Dear Enemy, You're My Mate

Chapter 82 **

Finn

Morning has come and washed away yet another piece of my tormented soul. Inside the walls of this room, I'm sinking a little closer to hell with every breath that I take.

My sister should be here.

And I should be dead.

I don't have a good reason for living, and yet, the little wolf with drool glistening on her petite lips has somehow given me purpose—oh, Maya, if only I could tell you how I feel.

My heart is a sinking ship, overwhelmed by ocean waves and without a sight of land. And you're the person resting your head in the crook of my neck, touching me with your icy hands, and making the world seem brighter in the dark. You make vulnerable—you're the stars, and the sky combined—you're a masterpiece, and I'm terrified because I know you can't stay in my world forever.

I stare at the floor, wishing I was a better person. "And you might hate me after I've told you my story. I'm a terrible person…"

Maya stirs on top of my chest. She is the woman of my dreams and too damn cute, sprawled out on top of me like a princess, although I fear I've turned into her bed. Gosh, she is cute, though. Her little yawn brings a smile to my lips as I gaze down at her.

"Good morning," Holding myself back from kissing her is damn near impossible—I want her so much. Her eyes are so lively, and she makes me laugh like no one ever could. "Did you sleep well?"

"Oh, you're in human form..." Maya sounds tired as hell. She rubs her eyes with a soft smile. "I don't even remember falling asleep. I asked you to open up to me, and-..."

I chuckle, amused by Maya looking like a newly awakened hedgehog with her hair spiking around her head. "And you fell asleep while I went to the bathroom. I couldn't wake you, so I lied down next to you—I hope you don't mind."

Maya keeps the smile on her face, stroking her cheek against my naked chest as if it's the most natural thing in the world. She can't be that awake yet, or she wouldn't be this lovey-dovey with me.

Not that I'm complaining. I might be trying to convince myself that I don't love Maya, but there have been sparks from the first time I met her—Maya is a goddamn drug, and I'm the addict.

Unfortunately, I don't want to act on my emotions because Maya will return to her world. After this is over, she will forget all about me and reunite with her family. I bet she will marry some rich human guy with a Volvo and raise beautiful children. Meanwhile, I will remain lonely and never forget about her.

Maya stretches, yawning, before meeting my eyes. A deep concern is written within her beautiful eyes, and her lips form a pout, containing so much emotion I'm having a hard time not squeezing her.

"Finn...?"

I brush some hair away from her face. "Mm?"

"What happened to your sister?"

There isn't any point in lying, no matter how much it hurts talking about Kyra and how I'm the cause of her death. I inhale deeply, hugging Maya tighter to me.

"Long ago, I fell in love with a cruel woman. She was my mate, a human named Beatrice, with green, emerald eyes and a laugh so sweet I fell in love with her at first sight. The stunning woman came to our world through a portal, and the mate-bond blinded me. I made stupid decisions for Beatrice's sake, including helping her and her friends make the other elemental fairies into crystal orbs. She wanted power, while I thought helping her would give me her love."

Maya sighs. "They say sex has a way of clouding someone's better judgment. Don't get me wrong, though—what you did sounds terrible, but you know that yourself already."

I whisper, my voice cracking as I speak because I'm close to tears, wrapped up in sadness. "But you haven't even heard the worst part yet—my sister, Kyra, she was..." I press my teeth down into my lower lip, trying to battle tears. But I'm failing miserably. "It's my fucking fault that my sister became a weapon, Maya! I helped Beatrice become too powerful, and she turned us both into crystal orbs. And later on, June's murderous sister dropped Kyra's orb, and she died! I'm such an idiot!"

"Hey, hey, hey!" Maya is holding on to my cheeks, gazing into my eyes with her innocence shining through—she looks like an angel, while I'm this grim, fallen thing. "Remember to breathe!"

"I can't!" I sit up in haste, and Maya scrambles off my chest. I face her, breathing wildly. "I hate myself, Maya, and every day and every goddamn minute of my pathetic life, I wish I could take Kyra's spot. She didn't deserve to die, and I shouldn't be in the city of fairies! I helped Beatrice defeat our most powerful elders and turn them into weapons! I've let everyone down, and the only thing protecting the fairies now is the tree of life and a few elders!"

Maya stares at me in disbelief. "You defeated the elders?"

"I did because I'm not normal!" Frustration runs loose in my vein, and I rake my hand through my hair with a pained smile taking over my lips. Tears are streaming down my cheek, and I can't stop them.

Maya whispers. "How aren't you normal? Finn, you're perfect just-..."

"No, Maya! I'm not! My original element isn't even the wind—no, I accidentally stole that ability from a friend—that's what I do, Maya. I take until there is nothing left! I was seen as weak from the moment I was born, but Beatrice helped me find my hidden power. She made me feel special, and I was a fool who used my potential for evil!"

"You stole that ability?"

"I did!" My laughter screams sadness. "Every thousand years, there is a new fairy king born, and the tree of life specially chooses that person to inherit the powers of the previous elders. I'm that fairy, Maya. I was supposed to pick up the five orbs, the ones containing our elder's abilities, and use their powers to protect my kind. Instead, I helped Beatrice create new orbs, and the ones she created were far worse—they carried not only an element—they hold a person's soul as well!"

Maya is giving me a thoughtful expression. "And Beatrice created five?"

"Yes, two are destroyed as far as I know—Kyra's orb and the one that used to belong to me."

There is a nod. "And now Arvin is trying to create new ones?"

"Yes, but Arvin won't succeed—to create the orbs, he needs to find a fairy with special abilities, and human sacrifices are needed, which he probably isn't aware of yet."

"Oh," Maya furrows her eyebrows. "And the fairies Arvin are trying to make new orbs out of-..."

"They die in the process," I interrupt. "Humans aren't supposed to be in our world—Arvin and those witches have taken so many innocent lives already. And although I might have the means to stop him, I'm afraid."

"What are you afraid of, Finn?" Maya's eyes are glistening, and her smile is kind when she takes my hands.

"Myself," I tell her, matching her smile with a far more hesitant one. "If I wish to stop Arvin, I have to step up as the new fairy king and quit pretending I'm only an air fairy. My blood makes me the most powerful fairy alive—all I have to do is face the tree of life, but what if I'm not good enough? What if someone else would make a better leader for us fairies?"

"What do you mean?" Maya leans closer and gazes up at me with her long eyelashes. "I think you would make a great king, Finn. You're kind at heart, and you also have a strong sense of justice—you shouldn't doubt yourself."

"How?" I squeeze her hand and resist shedding more tears, even though my eyes are burning. "I've done so many mistakes—I'm the one who created this mess."

"Which is why you're the most suited person to end it," she places her small hand on my cheek, whispering at me. "We only learn from our mistakes, and a fairy king who isn't perfect will show your people that it's okay to make misjudgments."

I laugh with my heart swelling inside my chest. "When did you become such a wise person?"

Maya grins but keeps her soft tone. "I've always been."

Since I can't possibly put in words how much Maya means to me, I grab her wrist and pull her to my chest. A startled sound leaves her lips, and I breathe a laugh as I embrace her.

"You're fantastic; you know that, right?"

My palms cover her back, and I lovingly put her in my lap. Maya might be small, but she is larger-than-life in my mind. She means the world to me, and her tiny hands searching their ways up to my neck make me smile like the happiest guy alive.

"I'm glad I could cheer you up," Maya whispers. "Should we find Blake and discuss rescue plans?"

"No..." I hug her tightly. "There is a lot that needs to be done, but for now, I just want to hold you."

** 83 **

Maya

The scent of Finn is making my brain cells go wild and jump off and die. I like him so much—his smile, laughter, and kindness—why the hell did the moon goddess make Arvin my mate? Finn is perfect. My heart beats faster as he kisses me, playing the tone of young, sad love that lacks a happy ending.

Because we probably won't get one.

I inhale sharply at the pain wrapping around my throat. I've had a bad feeling ever since Finn spoke about accepting his role as the fairy king, and I can't ignore it.

"Finn?"

The fairy presses me to him, humming into my ear. "Mmm?"

I lean into his touch, needing it more than oxygen. "What does it mean to become the fairy king?"

He freezes and leans his head against me, sighing into my ear as if his following words are burdening him already. "It means that I have to close the portals into the human world for good—it is the only way to stop other people, like Arvin and Beatrice, coming into the magical realm through them. And as the fairy king, I have an obligation to my people. I have to stay in this world forever and protect them for as long as I live."

Tears are sticking behind my eyelids. "So I take it you won't come back with me to my world?"

"No," he whispers in a sad voice, stroking my back. "I have to stay here while you have to go back to where you belong. Your parents must miss you, and I know you can sort things out with them after you've saved your sister. They aren't bad people, Maya."

"I know that..." I press my forehead to his neck, enjoying the warmth coming from within him. His white hair is tickling my skin, and I lean my chin against his muscular body. "And yet, it makes me sad thinking about being separated from you."

"You will forget about me—you only like me because I was the first one being nice to you after Arvin beat you. It's not love."

My chest pounds, and I lift my chin, meeting his eyes. "And how do you know it isn't love?!"

Surprise flicks in his eyes—Finn didn't expect me to fight back, and I normally wouldn't challenge him, but my emotions are mine. I'm the only one who can know whether I love him.

"The moon goddess didn't pick me as your mate."

I laugh. "Well, the moon goddess is wrong because Arvin isn't my mate—he never was." My hands touch Finn's skin while my eyes gaze deeply into his without backing down. "I want you."

"For now." Finn is still trying to push me away, even if his eyes are begging me to stay. "Look, when you're back in your world, you will study, buy an apartment, and eventually, find a human male who will be fantastic."

I shake my head, whispering. "But I don't want anyone else—you're the only one I want." My heart is clapping, and adrenaline is sloshing around inside my veins. "I think I'm in love with you, Finn."

His lips twitch, and his dimples show. "You think, huh? Well, that's not good enough, Maya."

"Okay!" I exclaim. "I love you!"

His eyes roam over my face, stopping on my lips before traveling to my eyes. "How about we make a promise?"

I stare at him. "A promise?"

He bites his lower lip, nodding mysteriously. "I will give you ten years—if you have found no one by then, I will come and find you."

"TEN YEARS?! THAT'S WAY TOO LONG!"

Finn lifts an eyebrow, and I realize the stubborn fairy can't be negotiated with—it's ten goddamn years or nothing.

"Fine," I mutter. "But how do you intend to find me if the portals are closed?"

Finn laughs. "I didn't think that far ahead, but I will come up with something when the time approaches!"

I eye him, unconvinced. Finn is probably lying right now, saying things to make me stop trying to make him my boyfriend.

"Okay," I say, still looking into his kind eyes. "I won't find anyone else, though, and ten years alone is a long time having to endure hell. Ugh, I bet you're only saying this so that I will go home quietly."

His lips curl up into a gentle smile. "I wouldn't lie to you."

My lips turn into a thin stretch. "You're not allowed to be with other women while I'm gone."

"Say what?"

"Promise me!"

Finn laughs in amusement and holds me closer. "Oh, Maya, this won't even be a challenge—you're the first woman I've had and the last one I will ever taste."

I gasp. "You were a virgin before you met me? How? You're freaking hot!"

"Thank you for the compliment." He laughs softly in my ear. "And yes, I was a virgin."

"Oh..." I blink. "My mind has officially been blown."

More amused laughter. "You're a funny girl."

Finn hugs me tighter, and I have a scary revelation. The world is a frightening place with too many arrows pointing to the left and right. It's easy to get lost. So many people talk about finding their true love and speak as if the sun will shine brighter the day they do.

And right now, I think I understand what they were searching for—he is right here with me, my true love. And even though going home after this adventure is over is what I need to do, I feel so at home being in Finn's arms. When I'm with him, the world is a better, warmer place.

So, for now, I close my eyes and pray hard that love is stronger than the moon goddess' will and that there might be a happy ending for the two of us together.

Please, Finn is everything I want and so much more. He isn't only a pretty face—he is beautiful, inside and out. And I want my future to be with him.