18

"What?" I gasped, almost dropping my sundae.

Iolas chuckled and looked younger as he smiled at me. "People are asking where you are going to register when you get married. They know it's a human practice involving marriage, and while they might not fully understand it, they're asking about it to try and show their support. They want to see the registry or register to…" He looked at Shael.

And she simply shrugged.

I waved others off who might answer. "It's for young couples to set up their new life. Decades ago when a normal kid had nothing leaving their parents' home to start a home with their partner. They needed everything—plates, linens, appliances, and even a damn shower curtain. So they went to the store and picked out everything they want for their house.

"People can then go see the list and buy exactly what they want or multiple things for the amount they wanted to spend for their wedding gift. It's also so five people don't buy them a coffee maker. You normally send them the place you're registered or like a link now for bridal, baby, or wedding showers. Birthday lists too even for kids."

"Got it, yes, that makes sense," Iolas muttered but then frowned. "But you have everything inherited. I supposed you would want certain things because the castle would now have electricity?"

"Not the point," Shael chuckled.

"No, not the point," I whispered, rubbing my chest. "They knew it was a human thing to do with marriage and were showing their support. It's amazing. Tell whoever I appreciate it. Really. It's not needed, and I'm blessed with a huge inheritance, but I appreciate it."

Iolas and Shael shared a look with Taeral and Onas, Taeral coming over and kneeling in front of me. "You misunderstand, Your Highness. It's not a small group. It's all over both realms. People are signing up at the town squares. They started immediately after your broadcast asking to be informed of your registry. Millions have already signed their names asking for it."

Neldor leaned over and moved his hand to my shoulder, giving it a squeeze as I moved my hand over my mouth. "I knew they wouldn't fail you this time. I knew it. This is who our people are at their core. This is the good of Faerie if the evil isn't left to fester."

I nodded that I heard him, my emotions overwhelming me. I leaned into Julian and let him hug me. I soaked up his strength for a few minutes and shared in his relief that things were turning out better than we'd feared.

Turning to look at him, I wanted to check with him first. "Even when humans elope, they generally have small receptions after. Informal parties without all the crazy so their families can still congratulate them."

He nodded. "I had to attend one as a child with my mum for our public image." He smiled, understanding filling his eyes. "Yeah, let's do that. Schedule times at the town square for an informal reception where people can congratulate us. That's—we don't need gifts."

"Yeah, that's better, right?"

"You're perfect," he whispered, giving me a soft kiss. "It will be a lot for you, but we don't have to do it long. Shake some hands and kiss some babies. You can handle that over an hour or two and spread out the nights. Hell, it will be nice for you to get a chance to see your people. We can do some before we officially marry."

True. We were already mated after all.

I nodded and looked at Shael. "Announce it. Thank everyone for the registry idea, but tell them I'm already blessed and don't need gifts. If anyone wants to help give magic to heal Faerie so more animals are born and we'll always have more food for our people, that would be great. I appreciate their support, and we'll be scheduling times for informal receptions."

"People will be thrilled, Your Highness. Truly." She closed her mouth but then paused before looking at Julian. "I'm glad I was wrong about you, Dr. Craftsman. Truly. I think you are a worthy mate of our future queen and to be a prince of Faerie. I'm so very grateful that I was wrong and you love her as you proved in the press conference."

Shock rocked me as a tear ran down her cheek before she turned away and left to handle what I'd said.

Wow. Just… Wow.

And clearly, she wasn't the only one who felt that way.

We spent the rest of the night processing the crazy and accepting what had happened, the six of us relaxing and eating dinner. It was nice and just… Calm. We needed more calm.

The next day, I told Izzy the full truth, not the altered one that everyone else would know. She was my best friend and adopted sister really, and if Neldor's godsfather would know the truth, I couldn't keep it from Izzy. She cried and hugged me, checking I was okay and sad for me that my first mating went like that and was so crazy.

It was still too fast, but I promised I was okay because Julian was so amazing about it all. I'd been worried when he'd been upset at first and a bit pushy, but when he'd switched gears and understood it wasn't about him… I really was fine.

"Okay, do you want to talk more?" Izzy checked when I was done. She winced at whatever was on my face. "Sorry. We can keep talking."

But clearly, she didn't want to. "No, I'm good. I'm kinda all talked out on the topic and—I just wanted to fill you in. What's up?" I glanced at the clock and really didn't want to go to the cafeteria. "Want to order Portal Chow and be bad since neither of us has first period?"

"Yes. Yes." She cleared her throat. "Something happened."

It was obviously good, so I wasn't worried. I felt bad that I hadn't noticed sooner, but I'd been wrapped up in my own issues, and I hadn't wanted her to hear from anyone else. I quickly pulled out my phone and we ordered before I sat down with her on my bed and looked at her to tell me.

"Claudia ravaged me," she blurted in her typical Izzy way. She nodded when I simply blinked at her. "I mean she ravaged me, Tams. Like she apologized that she couldn't hold back anymore and give me time to get over Rana and then jumped me in her elevator. The moment we were in her condo she stripped me naked in the foyer. She gobbled me up on the counter."

"A favorite of mine," I chuckled.

"I understand why," she whispered, fanning her face. "Apparently, she saw a toy that she thought was made for me and it pushed her over the edge and she couldn't hold back anymore. I had no clue. I thought—"

"I told you it wasn't that," I drawled, glad that I'd been a brat and contacted Claudia on the side. "So it was good? Worth the wait?"

"It was amazing. Like oh my fucking gods good, Tams. Like, I get how you sound like porn now. I get it. I thought—I know you've said you get into that because they like how you sound. I knew that, but like I couldn't control my mouth. It was—I fainted. I ended up fainting. I completely left her hanging and woke in bed."

"And you felt guilty and wanted it again at the same time," I said with a smirk. "Yeah, I know that feeling." I snickered when she giggled.

"I asked her to do it again," she admitted, blushing deep red and covering her face and letting out a squeal. "She just laughed and said she was glad I approved of her moves. Oh my god, it was so sexy. I mean, of course, she's sexy, she's Claudia. She's super sexy, smooth, confident Claudia. But this was like predator gonna-gobble-me-up-Claudia and I'm hooked."

"Good." I nodded when she peeked at me. "Good, Izzy. That's what you deserve and how it should be." I shoved her shoulder when she went to hide again. "That's how I feel too. It must be a dragon thing because I especially feel it with Hudson."

"Glad I like a dragon then," she muttered, shrugging when I snickered.

"Okay, give me all the deets," I pushed. "And what happened after? Like in the morning. And what are you planning next? Are you going to jump her? I mean, you need a plan of attack, right?"

"Do I? I mean is that what you did?"

I snorted, giving her a look not to be silly.

"Of course, you did. You're Tams. You probably jumped one of them first."

"I think you saw me do it once or twice," I drawled. "Darby. You saw me challenge Darby when he was teasing me."

"Right. Gods, that seems like a lifetime ago." She shook her head and then seemed to wave off the memory. She told me everything and then asked me for ideas.

Claudia wasn't just anyone, so obviously I was fine with her in our house. I suggested that Izzy arrange a nice dinner and show up in nothing but a robe and after dinner make it clear that Claudia was the dessert. Everyone liked to be ravaged even if one was older and tended to take the lead. Izzy could start the trouble and let Claudia ravage her.

But she needed to put in the effort as well. That was the important part.

And I planned on taking my own advice and doing some spoiling as well after everything Julian had done for me lately.

Actually, all of my guys had done for me. They had all been amazing and supportive.

"Actually, would you help me set up something crazy tonight?" I asked her. "I was reading something about a good way to seduce your partner was to set up a scene like I was saying, but then I was going through ideas—I saw about a sushi model. Will you set it up for me?"

"Could I ask Claudia to help?" she hedged. "I don't want us to finally get together and then I'm doing something naked with you."

"Yeah, totally fair. I could wear a bikini until the very end?" I offered.

"Let me talk to her. I'm sure it's fine, and we might need the help. That's a lot to set up fast before it would go bad, right?"

We both sort of shrugged, but I was vibrating with excitement as I went to grab our delivered breakfast. Claudia had already answered that she was in and would get it all set up with Cara and Jordan to help at Prince Neldor's house… And figure out an excuse to get them out of there with Cluym.

Even better. Smart.

Plus, that gave Izzy a chance to have the house to herself tonight. She needed to talk to Cara on the side, and she and Jordan could sneak in some food from Faerie to the house or Irma could. Then, when Claudia and Izzy were done helping me, they could go home and have their own fun night.

Happy was a great look on Izzy, and I was thrilled that she was excited. Finally. She deserved that, especially after Rana was such a dud and all Izzy had wanted was passion and fireworks.

I texted Claudia on the side that whatever she had done was the right move because Izzy was all hearts and sunshine so keep it up. And I hoped Izzy had made her happy as well because I wanted them both happy.

I laughed when the serious and reserved dragon sent me a GIF back with a kitty with hearts circling its head. Well then!

We ate and then I headed out to Practical Enchantments. So far, I'd been working the normal basics but at a more rapid pace given my magic level. Each class was one or two charms. I'd mastered speed, strength, resistance, and endurance charms. I made dozens of them like nothing.

At the end of class, I handed the ones I'd already done to Ara and told her to give them to Captain Reddy for the supe police to use as they saw fit.

"You could make a lot of money off of these if people knew they were your magic, Your Highness," she hedged.

"Yes, but these are the ones people normally don't use for good things or to cheat unless they're the police," I said without any amusement. "I don't want to be party to that. So let's have them on reserve for the police for emergencies, but let him know it was a section for class and not something I'll be making regularly. However, we might be open to a squad assigned to their station if they want."

"I'm sure they will," she sighed.

"Probably, but we want our foot in the door for more access," I reminded her. The councils wanted to block us from handling too much unless it was cleaning up what they couldn't.

Just not their corruption. Funny how they thought that would work, but I tended to ignore them, so it didn't matter.

Getting set up for the sushi model plan was hysterical. We kept laughing so hard that I should have ruined so much food, but someone would shout, "Five second rule!" and gobble it up. We ended up having to rush order more sushi and… It was all too funny and exactly what we needed.

Cara and Jordan refused to even let wasabi in the house with me when there was going to be booze. They promised none of the guys would care when I was naked or ask for it. I tended to agree when they put it like that.

Oh, and Claudia kept getting saucy that Izzy didn't need to see the woman voted most beautiful in two worlds naked like this. Izzy wasn't getting it and commented how many times she'd seen me naked and she was long since desensitized.

The three of us looked at her like she was an idiot and she finally got it.

Gods help us.

It was even better after they left and the guys found their surprise.

Hudson told them to shut up and fucking eat. My dragon became a damn vacuum and just stuffed his face.

Neldor too.

I couldn't keep up the sexy vibe and kept laughing.

Seriously, fucking goofs.

We laughed so hard it was something none of us would ever forget. Even as they finished the sushi and ate me.

And the hot sex after and them finding bits of rice in my hair or Lucca licking some off my neck and under my arm… While saying it was a sex snack.

Seriously? Like… Seriously?

Yeah, we all died all over again.

But yeah, the sex was hawt. So fucking hawt it was unreal.

And fun. We had fun and joked, and it was honestly one of the best nights of my life. I would be laughing for weeks when Darby made them realize that I hadn't actually eaten with them and they had to take a break to feed me. The groans and pouts that they had to stop the adult fun to be adults and make sure I ate were unreal.

Seriously, it was like kids being told to go to bed. I died even if the analogy was unsettling and the pouting over the top.

The fun was more important than the hawt sex. It really was.

Plus, it wasn't only that night. I felt closer to all of them. The next day too.

And the day after. The day after that as well.

Oddly enough, my accidentally mating Julian brought me closer together with all of my mates, not just him.

I know, weird, right? I hadn't seen that coming either. But it was what happened and we all acknowledged it. We were all checking in on each other like we were the six-person team that mattered most. I heard each of them asking Julian if he was okay and if there were any delayed reactions or effects.

The same with me. If I was okay now that the shock had worn off or there was anything I wanted to discuss now.

But I didn't. I was good.

I found that shocking too.

I was though.

Faerie and fairies accepted how I felt and what I needed.

The men who loved me did as well.

School was good.

My life was going well. Something would come up.

It always did.