When consciousness returned, Ethan kept his eyes closed and his breathing even, trying to determine where he was and if he was safe. He could feel softness beneath him and a warm covering over him so he assumed he was lying in a bed.
Beema?
If you ever scare me like that again, I will shred every item of clothing you own! Beema mentally scolded him.
Ethan’s eyes popped open and he found himself face to face with his familiar, the worry evident in the cat’s bright green eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, relief filling him when Beema settled down and started purring.
I forgive you, just don’t do it again.
Ethan used a burst of energy to lean up and quickly kiss Beema’s forehead, smiling widely at the disgruntled look that flashed over Beema’s face before he leapt off Ethan’s chest and moved to the pillow next to his head.
Taking stock of his body, Ethan realized that he felt good. A little hungry and still tired, but overall good. He moved until he was able to sit up in bed, then looked around. The room’s pale blue walls and rich décor confirmed that he had in fact made it to the castle. Whether or not Queen Arabella knew he was there was another matter.
Turning to sit at the edge of the bed, Ethan finally noticed that the clothes he had on were not the ones he’d started the journey with. Instead of jeans and a T-shirt, he wore sweat pants and a much looser T-shirt, one that looked to be at least one if not two sizes bigger than him.
As he stood, he wobbled until his legs seemed to understand that they did in fact have to hold him up. After staring at the three doors in the room, Ethan decided he’d only have enough energy to try one of them, and if that door happened to lead to a room full of clothes, then that was where he was going to end up.
Go through the middle door, Beema said, coming up to stand next to him.
It might not be a good idea to stand so close, Beema. I’m not feeling very stable, and if I fall, there is a slight chance that I’ll fall on you, he warned.
Beema just snorted at him. I’ll take my chances.
Shrugging since there was nothing else he could do, Ethan took Beema’s advice and made his way to the middle door, which was thankfully the closest of the three. Leaning against the wall, Ethan reached out to grab the handle. He turned it and pulled the door open, then moving away from the wall, he stepped through the doorway only to be confronted by a group of people.
The only one he recognized was Queen Arabella. There were two men who he assumed were her guards, based on how close they were standing to her and the high quality of their clothing. The other three he wasn’t sure about. Although they were tall—over six feet, he guessed—and had the same muscular appearance, they each had their own unique appearance.
The man on Ethan’s left was bald and obviously had some tattoos from what Ethan could see poking out of his short sleeves. There was something about the way he stood that made Ethan certain nothing could get past the man, no matter what his dark brown eyes were trained on.
He looked completely different than the man on the right, who had an almost playful air about him. From his spiky, purple-tipped hair to his somewhat baggy jeans, he screamed casual. Even so, there was something in his amber eyes that had Ethan thinking that the playfulness was more of an act.
However, it was the man in the middle that had Ethan wishing he was at full health. He just wasn’t sure if it was so that escape from the man or leap into his arms and beg to be fucked. Although he was also wearing a T-shirt and jeans, unlike the other two, Ethan couldn’t get a clear read on the guy. There was something about him that made Ethan want to go and snuggle up to him, but at the same time, he seemed to be completely in charge of the situation. Even his eyes, which were a beautiful gray color, seemed to put Ethan completely at ease. The abnormality of Ethan’s reaction to a stranger made him want to run in the opposite direction until he could get a handle on his feelings.
“Ethan!” Queen Arabella exclaimed.
Ethan managed to drag his gaze away from the man in front of him just in time to open his arms and accept a hug from the queen.
“Not that I’m not thrilled to see you, but what are you doing here?” she asked as soon as she leaned back far enough to look at him.
Ethan sighed, wishing he could lie and say that it was a social visit. “I came to ask for sanctuary for myself and Beema.”
“Granted. Now explain to me what forced you to come here. I know you, and it had to have been something big to bring you to my doorstep.”
Taking a step away from her, Ethan rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, two weeks ago, I had a surprise visitor and then yesterday, or maybe two days ago—I’m not sure about the days anymore—anyway, however many days ago that it was, my shop exploded and Beema and I were forced to escape through the tunnel underneath.”
The surprised gasps reminded him that they were not alone and he should probably have censored his words. He could feel heat creeping up his neck and knew that his cheeks would be bright red in a matter of seconds. Glancing up into the queen’s eyes, he froze upon seeing the pure fury in them.
“Who dares to attack my nephew?” she asked, pure rage evident in her tone.
Ethan knew he probably looked stupid, but he couldn’t help the fact that he was staring at her as though she’d grown two heads. “You do realize there are other people in the room, right?”
Out of the corner of his eye, Ethan saw her guards step closer, and the three other men started growling. Focusing on them without turning to look at them completely, Ethan let his vision change until he was seeing their true natures. He could see a wolf overlapping each of their faces, but it was the man in the middle who held his attention.
Not only could he see a wolf, but there seemed to be a faint blue glow around him that Ethan had never seen before. A streak of black aura had his head snapping to the side, looking in the direction of his aunt before he could think. The blinding light of her aura had him rearing back a few steps, only remaining upright when an arm wrapped around his waist. He mentally chastised himself for forgetting that as the Fae queen, her aura was a white so bright he was almost always temporarily blinded by it. Returning his vision to normal, Ethan tried to blink away the spots, but they danced in front of his eyes as if they were taunting him.
“Th-thank you,” he said, turning his head to see who held him. Beautiful gray eyes had him gulping while his body started reacting to being this close to the other man. Trying to avoid further embarrassment, Ethan stumbled out of the man’s grip and ended up closer to the bedroom door.
“I’ll be right back,” he stated, making a move to step into the bedroom.
“Where are you going?” his aunt demanded.
“Toilet,” he replied, heading toward it without looking back at her.
Entering the lavish bathroom, he quickly made his way to the toilet and relieved himself. Once the pressure was off his bladder he tucked himself back into his sweats and washed his hands. Looking at himself in the mirror, he noticed the bags under his pale blue eyes, then took in the rest of his appearance. His dirty blond hair had grown so long that he was sure he could tie it up if he wanted to and the beard he normally kept well-trimmed looked like it could be a bird’s nest.
“Has it really been that long since I’ve had a haircut and shave?” he mumbled to himself.
Yes.
Not expecting an answer, he jumped and let out a squeak when Beema jumped up on the bench next to him. Through their mental bond, he could hear his familiar snickering at him, and he barely resisted the urge to retaliate.
What happened out there, my witch? Beema asked, his concern evident.
Ethan frowned down at the basin. I was examining their auras and saw a streak of black. When I turned I got blinded by Aunt Bella’s aura.
Hmm, I wonder if there was something in the room or if one of her guards has black in their aura.
Her guards? Why would you say that? Ethan asked, looking into the face of his familiar.
Because they were both standing behind her.
Ethan groaned, hoping that there was just something in the room and not that one or both of the guards were evil.
Wait, where were you while I was out there? he asked, not remembering seeing Beema in the room.
I was watching by the door, close enough to intervene in case I needed to. I saw the guards move, but I didn’t realize you were looking at auras when they did.
Instead of dwelling on it, Ethan spun on his heel and went back to the bedroom. He paused in the doorway and locked gazes with his aunt. “Do you have a pair of scissors?”
Frowning at him, she hesitated before replying. “Why do you need scissors?”
“To—”
“Don’t you dare say to cut something!” she demanded, placing her hands on her hips.
As he snapped his mouth shut quickly, Ethan almost bit his tongue, but he didn’t finish his sentence. Amusement filled him as he watched his aunt throw her hands in the air in exasperation. “Why am I not surprised?” she muttered loud enough for Ethan to hear.
Despite how she acted, Ethan could hear the underlying affection in her voice.
“Because you know me so well. Now about those scissors?” he asked.
“Are you going to use them to cut off that mop that somehow attached itself to your head?”
“Hey! My hair is not that bad.” He stuck his lower lip out in an exaggerated pout.
Queen Arabella laughed at him. “Yes, yes it is. Are the scissors for your hair, Ethan?”
“If you must know, yes, the scissors are so I can cut my ha—what are you doing?” he demanded as his aunt marched up to him.
She turned him around and started pushing him toward the bathroom. “There is no way I’m handing you a pair of scissors so that you can cut your own hair, and if you think anything to the contrary, then there’s something seriously wrong with you. Boys, stay here and keep each other company.”
Having forgotten about their audience yet again, Ethan let himself be maneuvered through the bedroom and back toward the bathroom. His aunt used her magic to produce a stool for him to sit on as well as some scissors.
“Sit so I can make you look like my Ethan again,” she commanded. There was something in her voice that made him take notice.
Narrowing his eyes, Ethan observed her closely and finally saw the worry she was trying so hard to hide. To anyone else, she would seem like an aloof queen, but Ethan knew her better than anyone and she hadn’t been able to fool him for a long time. Stepping up to her, he lifted his arms and pulled her close. In no time at all, she was hugging him back tightly.
“I missed you too, Aunty Bella,” he whispered.
She eased up with her hug before whispering back, “I missed you, dearest nephew, but the thought of losing you forever…” She cleared her throat and stepped back. “Right, let’s get you looking like your true self.”
As soon as Ethan settled on the stool, she got to work.