This was no hesitant kiss from a blind date gone awkwardly wrong, this had the intensity of a starving man devouring a banquet. He licked and teased her until she felt her knees give. He easily caught her and held her against him. When he finally pulled away, she found she had difficulty breathing.
"Mates?" he asked.
She nodded, still feeling befuddled. "Mates."
"Good," he stepped back and steadied her on her feet. He gave her an elegant low bow. "After you," he said, nodding toward the house.
"Right. House. Good. Houses have bedrooms," she murmured, still feeling off kilter. She heard a loud thump and cursing. Confused, she looked behind her. "Why are you on the ground?"
Oron simply shook his head and stood. "Never mind. Let's go." He took her hand and led her back up the trail.
CHAPTER FOUR
Oron sat at the large dinner table with his Vanguard brothers, his friends, family and mate. He didn't think life could get much better. He watched Darian's eyes shine as he regaled an enraptured Izzy with stories of the two of them growing up. Even Amelia and Meryn had gotten sucked into the storytelling.
"And then there was the time Oron used briar brambles to tie Molvan Vi'Lerido to a wall," Darian said, smiling wide.
Oron groaned. "Not that old tale."
Darian shook his finger at him. "It's only old once you've heard it few dozen times."
/> Cameron and Liam leaned forward. Liam grinning broadly. "Do tell. I've crossed paths with Molvan before, I'd love to hear this story."
Darian took a deep breath. "Let's see, this was back when I was six, no seven."
Oron shook his head. "You were five."
"Right. So, when I was five, I was innocently wandering around the city..."
"He had escaped his nanny," Oron interjected.
"As I was saying, I was meandering around minding my own business when I came across Molvan teasing a tiny sprite. I was outraged, so I marched up to Molvan and demanded that he stop it at once."
"Cheeky little brat," Oron muttered.
Darian ignored him. "Molvan acted confused. He asked me what I was talking about."
"Why would he ask that?" Meryn wondered.
Darian turned to her. "You know how not all fae can see sprites?"
Meryn and Amelia nodded. Darian continued. "Well, there are caveats to that based on age. The older a fae becomes, the more likely they are to gain the ability to see sprites. Likewise, as a sprite gets older, they gain the ability to make themselves visible to everyone."
Izzy pointed to where Felix sat on Meryn's shoulder. "So, he's old?"
Everyone stared at Meryn, trying to figure out who Izzy was talking about.
Meryn's eyes widened. "You can see him?"
Izzy scooted closer to him. "Am I not supposed to?"
Oron wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "It's like Darian said, not every fae gains the ability to see sprites, but since you are mated to me, it makes sense that you have the ability to see them, it will help you acclimate to our world."
Amelia practically bounced in her chair. "I can see them too!"
Izzy wiggled her fingers at Felix who was now peeking out from Meryn's hoodie. He gave her a shy smile and wiggled his fingers back at her.
"So, this Molvan jerk was acting like he didn't know what you were talking about because he didn't think you could see sprites since you were so young?" Meryn guessed.