Her Fae Lovers

“I want to know how to send them home.” Lola said as she clenched her hands by her sides. She wasn’t going to cry. This would help keep them safe. It was what she had to do, she knew this. It didn’t make the pain in her heart any easier to deal with.

“Are you sure about that?” Erik asked, a slow smile spreading across his face. She could see the excitement in his sparkling eyes.

“I am,” Lola said nodding her head. She knew that if she backed out now, there would be no way that she could do this again.

“How did you figure it out?”

“Figure out what?” Lola asked as she unclenched her hands, watching as Erik moved back towards the kitchen.

“Who, or I should say what I am.”

Lola was taken a back to all the times she’d watched him make tea for the two of them and it felt oddly intimate.

“Annwn.” Lola said as she leaned against the counter watching as he pulled out the kettle and moved to the sink filling the kettle.

“Really, the host told you?” Erik asked, sitting the kettle on the stove, and turning on the burner. He opened the cabinet, looking through all the boxes of tea before finally picking one.

“Well, not in so many words.” Lola said. She wished he’d hurry up. The sooner that she got Lu, Merrow, Bodach, and Puca home, the safer they would be. The quicker she could work on with trying to learn to live without them.

“She doesn’t like to involve humans in our business.” Erik chuckled as he stepped away from the tea that he’d fixed Lola. His hip propped against the counter as he waited for the water to boil.

“No, she doesn’t.” Lola said, remembering her meeting with the fae woman and her words to Merrow.

“But you’re not human. What did she tell you about me?”

“That you’re the Useelie. I mean, she didn’t come out and say it. Only that you were interested in me.” Lola said, looking towards the window as she felt her palms start to sweat and her heart beat faster in her chest.

“Well, that I am. You already know that though.” He smirked as he moved closer. Pulling his glasses from his face and sitting them on the counter.

“Erik,” Lola said, pressing her hand against his chest, stopping him from kissing her.

“Yes, Lola.” He drawled, studying her lips before his gaze met hers.

“What are you?” Lola’s voice was low as she spoke. She wasn’t sure how to go about this. “I mean besides the unseelie.”

“I thought you would have already figured it out.” Erik said as he brought his hand up, pushing a piece of hair that had fallen from her bun out of her eyes. “I’m the King.”

“What does that mean?” Lola asked, worrying the inside of her cheek as his fingers moved over her jaw. “And why didn’t Puca know, I mean. He’s met you before right?”

“Just that, I’m the fae king. I can take many different forms, I knew him but he didn’t recognize me.”

“So you can send them home?”

“For a price.” His hand moved lower, trailing down the side of her neck, and she let out a shiver. This one wasn’t a pleasurable touch even though he meant it to be, it made her afraid of what he was about to say.

“What’s the price?” Lola asked, feeling her throat tighten and a cold chill sweep over her.

“You.” Erik smirked as breathed the word out.

Lola lips formed a circle as her eyebrows shot up. She didn’t know how to respond, what to say to that. That she would be the price for her lovers to go home, it was one she was willing to pay.

“What does that mean?”

“Just that. I want you. You would choose me over them. I’d grant them safe passage for your heart.” Erik said as his hand moved to the back of Lola’s neck.

She couldn’t help but wonder if he meant her love or to sacrifice her in some strange fae ritual.

The kettle started to whistle and Lola let out a breath as he let her go. Watching as he moved to the stove, pulling the kettle off and pouring it over the tea ball.

“They would be safe, nothing would happen to them?” Lola asked, needing to make sure.

“You have my word.” Erik said as he turned back towards her with the teacup in his hand.

“Why don’t we move to the back porch so we can discuss this deal in depth. I’ll go grab my coffee and meet you out there.”

Lola nodded her head as she moved to the back door and Erik headed into the front of the shop. Callie stepped into the shop with a smile on her face, and Erik shook his head. He didn’t have time for her games.

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“You have one of them upstairs, waiting for you.” She said as she walked closer to him.

“I’ll deal with that later,” Erik said as he flipped the sign to closed. “I have a feeling that soon you will have a wedding to attend, and I shall be free.”

“I don’t know about that.” Callie said with a smirk as she moved towards the stairs. “It’s still early in the game and I don’t think anyone is ready for you to be set free.”

“Calista, don’t interfere.” Erik growled, his eyes flashing at her. The outline of his horns peaked through as he tried to get his emotions under control. It wouldn’t do to scare Lola away.

“Now, why ever would I do that?” Callie said, as she ran her hand up the stairs bannister. “Don’t you like being a guardian.

Erik’s answering snarl at her made her let loose a giggle.

“So much fun to tease, dear friend.”

***

Lola ran her hands over the screen covering the porch and pulled her hands back with a hiss. Looking down, she frowned at her hands.

Hands that were red and burnt like she’d grabbed a hot stove.

The door opened behind her and she heard Erik move to sit down, the creaking of the wicker furniture loud in the quiet. “I wouldn’t touch that if I were you.”

“Little too late,” Lola said moving to sit beside him, “I have a question.”

“What is it, my sweetling?” Erik asked as he took a sip of his coffee, handing her the cup of tea. Not noticing her wince as she shifted the cup in her hands.

“You have a picture of my mother in your office. Why?” Lola asked as she pressed her lips together,

“That’s easy Lola, I loved her. Like I love you, like I’ve always loved you.”