9

After the omurice, there was a six-pound gyoza that was fucking delicious.

Next was the six-bowl ramen challenge. We got to pick which ones we wanted and had an hour for that. I felt a bit like my belly was making noises from all the liquid and drinking that much broth.

But it was fucking delicious as well.

I was making so many geodes that people were switching out to hurry and take them to Faerie to be locked up and accounted for since they were worth so much. Neldor was annoyed that I was the only one still pushing, but then I taught him how to make the magical vitamin salt licks we were putting out for some of the herbivores and he jumped on that.

And apparently, was better at making them than I was according to Onas. He hadn't said it to be mean but was praising Neldor that he could focus his magic so well into a concentrated block. I didn't hide my upset.

"Your Highness, you are a nuclear bomb of magic," he said easily. "You handle huge and can cause mass destruction or outpour more magic than any of us can to make miracles. I'm saying Prince Neldor has done better on how to be a drone strike of precision. They have different roles."

And one wasn't necessarily better and certainly not for every need. Yeah, I got it… Plus, the smirk Julian gave me that I was being competitive and a bit bratty.

Fine, I wasn't perfect. I was glad Neldor could shine with something magically when he always came in second to me.

Apparently, not anymore.

For our last dinner, we went to a BBQ place in Tokyo and each of us had their "Godzilla Tray" with four jumbo sides. It was a couple racks of ribs, several chicken thighs and sausages, and over a pound of their brisket and pulled pork each. It was over two hundred and fifty dollars of food with the conversion rate… And totally worth it.

Fuck, it was so good.

I got their fries, coleslaw, rolls, and potato salad which was the only thing I wouldn't have gone back for more of. It wasn't bad, but it was more a vinegar-type salad and I liked mine the mayo-type.

But the platters were meant for eight to twelve people and we gobbled it all up. The people were floored when we asked for more sauce and rolls.

Hey, I needed something to eat the pork and brisket on and they were damn good.

I was actually full after that. The look Neldor gave me said he was as well. A few of the captains who had done it with us this time seemed shocked, and we reminded them that this was one of several challenges we'd done.

And they'd only done this one. Duh.

There were some things I wanted to handle, but not before I was reminded of the schedule, and we had one more in Tokyo in several hours. It would be the time I normally woke hungry if I did magic or just had a rough day, and that worked with the time difference. But I saw it was honestly just them teasing me.

Hey, it was an unlimited sundae challenge. I was good with teasing if that was the result.

Neldor was going to work on something with Hudson and Lucca. I wasn't sure what was going on, but they seemed bummed, so maybe they weren't happy that I was more excited about what Julian and Darby had been up to? Well, they had also both realized that I hadn't known what was going on and had wanted to tell me.

I wasn't sure, and I'd long since figured out that I'd never understand the minds of men, so I tried not to worry about it. Besides, I was mostly over what happened anyways.

Mostly.

Julian, Darby, and I went to Faerie to check on a few things including the situation of the rest stop in Theripolis. I was glad to see it was doing much better and packed with people who were volunteering and getting meals they needed. It helped my overworked brain to see the proof of something working out well, and I happily left with some fae juice that I shared with my men.

I did some more of the forests since getting animals repopulated was such a priority now that we had so many fairies awakened.

I must have done too much magic for the day though and didn't realize it at first because it wasn't simply holding hands or a few looks as I moved along with Darby and Julian… But just about every green flag to fuck me and touches that were not meant for in public.

So I wasn't shocked when the moment I was done, we ended up at Julian's condo.

And I had something very specific in mind that I wanted.

I moved his ottoman to the middle of an open area, teleported my clothes to the matching chair, and knelt on it while staring at them. "I have a pussy eating challenge for you both as a thank-you for today."

"Fuck me dead, agra," Darby groaned before darting right over to me. He didn't hesitate, kneeling in front of me and burying his face where I wanted. Julian was only a few seconds behind him and moved behind me, massaging my ass as he licked me from that angle. Their fingers teased and pleased me as they did and I finished too fast to register.

I let them devour me through several orgasms before moving off the ottoman and licking my lips as I stared at them. "Who found and handled the BBQ place? That was my favorite."

"Me," Darby answered as Julian grumbled, "Him."

I held my hand out to Darby, glad when he immediately stood and took it. I let him touch me all over as I brought him to Julian's room. Then I pushed him onto the bed and climbed up so I was straddling his head. "Then keep eating. You're still hungry, right?"

"Famished," he groaned and did as I wanted.

I licked my lips and played with my breasts as Julian came into the room. "I get whatever I want tonight, right? You said anytime I want or—"

"Always, my sweet mate," he promised, fire in his eyes. "Just tell me what you want and I'll give it to you."

"Undress slowly. I want to see what's mine while he keeps eating me."

"I like this new fun when magic gets you so wound up," he mumbled and started doing what I wanted him to. I got quite the show as he revealed every inch of his sexy body for me. There was even a bit of flexing and playing with his hair that made me drip all over Darby's face even more.

I gestured to Julian as he stroked his cock and watched me. "All of that is mine? Forever?"

"Yes. Forever," he swore.

"Lie on the bed," I ordered, shivering when he immediately did. I moved off Darby's face and straddled Julian's hips. I pushed his hands off of me when he tried to touch me and lowered myself onto his dick. "Oh yeah, mine."

"Abso-fucking-lutely," he groaned.

I rode him like a champion, finishing and gushing all over him but holding back when he got close. I smirked at him when he was right there and stopped moving, his eyes going wide as I leaned over and licked his lips. Then I rubbed my breasts against his chest and nibbled on his ear. "Show me how it would be if we were mated, Julian. Show me the difference. I want to feel it."

I probably clued him into something big, but I didn't clarify, lost to lust and being naughty.

He waited until I sat up more and licked his lips as he stared over my body. "Is that what you really want?"

"Yes." I barely had the word out of my mouth and he moved me off of his cock and over his face. I yelped at the sudden movement but then moaned as he attacked my pussy. He smothered himself and held me up under my ass until I could get my legs in the right spot. I leaned over on my hand and stared at Darby stroking himself watching the show.

Yeah, I finished. I finished hard.

And all I wanted was more.

Julian rolled us so I was on my back, but he kept eating me, touching me possessively and leaving my skin on fire where he did. It was perfect.

But still, I wanted more.

He moved up and checked with me first before spreading me wider and thrusting in my body. He put one ankle on his shoulder and pushed my thigh into the bed as he fucked me. I came so hard that I lost my vision for at least a full minute.

And I didn't realize at first that he had pulled out of me. Hell, I wasn't even on my back anymore. I was on my knees sandwiched between Darby and Julian as they touched and kissed every inch of me.

"Please, someone fuck me," I whimpered. "I need more."

"You heard her. Fuck our mate," Julian said.

"Me?" Darby muttered, but then kissed below my ear. "Did you mean me, agra? I don't want to—"

"Yes, fuck me now, you stupid vampire!" I moaned when he plunged into my body, shoving me into Julian who was all too happy.

Darby tightened his grip on my hips and gave me everything he had, my ass slapping against his thighs as he did. Julian fisted my breast as he kissed my neck… And fingered me, not caring at all that Darby was inside of me.

"Come, my sweet mate," Julian whispered against my lips. "Orgasm again and again. See how I would take care of you if you were officially and forever mine. Always. I would always make sure things were perfect for you."

I believed him. I believed that was what he wanted most even if real life would get in our way.

I finished again, and then they switched who was inside of me, driving me nuts and everything to a higher level. I reached back and stroked Darby while Julian took me, both of them climaxing this time when I did.

I begged for more, but Julian said not until I healed myself a bit. Once I did, he dragged me to the edge of the bed and fucked me with all he had.

And then Darby plowed me next. We just kept going and going at top speed and strength.

It was amazing, and I had to use healing runes twice more it was so crazy. The three of us were spent finally and Julian swore when he looked at the clock. Darby seemed to know what that meant or what was going on, but I didn't care, wanting nothing more than to curl up and sleep.

Instead, they got me clean and redressed me.

Huh?

Oh, right the sundae eating challenge thing?

I was half asleep when we showed up, and I could tell something was going on, but then it was time to choose ice cream and my stomach basically made me pay attention then. To be fair, it was midnight my time, so it was three in the afternoon in Tokyo where we were doing this.

The challenge was I had to eat at least six jumbo sundaes to get them free. Any jumbo sundae I ate after was also free and I received a gift certificate for a free jumbo sundae… Unlimited amount.

I was going to put this place out of business if I wasn't careful.

Even if the jumbo sundaes were four scoops each and a ton of toppings.

I started with a strawberry shortcake, donut and coffee, Ferrero Roche, banana pudding, birthday cake, and their signature Unicorn Explosion which looked ridiculous. Plus, it was funny to us as fairies and supes.

And they were all fucking delicious. Like unreal kind of amazing.

I ate two of them before they even really had a chance to start melting. By the fourth, I put in an order for two more, going with the Mermaid, which was a lot of colorful and sugar, and the salted caramel cheesecake.

Yum.

Once I finished all of them, I went with some more fun ones: Luv You Berry Much, Chocoholic Crunch, and Mint Brownie Mudslide.

And then I started all over again from the beginning.

Yeah, I really ate twenty-two jumbo sundaes. I could have maybe kept going, but the people who worked there were talking about worrying they'd have to call an ambulance soon. So that was maybe the cue to stop.

Neldor had stopped after ten and was giving Darby and Julian dirty looks like he knew what we'd been doing that I needed fuel.

Needless to say, I passed out in a very happy food coma and completely sated from all the loving I'd gotten. Then I woke in a dream I'd had already, Neldor clearly on my mind as I watched what happened at Six Flags with those rich fairies.

Julian joined at some point and sat down next to me, not really reacting until Neldor and Lageos turned the tables on the men.

"I feel bad for your mates," Neldor said easily, moving to block Lageos from decking one of the men.

"I beg your pardon?" the first demanded. "I love my mate and—"

"And apparently won't apologize when you make mistakes," Neldor cut in. "That's what you're looking down on me for after all." He stared down each man. "I messed up. I thought my mate knew I was plotting and she didn't and it hurt her that I was brushing her off. My decision made others act as they had. I told them to leave it alone and dismissed them."

"As pissed as I still am at him for how it all blew up, I'm jealous how easily he takes accountability and owns his mistakes," Julian mumbled. "To be raised in that sort of supportive environment where he could learn that…" He shook his head. "Any mistake was a fault and punished. Not by my parents—well, later, my mum, but I can't even blame her—"

"It put you on your uncle's radar," I said for him, nodding when he did. "I was the same. Any mistake or ‘flaw' that was completely subjective and more preference and I could get sent back—tossed aside. It makes you defensive and hurry to hide it—deny anything was wrong."

"And more than that, I would think that was the type of person we would want standing next to our future ruler whom the gods blessed with the power to protect Faerie, not what our selfish desires might be," Neldor continued, giving a lecture basically as more people listened in. "I've repented for what I used to think and not giving her a chance. Why haven't you?"

"Didn't you already see this?" Julian asked, waiting until I nodded. "So why are you reliving it? Do you normally see the memories multiple times?"

"No," I hedged, not having thought of it." Then I shrugged. "I haven't fully forgiven him yet." I frowned as Neldor kept talking. "Maybe it's a warning? My subconscious telling me to take this to heart and he's…"

"He was stupid, Tams," he sighed. "I know you worry he'll take you over or people will think he'll just—he was stupid. He was trying to show you how good of a partner he could be and missed the mark. I've done it. You've done it. We've all done it. He just did it big and that hurts and you're not together yet."

Fair enough.

Julian leaned in and kissed that spot just under my ear. "Plus, he seemed pretty fucking jealous that we sexed you up so good and were smiling like gits. That was probably on your mind, so you wanted to see the reason you should forgive him again."

That made more sense than this being a warning. I would have replayed a lot of the memories I'd seen then instead of just the few that were more like nightmares and echoes of horror in the beginning.

"Can I change the scene, or do you still want to watch this?" Julian asked quietly after a few more minutes.

I shrugged. "I was just kind of zoning out. I normally fall back to full sleep or whatever when it's over."

He cleared his throat. "I think we should talk about earlier. What you said made it clear that you saw something."

I didn't deny it. "I saw you holding a ring and asking about the clarity. It looked like an engagement ring."

"Can I show you since you know?"

It seemed important to him, so I nodded. Maybe that I accepted that he was at the point of asking? I wasn't sure but I didn't want any issues… And I was kind of curious.

He stood and held out his hand to me as the scene around us changed. I accepted and let him pull me to my feet, glancing around at the… It wasn't a jewelry store. I simply looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

He chuckled. "It's a wholesale distributor. Finished engagement rings put in the price of the design and work. I was looking at sample ideas or how they would recommend the ring be made, but I have no intention of making a ring for you, or at least through humans." He leaned in and kissed my lips when I simply stared at him. "Your finger can't fit five rings, Tams."

Right, duh. I honestly hadn't thought about that or… Maybe I had, but Hudson had given me the necklace of his scales instead of a ring.

"What did you have in mind then?" I hedged.

"I can't tell you how thrilled I am that you're in—I thought this would be more—"

"Of a fight?" I teased, not picking on him when I saw that was truly what he had thought to say. I sighed as we walked around. "Julian, I would marry you tomorrow. If you asked and wanted to elope tomorrow, I would."

"Marriage," he whispered, sounding pained.

"That's what I grew up with," I reminded him gently. "You can divorce." I winced when his face filled with pain and he tried to let go of my hand. I let him retreat that way but stepped closer. "I'm not saying we would. I think we'll go the distance, but it's not souls merging or whatever. That's—Julian, I need you to hear me that I still think that insane."

He took a slow breath and let it out. "Sorry." He scrubbed his hand over his hair and nodded. "Yeah, sorry. I guess I just thought…" He shrugged.

"Yeah, I get it. I've come a long way and accepted a lot." I let out a harsh breath and started walking along the counters on my own. "A lot of it is seeing it. Yeah, there are dragons and unicorns and magic and another world. I see it. I've been there. I've seen the changes, but I can't see this one. I haven't lived it."

"Neither have I, Tams," he hedged.

That was fair and I said as much. "But you grew up where the answer of living hundreds of years was the standard. Fairies can live thousands of years. I had nineteen years fully believing that was bullshit and not possible. That is harder to accept. I get it, but I don't get it."

And the idea of tying lifelines and souls when I could live that long was so much more terrifying than a fucking marriage.

"Would you marry me?" he whispered, sounding sad.

I turned to face him and smiled, not sure why he was sad with what I'd just said. "Yes." I nodded when he seemed shocked. "I just said I'd do it tomorrow, Julian." I moved closer and cupped his cheek. "You are my future, you stupid warlock. You are my doc and the one who brought me to this world. There has always been ‘us' in my eyes. Yes, I'll marry you."

His eyes went too wide. "Wait, that can't be my proposal. I didn't mean—I wasn't—"

"Julian Craftsman, will you marry me?" I asked him. "Be my husband until I can wrap my mind around the idea of the crazy I can't handle yet."

He kissed me when I went to say more. "Tams, you are my equal in every way and I love you more than my own life. But I cannot—please don't hate me—"

"You have to be the one to ask." I swallowed a snort when I saw the truth in his eyes. It wasn't a sexist thing. He'd dreamed of how to ask—finding that perfect person and asking. Fine, I knew women who dreamed of the other side of it.

I wouldn't take away his fantasies and dreams any more than he'd take away mine.

"Dreams don't count," I said easily. "We were just talking." I searched his eyes and saw exactly what I felt reflected back at me. "And we both are ready for more security in our relationship. We've come so far, but the past still scares us and the positions we have."

"Cheater," he chuckled, giving me a kiss to take out the sting of his words.

"I didn't," I promised before frowning. "I'm not even sure I can in a dream. I just… You got pushed into what Neldor wanted because you didn't have a solid way to counter him. He's my right hand and my mate, but we're not together. We are together and you're my mate, but what wins in the end?"

He searched my eyes and gave a slow nod. "Yes, that is how Darby and I both felt. You don't wear the ring he gave you, and people take that as just you being together and not engaged. Fairies know that now and—that's not why I want more with you."

I knew that. But I did know it was about how he could help me more. He'd been going to bat for me and being my shield on a lot and he did it well. He stepped up for me and in a way I desperately needed, but he could only do so much as my boyfriend.

I fully understood that.

Hell, I felt the same about all his baby momma offers and bullshit.

He was mine and I wanted that clear to everyone… I simply couldn't give him my soul yet.

That sounded reasonable to me.

Hopefully, he agreed.

We walked around more and talked a bit about this and that. Julian didn't want to give me a ring, but a bracelet with some sort of magic. He was vague about that part, and I had a feeling it involved my dad then.

So I didn't push but promised him that I loved the idea of a bracelet. Because I did. I agreed with him that it didn't have to be a ring to have meaning. They could each give me something different. I didn't care.

I only cared about how we felt for each other.

Which was why I pulled Stefanie to the side when I woke up and asked her to get an idea of how people would feel if I married Julian. She was beyond shocked, but after I explained where my head was and asked for understanding given how I'd grown up, she told me that she was proud of me for navigating rough waters as well as I did.

That helped.

It helped a lot.