Sarcasm or Suckage

From Part 1



As soon as the carriage arrived, Danni and Misha jumped out. They were clearly delighted to be back home and vanished into the throngs of brightly colored Fae.

Jim, the Queen’s Consul, waited for them. Kane hugged him and then turned to Jensen and Jared. “I’m going to see Steve. I’ll catch up with you both later.”

Jensen nodded and waved him off. Jared had met Kane’s partner, Steve, a couple of times over the past two years. He liked him. He liked them together. Jared suddenly understood the cryptic conversation Jensen and Kane had had in the carriage.

“They’ve been together for a hundred years?” was all he could say.

Jensen laughed and Jared looked at him properly. He realized that for the Fae, coming back to Seelie, to their home, gave them something extra. It was as though a layer of something vivid and glorious was smoothed over Jensen’s skin.

“That’s not fair,” he muttered and Jensen stared at him. “You’re even prettier here, that’s just so not fair.”

Jensen laughed again, his hair sliding loose and pale golden brown in the light of Seelie. His eyes were greener, rimmed with an even brighter gold. His freckles seemed more like tattoos across his milk-pale skin. The careful glamour the Fae held in the human world slid away to reveal the Fae in all their unworldly beauty.

“You are beautiful too, Jared Padalecki, in your own human way,” Jensen told him and his voice was layered with glamour.

“Hey!” Jared protested. “You don’t get to glamour me while I’m here!”

Jensen shook his head. “That is how I speak when I am in Seelie,” he said. “There was no glamour in my voice.”

Jim touched his arm. “We are not able to use glamour when we are in Seelie, Jared,” he told him. “The Prince is himself here. How he looks, how he speaks is just who he is. He is Seelie, he is Fae.”

Jared gaped at Jensen. “Are you telling me that when you’re in my world, the human world, you have to pretend to be less than what you are?” Suddenly things made so much more sense. “Oh my god, having to hide who you are. It’s no wonder you hate us so much.”

“No,” Jensen shook his head. “I don’t hate humans. I’ve certainly never hated you.” He jiggled their clasped hands. “Just so that we are clear on this fact. It would be impossible for me to hate you, Jared.” He turned their hands over and stared at their linked fingers. “As my soul-bonded, I am sworn to love and be yours for the rest of time.”

“Uh….” Jared couldn’t think of one thing to say that didn’t sound either (a) creeped out (b) freaked out or (c) turned on.

“Jensen,” Jim cleared his throat. “The Queen is waiting.”

Jensen nodded and started to follow Jim. Jared held him back. “That’s it?” he asked. “You drop that bombshell on me after acting like I don’t exist for the past two years and that’s it?” He could hear himself squeaking.

“We can talk about it later,” Jensen said. “Right now, we’re keeping the Queen waiting.” He smiled. “It’s considered sort of rude, you know.”

“Sort of…” Jared sputtered but he let Jensen lead him into the Queen’s Citadel.

Queen Samantha was deep in conversation with a pretty blond Fae. She looked up when they walked in and smiled. The other Fae left the chamber silently and Jim followed her.

“Nephew,” she said and stood up, heading straight for them. She frowned a little when Jensen kissed her cheek but didn’t release his hold on Jared.

“Jared,” she smiled, slightly less brilliant.

“Your Majesty,” Jared said and tried to bow, made difficult by the fact the Jensen didn’t let go.

“What is going…” she stopped. “Oh.” She looked between them “Oh,” she repeated and her smile grew big. “This is wonderful news!” she exclaimed.

Jensen and Jared both stared at her. “He’s a human!” Jensen pointed out.

“I’m a human!” Jared reminded her.

The Queen waved an airy hand. “It matters not that you are mortal,” she said. “Once you have become soul-bonded with a Fae then your lifespan is linked with theirs.”

Jared tried to take this in. He grasped at the smallest piece of information. “Soul-bonded?” he asked. “That’s the second time I’ve heard that.” He looked at Jensen. “I’m guessing that it’s not just the name of your band?”

Jensen shook his head. “Kane chose the band name. He was separated from Steve, his own soul-bonded, for so much time when he was assigned to my guard, that he asked a boon from me. I agreed to the band name.”

“So it’s a real thing then?” Jared asked and Jensen released his hand.

Without the comfort of Jensen’s touch, the burning pain started up again. Jared gasped. “It feels worse,” he said through gritted teeth.

“It’s the soul-bond,” Queen Samantha explained and Jensen came up beside Jared, wrapped an arm around his waist and the agony dulled.

“It’s supposed to be a good thing right?” Jared asked, still a little shaky.

“Of course,” the Queen replied.

“So what’s the deal with the pain thing?”

She pursed her lips and Jared could practically see her thinking about how much she should tell him.

“I deserve the truth, your Majesty, especially if I’m bonded to your nephew.”

Her eyes met his and he saw a shrewd, ancient intelligence that he never wanted to be on the wrong side of. Then she smiled. “Of course you are correct, Jared,” she said and waved them to a sofa. It was incongruously large and comfortable in the somewhat austere beauty of the Queen’s chambers.

Jensen sat, tugging Jared down with him. It seemed that the anger and reservations the Fae Prince had been feeling on the way to Seelie had dissipated.

“Why are you acting so weird?” Jared whispered to him.

“I’m not acting weird,” Jensen looked resigned. “The bond is there. I cannot break it. The best thing to do is to accept it and learn to work with it.”

“Well, that sounds fucking wonderful,” Jared felt a little insulted. “So you’re just accepting this thing, even though you’ve never shown the least bit of interest in me?”

They’d forgotten the Queen. She cleared her throat. “If I may?” she asked, looking to Jensen for permission.

He nodded glumly. Jared really wanted to know what made this guy, this Fae, tick.

“It is no accident that you were assigned to be Soul Bonded’s human liaison.” She leaned forward. “Jeffrey and I had a little bit of a disagreement when we first discussed it.”

Jared was completely confused. “You asked for me?” He exchanged glances with Jensen who appeared just as confused.

“I insisted on you,” she said.

Jensen jumped to his feet and his absence tore at something in Jared. “I can’t believe you manipulated me like that!” he exclaimed.

Jared wondered how he could ignore the searing pain that was eating at his own insides. “Jensen,” he clasped his hands together, squeezed them hard.

“You don’t speak to me like this, nephew.” Samantha’s face was hard and Jared felt a shiver of worry for Jensen.

Something that felt like a blade of pain twisted inside and Jared sucked in a breath. “Jensen,” he tried again.

“You keep trying to run my life and I’ve just about had enough!” Jensen stalked up to the Queen and his chin jutted up as he went toe to toe with the most powerful Fae in the world.

Jared’s eyes closed as the agony burning inside him drowned out everything else. “Jensen,” he shouted and he could feel himself tilting over. He could do nothing to stop the fall.

“Oh shit, fuck, Jared!” Jensen’s voice sounded like he was talking to him from the moon, muffled and distant. “Jared, I’m sorry, shit, Jay, don’t, please.” Jared tried to open his eyes and could only see Jensen’s worried face through a haze of pain. “I’m sorry, I’ve got you, fuck…Jay!”

And Jared slid into darkness with a grateful sigh.



Everything hurt. Jared realized this the moment he regained consciousness. His head felt like a split open piñata and his throat was dry. His body ached as though he had gone three rounds with Ali and lost. Badly. He moved his head and fuck, just doing that hurt.

Then he saw Jensen. The Fae was curled up on the bed beside to him, fast asleep and breathing deeply. His hair fell across his face and cheeks and his hand rested on Jared’s chest. Over his heart.

Jared froze. He’d never seen Jensen like this. Relaxed, peaceful, unguarded.

“The staring is creepy,” Jensen’s voice startled him and Jared tried to jerk away. “Don’t move,” Jensen ordered. “The touching, it has to happen for the next week or so.”

Jared stopped moving and stared. “Are you telling me that for the next week I can’t be out of reach of your touch without passing out?”

Jensen opened his eyes and he smiled. “Fainting like a girl,” he corrected, “and yes.”

“I did not faint,” Jared scowled, but with him being all snuggled up in bed with Jensen, it kind of lost its impact.

“You so did,” Jensen assured him and scooted closer. “Eyes rolled back and you hit the ground like a Redwood.” He lifted his head a little and lay it back down on Jared’s shoulder. “Move your arm,” he ordered.

Dumbly, Jared obeyed and found himself with an armful of sleepy Fae. “I…” he stuttered.

“You need more rest,” Jensen told him. “And so do I. This soul-bonding sucks ass.”

Jared tried to twist his neck so that he could see Jensen’s expression. It didn’t work because Jensen decided to shove his face into the curve of Jared’s neck. The cool breath against his skin distracted him. Jared was starting to think that Jensen was very good at being distracting.

“Sleep,” Jensen said again. “I need it. You need it. Morgan knows where you are and so does your father.”

“Oh my god,” Jared tried to sit up. “JD is going to kill me!”

Jensen held him down easily, reminding Jensen of the superior strength of the Fae. “JD is delighted,” he muttered into Jared’s neck. “He and my aunt are planning a summer wedding for us.”

“A what?” Jared knew that he sounded as though someone had stood on his tail. He felt like he’d fallen down the proverbial rabbit hole. “Jensen, we have to do something, stop them…” He trailed off when the hand on his chest trailed down to his belly and a slow ache set up a beat in his groin. “Uh….”

“In order to avoid being in constant contact with each other or else being in constant pain, we need to cement the bond,” Jensen told him and then he gave a little snort. “Cement the bond.” He lifted laughing green eyes to Jared’s, inviting him to share in the truly terrible pun.

Jared couldn’t help himself. He kissed him.

Jensen opened his mouth to him, allowing him access and Jared feasted. He thought that he may have wanted this for the entire two years he’d known Jensen. He moaned into Jensen’s mouth and then jerked back.

“That’s…” he was breathing hard, so turned on that his eyes were practically crossing. “Your tongue…” he found out that his vocabulary decreased the more enthusiastic his dick got.

“My tongue?” Jensen asked, eyebrow raised and Jared could tell the fucker knew exactly what he was talking about.

Jared pointed at Jensen’s mouth. “You have a forked tongue!” he said and he really didn’t mean for it to sound accusing.

Jensen shrugged and rested his chin on Jared’s chest. “It happens at certain times,” he said diffidently. “I like the way your mouth tastes.”

Jared was sure that his mouth tasted like ass right now. “I need to brush my teeth,” he mumbled and then realized that Jensen had distracted him again. “Hey!” he protested. “Forked tongue?”

“It’s a Fae thing,” he said. “Our tongues look normal until we get um….worked up.” His cheeks went a little pink.

“Then your tongue splits in two?” Jared asked. He was weirdly fascinated and had several ideas on how to experiment with that.

“Yeah,” Jensen said. He looked up at Jared from beneath long eyelashes. “Does that make you feel uncomfortable?”

Jared grabbed one of Jensen’s hands and placed it on his groin. “Does that feel uncomfortable?” he asked.

Jensen’s worried expression turned wicked. “Honestly?” he grinned and flicked that fucking tongue at Jared. “It does feel a little uncomfortable.”

Jared laughed and rolled over, pinning Jensen beneath him. “You mentioned something about cementing the bond?” He pressed his mouth to the base of Jensen’s throat.

“I don’t think…” Jensen gasped as Jared sucked at the skin, wanting to leave a mark. Some sort of proof that he’d been there.

“Shut up,” Jared said against the coolness of Jensen’s skin. “I don’t know if I’m going to get the chance to do this again.”

Jensen arched up against him and Jared felt him hard and insistent against his thigh. “You get to do this for the rest of your life,” Jensen told him. “We are soul-bonded and nothing will break that bond except death.”

Jared kissed him quiet. “Then let’s make sure that we seal the deal,” he tasted something alien and sweet on the tips Jensen’s tongue. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to let you go.”

“Sex with the Fae is supposed to be quite exhilarating,” Jensen said and his hands slid down Jared’s back to his ass. “I hope you are prepared for it.”

Jared grinned and ground his dick against Jensen’s. “I think I’ve been ready for the last two years.”

Then Jensen tipped him over and crouched over him. “No more clothes,” he ordered, tugging at Jared’s shirt. Jared realized then that he’d been sleeping in his undershirt and boxers. He wondered who’d undressed him.

“Okay,” he agreed and pulled his shirt off. Jensen’s eyes were wide with appreciation. “Tit for tat,” Jared said.

“What?” Jensen dragged his gaze away from Jared’s chest with gratifying difficulty.

“Clothes off,” Jared told him. Jensen scrambled to oblige, trying to keep at least part of his body in connection with Jensen’s all the time. It must have looked ridiculous.

And then it was cool skin against warm, smooth skin against rough and Jared held on. He couldn’t breathe. He was surrounded by Jensen’s scent, his skin, his hands.

“Jensen,” he stared up into Jensen’s eyes and saw that the green was almost gone and Jensen’s eyes were nearly all molten gold. “God,” he whispered, “you’re so fucking beautiful.” He felt clumsy and unworthy and so very human.

Jensen’s face softened. “You are beautiful too, Jared,” he assured him. “Your skin is so warm.” He bent down and smoothed his cheek up the plane of Jared’s chest. “The color, it’s like you’ve been kissed by the sun.”

Jared shook his head. “I watch you,” he admitted, suddenly in no hurry to go any faster. “The way you move, your hands.”

“That sounds a little creepy, you know that right?” Jensen asked, but he was smiling.

“Yeah,” Jared said and lifted a hand to tuck a strand of hair behind Jensen’s ear. He rubbed the pointed tip of Jensen’s ear carefully and Jensen practically purred. “Seriously?” Jared asked. “That turns you on?”

Jensen closed his eyes and leaned into the touch. “Just because ears aren’t erogenous zones for humans, doesn’t mean that applies to the Fae,” he pointed out and Jared could feel the evidence of the truth of his words against his inner thigh. Jensen really liked his ears being touched.

“You know, I’m going to make it my life’s work to discover each and every spot on your body that makes you react like this,” Jared warned Jensen.

“I have no objections to that,” Jensen assured him. “Now, how about you shutting up and letting me have my way with you?”

“Okay,” Jared said and let his hand drop. “Do whatever you want with me.”

Jensen’s eyes danced. “Oh, I will,” he promised and then licked his lips. Jared shivered at the sight of that tongue. He was not going to think about the things it could do to him.

Jensen’s mouth covered his and Jared stopped thinking at all.



Jared woke up and winced at the ache. “Ow,” he moaned and Jensen lifted his head from his shoulder.

“Sore?” Jensen asked and the concern in his face was sweet and unexpected.

“Good sore,” Jared said and he was rewarded with a smile that made his insides go soft and pathetically mushy.

“I’ve called for a bath,” Jensen told him and he climbed off the bed, tugging Jared with him. Jared took a moment to admire the perfection of him. All pale skin and golden brown hair and long limbs. The slight bow of his legs was a sort of cute reminder that Jensen wasn’t entirely perfect.

“Are you hungry?” Jensen asked and Jared’s stomach answered for him with a loud rumble.

They both laughed and headed for the small table loaded with plates of food.

Jared poked at something pink and wobbly. “What the fuck?” he asked. While he’d been with them, the Fae hadn’t eaten anything but human food.

“Ambrosia,” Jensen told him. “Try it.” He scooped some up on his finger and offered it to Jared.

“It’s pink jelly,” Jared said, looking at the offering.

“Stop being a baby and try it.” Jensen poked at Jared’s mouth with his finger until he opened up and accepted the stuff.

It vanished on his tongue, sinking in without a trace but it left a tingle bouncing around Jared’s mouth. “Oh my god, that shit is fucking amazing,” Jared leaned past Jensen and helped himself to more of the ambrosia.

“Hence, the name,” Jensen said with a smile and stopped Jared when he would have eaten more. “You should go easy on it, there’s a reason why we haven't shared it with you humans.”

Jared scowled at Jensen and reached out. “I want more,” he said and he did, his entire being wanted more of the pink goo.

“No,” Jensen was kind. “It was handed to us by the gods of the Greeks, and we've been very careful not to abuse it.” He pushed Jared back. “It's addictive and dangerous. Not even the Fae eat of it often.” He smiled. “My aunt, the Queen must have thought that we have need to celebrate.”

Jared really wanted more of the ambrosia, but he allowed Jensen to distract him with hands and arms and kisses and skin that felt like silk.

“You do this a lot,” he noted as Jensen kissed him.

“Do what?” Jensen asked and his mouth tasted like strawberries and cream.

“Distract me,” Jared said.

Jensen looked up at him and his eyes were burnished gold. “We have bonded but only half-way,” he said. “There is equality in a Fae soul-bond.”

Jared stared at him. “You mean I...” his brain short-circuited at the thought of taking Jensen in the same way he'd been claimed.

“Yes,” Jensen breathed against his skin. “For the pain to end, you need to fuck me and make me yours just as I made you mine.”

The words made Jared lose control and he grabbed Jensen, pushed him back towards the bed and watched as skin as pale as milk spread out on a sheet the color of gold. “You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen,” he said and Jensen smiled.

“And I'm yours,” he held up his arms. “Take me.”

Jared obeyed.



The quiet knock on the door woke Jared first. He looked over at Jensen who was fast asleep next to him. His mouth was red and there were marks all over his pale skin. He looked thoroughly debauched and Jared couldn’t quite believe that he was the reason Jensen looked that way.

The knock came again, a little more insistent and Jensen made a noise in his sleep. Jared pressed a kiss to a bared shoulder and got out of bed. He grabbed his boxers, pulled them on and went to the door. He opened it to an amused looking Kane.

“The Queen requests your and the Prince’s attendance in her meeting room,” Kane said, words formal but a dancing glee in his eyes. He tried to look over Jared’s shoulder to where Jensen was lying. Jared moved in front of him.

“No,” he said. “That is mine alone to see.” He was pretty sure he sounded like a caveman but he didn’t care. This version of Jensen belonged solely to Jared and he was prepared to guard it like the treasure it was.

Kane smiled his approval. “As it should be,” he nodded towards the room. “Have fun getting him up and ready for the Queen.” And he left Jared with a sleepy and slightly rebellious Jensen.

“Come on,” Jared wheedled. “Your aunt has asked for us to come to her. You need to get up, Jen.”

Jensen burrowed deeper into the pillows with a whine. “Five more minutes,” he begged and Jared pulled the sheets off the bed. Jensen sat up quickly, the cool air of the morning hitting his bare skin. “Fucker,” he hissed.

Jared grinned. This had been one of the only fun parts of taking care of Soul Bonded in the human realm. Waking Jensen was entertaining to say the least.

“Come on, you baby,” he said. “There’s coffee on the table.”

Jensen made a pathetic face that Jared refused to think of as adorable and held out a hand. “Please?” he asked.

Jared shook his head. “Nope, I give you your coffee in bed and you never get up.” He wagged a finger at Jensen. “I know all your tricks, remember?”

Jensen gave him a filthy glare and he slipped off the bed and stalked over to the table. Jared admired the view as he leaned against the bedpost.

The noise Jensen made at the first sip of coffee made Jared close his eyes. He knew now that it was the same sound that Jensen made when he came. Except a little softer. He grinned to himself. Jensen made a lot of noise in bed. He wouldn’t have guessed it at all.

“Who was at the door?” Jensen asked after he’d inhaled his first cup and was savoring his second.

“Kane,” Jared said and went into the bathroom. He stared at the wall of what looked like the shower for a moment and then came back out. “Um, taps?” he asked.

Jensen smiled and put his cup down. “Let me introduce you to one of the best things about Seelie,” he said. He walked into the shower cubicle. It was spacious and open but there was no ceiling. He held out a hand to Jared. “Join me?” he invited.

Jared stepped up next to him and Jensen looked up. He followed Jensen’s gaze and watched in fascination as a small cloud hovered over the cubicle. And then it started to rain.

Warm, soft water sluiced down his skin, washing away the scent of sex. Jared opened his mouth and let the water flow into it. It tasted sweet and pure and he laughed.

Jensen’s arms went around him and Jared realized that since they’d slept together, the burning in his gut had dulled to a twinge. “It doesn’t hurt anymore,” he told Jensen.

“That’s because we’re bound now.” Jensen lifted his face to the rain and Jared couldn’t help himself. He bent down and kissed him as the water cascaded over them.

Their mouths clung as their hands moved over each other. Jared felt Jensen growing hard again and he pulled Jensen close. “I think it’s your turn now,” he breathed into Jensen’s ear, voice low beneath the sound of the water.

Jensen laughed and spun Jared around, pressing him chest-first against the wall of the shower. It wasn’t hard or cold. The wall felt warm and alive and it molded around Jared’s body as Jensen trailed kisses down his spine, over the curve of his ass and down to where he was still loose.

Jared sucked in a breath as Jensen’s tongue entered him. He went up on his toes when he felt Jensen’s tongue split inside him, holding him open and then Jensen’s fingers were there, moving in lazy circles.

He dropped his forehead against the wall, felt it give beneath him, forming an indentation that cradled his skull. Jensen stood again, held his hips in strong, slender hands and fucked slowly inside. It felt like a dream. His body opened to Jensen, welcomed him and then Jensen was pressed up against him, body a firm contrast to the soft wall in front of him.

Jared pushed back into Jensen, dropped his head back against Jensen’s shoulder. He groaned when Jensen bit down on the curve of his neck. Just then Jensen snapped his hips forward, burying himself balls deep inside him. Jared came, shouting Jensen’s name.

The rain slowed and Jensen pulled carefully out of Jared, pressing soothing kisses against Jared’s jaw and neck. Jared slumped forward with a sigh and fell against the wall still wrapped in Jensen’s embrace.

“The Queen,” he murmured.

“Later,” Jensen said and dried him off with a towel that felt like cotton wool against his skin. Jared let Jensen lead him back to the bed. He sank into the downy folds and fell asleep in the comfort of Jensen’s arms.



Several hours later they made their way to the Queen’s meeting room. Jared flushed a little as every eye turned to them as he and Jensen walked in.

“I apologize for our tardiness,” Jensen said, all smooth charm. “But my Bonded and I were ensuring that there is no doubt as to our joining.”

Jared wanted to kick him. Jensen had practically announced that they’d been fucking like bunnies for the last while. It might have been true but he still didn’t want the entire world to know.

“So it is done then?” Queen Samantha raised an eyebrow from her seat at the head of the table.

Jensen grinned and there was something so happy, so joyous about the expression that it made Jared smile too. He looked around the room and the twenty or so Fae that were in attendance had the same happy smiles on their faces.

“Our Prince has his Bonded and it’s a human,” a voice from the far end of the table said. Jared looked to its source. It was an older Fae, hair silver with age and lines just showing at the corner of his eyes.

“I have,” Jensen said and squeezed Jared’s hand. “A more worthy man I have yet to meet.” He tugged Jared forward and they sat down at the right hand of the Queen.

“Tell us of your Bonded,” the same Fae asked.

Jensen looked at the Queen who nodded once. “His name is Jared Padalecki.” The name sent murmurs around the chamber. Jared had only been to Seelie once before and he’d not seen many other Fae. He had met only Queen Samantha, Jim, Kane and Steve of the group assembled here right now.

“He is related to the human President of the United States?” The blond Fae who Jared had seen talking to the Queen on his arrival leaned forward, her pretty face curious.

Jensen nudged Jared. “Um, yes,” he said. “My father is the President.”

The room rustled with whispers and Jared looked at Jensen. The Queen held up a hand. “Jared is a powerful warlock in his own right and is well suited to be the mate of Prince Jensen.” Jared stared at her. This was the first time he’d heard the Queen speak about him like this. He’d been sure that she would be pissed at Jensen mating with a human.

“What magic do you have?” The question came from a slim man with dark brown hair.

“Matthew,” Kane glared at the Fae. “That’s just plain fucking rude.”

“Kane!” Jensen shook his head. “This is not the place for that sort of speech.”

Jared watched Queen Samantha and his eyes widened when she winked at him during this exchange. “You're happy about this,” he said and it finally sank in. “You knew about us, that we were...” he waved his hand around and looked at Jensen.

“You sort of passed out during the discussion,” Jensen reminded him.

“You chose me for Jensen!” Jared exclaimed. He was kind of pissed off at the thought. Even though he was seriously crazy about Jensen. Still.

The Queen shook her head. “Oh no, Jared, I most certainly didn't. The Fates chose you for my nephew.” She smiled at him and it was kind. “Jensen was designed especially for you and you are the only creature in the entire universe made only for him.”

Jensen's fingers wrapped around Jared's. “To be part of a soul-bonded pair is rare among the Fae,” his gaze was intent on Jared’s face. “This is an amazing thing for me.”

Jared stared at Jensen and the rest of the room faded away. “I don’t want to feel as though you had no choice in this,” he said and his voice was small. “I mean, you’re Jensen Ackles, heir to the throne of Seelie and I’m just…” he stopped, “…me.”

“Jared,” Jensen’s face went soft. “I’m not being forced into this. You’re the other half of me. It feels like a part of me that’s been missing is finally back where it belongs.” He raised a hand and cupped Jared’s cheek. “I want this.”

Jared stared at him until he felt reassured by the conviction in Jensen’s eyes. “Okay,” he said and Jensen smiled, wide and brilliant. A knot eased inside Jared and he leaned back in his chair. “Tell me about this King Mark of the Unseelie,” he asked, looking at the Queen.

She flushed a little, the delicate pink shining brightly on her pale cheeks. “He’s my twin brother,” she said and Jared stared. “He’s the dark half to the light of the Seelie,” she explained.

“So is he a bad guy then?” Jared asked.

Queen Samantha shook her head. “No,” she said. “He is merely other.” She appeared frustrated at being unable to explain properly.

Jim touched her arm and said, “If I could?” She nodded and waved him on. “The Unseelie are our brothers and sisters,” Jim said. “They are family of the Seelie in the most basic way, DNA.”

Jared nodded. “But why aren’t they part of the Seelie?” He was thoroughly confused now.

Jim sighed. “When a Seelie breaks the laws of the Fae, they are not killed, they are banished.”

“To the Unseelie Court?” Jared was starting to understand.

Jim nodded. “They are stripped of their powers, left with their lives and are banished from the light of Seelie.”

“Banished to where?” Jared asked.

“Seelie is a world beside yours,” Jim began to explain and Jared nodded. He’d heard the official story but he sensed that he was about to learn more than he’d ever expected or wanted.

“It’s a parallel world, joined by the Veil to ours,” Jared said.

“Yes,” Jim nodded. “And just as with your realm, Seelie is divided into different parts or areas.”

“Like continents?” Jared asked.

“Seelie is the name we give for our world just as Earth is the name you give to yours,” Queen Samantha said. “But it is made up of Seelie and Unseelie.”

Jared frowned. “So Seelie is a part of Seelie and Unseelie is a part of Seelie?” His brain hurt.

“Think of it this way,” Jensen said. “It’s like Seelie is the part that faces the sun and Unseelie is the part that is always in shadow.”

Jared felt a little shiver skitter across his body. “That sounds like a pretty crappy place to live,” he said.

“There is nothing that kills the spirit of the Fae faster than the loss of the sun,” Queen Samantha said and her eyes were very sad.

“But the King, Mark and that mage guy, Corin, they had power,” Jared said, remembering that Jim had mentioned that their powers were stripped when banished.

Queen Samantha’s face was grim. “To protect the throne, the Unseelie Court is allowed one mage and the King is allowed to keep his powers - albeit diminished - in order to keep order.”

“That’s why we were taken by surprise,” Kane said, mouth tight. “They shouldn’t have enough power to get through the wards between your world and ours. Someone in Seelie has betrayed the Queen.”

There was a rustle of noise as everyone in the room talked among themselves.

“Please,” Queen Samantha lifted a hand. “I sent scouts out over the land to see where the rip in the wall is and when they return, we will take action to mend it.”

Jared was thinking about the appearance of King Mark and his cronies back on earth. “You say they found a tear between our worlds?” he asked

“That is the only way they could have come through,” Jim agreed.

“I sent them back to Seelie, right?” Jared looked at Jensen who nodded in confirmation.

“Where are you going with this, Jared?” Queen Samantha stared at him.

“Well,” Jared said, ““Is there any chance that any of the Unseelie might have gone through since our meeting with the King and the others?” Jared’s question seemed to confound the Fae.

“Are you suggesting that some of the Unseelie have already gone through the break in the Veil?” Queen Samantha sounded horrified. “Surely not?”

“Oh my god,” Jensen breathed. “That’s it!” He looked around at the Fae. “The Unseelie are trying to get out of our world for good.”

The Queen stared at him. “That isn’t possible,” she said. “He wouldn’t want to leave his home…” her voice trailed off. “Leave me.”

Jensen jumped up. “Who did you send to inspect the wall?” he asked her.

“I sent Julie and James.” She stood as well.

“James?” Jensen asked. “Your cousin James?”

She nodded. Jensen started for the door. “What are you doing?” the Queen asked.

“James was Mark’s best friend and your foster brother,” Jensen told her. “He was never happy with your decision to banish your brother.”

“No,” she breathed. “He wouldn’t.”

Jared raced after Jensen. “Where are you going?” he yelled.

“To stop the invasion of your world!” Jensen called back.



Jared could feel the blood rushing in his ears as he hurried after Jensen. “What the hell are you talking about?” he asked when they stopped at the gateway to the Citadel.

Jensen didn’t look at him when he replied. “The Unseelie are looking for a way to escape Seelie,” he gave a series of whistles that seemed to get louder and louder. Jared flinched at the last sharp sound and then he heard a sound like thunder.

“What the fuck…” he stared at the huge horses that came galloping up. The lead stallion was golden brown with a flowing red mane. The three horses that followed him were impossible shades of green and blue.

“Meet the Rokh,” Jensen bowed to the giant animals. “This is Agamemnon.” Jared quickly followed suit.

“Welcome Jared, mortal Bonded of our Prince” The words echoed in Jared’s head and he stared at the horses on shock.

“You can talk!” Jared exclaimed. The laugh in his head was a decidedly equine whinny.

“We speak to those who will listen”

Jared looked between them and grinned. “That’s awesome.”

The laugh came again and Jensen stepped forward. “We need a favor,” he said.

The big golden Rokh fixed his gaze on Jensen. “Those who would escape Seelie forget that there is more than the Fae held behind the wall between worlds. The human realm cannot contain that which fights to be free”

“Wait, what?” Jared asked and then a series of mental pictures flashed across his mind, twisted things not meant for human eyes. The Unseelie were creatures of nightmare. “Oh my god, that’s what’s going to get into my world if we don’t stop the Unseelie?” He felt sick to his stomach. “We have to do something.”

“Climb upon the withers of my captain, Mordecai, and we shall carry you and your Bonded to the place where the wall is torn”



The second largest Rokh came forward and dropped to one knee. Its emerald green coat was soft and silky and the sky blue mane felt like cotton candy. Jared clambered ungracefully onto its back and saw that Jensen was already on the leader.

“We ride!” The shout in his head sounded like a war cry and then he was holding on for dear life as the ground disappeared beneath the feet of the Rokh.

“We do not have wings as the pegasii do but we walk upon the air with as much ease” The voice in his mind was different now, female and kind.

“Mordecai?” he asked.

“It is a privilege to meet the Bonded of our Prince”

“Well, thanks for the lift,” Jared said, not sure what to talk to a horse about.

“We are Rokh” Mordecai sounded firm. “Our appearance is deceptive. We are of the oldest inhabitants of Seelie”

“Wait a minute,” Jared’s head was spinning. “So Seelie isn’t just another word for Fae?” He didn’t understand why this hadn’t been made clear before. He was pretty sure JD and his father thought the same thing that he did.

“Would you feel as comfortable knowing that there is more to Seelie than the beautiful Fae?” Mordecai sounded curious.

“Well, thinking back to what Agamemnon showed me, I’m thinking no,” Jared admitted.

“For every light, there is a shadow. For every beauty, there is a beast” Mordecai told him.

“So I’m guessing that you’re part of the light?”

“Our shadow brothers, the Rach, are creatures of nightmare” Mordecai said. “We are the Dreamspinners and they are the Nightmares”

Jared almost tipped of the back of his ride and grabbed harder onto Mordecai’s mane. “Do the shadows, the beasts, have the powers that you do?” he asked. “The Fae said that the Unseelie court is less powerful than the Seelie court.”

“Ah, the Fae might pretend to know all but they are not always right” Mordecai sounded amused. “All creatures of Seelie, whether dark or light, have powers beyond the mortal ken”

“I’ve met King Mark,” Jared said.

“And you, a mere mortal, humiliated him” Mordecai shook her head. “That will sit ill with him”

“I was just doing my job,” Jared said, defending himself.

“You did well to face the might of the Unseelie King and come out unscathed” Mordecai said and suddenly they were moving down towards the ground once more. Mordecai landed delicately and Agamemnon, along with Jensen and the other two Rokh were right with them.

“Can you feel it?” It was Agamemnon once more inside his head and Jared turned to look at him. Jensen’s hair blew around his face and he looked like a warrior from some ancient tale.

“They’re trying to break the seal,” Jensen said and urged Agamemnon on towards the forest in front of them. “We have to stop them!”

“We are but a few, my Prince” Agamemnon leapt forward. Mordecai and the others followed.

Jared felt energy buzzing against his skin as they hit the trees. He sucked in a startled breath. “That’s not a nice feeling,” he muttered.

“Yours is a power of light, Jared” Mordecai told him. “You sense the wrong that is Unseelie magic”

Branches broke against his skin as they plummeted into the darkest part of the forest. The burn of the Unseelie magic punched against Jared, buffeting him hard.

“Hold on!” Mordecai told him and then they were soaring through the air, over a gash in the ground that made it seem as though the land was wounded.


To Part 3