Midnight Cove

Both of them had heard my heart skip a beat. Cove lifted his eyebrow and cocked his head slightly, in my direction. Phoenix, on the other hand, grinned widely with the same debonair smile as his brother. Another family resemblance. A perfectly shaped mouth full of bone white teeth smiled at me, taking me in. I had a fleeting feeling to run, he gave the impression of what a mouse might feel when meeting a hawk.

"You didn't tell me she was still..." he trailed off.

Phoenix had a voice that flowed like water; a deep melody impossible to ignore. When he spoke, I found myself being naturally drawn toward him. He, too, had a countenance that rang with authority. His body language said he was someone who was accustomed to getting what he wanted. He continued making his way over to me, his eyes raked over my body. Suddenly, I felt I was shed bare. My heart grew tight within my chest and I hoped his brother didn't have x-ray vision.

Phoenix chuckled, the sound was light and soothing. "And she's so easy to read now."

Now? What does he mean by, now? I glanced over to Cove and felt his whole body stiffen beside me. Phoenix's gaze shifted from me, and locked eyes with his brother for one infinitesimal moment. He then turned his focus back to me, but the cocky smile had faded.

Half grimacing, Phoenix said, "She's not like most humans." He shrugged, and then I saw a devious spark in his eyes. "Maybe we should find out if she really is one?" In a blur, Phoenix was next to me, his beautiful smile suddenly elated, terrified me. His dark brown eyes turned black and hungry.

His movement was so quick all I had time for was a sudden intake of breath. Cove was there though, protecting me. His features expressionless, as he side stepped around me blocking his brother. Phoenix's face, filled with contempt, contorted in anger. My head was spinning as I tried to make sense of it all.

"You will not," was all that Cove said. His velvet voice slow and stern. Will not what? What did he plan to do? The hair on the back of my neck began to rise and my skin prickled with tension and fear.

"Watch it, Cove," Phoenix warned in a slow drawl. His eyes now locked on Cove. Like watching two large cats size each other up. "You know I always get what I want. I will not be thwarted by anyone now, especially not you."

The melody of his voice turned cold as ice and I shivered as a chill ran up my spine. The motion attracted Phoenix's attention and I glared defiantly at the handsome stranger that ruined an otherwise perfect date. The look only succeeded in humoring him though because Phoenix then threw his head back, and laughed loudly.

Cove wrapped his left arm around me and smiled softly. He held my gaze, but his words were directed at Phoenix. "You will be thwarted on this. I am your elder brother and I do not deny you anything, but this woman holds my heart. I love her." Cove then broke my gaze to look questioningly at his brother. "Would you deny me the woman I love?"

"The question insults my honor," Phoenix's attitude was suddenly flippant. He turned his head and waved his hand dismissively at me as he walked away. "You may have your pretty little mortal, for as long as you like. I wonder though, why do that? Or should I say why not? She looks absolutely delicious." He winked me and licked his lips. I turned my head away in disgust and leaned into Cove. I was no longer interested in looking at him. His face may have been attractive but his attitude certainly wasn't. "A single taste would hurt her but little. Wouldn't that be okay, Bonnie?"

I gasped, "How did you know my name?" Needing no other invitation, Phoenix made an involuntary step forward.

At the same time, Cove shouted, "No!" and thrust his arms out as though to push his brother away. A gust of air seemed to come from Cove's palms, knocking Phoenix back and pinning him to the trunk of one of the great trees.

Whatever magic Cove had been hiding from me was powerful. Watching Phoenix writhe in pain against the bark of the mighty redwood was a sight I would never be able to erase from my memory. If I lived a thousand years, I could never have imagined such a vision. My eyes were now opened to the powerful darkness of the faeries.

Gently, I put my hand on Cove's arm. The terrible torrent stopped. I didn't want a rift between them. I wasn't going to watch Cove destroy his only family because of me. I walked over to where Phoenix's body had slumped over, resting atop of a pile of rotten leaves. Ever so carefully, I caressed his beautiful face. His unconscious form looked to be in a peaceful slumber. I couldn't understand why Cove felt so tormented by his brother. They both looked like perfect angels. Who knew Prince Charming had a younger brother?

I smiled at my thoughts as I traced my fingers over his lips. I thought I saw them twitch and immediately pulled my hand away but nothing happened. I timidly reached my finger out wanting to touch the soft lips once more. I knew Cove was less than a hundred yards away from me, but unable to stop myself I began to trace the shape of Phoenix's upper lip.

I let my finger fall to his lower lip, soft and full. His mouth moved and he nicked me with his sharp teeth. I watched as my blood pooled on my fingertip, and a single drop brushed against his mouth. His eyes stayed closed as his tongue flicked out to stroke my finger, instantly healing over the tiny cut as if it were never there. Slowly, I pulled my hand away, rose, and went back to where Cove was standing.

I refused to feel emotions, there was time for that later. At the moment I was simply happy to have Cove with me. He thought I had escaped unscathed from the incident, and for the most part I had. I didn't have a clue what Cove would do if he knew that Phoenix just bit me. Or what it meant to me that he drank my blood.

"Is he going to be okay?" Cove looked me and concern filled his eyes. I felt a twinge of guilt as I looked up to answer him.

"Yes, he'll be fine," I told him. I slipped my arm around his narrow waist reassuring him. I knew deep down he loved his brother and hadn't wanted to hurt him. I felt awful. Somehow, I had felt like it was all my fault.

"You are not to blame, Bonnie." Cove sensed my feelings of guilt, he just didn't know why I felt so guilty. Frankly, neither did I.

"If I have somehow caused problems between you and your brother then...," I choked up. I didn't know how to say what I needed to say. It couldn't have been a worse introduction to Cove's only family. I needed to tell him we couldn't be together. How could I tell him that I just wasn't worth this kind of stress? Only, I was too selfish. I was already in love with Cove, I couldn't bear the thought of a life without him in it.

Cove hushed me then, pulling me into his chest. "Bonnie, I love you." He lifted my chin so I had to look into his deep chocolate eyes as he spoke. "I meant everything I said. You own my heart. As both a faerie and a man, I am bound to you. I cannot leave you until you wish it of me. Our fates are entwined."

My breath caught and my heart stopped for an infinitesimal moment. My ears rang with the resounding truth of his words, 'Our fates are entwined.' I had heard him tell Phoenix he loved me, but I guess with all the commotion in the moment I hadn't let it soak in.

Now, with Cove standing in front of me, holding me, professing his love, I was overcome. It was my own fairytale. Prince Charming was professing his love to me. Suddenly, I was the lucky fair maiden. My heart ached; rapture overtook me, and I had to clench my leg muscles to avoid fainting again.

"Never," I said, but the words came out in a whisper, "I will never want you to leave me. I love you too." I reached up to kiss him gently, but Cove's lips came crashing down hard on my own. His hands clasped around my back and he pulled me to him. A soft moan escaped his lips and I willingly allowed him to continue to draw me against his hard sculpted body.

When I opened my eyes, we were flitting across the night sky. Until that moment, I hadn't noticed the beautiful day had faded around us. Until that moment I hadn't realized how beautiful life really was. My mind raced back to Phoenix, alone in the forest. I decided at once to put him and the whole incident far from my mind. I wanted nothing to ruin this moment.

Cove's lips were at my ear, "Don't worry my love, I would never let you fall." His gentle throaty chuckle made me shiver with delight and I relaxed into his arms.

I didn't want the night to end. Wrapped in Cove's arms, I felt loved. I didn't care that he was mythical or beautiful. It didn't matter to me what he was on the outside, because I knew that inside we were kindred souls. I could feel something had immediately bound me to him in a way I couldn't explain.

There were no words for the depth of our connection. No phrase of love in any language could ever do justice to the undying, unending yearning I had for him to always be mine. Every touch left my skin burning for more. Every word from his lips sounded like an angel's melody sung unto God. He was every hope and dream I ever had. He was the kind of man I imagined I would someday meet, but never actually thought I would.

He possessed power, control, and yet, he was honorable, and kind. He never intentionally frightened me, though he easily could have. He was understanding of my fragility as a human and as a woman. My feelings were never a mystery to Cove, he read my emotions as easily as a book and responded without hesitation.

We arrived at the garden and Cove restored us to our, or at least my, normal height. I couldn't bear the thought of letting him go. For the first time, I was afraid. I was afraid to be alone. I didn't want my magical evening to end. If he left now, it would have easily felt as though everything had been a dream.

"Would you walk me home?"

I didn't know how he felt after divulging his feelings and fighting with his brother. He might not have wanted to be near me at all. He might have wanted time to himself, time for reflection. To my heart's relief, he obliged and like a true gentleman offered his arm. Without a word I took it. I didn't have to say it for him to feel my gratitude, which made me all the more grateful.

We reached the doorway of my apartment. I released his arm, and opened the doors. Without a moment's pause, I turned around and kissed him long and deep. When I pulled away my skin was flushed bright pink and I slipped my hand into his.

"I love you, Cove." Holding his hand I led him inside. We stopped only long enough for him to close the door. He knew that I wanted him, and like a gentleman, he obliged.