Chapter 14

The trip to the fairy village and festival was an eye-opener, both in terms of the fun I had and the insights I gained about this new world.

As night fell and I said my goodbyes, I felt a sense of belonging I hadn’t experienced since I’d arrived.

Sage and I weren’t heading back to the palace alone. We had young Vishu, the spider girl, with us.

“I’m surprised,” Sage said as we walked down the dirt path towards the palace gateway. “I didn’t think you’d want to take in a child so quickly.”

“Why’s that surprising?” I asked. “I’m a woman, and I like kids. How could I leave her to suffer when I know I can provide better?”

I glanced down at Vishu, who was holding my hand. She was smiling, looking happier than she had since I’d offered to bring her back to the palace with us.

It was as if we’d brought sunshine back into her life.

“I agree with you,” Sage said. “But I wonder what Jekia will think.”

“Do you think he’ll disapprove?” I asked.

“Not really. He’s the same way. And Vishu being there has its benefits.

“Not only will it satisfy Edifel’s maternal instincts, but she can also teach Vishu how to serve the palace, in protection and other duties as Jekia sees fit.”

I wasn’t thrilled to hear that. It sounded too much like the servitude I’d been trying to escape in my own world. But I couldn’t deny the benefits for Vishu.

I knew she wouldn’t be mistreated like girls in my world. Jekia and I would make sure of that, and I was certain Edifel would too.

We reached the palace gateway at twilight. Stepping through, I was greeted by the familiar sights and smells of the grounds.

It didn’t feel like a prison anymore. It felt like coming home.

Vishu stood beside me, her eyes wide with wonder. I doubted she’d ever seen anything like this in her young life.

As we stood there, Edifel descended on a strand of her web to greet us.

She was still naked except for her hair, but she didn’t seem concerned about Sage seeing her like this.

“Welcome back,” she said, smiling at me. “Did you enjoy your outing?”

“Yes, very much. Everyone was so welcoming,” I told her.

“I’m glad to hear that. I hoped you’d enjoy it,” Edifel said, looking as pleased as she sounded.

She tilted her head slightly as she noticed someone standing behind me. “Oh, who’s this?”

I hoped this would go well. “I found a little one who needs our help. I wanted to bring her here, and I hoped you’d be okay with it.”

Vishu stepped to my side, looking shyly at Edifel as she held my hand. Her blue eyes were wide, but not with fear. She seemed fascinated by Edifel.

Edifel’s eyes widened when she saw Vishu, but quickly softened. She took a few steps towards us, her spider legs bending slightly as she looked at the child.

“What a lovely little spider. Don’t you have a colony?” she asked Vishu.

Vishu shook her head. “No. The lycans killed them,” she said.

“Oh…” Edifel looked pained. She held out a hand to Vishu. “I know how that feels. I was young too when it happened to me.

“Would you let me take care of you now? I can give you a safe home here, and I’d love to have you as my own.”

“You’d really accept her?” I asked.

I trusted Edifel, but I was a little worried about the nature of spiders here. Could they accept a child that wasn’t their own?

“Of course. We always accept our own kind, no matter which colony we come from. To be honest, I’ve wanted to be a mother for a long time, but I can’t have a mate here.

“This is like a dream come true for me,” Edifel confessed.

Vishu let go of my hand and walked over to Edifel. Edifel continued to smile as she gently stroked Vishu’s hair. She looked every bit the mother with that tender expression.

I found myself looking down at my stomach, wondering what it must feel like. Even though Vishu wasn’t her child, it was clear that Edifel accepted her as if she was.

“Please make sure she’s safe and comfortable here, Edifel,” I said.

“Of course. She’s my little one now, and I plan to shower her with love,” Edifel promised.

She picked up Vishu and used her web to lift them both up into the trees.

I watched them go, my heart heavy yet grateful.

While I was happy that Edifel had accepted Vishu as her child, it was a stark reminder that I wouldn’t be allowed to have children of my own here.

Jekia had made that clear on my first full day here, and he seemed reluctant to argue against it.

Sage’s hand in my hair brought me back to the present. I looked up to see him smiling at me.

“We have some time before nightfall. Would you like me to stay with you a bit longer?” he asked.

I knew what he was really asking. He was hoping I’d keep my promise about giving myself to him since he’d taken me to the festival.

But I didn’t mind. It might distract me from my thoughts.

“I’d like that. Let’s go inside where it’s more comfortable,” I said.

We walked through the courtyard and into the palace, heading for the spare bedroom I’d used the night before.

I couldn't imagine doing anything with Sage in the main bedroom, let alone sleeping there without Jekia.

“You know, it was really sweet of you to bring that kid here. Not just for her sake, but for Edifel’s too.

“Your spider has been lonely for a while, and even though she doesn't always like me around, she's been happier since you've been here.

“I bet this kid will make her day,” Sage said, sitting on the edge of the bed.

I was standing by the window, peeking through the curtain at the long shadows stretching across the courtyard. I wondered if Jekia was meeting with the Higher Ones right then.

But I tried to push those thoughts away.

“I hope so, for her and for Vishu. It's terrible when kids don't have a mom to take care of them,” I said.

“You sound like you know what you're talking about,” Sage said.

“Maybe I do. Even though I had my mom, she didn't really care about having a daughter.

“Daughters don't bring anything. That's what she used to tell me,” I told him, not bothering to turn away from the window.

“Isn't that kind of hypocritical of her? Every woman starts out as a daughter,” Sage said.

“Maybe, but we're not worth much more than our bodies and giving birth to heirs, preferably sons.”

I sighed as I said that, my mind flashing back to what was said before. I hadn't expected to feel this way after meeting that adorable little spider.

I didn't even think I wanted to be a mom, but the idea was suddenly so appealing.

I didn't realize Sage had gotten up until he was behind me, pulling me against him and whispering in my ear.

“It bothers you, doesn't it?”

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“What they've decided for now.” I gasped as he reached around me and lifted the front of my skirt, his fingers sliding between my legs to touch me intimately.

“They won't let you get pregnant, at least not for a long time. No matter how many times you're filled, nothing will happen. It's kind of sad, isn't it?”

I moaned softly as he kept touching me. Even with those claws, it felt so good. And his body against mine...

“Sage...,” I whispered.

“Yes, it is sad, but we could play a game that might help you feel better.

“I could pretend I'm going to get you pregnant, even if I can't. Would you be okay with that?” Sage whispered in my ear as he kept touching me.

Yes, that did sound tempting. I even wished Jekia would do something like that with me. But for now, at least I had this fox.

“I wouldn't mind that, as long as you can make me forget my worries for a while,” I told him.

“I know I can,” Sage purred.

He easily untied the back of my dress. It loosened around me, and he slipped the sleeves off my shoulders, letting my dress fall to the floor.

I closed my eyes as I leaned back against him, loving the feeling of him massaging my breasts. I could feel how aroused he was, his hardness pressing against my bare butt.

“You got excited fast,” I teased softly as I reached behind me and squeezed him through his pants.

“It's easy when it comes to you,” Sage said.

He kissed my neck and shoulder, then picked me up and laid me on the bed. I stayed still, watching with anticipation as he undressed.

Even if it was a bit indecent, I loved seeing his body as much as I loved seeing Jekia’s, and it especially excited me to see how aroused he was.

He smirked as he moved over me, and I could feel the tip of his hardness rub against my entrance.

“Besides, the idea of getting you pregnant, even as a joke, is incredibly exciting to me. I love the idea of creating kits inside you.”

I moaned as he pushed into me, feeling the heat rush through my veins. His words echoed in my mind, filling my whole body with excitement.

The idea of being taken like this, of him getting me pregnant, was thrilling.

“Please, do whatever you want to me. I love feeling you inside me,” I breathed.

His thrusts were slow and deliberate as he continued, each one going deep inside me. I heard myself making small noises as he kissed and licked my throat, then my collarbone, then my breasts.

My mind was starting to shut down, letting my body take over with the lust inside me.

Sage sat up a bit, and I gasped as he suddenly pulled out of me.

“Since we're playing a pregnancy game, let's do this my favorite way,” he suggested, his voice a bit deeper with lust now.

“What's that?” I asked breathlessly.

“Just a bit of fun. Turn onto your stomach for me,” he instructed.

I did as he said without question, turning onto my stomach. I felt him move behind me, his hands lifting my hips before he spread my legs.

I moaned again as he entered me, and he started thrusting like before.

My mind switched to what we were pretending to do, and a wave of pleasure washed over me as he continued.

Oh, I did want this. But I wished this moment could be with Jekia and that he was the one getting me pregnant. But since that couldn't happen, I could settle for this fantasy.

“Yes, please, more!” I begged as he continued.

“So beautiful,” Sage breathed. He leaned over my back, holding my breasts as he thrust deep inside me. “I love being with you, and I love being inside you like this.”

I let him pull me to my knees, my hips moving with his as we shared another passionate kiss.

“Stay inside me. Please, take me like you're getting me pregnant,” I whispered.

“Maybe I will one day. After all, I don't think I can let Jekia have all of this beautiful body to himself, including little ones growing inside you,” Sage whispered back.

His words swirled in my mind as he thrust into me, harder and faster. The world around me blurred into a haze of passion, my body responding to him with a fervor I’d only ever felt with Jekia.

My body craved him, moving in sync with his rhythm. It felt like an eternity and a moment all at once before he began to slow, his hardness buried deep within me.

After a few more thrusts, he moaned, a warmth spreading inside me. I cried out as my own climax hit me, a wave of pleasure washing over me.

This was what I’d wanted, the pure ecstasy that only he and Jekia could give me.

Sage exhaled deeply as we finished, pulling out of me and lying down beside me on the bed.

We were both still coming down from the high, and I closed my eyes, trying to slow my racing heart. I felt his hand on my face, brushing my damp hair away.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had sex for breeding,” he murmured.

“It’s a shame it can’t be with me, though I doubt Jekia would approve,” I whispered back.

Sage chuckled. “No, I don’t think he would. But there’s no harm in pretending, and we both enjoyed it.”

I relaxed, opening my eyes to look at him. He was beautiful in the dim light of the room. But even as I looked at him, a pang of longing tugged at my heart.

I liked being with Sage, but I couldn’t deny how much I missed Jekia. I wished he missed me just as much.

We lay there in silence for a while, curled up together. But the ache in my heart wouldn’t go away, and I had to voice the thoughts that were clouding my mind.

“Sage, do you think Jekia will ever love me?” I asked softly.

“Are you really worried he doesn’t?” Sage replied.

I looked up at him through the darkness. “I never know what he’s thinking.

“He treats me well, and he tries to spend time with me, but it feels like it always has.

“He’s still distant most of the time, and he didn’t even tell me the truth about whether I could go back to my own world,” I explained.

“Is that so?” Sage seemed to ponder his words before continuing.

“I can’t speak for Jekia or his actions, but I can understand why he might not tell you the truth about that.

“You mean a lot to him, and he’s scared of losing you.

“If you knew the truth, wouldn’t he worry that you might consider going back to your world? If you did, he’d lose you forever.

“That thought would probably scare him.”

“You think so? He told me once that he’d just come get me if I ever tried to run away,” I responded.

Sage sighed in frustration, rolling onto his back and rubbing his head. “Jekia, what the hell are you thinking?” he muttered.

I propped myself up on my elbows, feeling a bit confused.

“You think Jekia’s bluffing?”

“I think he’s handling this all wrong, and it’s giving you the wrong impression,” Sage told me.

“I wonder if he doesn’t know any other way,” I mused. “From what you’ve told me, Jekia’s lost a lot, even with all his power. Maybe he’s scared of losing again.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it. No matter how powerful or arrogant we are, we all have hearts, and hearts can be fragile.

“It probably didn’t help when you tried to run away, though I blame him for that too.

“I’m sure he did something to drive you to that point of desperation, just because he was too arrogant,” Sage said.

Desperation.

That was the perfect word. I’d been desperate to escape, not wanting him to defile me, especially in front of Sage. But I’d failed.

Even after that, he didn’t give up on me. He didn’t reject me for what I’d done. Instead, he’d reacted with anger, but there was also desperation in his eyes, in his words.

~Don’t leave me.~

Was I misinterpreting things? Was that not just a command, but a plea?

Sage noticed my distraction. “You seem deep in thought,” he observed.

“I am,” I admitted. “I feel kind of selfish now. Even if Jekia seems cold most of the time, his eyes don’t reflect that when he looks at me.

“It’s like there are things he can’t bring himself to say.”

“Probably. Pride can be a terrible thing for alphas, especially one in his position,” Sage replied. He turned to face me again, propping himself up on his elbow.

“But trust me, I think you’re already making a difference in him, and soon he’ll let you see more of his heart.”

“I hope you’re right. But what about you? If that happens, he might not want you to be with me like this anymore,” I pointed out.

Sage didn’t seem bothered. “You have a point, and I know there will come a day when I have to let go of my feelings for you.

“But I’m okay with that, and I’m happy that you’ll always be my friend.

“Maybe one day I’ll find someone I can love forever. But for now, I’m content with whatever happens between us.”

I smiled, leaning forward to kiss him. “I’d like that. You’re a great friend, Sage, no matter what happens between us. I hope we’ll always be friends.”

“I will,” he promised, resting his forehead against mine. “I’ll be by your side until the end of my days.”

Being there with him, hearing his promise—it felt good. I knew he wouldn't lie to me. He'd always be my friend, never leaving me behind.

I hoped that as time went on, I could feel that same closeness with Jekia. I wanted more than just the label of being his omega, more than the physical pleasures we shared.

These were the thoughts swirling in my mind as I lay next to Sage, trying to find sleep. Morning was on its way, and with it, hopefully, the return of the man I was starting to fall for.