Enamored To A Fool (8 page)

While he didn’t go to college when he came back, he started out in therapy three days a week, and now…well, he knew he was on the right road to go back and survive. Instead, Axle confessed he had trouble reading, and Foster would spend their afternoons patiently teaching him to read. It had become one of Axle’s favorite things to do, read to Foster in the woods while Foster rested his head in his lap.

Axle snapped out of his thoughts when the speaker called for everyone to be seated. Foster held him the entire time as the speeches began and when the graduates walked across for their diplomas. When Torque started walking across the stage, the three of them stood and shouted. What they didn’t expect was a loud cheer from the back. Turning, Axle recognized Queen Titania and Brokk. Two other individuals were there, and everyone was giving them a wide birth to stand.

Axle turned his attention back to his brother and clapped, whistling as Torque grabbed his diploma and instead of waving it, hugged it to his chest. Sheesh, he was tearing up again. Axle was a damn mess.

The three finally sat down, and Axle turned to see the four fae still there. “Who’s that with Queen Titania and Brokk?” Axle whispered to Foster.

“That’s King Oberon and Khellan. Unseelie king and Puck’s best friend.” Foster whispered back.

“Damn, they’re…intimidating.” Axle glanced back over his shoulder to see people moving away from them. Hell, Oberon was one scary-looking motherfucker. He was sporting a sharp designer black suit with black undershirt, but the man had his arms crossed and exuded such darkness that everyone was doing swift glimpses at the fae before trying to refocus on the ceremony. Khellan wasn’t quite as intimidating as he stood next to Oberon, but Axle didn’t see anyone in their right mind wanting to start a conversation with him.

The ceremony ended, and the seven of them waited for Torque to come out and meet them in the hallway.

Puck approached the others and embraced the scary fae. “I didn’t think to see you here.”

“Well now, I couldn’t think of a better place to be knowing that Torque was graduating. Plus, we thought you could use some help getting back,” Oberon rumbled.

From what his brother said, Axle knew that Torque loved the Unseelie king. Un-fucking-believable. Oberon scared the hell out of him.

“I’m Khellan.” Khellan reached his hand over and introduced himself.

This fae was slightly less scary with dark looks and bad-boy charm. Fuck, was he ever glad he got stuck on the Seelie side. Khellan had a wicked smile as he smirked at all the people around him. By the spark of mischief in his eyes, Khellan looked like he was just itching to cause havoc on them all. Axle watched Brokk elbow the Unseelie in the gut before shaking his head and frowning up at him.

Khellan tilted his head back and laughed, causing heads to turn. The laugh didn’t exactly sound sane.

A moment later, Torque maneuvered through the crowd before running up and hugging Puck. Puck, who Axle learned in the last couple years had no concern whatsoever for public displays, grabbed his brother and deepened the kiss.

Axle turned, not wanting to see Torque’s ass get grabbed, and Foster laughed while clearing his throat. His lover was such a stinker when he caught Axle blushing, because Puck and Torque were having fun in front of them.

Although, Axle was excited to see his brother this happy, he'd take the blushing any day over what they used to be.

Titania stepped forward. Funny how this was the first time he was seeing the queen with something more than a bikini on. “You’re looking much better since the last time I saw you.” She actually smiled as she embraced Axle, looking sharp in her suit and platform heels.

“How are you feeling?” Titania whispered in his ear.

Axle glanced over her shoulder at Foster. “Never better.”

“Good. We better get going. We have you all packed up and ready to return.” Titania pulled away and led the group out the main double doors, snatching Oberon on the way. Oberon and Titania embraced while leading them out. The sun was shining upon them for the occasion. They all climbed into separate cars and headed for the house not too far away from the veil they would soon be leaving.

The drive only took about ten minutes before they were parking their vehicles in the garage. Puck had gone back once to the Unseelie king while they had been in the mortal realm, and Oberon had told them to have something set up for when other faes came over since the gathering was now over. There would be many going back and forth now.

Axle climbed out to see several more fae moving their stuff out of the log cabin-style home and disappearing into the woods. Axle sighed in relief that he'd packed before he had left that day and that they wouldn’t have to do all the moving on their own. Foster came over and grabbed his hand, making their way up the porch steps.

“Wooh, they’ve been busy.” A sprite zipped past them and out the door, running into the woods with another box.

“I guess so. I thought we would be at this all week.” Axle walked down the hall, seeing all the rooms empty except for the furniture that would stay.

“There’s nothing left.” Puck said from behind them. “They already took it all. Oberon, Titania, Khellan and Brokk are waiting for us at the veil.”

Foster put his arm around Axle. Axle sucked up the warmth and leaned into the touch. “You ready to go back home?” Foster asked him.

Axle was reluctantly ready. He hated being separated from his brother, but he had Foster, his love. “I’m ready.”

Foster kept his arm around him as they met the rest at the veil then walked through the blinding fog and finally felt the crunch of the fallen leaves as they made their way into the in-between.

Axle heard Torque gasp and didn’t even think twice before rushing to him. “You okay? What’s wrong?”

Torque was standing there wide-eyed as he stared over Axle's left shoulder. He followed the line of sight and lost his own damn breath. A castle that had not been there before stood in full glory. It looked as though the colorful fallen leaves had been windswept off the forest floor to make the structure itself. Morning dew made the structure shimmer as the sun shone down on it, and it was just as fucking big as the Unseelie or the Seelie castles.

Axle watched as several fae disappeared into a huge doorway of solid oak with their boxes. Green vines adorned the entry.
What the hell?

Turning, Axle asked Foster, “What is this?”

Foster shook his head, looking just as perplexed as Torque and Puck. “I have no idea.”

Oberon stood next to them, staring at the castle. “It's Puck’s and Foster’s court. Now that you two have mated, it is time that you begin what you were born for. The in-between court or the Fall court has begun. The earth realm as well as this realm is full of Halflings and others that are neither dark nor light. This is the place they will find and call home. It has been needed a long time, but you two weren’t ready. Titania and I believe you are now.”

Axle shook as he grabbed Foster’s hand.

Foster sucked in a breath. “This is Puck’s and mine? Our court to share? We can be together?”

Titania stood next to Foster, face filled with sympathy. “We never wanted you two to be apart, but you were not strong enough to rule. You have the foundation now that will make you strong, as well as your court.”

“A court of four.” Puck chuckled.

“A court of six.” Khellan smiled at Puck, and Brokk came to stand next to them.

“Now that the gathering is over, there’s many in this world that will seek you, but you may want to seek out several changelings to build up your court as well.” Oberon suggested.

Axle thought it was a pretty good plan. They were going to need a lot of people to fill this castle.

The rest entered while Foster and Axle continued to stand and stare at the castle.

“I was afraid.” Foster stated after several moments.

Huh?
“Of what?”

Foster sighed. “Coming back here. I didn’t think either one of us would have been happy in the Seelie court without our brothers, and it always felt…forced there.”

Even in the short stay here when he first came, Axle knew exactly what Foster was talking about. The Seelie court was always a lively place to live, but it always felt like the wrong fit.

“It would have been hard. What do you think of this?” Axle asked.

“I think it’s a gift and a miracle. I feel like for the first time I’m going home.” Foster gave him a watery smile.

Axle couldn’t stand it a second longer. He reached over and embraced Foster while the man hugged him with a strength that showed just how much he appreciated the gift from Oberon and Titania.

Axle searched for Foster’s lips and kissed him deeply. Tongues dueled and moans filled the surrounding forest.

Foster pulled back, blue eyes glazed with passion. “I love you.”

Axle leaned in again and kissed him once more. “I love you, too. Thank you for giving me a chance.”

Foster hugged him tightly. “I knew all your snarkiness and pissed-off attitude was just a cloak. There was no way I was going to let you go after seeing that sliver of light that was meant for me. Now look how bright you shine.”

“I still have darkness,” Axle murmured.

“Scars aren’t darkness, Axle. And you have a full court to help you along the way. Just think how far you’ve come in four years.”

Axle nodded.

“So?” Foster smirked. Ooh, there was mischief in the fae's eyes. Maybe living with Puck and Foster under the same roof was going to be a whole hell of a lot of trouble…or fun.

“So?” Axle raised a brow.

“Want to go see what our bedroom looks like?”

“Test out the bed?” Axle chuckled.

Foster grabbed him and took off toward the oak doors with him in tow. “You got it.”

Axle laughed. Hell, it felt good to be home with his mate.

Short, sexy and sweet—where a little love goes a long way.

That’s the best way to describe Jackie Nacht’s stories. I was introduced to M/M Romance through my sister, Stephani, and read it for years. Then, I thought it was time to put my own stories on paper. I began writing short and sweet stories that ended with a happily ever after…and sometimes more than one, in the case of my YA
Fork in the Road
series, which has interactive endings.

Thinking back to my own book addiction, where there were many nights I stayed up way too late so I could read just one more chapter—
yeah, right
—I decided to write short romances for young adults as well as adults. Hopefully, they will give high school and college students or working men and women something they can read during their lunch hour, in between classes or just when they want to briefly get away from the daily stresses of everyday life.

You can find me on Facebook, Twitter and at my webpage.

Email :
[email protected]

Website :
http://www.jackienacht.com/