Alpha's Faire

V

"So, is it true?" Jexanna's eyes looked up from her task at hand to find Vaughn leaning against her doorframe. His golden rims glowed against the light of her lamp. "That the FLA conscripted you?"

"To be honest, Vaughn, I had this coming for a long time." Jexanna sighed as her eyes went down to the suitcase in front of her. She had already packed her clothing, not that there was much there. Her profession over the years necessitated a place outside of the orphanage to stay. With the constant drain of the orphanage's portals being open, she couldn't just open up another one whenever she wanted. Jexanna learned that the hard way. So she had an apartment in Everwood, a neighborhood just outside of New York City. It made her commute easier to bear to the FLA headquarters. Most of her clothing and other necessities were there, but the orphanage? It held more than just her favorite oversized sweaters. This trip wasn't just about goodbyes. It was about stocking up and packing her hobby as her brother preferred to call it for the road. "After all, I endangered everyone here by teaching you how to use the orchid."

"That's is bullshit. You know it." Vaughn entered her room, getting closer to her. Of course, he wasn't surprised to see her surrounded by every piece of medical equipment in existence and a single black medical bag in front of her. Enchanted by witches, the single bag could hold an entire laboratory and a loaded stockroom of every herb in existence. Nope, he didn't even bat an eye as she pushed a larger tissue processor into the bag. He had grown up with these items, and Jexanna stopped to stare him right in the eye. Her sapphire rims shined for a moment.

"No, it's called leverage." Jexanna gritted her teeth as Vaughn crossed his arms. "Aerin got away with lying to Whitehaven, but it didn't clear my name completely. The councils all know what I can do because Aerin convinced them that I helped him find the actual black market supplier by using his orchid seeds and medicine against him. They know that I and Aerin both lied out of our asses, but still let me and the orphanage be. Do you know why?"

"So, they could use you." Vaughn's teeth clenched as a guttural sound came out of his throat. "But it's not fair."

"Life isn't fair, Vaughn." Jexanna sighed as she placed the last piece of equipment inside the bag. "And right now, this isn't even about that. They wouldn't bring such a risky operative onto the mission if it weren't life or death. Someone is trying to wipe out the dark species. And if I can stop them—"

"With what? Jexanna, with your powers? You'll be human again. What if it's a warlock or a witch, what if it's a pureblood faire? You will have no protection." Vaughn's growled as he threw his hands down at her in frustration, eyes glowing bright red. Jexanna's eyes narrowed at him as he continued. Her heart clenched for a moment, but just for a moment at the man now in front of her. Vaughn had left his boyhood behind and was now a man. A man with demons, with a past, with dreams, with desires. "Hell, when you were human, I even- I almost killed you, Jex." His eyes stopped glowing as his hand cupped her cheek. Jexanna's heart stopped for another moment, but this time, it wasn't out of pity. It was the realization that Vaughn's hand covered half of her face. When did it get so big? That was when she realized, it had been that large all along. It was her that had changed. Being away from the orphanage, she didn't think about Vaughn as anything other than the little kid that was so frightened, he would lay with her in her bed. But examining him now, she realized, that he was different, she was different. "I can't lose you again."

"Vaughn," Her eyes met his, uncertain of how to face the look in his eyes. It wasn't just lust. It wasn't just desire. It was love that poured out of his gaze, and it made Jexanna squirm, for she wasn't used to having someone look at her with such emotions. She needed to curtail this fast. "You don't know what's going on here."