The walls were covered in purple and gold hangings that looked like they were made out of velvet. Definitely far more luxurious than anything Malik would have bought for himself. His couch, which was admittedly getting old but had settled so well around his body, had been replaced with a divan bed that was even bigger.
It had a solid back and appeared comfortable, although Malik reasoned he might have thought that because it was covered in so many cushions. Again, not something Malik would have bought for himself, but he had to admit the effect looked colorful and inviting, causing him to wonder just how comfortable that couch might be.Maybe we’ll find out together real soon.
His floors that were done out of wood were now covered in a thick cream carpet – nothing at all suitable for a mechanic who was inclined to walk grease through his house at times, but it was very sumptuous, almost decadent. Between the wall coverings, the divan bed, and the carpet, Malik could imagine he was visiting the fae realm.
I wonder what happened to my art on the wall?Malik didn’t have much of an idea how magic worked. He assumed his things had to be somewhere. It was equally possible that the coverings were hanging over his wall art, and if he parted the curtain material, his picture would still be there.Worry about that later. For now, we have a mate to comfort… Hold… Claim…Malik could understand his rhino’s impatience, but he’d preferhis mate’s face not be covered in tears during a discussion about claiming. That didn’t feel right.
Which meant helping Tynan to feel better. “I don’t understand why you’re crying,” Malik said, rubbing his hand up and down Tynan’s spine. “So you had a bit of a magical whoopsie. Does it really matter?”
“I ruined your home,” Tynan sobbed. “I was just telling Sparky how wonderful it was, how clean and bright and beautiful, and how terrified I was that I was going to spread glitter everywhere. And then this happened. My pockets were full of that stupid stuff. I was only trying to change my coat, I swear.”
“I’m not sure if you noticed, but you did that as well.” Malik pulled back just a little bit so he could look properly, making sure Tynan didn’t feel he was being let go. Tynan’s long black coat had been replaced with a very beautifully fitted purple robe that was edged in silver, much like Tynan’s hair. It wasn’t only the coat that had been replaced, either. Tynan’s pants were now tights tucked into knee-high boots, sending a whole stack of sexy images through Malik’s brain.Apparently, I have a thing for men in tights,he thought.Although that might just be because Tynan’s my mate.
“I’m not seeing any glitter,” Malik said, keeping his wayward thoughts to himself, “and you definitely look incredible in that color. Although I don’t think you need this in here.” Raising his hand slowly, so Tynan didn’t get spooked, he gently tugged the woolen beanie off his mate’s head, allowing the long silver hair he remembered from the night before to fall down Tynan’s back.
“You’re just incredible. Very elegant, totally beautiful. Every inch a fae,” Malik said, meaning every word. Even with the tears in his eyes and the wet streaks down his cheeks, Tynan looked otherworldly, and Malik’s protective instincts flared. He wasn’tsure what he’d done in his life to be granted such a beautiful mate, but by all that was worth having, he would be thanking the Fates for the rest of his existence.
“How about we sit down,” he said. Tynan seemed overwhelmed, and Malik guessed he just needed time to process what had happened. “The divan looks very comfortable. I assume things that appear by magic are quite solid.”
“I’d suggest you test it out first,” Tynan said, his voice low. “As a rule, fae are faultless when it comes to using magic. I’ve seen members of my family build whole houses and redecorate their entire abodes with one wave of their manicured hands. With me, when I try to build a house I get a matchbox. This was such a silly idea. I should never have come here. I don’t even know if I tried to use my magic again, if I could get your things back. I feel awful about all this.”
“Honestly, my space was just full of things,” Malik said, letting his fingers linger at the bottom of Tynan’s hair. “I would give up everything I owned for the chance to see you, especially now.”
Then, realizing that might come across as a bit creepy, he paused a moment and then added, “You said earlier…you mentioned something about a mark. The fae carry a mark indicating who their mate will be, don’t they? You said that’s why you came. I’ve never seen one, but is that what you mean?”It would make things so much easier if you accepted we’re mates without me having to tell you about it.
Tynan nodded. “That was something else I was made fun of for,” he said glumly. “A fae’s mark comes in when they’re a hundred and fifty years old, or thereabouts. Mine didn’t come in until I was a hundred and sixty-four, so you can imagine how much teasing I got about that. But anyway, yes, the mark is meant to be indicative of who a mate would be. In many cases,like my parents, for example, they just got a symbol, which usually denotes a specific fae family mark. But if a mate was a vampire, then they’d get a drop on their skin, resembling blood, I suppose.”
“I thought a number of fae were mated to shifters,” Malik prompted. “Do they have different marks according to shifter types?” He didn’t mind learning about the fae life, although it seemed the realm didn’t do a lot of good for his mate, but he desperately hoped Tynan would say the words – admit they were mates.
“Yes, that’s how it usually happens. My cousin got a wolf paw, although he hasn’t found his wolf mate yet. One of his friends has a lot larger paw, and the seers told him that indicated a bear shifter. As for me” - Tynan sighed - “I got a horn, and the seers wouldn’t even tell me what shifter type came with that horn. They just said one mate who would be a horned shifter. How is that helpful?”
“What did the horn shape look like?”Come on, my beautiful fae. Say the words, please.Tynan was leaning against his chest, clearly feeling the pull without even realizing it, even if he was taking his sweet time getting to the point.
“A horn shape.” Tynan raised his hands, using his forefingers and thumbs to form a triangle. “A pointy shape - wider at the bottom and thinner at the top, but really chunky, you know, rather than spindly or anything. A chunky horn.”
Malik smirked. “That’s a good way of describing it, yes. My animal side has one of those. Two actually.”
“I guessed.” Tynan’s cheeks were a fetching shade of red. “I…er… when we met, I thought I felt something, but my magic was going haywire, and I’d just been hit on the head...I couldn’t be sure what was going on. It wasn’t until I got home and had somesleep…” Tynan was looking down at his boots. “I couldn’t sleep for thinking about you, and then when I did sleep…well, they were interesting dreams.”
Malik’s smirk grew. “I had a similar problem after you went running off. It was an…interesting… Yes, I like that word, it was an interesting night for me, too.”
“Sparky told me you were a rhino shifter.” Tynan indicated the raven who was perched on the kitchen counter watching them avidly. “You’re going to think I’m so awful, I don’t even know what one is. I’m sorry if you think that’s me being disrespectful to your animal half, because I swear it’s not intended that way.”
“Well, I think” - Malik had a quick look round - “Yes, I think I might be better showing you one on my phone, rather than actually shifting here and now. There’s not a lot of space, and my animal is quite large, better suited to outside than inside. You can meet my other half another day, if you like.”
“Oh, I would. I really would. Did I say something insulting? If I did, I didn’t mean it. I’ve just never seen a rhino. I’d never even heard of a rhino until Sparky said something, and oh, my god, I am messing this up so badly, just like I mess everything else up in my life.”
Tynan getting upset all over again was not what Malik intended. “Hey,” he said softly, pulling Tynan even closer to him. “If it helps, I know that you’re my mate. End of story, no mistake about it. The first sniff I had of you, I realized how important you are to me, and I think that might be why your magic is overreacting a little bit. Apparently, with the fae, they feel that they have a mate through their magic. It’s not just the mark. It makes sense, that’s why you decided to do a spot of redecorating here.” He waved a hand to indicate his revamped quarters. “I think this is just a case of your magic wanting me to beimpressed, and I am. I really am. I’m so incredibly blessed that you’re my mate.”
“I’m not sure how you can say that.” Tynan was looking around the living space, too. Clearly Malik’s mate had never had anybody impressed with him about anything at all, and that made Malik feel quite sad.
“I said it because it’s true. Shifters don’t lie. They don’t like the stink.” Malik’s plans were going to have to adjust, but fortunately he was flexible. “It sounds like there’s a story behind those sad words of yours, but we have lifetimes to share all that sort of stuff. Just know, no matter what you say, it won’t change how I feel about you. That’s how matings work.”
“Really?”
Yes, that was better. Tynan looked hopeful, and Malik could work with that.
“We’re going to come over here,” he said, leading Tynan toward the couch and piles of cushions. “You’re going to curl up here on this lovely looking divan. It’s definitely bigger than mine, so clearly your magic thought it wanted somewhere for us to snuggle up together. Did you want me to bounce on it first, to make sure it’s sturdy?”
