Down the way, she heard Shinni’s voice. Lilah wandered toward the edge of the village where the gardens were. Several of the men and women from both sides were gathered around a section of dirt where the Gnoleon demonstrated how their magic worked with the plants.
Lilah watched as one of the Gnoleon women buried a seed then placed her hand on top of the dirt. Within seconds, a green sprout popped out of the soil. The Citogen gasped just like the Gnoleon had with Ferra.
Peace settled in her heart. She was confident this was the best thing she could’ve done for the red fae—technically, her people. That thought nearly knocked her on her ass. Her people, if she chose for them to be.
Xenos had given his right to rule to his sister so he could stay with Wren as they trekked to the Island of the Standing Stones. Lilah would do the same and stay the hell away from the mountain. But what about the women and children? As soon as she left, would they go back to the way things were? Absolutely they would. She already knew.
She had to choose whether to sacrifice her happiness and stay to ensure the women were treated fairly, or to run away and hate herself for the rest of her life for being a wussy.
But what if she didn’t tell the prince who she was. Maybe she could stay but be an “unmated” female. That way, she could see Ferrus. As long as he was unmated. Shit. She had no idea if he was single. He’d spoken with her, and he looked like he wanted to eat her, but that was something a male would do on any planet, coupled or not. Her heart cracked.
She couldn’t stay if he was mated to someone else. Seeing him with his mate would crush Lilah. Unrequited love was the worst thing ever. Whoa, who said anything about love? She was just interested, that’s all. Even though no one had intrigued her as much as that man did. No one looked as delicious as that man did. She knew she’d dream of him every night.
She noticed that he stared at her a lot. She loved having his attention on her. When they were in the tunnel, so close together, yet not, he smelled so good, like crisp, clean air. And the fact that soldiers wore little clothing did nothing to help her libido.
She imagined her hands sliding over his well-formed pecs. Down his ripped stomach and over his thick cock. She could feel her breasts mashed against his chest, his breath on her face. She fanned her face and glanced around, hoping no one noticed. But the daydream didn’t end there.
Lilah imagined his hands running up her hips and around her back. His cock nestled at the junction of her thighs, and she could feel the wetness running down her legs. She really needed to see him again and prove to herself he was as hot as she imagined.
Mates. The thought warmed her soul. The only mate experience she had was what she saw at the tree village. She looked around. Everyone seemed to be in love with the person they stood with. Men and women worked side by side, flirting and smiling, and looking happy. Nobody in the mountain seemed even close to that.
Iridia, the Gnoleon alpha female, stopped beside her, watching the scene in the garden. “It is good you brought our new neighbors to visit. Learning new ways is always good.”
“Well, there’s another reason than purely social.” She wondered if she should share with Iridia the problems she sought to make right. “The mountain fae live very differently than you do. I think seeing your culture and how you all work together will be good for them. Right now, women are not seen as equals.”
“I see,” the alpha said. “Then it is excellent that you brought them here. We will welcome them as long as they need to stay.”
“There will be someone from the mountain men coming to talk about changing things. I don’t know when he will be here, but if your guards could refrain from killing him, that would be great.”
With a smile, Iridia bowed her head. “I will make certain of his survival.” As she stepped away, Lilah called her back.
“Iridia, what can you tell me about mates?” When the woman’s face lit up, Lilah didn’t want her to know why she was asking. “You know, what should we expect from Wren and your brother as time goes on?”
“They are the same as all other mates. They will love each other and no other for the rest of their lives.”
“So, Zee—sorry—Xenos won’t get bored and look for excitement elsewhere?”
“No. Never has that happened. In truth, when one mate goes to the spirit—” Lilah figured that meant ‘dead’—"the other often decides to retire.”
“Retire as in goes to the spirit,” she asked. Iridia tilted her head to the right, which Lilah remembered was their way of saying yes. So instead of staying alive and looking for another love, they would rather die. “No matter what their mate looks like, they stay in love?”
Iridia smiled and looked away. Crap. Lilah knew she’d give herself away with that question.
“Alpha female,” Iridia said to her. How did she know? Did one alpha recognize another? “The mating call has no eyes or ears or nose. Only a heart that knows its other half when it sees it.”
Lilah asked, “So they are perfect for each other? They will never argue or disagree?”
The leader laughed. “Oh, I did not say that. Each mate has their own will, but when it comes to respect and love, they are perfect.”
“Xenos will never break Wren’s heart?”
Iridia tilted her head again. “Never from not loving her or being faithful.”
Lilah let out a breath. “That’s good to know. Thanks.”
“You are welcome.” She smiled. “Wren is safe.”
Lilah wasn’t sure she could believe what the Gnoleon said. But the woman had no reason to lie to her. And what she’d seen for herself correlated. But if she was supposed to be mated to the heir, why did she feel nothing but disgust for him?
“One last question,” Lilah said quickly. “Is the mating call ever wrong when matching couples?”
“Never.”
Chapter Fourteen
Shinni’s high-pitch squeal drew her attention. Iridia joined the gardeners. The seedling they had planted a bit ago had grown tall with green bean-like things hanging from the stalk. Lilah had little doubt that the mountain men were going to have more variety in their menu.
Shinni saw Lilah watching and joined her. Lilah wasn’t much into growing things. All the plants she’d ever had died from drowning. She was always afraid the flower wasn’t getting enough water. But she should spend time learning all she could if she were to help these women.
When Lilah came to stand next to Shinni, the fae bowed her head to Lilah, then waved over the red fae in the garden group. The happy fae introduced her to the women, Lilah running their names and faces through her mind to memorize both. When they bowed their heads and said We are honored—Lilah stopped them right there.
Shinni had been in the holding room when Lilah said she didn’t want any royal treatment. She meant it. But her red friend pulled her away from the group.
“Alpha,” Shinni said, and Lilah opened her mouth to set her straight, but the woman continued, “if you please, you should reconsider your thoughts about not being treated as you should be.”
“But I’m nothing special—”
“No, you are special, Alpha. Look where we are, what we are doing. Do you think any of us could accomplish this? We haven’t in hundreds of peaks, and we wouldn’t in a hundred more.”