Who Is My Husband
Scene 32

Behind his mask he was smiling widely. “Hmm I think I will wait to give you that surprise when I mark you.”

Kailee giggled. “You love your secrets, don’t you? I feel like you get some sort of power rush from it.” Trey chuckled and gently eased her back into his chest.

“What if I don’t want to be marked by whatever you are?” Kailee teased as she trailed her finger up his bare chest.

“All the more reason to mark you first and tell you later. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission.” Trey said wryly.

She rested herself in his side comfortably. “Honestly, I don’t care what you are. As long as you are really mine.” She felt his soft touch as his fingers caressed her skin. He was trying to be gentle with her, knowing she was injured. But he was wanting so much more from her right then.

“This is all I’ve ever wanted. And it feels so surreal that I’m hearing this from you. I want us to belong to each other. For you to be mine and for me to be yours. I love you Kailee. You are mine for eternity. I can’t explain to you how happy I am right now.” Trey held her tiny frame into his delicately. He wanted to squeeze her body with happiness. He wanted to unify their souls together as mutual mates. But he could wait until she was feeling better. He wanted it to be a special moment after all.

“You aren’t worried about me mistaking one of the guys for you with the mask on?”

“You might at a distance but not up close. You can smell my scent when you are this close. It is how you knew the goblin wasn’t me earlier, right?” Trey said in a soothing gentle tone as he tickled her skin with his fingertips.

“Mmhmm but it was more than that. The touch was still different. It wasn’t the same either…”

“As mates we are drawn to one another. We recognize the other’s touch and crave it. The craving can be bad at times. When I first brought you here Kailee, I really did have intentions on slowly building our relationship together. But as I walked you down to our room everything changed. Your scent and those beautiful brown eyes bewitched me. And I couldn’t wait a moment longer. I was nervous you would be afraid of me. But you weren’t, were you?” His low tones made his chest vibrate slightly. All which was soothing to her.

“No. I wasn’t afraid of you. I had thought it was weird how natural everything felt. I guess that makes sense now.”

“It was because your body already knew who I was. And that you belonged to me.” He traced his hand over her arm as he indulged himself touching her soft skin.

Kailee’s thoughts drifted back to how she easily knew that the goblin wasn’t Trey. And the trick he had played. Still… she felt that he was not inherently bad. “I don’t think that the goblin Hawkins was bad. I think he was just used and scared. So, he hid behind a false ideal for safety. I didn’t sense evil from him even when he tried to act like it.” She was trusting her own gut feeling here. Which told her he wasn’t an evil beast.

“They are a lesser creature. They have their uses but have always been considered a neutral being. I guess over the years they looked for refuge and protection. Which is why they ended up with Cresha.” Trey looked out towards the balcony window. “I wonder why he was afraid of you though. Lance said that he seemed afraid of you and wanted your forgiveness.”

“Maybe I am just that scary looking when I am angry.” Kailee said and laughed quietly through her nose.

“You are very interesting. None of us have encountered someone like you before. Maybe you are a type of nymph or dryad? We haven’t encountered many of them. They live deep in the forest realm.” Trey was trying to think of all the possibilities.

“Why do they reside in the forest realm? Is there a reason they stay away? They are part of Monog too, right?”

Trey sighed. “The split happened a long time ago. Long before my time. At the same time this area became known for regular humans and non-magical creatures. After Bane had been sealed a new monarchy came into power. This created a rift. The magical creatures disagreed and moved deep into the forest where they could escape the new monarch’s rule.”

“Why did they disagree? Haven’t the current royals been fair to magical and non-magical creatures alike?” Kailee asked with her brows furrowed.

“They disagreed with who the new royal family were. Because it was one of their protectors that had sealed bane. Giving their life in order to do so. They felt because of their protectors sacrifice that they should have chosen the next ruler. But the land was in turmoil. And a strong hand was needed to control all of the species. Not only being fair and just but being powerful is important. And under the new monarch’s rule Monog has flourished.” Trey sighed. “Unfortunately, relations with those in the forest realm remain poor. And very rarely do they interact with others.”

“Well, I am sure they were sad and were mourning the loss of someone important to them…” Kailee sat there thoughtfully. “It is the creatures of the forest that want me. I wonder what they expect me to feel. If I am one of them, am I supposed to be choosing their side?”

“It doesn’t matter who or what you are. You are mine. And the side you choose is the one that you are leaning into right now.” Trey smiled and intertwined his fingers with hers. “Above everything it is me and you.”

She smiled and nodded her head. He was right. It didn’t matter what they wanted her to feel. Because those sides were so ancient and from another time. And in the life she was living now she chose Trey. No matter what creatures they both were, he was the person her heart was connected to. She loved him and she could envision a happy future with him. A comforting feeling warmed her insides and that was that she finally had a real family again.

“I guess Lance told you what I found out about my parents?” Kailee asked quietly and listened to his hum of acknowledgement. “They allowed themselves to be sacrificed in order to guarantee my life. I don’t know what type of magic they had but Leeta the fairy said that my mother was strong. And that she could have easily beaten them. But they used her weakness against her.” She sighed with a small frown. “I don’t want to be your weakness Trey. I don’t want to ever suffer the same fate.”

“As mates that fact can’t be helped. We are each other’s greatest weakness. For now. Until we have children.” Trey said with a wry tone. “But we are also stronger together too. Having a mate is your weakness and your strength. Kailee, what happened to me was a fluke that will not happen again. I am making preparations to be sure of that.”

“But what about Cresha? What if she comes here looking for you?”

Trey chuckled. “She wouldn’t. She didn’t even come the first time. She is not stronger than me here. But in her fortified area she is dangerous. She has a gem there that strengthens her powers. I just never knew her exact location until now. If anything, she has made a grave error. Not to mention, I don’t think she will be doing much of anything for a while. You unleashed a strong wave of power against her. She probably is not doing very well at this moment. She does not have accelerated healing.”

Kailee’s fingers played with his chest mindlessly. Then another thought popped into her head. “Why are you not wearing a shirt?”

Trey laughed. “You are just now asking me that?” His laugh continued to rumble in his chest. “Because I was keeping you warm.”

“Ever heard of a blanket?” Kailee said with a small smirk.

“I work better than any blanket. My body heat is naturally hotter. You were a bit out of it but Lance was also holding you with his shirt off in order to warm you up.” Trey said the last part in minor irritation.

“Hmm does that mean I can’t retaliate against him for me falling in the pond?” Kailee scrunched up her nose and tilted her head up to Trey.

“Oh? I didn’t hear about that little adventure. Do tell? I’d love to hear how my precious wife ended up in the pond.”

The door to the room opened then and Lance came in holding a tray with food and drink. “I brought you some soup, sandwich and juice to drink.” Lance looked up to see Trey looking at him with an interesting look.

“What did I miss?” Lance sat the tray down next to the bed and looked up at the two of them.

Kailee put on an innocent face and her eyes flashed with mischief. “I was just in the middle of telling Trey how you pushed me in the pond yesterday.”

“You did what?” Trey’s voice changed into a low sound that resembled an animal snarling.

Lance chuckled. “Well seeing that you are wedged in Trey’s arms I think I am safe at the moment.” He looked up to see Trey’s eyes darken and he quickly cleared his throat. “I didn’t push her into the pond. Tell him I didn’t.” Lance then urged her in a small plea.

“Oh? How did I end up in the pond then?” Kailee asked coyishly.

“Okay that was my fault but… now wait Trey listen, it was an accident.” He then held out his hand and pointed it at Kailee. “She threw a huge rock in the pond and splashed me while I was teaching her to skip rocks. I took off after her and she ran-”

“What were you planning to do when you caught her?” Trey’s voice was still in a low snarl.

Lance’s eyes widened and he became flustered as he waved his hands about. “I mean… I don’t know. Maybe just get her wet with the clothes I had on. But when I went to grab onto her it was on a slope and we both lost our footing. That’s how we both ended up in the pond.”

Kailee glanced up to see Trey still had his gaze pinned on Lance. She could feel a small tension in his muscles and could tell that he seemed irritated for real and not just joking.

“How exactly did you plan on getting her wet with your clothes?” Trey’s low tone only emphasized the darkening aura in the room. His grip slightly curled into Kailee as his cold gaze was fixated on Lance.