16

When he was naked, he reached for me, but I shoved him to lie back. I smirked at him and told him to be good because I was hungry. He nodded and did what I wanted so I straddled his head and licked his growing cock.

In turn, he attacked my pussy.

I swallowed him down when I orgasmed, screaming around his dick in the way he loved. I bobbed my head and sucked harder as he built up my next climax.

"Fuck, Tams, wait, I want to blow inside of your pussy, not your mouth. Please? Fuck, I want to be in your body. I need you, my sweet mate."

I pulled off with a naughty slurp and pushed up a bit. "Fine, but keep eating. It feels so fucking good. I like coming on your face."

He groaned and brought me again, teasing both my holes as he did. He moved me off of him and to lie on my stomach. I thought he was going to take me, but he slowed things down and kissed all over my skin, touching and teasing me. He flipped me over and moved a pearlberry to my lips, heat filling his eyes as I took my time eating it.

"I love you more than words can explain, Tamsin Vale," he whispered. "You are my whole world, and my soul wouldn't survive without you. Never leave me. I know I'm a stupid warlock, but nothing matters to me the way you do. I will spend all of my days trying to prove I'm worthy of you."

I opened my mouth to say something, but he spread my legs and lowered his face to my pussy, eating me out again. I moaned loudly, pornish loudly even, it felt so good.

We both flinched when my magic sort of bit us. He slowly raised his head and tears were in his eyes. "You gave me another piece of your soul, didn't you? You don't know how much that means to me, my sweet, perfect mate."

Did I? Is that what I'd just done?

I wasn't sure, but I said what I felt. "I love you. It's always been you, Julian."

"I don't deserve you or that you feel that way, but I'm a greedy bastard who will gladly accept it."

He moved up and thrust in me deeply, both of us crying out at how good it felt. Then he sat back on his feet and lifted my lower body up. I got the idea and moved my feet onto the ground so I could move with him.

My magic built as we made love, his joining in and sort of intertwining with mine. I didn't care. I wanted it even. I wanted everything with him, moaning and begging for more.

More of him. More of the sex. More of us being together forever.

All of it. I wanted all of it and him.

He leaned over and kissed between my breasts before pulling me up. I moved my arm around his neck and moved faster, meeting his thrusts with all I had.

But it wasn't enough. I flipped us so I was on top and ground down on him, licking my lips when he couldn't hide how much he loved it. He grabbed my hips and thrust up as I came down and rode him like I champion.

Leaning over, I moved my hand to his neck, being over the top and possessive… And he fucking loved it. His eyes about rolled up in his head.

"Are you mine?" I demanded.

"Yes. Always. Forever," he grunted as he pulled me down harder.

"Swear it to the gods, Julian. Swear you will only be mine forever—not just your queen or mate, but your everything, the reason you live and breathe."

"Fuck, yes," he moaned. "All yours, Tamsin. My heart beats for you. My soul lives for you. I only function for you and to be yours."

I leaned over and bit his lip in a playful way as we moved faster. "You better believe that if I keep giving you pieces of my soul. I want all of your soul. I want all of you forever. Swear it. Swear you're mine now."

"I swear it," he panted. "I swear to the gods that I'm yours, Tamsin. Forever."

We both came so hard that it was beyond an orgasm. My body felt his and I knew he felt mine. I felt his soul and more than the pieces I'd given him. It was like locking parts of us together in a way that couldn't be undone.

And I fucking loved it.

He sat up and smirked as we gasped for air. He ran his hand over my neck this time. "My turn, my sweet mate."

I licked my lips and nodded. "Yeah, your turn." I let out a yelp as he quickly but carefully pulled out of me and moved me. I wasn't shocked that I was on all fours before he plunged back into me. I shivered at his hand on my throat possessively.

"You might give parts of your soul to them too, but all of you is mine, my mate," he said with a growl as he nipped my ear. "I own you too. Forever. Say it."

"Forever," I moaned and arched my back to get more of him. I said whatever he demanded as he fucked me harder and harder, agreeing he owned me and always had. That it was us always and I would never leave him. Our magic built higher and higher this time and exploded deeper than our orgasms when we finished.

"All I can think about is having you again," he panted when we were done, his hand moving from my neck finally and over my body.

"Please?" I begged, squirming and moving against him. "Please, Julian? I need you more. I need you to fuck me more. I'll be yours forever. I swear it. I won't ever run. I promise we'll mate one day and be forever. You swore to be mine and what I need. I will—please, please, fuck me again."

So he did. He fucked me so hard and deep that we were both exhausted, but it still wasn't enough. I healed us and then I rode him until there was nothing left in his balls to give me and my body hurt.

And still, we wanted to go again.

"Wait, you need to eat," he gasped for air as he rolled us and held me still. "You're depleted." He kissed me when I went to argue. "I will use toys on you and call Hudson over to fuck you all night. I will sate you, my sweet mate, I swear it. But you need to rest and eat." He gave me another soft kiss. "Please, trust me?"

I sighed, knowing he had won. I let him clean me up after I gave us healing runes, both of us staring at each other like all we wanted to eat was each other. He put on his shorts and made me redress so he behaved, but honestly I fucked him with my eyes even as I stuffed my face.

Once all the food was gone, I just wanted my bed.

And clearly, so did he from how quickly he had everything packed up. I laughed and offered to let him fuck me against a tree.

"Tempting, but I'm too out of control, and I'm not risking splinters on your luscious skin," he grumbled as he pulled me to my feet. He slid his arm under my ass and lifted me up to wrap around him, kissing me silly as I opened a portal.

There was an echo of gasps as we walked through into the kitchen. The mood was of shock and seemed severe, and I was instantly on alert, sliding to my feet and glancing around.

Iolas stared at us like he'd never seen us and dropped the sandwich in his hand. That was who I was most focused on. He seemed to snap out of it first and shook his head. "I apologize. I knew you were discussing possible marriage but—Congratulations. Yes, congratulations."

Shael cleared her throat. "Yes, of course. Unless—this is congratulations, right?"

Horror filled me. I glanced between them and fear filled their eyes at whatever they saw on my face. I opened my mouth, but Julian tapped into my magic and used it against me to silence me.

And he wasn't the only one.

Neldor was there and had done the same.

Julain used my magic also to be more powerful than the others and moved a bit in front of me. "We're shocked because—I didn't know you would all instantly know. That's not how it is with witches and warlocks. It wasn't in the reading. Also, you're in her kitchen. We weren't going to announce it."

"I meant to warn you, but I didn't think you'd move this fast when we discussed it," Neldor lied. "Clearly, the moment was right, but we can tell the others more later. Tamsin is going to melt with embarrassment and probably needs to rest."

"Yes, of course," Iolas said, clearing his throat again. "We can discuss the other matters later. "Congratulations again. I'll warn your father."

Neldor was suddenly touching me and pulled us through a portal and then we were in his room and barriers were up. "Baby doll, you have to breathe. It's okay."

I shoved away from him and stumbled, fighting them using my magic against me. They must have felt it and took it off.

Julian grabbed my arms and made me look at him. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I did that, but you were going to say something you shouldn't. Something you can't ever say to people."

"I mated you against your will, didn't I?" I choked out, tears blurring my ability to see him. "My magic—I took—the punishment is death. I deserve death for what I've done and—"

"No, no, don't even say that," he whimpered. "Don't—I was willing, okay? Don't ever—no one can—Tamsin, please breathe. Tams, stay with me, okay? You promised not to leave me!"

But it was too late. Everything was fuzzy and I could barely hear him, my panic taking over, and then there was nothing but darkness.

"What did you do, Zaos?" I asked, my voice cold and deadly.

No, not me.

Neldor. I stepped out of where he was and moved aside, realizing we were in the residence of where the hobgoblin lived.

And somehow, I knew this was happening right now. This wasn't a memory in the normal way. This was different like when I saw the guys wanting me to get a week off of training and dealing with my dad.

"You are over the line and need to leave, Prince Neldor," Zaos replied, his body turning bright red with anger.

"No, you are," Neldor bit out. "You were pissed that I didn't pick up the lunch for Tamsin. You snapped at me that I was late. I thought you were being a dick and not respecting your time or food, but there was something more to it, wasn't there?"

"No, and—"

He fisted the front of the hobgoblin's clothes and slammed him against the wall. "You're doing something to my mate! Admit it!"

Zaos's features went slack, Neldor's magic hitting him hard. "Yes."

Tears filled Neldor's eyes. "What did you do to her?"

"Concentrated drupegranate," Zaos answered.

"Damn you!" Neldor roared and punched the wall next to Zaos's head.

Drupegranate tasted like a pomegranate, but instead of a lot of little seeds, it had one big seed like a peach. It was still red and stained like a pomegranate, but it was sweet instead. Not overly but yeah, it wasn't tart like the pomegranates of this world. It was a superfood as well, but unlike pomegranates, it had to be eaten in moderation.

Because it was an aphrodisiac. If eaten in excess or even multiple servings by someone who was sensitive, it would work like an aphrodisiac.

I felt my knees get weak, even in the dream, and slowly sank to the ground. So much made sense to me that I had just excused as my magic, even so far back as Neldor and I misbehaving when working around my dad.

We'd eaten from the rest stop that day. That breakfast and lunch when we'd gotten food from the hobgoblins and that rest stop.

"Why?" Neldor bit out. "What was your goal?"

"For her to cave and be with you," he answered. "For her to stop embarrassing Faerie with the others, especially the vampire. If she mates you, they're all gone. To embarrass her so she stops being so full of herself and looking down on us. She's almost human with—"

"I should kill you, and if I hear any more of your bile, I will," Neldor seethed. "Was there anyone else involved?"

"No, but two knew what I was doing and were too cowardly to stop me or warn anyone," he answered.

Neldor got the names before knocking out the hobgoblin with his magic.

I sat up with a start, rubbing my hand over my chest and blinking out at my room.

"I saw," Julian whispered from my left. "You were scared and I went into your dream. That was now, right?"

"I think so." I realized my dad was there and tears filled my eyes. "I did something horrible and—"

"Don't say that," Julian choked out. "Don't say mating me is horrible."

"Doing it against your will is horrible," I sobbed.

"It wasn't against his will, Daughter," Lageos said gently as he moved to sit next to me. "You couldn't have done it against his will. You were both willing. That's the only way it could have happened. I see the bond and your souls. You were both willing."

"He didn't consent, and we didn't understand," I cried, crumbling against him and letting him comfort me. "We were drugged." I showed him what I saw with Neldor just now.

Lageos kissed my hair and hugged me tighter. "Okay, listen to me, both of you. Are you calm enough to do that?"

"I have to be," I rasped.

Julian moved onto the bed with me and pulled me away from my dad, shaking me and making me look at him. "Stop. Please just stop. I'm not—we were going to end up here, my sweet mate. Please don't regret me. Be mad at me for using your magic against you to make you quiet if you want, but please don't be this sad for being mated to me."

"I'm not—we didn't make the conscious choice."

"I don't care. I don't regret it. What we shared was everything, Tamsin. That was exactly how I would have wanted it to be. Wasn't it perfect to you?"

I melted. It was my fault and all he cared about was we were together. "I don't regret you, and I meant what I said that it's always been you, Julian."

"Then please stop being so upset, okay? I love you. Yes, maybe this was too soon, but that's it. It was perfect otherwise and we love each other."

"It's my fault, and you'll resent me one day," I choked out.

"No. Never. I swear, never ever," he rasped as he pulled me onto his lap and hugged me tightly. "I've never been so grateful to your magic or a fae fruit or—I know this was too soon for you, but I would have mated you already, Tamsin. Please, don't take this on yourself. I understand it was too soon for you but not me. Please, don't hurt from this."

I nodded, trusting him and trying to believe he wouldn't hate me later. I hugged his arms to me and tried to get myself together.

Neldor was standing there when I calmed down, confirming I'd seen what had happened and knew what was done.

"You were basically inebriated," Lageos told us. "You weren't even drunk. It's an aphrodisiac, but it's not even classified as a drug."

"But used against their will with intent, it's drugging someone," Neldor corrected.

"Yes, of course, but that's the legal—I'm putting it in terms Tamsin understands. She is thinking more they were roofied like humans at nightclubs. It's not like that," Lageos clarified. "You didn't even realize what was going on."

"We knew something was going on, but we all thought it was using so much magic," I whispered. "We completely missed it."

"That's my point," my dad said gently. "It could have been that some of the time. It still lines up. It's like you had a few drinks and your mental facilities were reduced, not that you had no control or were catatonic or unconscious. There is a difference."

"We were willing, but we didn't fully understand," Julian summarized.

"I think you did," Lageos countered, giving him a hard look.

"No, we didn't," I sighed, scrubbing my hand over my face. "I thought I was giving him another piece of my soul. Yes, it felt different, but a second piece would feel different, should feel more. It made sense it would feel twice as much or exponentially more."

Understanding filled Lageos's eyes. "Yes, okay, that does complicate things. Yes—that makes sense. I didn't—it seemed more like you wanted to not understand or at least the warlock."

"I don't know," Julian said quietly after a moment. "I thought—I wanted to give part of my soul back to Tamsin. I wanted her to—she feels foolish at times only having given me a piece of her. I wanted to give her a piece of me. I've always wanted to, and it felt like I could. I wanted to give her all of me."

"You wanted to mate her," Neldor accused.

"Yes, but not without her consent. She wasn't ready. I knew that. I've never pushed her to…" He cleared his throat.

"You haven't—" I defended. "Don't second-guess yourself. You pushed for us to get back together because you knew we were meant to be, but you've never pushed me to be—you gave me—don't. Don't doubt yourself on this. You never pushed me for sex when I wasn't sure. Or anything, Julian. You wouldn't have forced this on me. I know that without a doubt."

"I'm glad you're sure, my sweet mate," he whispered against my hair, hugging me tighter. "I doubt myself because of how much I want it. I want to believe in myself that I wouldn't ever do it to you, but I just don't know. I thought I was giving you a piece of my soul. I wanted to give you that piece of me to show my love for you. That's what I thought. I can prove that."

"I know. You said that and I felt it. Don't doubt yourself on the rest." I shook my head and moved off his lap so I could see him when he argued. "Julian, if you forced me to mate, you'd crush me. You couldn't do that to me. Just stop. We're going to have enough issues with this. Please don't bring more on this for us."

"Okay, I'm sorry. I just—you always have more faith in me than I do myself." He gave me a soft kiss that I gladly accepted.

"I'm not saying this to sound like a pervert, but I think I should see what happened so everyone else close to the situation is sure what occurred and as the outside view who will punish the hobgoblins," Neldor said quietly after a few moments of quiet.

I sighed, letting Julian decide. I was glad when he nodded, agreeing as well.

"Good because I couldn't have handled it and someone does need to see it," Lageos grumbled. "What you both need to know is you were both willing. You might have thought it was part of your souls, but you were willing to give more. Think back, you had to have consented even if you didn't understand. Even if you were inebriated. You gave permission."

He was right. I'd thought I wanted to give all of myself to Julian forever. I didn't mean it literally or completely like that… But I did.

"I'm sorry," I choked out, covering my face and breaking down again.

"Please don't apologize," he begged as he pulled me back to his lap. "Please don't regret me, Tamsin. Please don't break my heart like that."

"It's too soon," I wailed. "I'm scared. We're not ready."

"I am. I'm ready. I'm ready enough for both of us," he comforted. "We're going to be okay and make it. I'll be the mate you need and exactly what your soul wanted, I swear it. I know you're scared."

He repeated it over and over again until I was all cried out and a calm, exhausted acceptance fell over me. I didn't know how long it had been, but it felt like a long time.

"What do we do?" I asked. I wasn't sure who, but I assumed my dad.

Yeah, he was probably the logical choice.

"We make an announcement to Faerie that you were swept up in the love for your mate and mated not knowing fairies would sense it," he said after a moment. "That you appreciate their well wishes and congratulations, but you weren't ready for the world to know yet and wish to quietly enjoy your young love without things becoming complicated because of your status."

"Also, that you won't be announcing it to the supes of this world," Neldor added. "So, it's only for Faerie to know until you're ready to announce it. Also, the Craftsman family won't know and won't receive any perks. Everything will be decided at a later date once you're ready, you basically wanted to elope, but your magic made that impossible.

"That you hope people respect your decision as their future queen and give you the little bit of normal you wanted. But you did discuss this first and your father did give his approval. It was in the planning stages—be honest about the part that a huge mating ceremony overwhelmed you and you wanted to skip that. Act like you just didn't know people would sense it."

"That's smart," Lageos agreed. "And make it clear that you're sharing this with your people, but it's not for the other world. I can make the announcement as your father and I've given my approval for Julian already, but given the issues with his family, it's complicated.

"I worry about that situation, and we want to handle issues there before anyone tries to take advantage of you or Faerie. That Julian is a good kid, but we even ask for help from some of the legal minds of Faerie to weigh in on the situation to free you both. Maybe allude to you worrying for him and jumping the gun to protect him. Let people see your love."

I nodded, rubbing my hands over Julian's arms. "And Zaos? We can't let people know someone did this to us, but he can't be—we can't let this go either."

"No, of course not," Neldor said firmly, his voice cold. "Lageos and I will change the memories of the other two involved. They should have reported it, but they were chicken, not horrible. After we announce your mating, they will report that Zaos tried to poison you and Julian so I could take over and he was against a warlock prince."

Lageos nodded. "We'll go from there. It's only putting off the inevitable a day. It also shows that we're ready for any unrest at all levels and your security is tight so not to be stupid."

"Damnit, Zaos," I whispered, tears burning in my eyes. I had really hoped I'd gotten through to the hobgoblin and we could have moved forward. I knew he was an asshole and jaded, but I never thought he'd go this far.

Yeah, it was only an aphrodisiac, but that was still far over the line and not "only" anything really. It was drugging a royal and had to be punished big time.

"It's the right move, my sweet mate," Julian said gently, rubbing my arms and kissing my hair. "But you can think about it for a bit."

"No, we have to move fast before whispers start or something leaks. Do it." I quickly wiped my eyes. "And we have to tell the others. Now."

"Whatever you want," Julian rasped.

My heart broke for him because he clearly wanted me to be excited we were mated and I wasn't. I hated that I was hurting him, but this was all too much for me. I couldn't even wrap my mind around it.

I really couldn't.