and write in any feedback I had.

The large metal mugs were even color-coordinated and started with the commander at the farthest end. Fairies weren't bothered by things like sharing spoons or even double-dipping. We didn't share or have germs in the way of humans, and while it used to bug me, I was over it and stuck my fork into a serving platter too often to lecture anyone else.

We were starting with what we thought went best with fruit combinations, but it seemed silly until the third one. Whatever brand or kind of protein powder it was should not be with strawberries. It gave the drink a weird aftertaste and it was grainy. Total ick mouthfeel.

And I wasn't the only one who felt that way from the faces we were making.

Next was blueberry and then cherry.

"What about some sort of combination," I interjected when things got too heated.

The councilman who had been yelling snorted. "Do you even know what we were talking about while having your comedy show over there?"

I zapped him. I zapped him with electricity strong enough that he fucking convulsed and it was incredibly clear what I'd done to him.

"If you ever mock my people like that again, I will send enough voltage to cripple your animal," I told him, my voice deadly. "Yes, we can focus and drink . Are you so dense it's too much for you? You can't walk and chew gum either?" I gestured to all the fairies there. "As I've had to explain to others, we run a whole world .

"We are busier than you are ." I sighed when even our allies bristled at that. I stared them down. "Do you handle the currency in your area? No, humans do that. We handle the roads. You don't. We are the entire police for our world. Yes, you have to duck the human authorities and protect your people in another way. That is absolutely complicated and difficult.

"I didn't say that your jobs were easy or you have nothing going on. But everything the human governments provide for your people we have to handle in Faerie. It's on my damn shoulders. As I have repeatedly reminded people, I'm the godsdamn IRS, Department of Defense, Post Service, DMV— all of it . We handle all of it. So yeah, we double and triple up our meetings."

"Of all the petty things to pick on," Neldor grumbled before taking a gulp of the shake he was holding. "Yes, this is such a huge imposition." He made a face. "I think this type won't work with anything."

"The grainer ones work well with bananas or nut butters," one of the fairies told us. "Those are coming up."

We thanked her and focused back on everyone.

"This is who we are," I said firmly. "If we needed to take a break so your animals could shift or provide something meaty for the meeting we would be understanding. I have been understanding of that in the past. Grow up and be good allies. Seriously."

It was huge progress when most of the people there gave that guy a disgusted look. Even a lot of them that had said crap about me in the past.

Good. Seriously, just enough with the crap.

And that fairy had been correct. I couldn't even tell that protein powder was in the chocolate, peanut butter, and banana shake.

I also didn't want to give it up.

"What combination were you thinking of, Princess?" Sasha asked, bringing the conversation back around to what I'd said.

"Right," I sighed as I handed off the shake. "All of the areas are intermingled. So when there's another fire ravaging California or somewhere it won't just be your dragons. It will be others."

Xavier caught on first. "Two or more leaders have to approach the designated fairy who will be in charge of this project. That's where your head is."

"Yes, something like that," I agreed, noting the shock in the room. I sighed and gestured around. "This is part of it. You are shocked that I would suggest it. You're all too divided. It's always wolf stuff or vampire issues. It's not , and you all share this world. The only time you seemed to agree on much or band together is when you tried to screw me or fight against fairies.

"That didn't work out for you and never will, but you should actually work together for good, productive things and do better by your people. It's also alliances and help for people besides councils they can't get access to. Like the herd who was attacked and their leader ordered not to ask for help because he had stolen fairy magic.

"Luckily, my classmate found me and we helped. That won't always be the case, but if there is more cooperation, someone can get a message to someone. There are more options to keep people safe and make friends. I never have cared what species or race people are. Humans fight hard to make that a reality. Should we not do the same?"

"Forcing us to won't make it happen," someone countered. "You will have the same discourse and pushback that humans have."

"A lot of that is because they stay in their own ignorant corners. People born in cities have never spent time on a farm or vice versa," I argued. "People believing lies about America—good and bad—and spouting they know all about it when they've never been there. Same with other countries. I cannot force you to get along. No."

"But you can force us to work together, and that will address a lot of the misconceptions and attitudes," someone else muttered. "And in a time of distress."

"Yes," I agreed. "Which hopefully won't be often. I'm not praying for forest fires to bring unity. I don't even make enough weather crystals for it to be people using them all of the time or for summer parties. I'm saying the isolationist mentality has to stop. The world is too big and too much of a threat to us not to be better friends."

"I would suggest three leaders and one council member or royal of one of the groups," King Fergus suggested, growling when a few people objected. "These are miracles , and we need to show our people we respect them. I refuse for this to be another embarrassing debacle where people bother the leader of Faerie to bless dresses or their anatomy! "

"Agreed," Xavier said firmly. "We are the leaders and set the example. And we were at fault for how we handled the situation with the crowns, so excited for such a rare and precious gift that we were so busy bragging and gushing about them, we didn't realize the ripples of our behavior." He gave me a sad look. "We truly regret that."

"I know. We're past that. I should have gone through the right steps as well, but I thought people were going—people yell at me for everything and I get tired of it." It was hard not to laugh when a lot of people snorted.

Fine, good to know I wasn't the only one who had to deal with that bullshit.

It was still exhausting.

"I'm glad we're all in agreement with this," I said when over half seemed to accept it, ignoring those who clearly were going to still argue. I glanced at Neldor. "I think to start, this is something for our approval, simply because it's tricky and everyone is not yet acclimated to this world. And I have to link in the person to the crystal."

"If I may, Your Highness?" one of the light fairy commanders interjected, waiting until I nodded. "I would suggest having a captain as the contact to facilitate and investigate situations and make sure they are important and imminent. They have more flexibility in their schedules. We can make sure a few always have access to one phone while in this world."

"Smart," I praised, glad when Neldor nodded. "So it's really the Batphone and a captain is always carrying it. Good. Yes, because something like a forest fire doesn't always give much notice, and getting those out fast draws less notice." I glanced around the room. "Though we cannot always handle all of them. That would not be smart."

I was glad when everyone agreed, nodding for the commander to continue.

"From there, I would suggest we have a rotating order of which commanders handle the magic of the situation. As you said, it's important and must be handled correctly since natural disasters will always have eyes on them. News coverage. It also will give us the chance to use our magic with nature that is good for us and we normally are too busy to spend much time doing."

I glanced at Neldor and saw he agreed. "Thank you, Commander. Sage advice. I think that best. If you could implement the system, that would be something huge off our shoulders. Thank you."

"Princess, we were curious what these can really handle besides forest fires?" one of the witch councilwomen asked. "I apologize if it seems I'm questioning your magic. I'm not. I just want to be clear as we pass along instructions. Also, we don't have groups with leaders as other species do but mostly families."

Both were really good points.

"The truth is that I don't know," I answered, shrugging when people seemed surprised that I would admit that. "This isn't a power most fairies have, even the most powerful ones. It's normally only the heirs and queens because of their link with Faerie. So this might be something only I have the chance to manage because of my demigod side as well.

"We don't know and unfortunately, I am overloaded. As much as I would love the chance to play with it and all the aspects of my magic, it's simply not possible. If you have ideas or ways you think it could be applicable, I can work with my professors and we can try it. The rain is really all I have experience with.

"I know some suggested refreezing some of the melted ice caps. I have no idea if that can constitute as ‘weather.' And that's what this is written as—known as. I'm limited and handicapped in my knowledge because I did not go through the normal training heirs do. On the other matter, I'm fine with the matriarch or patriarch of a family being seen as the same as a leader for this."

She dipped her head. "Thank you, that was my concern. My suggestion would be for the next time you can find time in your schedule to test the crystal on a violent storm. If it can form one, it should be able to break one up. That would alleviate floods, monsoons, and hurricanes."

"That's smart. Thank you. I was focused on forest fires and droughts but yes, we can look into either idea." I nodded, glancing at Stefanie. "If it can break up a hurricane, then it could tornados. It's the same storm system but without—I actually don't know. I just always heard people say a hurricane was a tornado on water. I don't know if that's accurate."

"I don't know that answer either, Your Highness," she hedged, glancing at the other fairies.

"I find that shocking with how knowledgeable fairies are," someone commented, not seeming hostile but genuinely curious.

"We don't have that sort of drastic weather in Faerie," Iolas explained, nodding when people couldn't hide their shock. "Our planet is full of magic and regulates what its people need. There's never been a hurricane or tornado in the history of Faerie."

"Never a flood either," Onas added. "There was a drought about a thousand years ago in the dark realm, but it was because of a magical accident that damaged the land. Once that was fixed, everything was back to normal." He gave me a look. "It's happened before which is why it's at the sole discretion of the heirs and queens to reopen Faerie after magical accidents."

I nodded, already knowing that.

But it was always nice to have them finally sharing information with me as they should.

Still, it was helpful to the meeting and something else handled that I didn't want to leave in limbo.