Phew! It took a while, but I finally finished this chapter! Was swamped with schoolwork, and suffered from slight writer's block :/ If story goes according to plan, there is only about one or two chapters left to go, with maybe a short epilogue. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this next chapter, and thanks for reading!

He slammed her up against the closed door that led to the loft. He had carried her all the way from the park to his front door, their lips only separating to gasp for air. Her legs had been wrapped around his waist, her hands knotted in his hair. They couldn't help but devour each other. Although they had would not admit it to themselves, they had been wanting to share their love in a ferocious way for quite some time.

He fumbled around, looking for the door handle, while his body pressed against Aislinn's. She snaked her hands in the back of his neck, but quickly got impatient and began unbuttoning his shirt. He smiled against her lips, her enthusiasm and need for him only making his own need grow.

He finally managed to open the door, pushing Aislinn through the doorframe and towards his bedroom. She had unbuttoned most of his shirt, and was struggling to undo the remaining few buttons. In her struggle, Keenan could no longer wait and ripped what remained of his closed shirt, the buttons clattering to the floor.

He didn't give her much time to admire his flawless chest, before he captured her face between his palms, kissing her with all the passion he could muster. Their tongues danced as he began removing Aislinn's shirt. He could feel her shiver beneath his fingertips as he caressed her now exposed flesh.

She stood before him in a lace bra, her hands stroking his cheeks and neck. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever laid eyes on, fey or mortal. Her lips were swollen from kissing, her cheeks flushed and warm, and her hair seemed to glow in the light of the loft.

He saw how she slowly began to notice her surroundings, a look of surprise colouring her features.

"Where are we anyway?" she asked as she spotted a humming bird resting in one of the many small trees scattered around the loft.

"This, my dear, is my home." He gestured to his surroundings with his hand.

"You live here?" she asked incredulously. She was momentarily distracted from his exquisite physic as she watched a kaleidoscope of butterflies flutter past her, just inches from her face.

She tried to reach out to touch them, and was amazed that one of them stopped and rested on her index finger, its wings gently flapping.

She smiled a brilliant smile, and Keenan could have almost sworn that he saw a flash of sunlight in her irises. Sheistheone.

He leaned in to let his lips linger only a breath away from her jaw line.

"You haven't even seen the best part."

His tone was so husky and sensual it made Aislinn's breath to hitch in her throat, the slight movement causing the butterfly to take flight and join the others.

She didn't know if she dared ask, but the thought of the pleasure that might come if she did, made it impossible for her to resist his playful tone.

"And what's the best part?"

He chuckled at her hint of hesitation. He grabbed her shoulders and spun her around to face a closed door. It was made of the finest oak and seemed to almost beckon to her.

Keenan now stood behind her, and she became hyperaware of how their exposed skin was touching.

So close.

He still let his lips linger by her jaw line. He brushed her hair away from her shoulder, exposing the ivory skin of her neck. He laced soft kisses from the nape of her neck to her shoulder blade.

"The bedroom," he said, his voice no more than a faint whisper.

Aislinn could feel her heartbeat quicken, and her stomach did flips. This was really happening. Her and Keenan were really going to go all the way. And despite them not knowing each other for a long time, she felt like they still belonged together, like their souls knew each other more than they would ever know themselves.

She turned her face to look into his eyes. They seemed to almost turn green in this light, and in the depths of their lush colour, she could almost make out daisies.

She reached out her hand to pull his face those remaining inches until their lips met. This kiss was slower, tenderer than the animalistic kisses they had shared only a few moments ago. Keenan let his fingers trail lightly over her collarbone, sending shivers of pleasure down her spine.

She pulled away from the kiss, their foreheads resting against each other. She reached down for his hand and took a few steps back towards the closed door, pulling Keenan with her. She arched an eyebrow and gave him a crooked, and what she hoped was, a sexy smile.

He understood quickly what she wanted and grinned as he followed her. She opened the door without taking her eyes off him. His bronze-like hair was tousled, and looked almost golden with the setting sun shining its remaining beams through the window.

He stepped closer to her, their chests almost touching. As he looked down at her she reached up to brush away the hair from his eyes. She let her fingers linger on his warm, tanned skin. Keenan reached up to hold her hand, kissing her fingertips as he pressed himself up against her. She could clearly feel his longing and want against her stomach.

"I want you," he whispered, his eyes boring into hers, making it impossible to look away. "Now."

Even though his voice remained a whisper, she could hear a slight growl hidden beneath his words. She didn't need to be told twice, for she wanted him just as passionately.

She gripped the back of his neck forcefully, drawing his face closer and closer to hers, until their noses were touching. She leaned in and spoke lustfully against his lips.

"Take me, then."

She heard him moan before he captured her face between his hands and brought his lips to hers once more.

Keenan guided them steadily towards the bed. The back of her knees hit the edge of the bed and she let Keenan hold her tightly while he lowered them down onto the silk covers, their lips never separating.

He rested his hands on either side of her face, caging her in and forcing her to succumb to his every touch. A warm tingling seared in the pit of her stomach as his tongue gently stroked her lower lip.

He moved one of his hands to lightly stroke her skin from her bra strap all the way down to her hips, where her jeans began. Her skin was on fire where his fingers had just lightly trailed, burning her forcefully and searing his touch on her skin; a touch that she suspected would tingle for the rest of time.

He pulled his lips away from hers, only to trail small kisses down her neck and collarbone. He kissed his way down her stomach and stopped by her jeans. He lightly touched the skin just above her trousers, looking up at her and smiling mischievously, seeing how his touch tortured her and made her want more.

She bit her lip as she felt his fingers hook her jeans and painstakingly slowly began to remove them from her body. She felt goose bumps form on her now newly exposed flesh, and couldn't take her eyes off Keenan as he kissed his way back up her body, stopping when his face was just inches from hers.

"You're sure?" He felt he couldn't proceed without her full consent, worried that she might regret giving herself to him. She didn't need much time to respond.

"I'm positive. I want you. All of you."

She spoke so reassuringly.

She felt his fingers slowly slide beneath her lace underwear. She held her breath until he gently stroked her bundle of nerves, which seemed to be almost begging for relief. Her back arched as his fingers quickened, and even though she tried so hard, she couldn't contain the small whimpers and moans of pleasures that escaped her lips.

She felt him dip one of his fingers in her wet cavern and she clung to his biceps to stay conscious. A second finger soon followed and she saw a dense fog at the edge of her vision as she moaned his name.

She moaned even louder, only seconds away from reaching absolute bliss, before his fingers stilled, leaving her on the edge of the cliff, but refusing to push her over the edge; refusing to let her jump into the bright euphoria of pleasure.

He undid the clasp of her bra with a calm expertise, before he cupped her chest with his warm hands. She let her fingers roam his stomach, tracing and memorizing every dip, every inch of his skin.

She became distracted from the task of undoing his belt, as she felt his warm mouth tease her nipple while caressing the other with his hand. Her back arched once more and he slid his arm behind her back, pulling her even closer. She gasped and knotted her fingers in his hair, knowing she would never be able to let him go.

She pulled his face up to look at her, and could barely recognize her own voice as she heard herself murmur words she only ever fantasized about saying.

"You're wearing too many clothes." She barely nipped his lower lip as she spoke.

This sent Keenan in a frenzy. His desire pounded in his chest and abdomen, while the almost crushing sense of passion fueled his actions as he quickly tugged his belt from his jeans, before kicking his jeans to the floor.

She raised herself to her knees, before gently laying him down so that she was now hovering above him. She looked into his eyes, with a longing that could only be cured by making them one. She let her hands roam their way down his body, and she basked in the sense of accomplishment as she felt him shiver beneath her touch.

She played with the edge of his boxers, mirroring his own previous actions, teasing him until he could barely contain himself. She ran her tongue along the elastic band of his underwear, before gently sliding them off and throwing them on the floor.

She suddenly became timid. She may have seemed confident, but she had no idea about how to proceed. Even though she wanted this with all her heart, she remained inexperienced.

Pushing her fears and insecurities aside, she gently began stroking him with just two fingers. She heard him sigh and felt his hips tense and still. She didn't want to just pleasure him. She wanted to push him beyond his limits. Her demonic side wanted him to beg her for his release.

She then held his length in her palm and began to gently move her hand.

She could hear him moan, and when she looked up at him through her eyelashes, she saw that his eyes were closed, his brows furrowed and his mouth clamped shut, trying desperately to stifle his moans of pleasure.

She didn't know what came over her as she let her tongue roam his full length, before capturing him in her mouth, gently swirling her tongue to the rhythm of her own pounding heart. She could hear his breath hitch in his throat and smiled inwardly as she felt him move his hips to her movements. Just as he was about to find heavenly release, she stopped. He opened his eyes to look at her. His eyes were ablaze, raw lust turning his irises golden. He growled as he suddenly darted forward towards her, grabbing both her arms and shoving her down to lie beneath him. She gasped in surprise as he suddenly towered over her, panting and concentrated.

This was him near the edge. She smiled a crooked smile up at him, pleased with herself that she had managed to drive him to a point of nearly madness.

This only caused him to grin and he captured her mouth forcefully. Their tongues wrestled passionately as she felt him position himself at her entrance. One of his hands grabbed his hip firmly, while the other rested in the nape of her neck, holding her close.

She contemplated in the back of her mind how much it would hurt. She had been saving herself for the 'one guy'. The person who made her head spin. The person who told her she was beautiful, the person who made her whole.

Keenan was that person.

So, to her, a little pain was worth what she was sure would be an immense amount of pleasure. Pleasure from the one she loved so dearly.

Still kissing her forcefully, he jerked his hips forward, hard.

Her whimpers became muffled behind his lips, and the searing pain brought tears to her eyes. He released her from his earthshattering kiss and he smiled down at her, reassuring her with only a smile that it would all be okay. He gently kissed her tears away, feeling her salty tears on his lips.

She then suddenly moved her hips, causing him to moan and Aislinn to gasp. The pain was nothing but a distant ache, now replaced with a profound pleasure.

Keenan began to rock his hips to meet her movements, and it didn't take long before they were both breathless. She moaned every time his thrusts met hers. He thrust even harder, ramming into her and sending her flying over the edge of the cliff she faced, screaming his name in ecstasy as she fell.

Her orgasm left her breathless, but not nearly finished.

She pushed him off her, directing him with a shove to lie on his back. She saw the confusion in his eyes at her sudden determination, but it was quickly replaced with a breathtaking grin, oozing sex appeal and raw lust.

She climbed on top him, and sighed as she felt herself welcome the length of him once more. She braced herself on his shoulders before she began to move her hips in a steady rhythm. He gripped her hips as she moved, guiding her and urging her to go faster.

She complied, and soon they had reached a speed that left them both holding their breath, not exhaling until they had reached the ultimate release.

She could feel the pressure build between her thighs, only screaming for more movement, more friction. Keenan clamped his eyes shut, trying to hold on, but she was pushing him over the edge. The fact that she called out his name with such passion and need only made holding on that much harder.

They moved in perfect unison, as if they had committed such acts of passion many times before. It was as if their souls were reuniting after many years of painful solitude. They had found each other. They had found their soul mate.

She was close to release, and gripped his shoulders and stilled as she felt the oceans of pleasure wash over her and send her body into an abyss of light.

Keenan followed soon after, her name on his lips as the tension released, clutching Aislinn's body tightly as he did.

As they joined and became one, Aislinn could feel a glowing heat warm her face and her body. She saw a burst of light, which seemed to come from her very being. It was as if they were both radiating sunlight; glorious sunlight that fused and entwined their souls forever.

Aislinn collapsed on top Keenan, still clutching to him. He slipped out of her, and pulled the thin satin covers over their hot and sweaty bodies.

He laid her head to rest on his chest and he wrapped his arms around her. She could hear his heartbeat and relished in the feeling of having him so near.

They were one now. She was sure of that. She was sure of him.

She glanced up at the ceiling above them and saw a painting of glorious sunlight, and people who didn't look human basking in this light. In the center of this light, she could almost see the outline of a man. He seemed to be wearing a crown, and by his side she could see the faint figure of a woman, their hands clasped together in an intimate way. It may have been the endorphins talking, but if she looked closely enough, she could almost swear the man looked like Keenan. He, too, had bronze wavy hair that seemed to glow, and those eyes. She could never forget those eyes.

She felt Keenan kiss the top of her head. He then sighed and seemed to slump slightly into the mattress.

She supported herself on her elbow as she turned to face him.

"What's wrong?" she asked, worried that she may have disappointed him. "Was this not… good?" She almost whispered towards the end, afraid of what his answer may be.

He only smiled at her and kissed her lips gently.

"No. This was perfect. It's just…" He trailed off and instead started playing with a tendril of her hair.

"Just what?" she pressed.

"I don't know how much you'll like me ten seconds from now."

His words made her heart still for a second. She knew it was too good to be true. This couldn't last. Fairytales never last. Something always gets in the way of couple's happily ever after; it's just never mentioned. Instead of voicing her worst fears, she tried to reassure him.

"That will never happen, Keenan. You know I will love you no matter what."

She gently traced her fingers along his temple, before letting them rest on his collarbone.

"You don't know the real me, Aislinn." She had to concentrate to be able to make out his words, as his voice had faded to a quiet mumble. She wouldn't let him think that he would ever lose her.

"So tell me. Who is the real you?"

He was quiet for a few minutes. She began to think that he wasn't going to answer her question, until he exhaled sharply and asked her the same question he had asked her only a few nights earlier in their park. The question that would surely change both their lives forever.

"Do you believe in fairies, Aislinn?"

"What?"

Had she heard him correctly? Did he really just ask her if she believed in fairies? Fairies didn't exist. Fairies were mythical creatures from the magical worlds of storytelling, not anything that would exist in real life.

She looked at him, searching for any signs that may suggest that he was just being humorous. To her confusion, he was being completely serious.

"Would you believe me if I told you that things like that existed? That fey really walked among us?"

Would she? Of course she wouldn't. Horror washed over her as she realized she had fallen in love with a lunatic.

"Keenan, you're not making any sense." She sat up and was about to leave what used to be the safe haven of Keenan's bed, when he grabbed her arm.

"It will all make sense, if you just listen to me." He spoke so soothingly.

Common sense told her to bolt, to flea while she still had the chance. For she had the feeling that what he was about to confess would change her life forever.

She would have fled, had it not been for that look in his eyes; a pleading look of pain, begging her to listen and perhaps even understand and embrace. So she complied.

For who could ever turn him down?

She lay back down in the bed. She lay on her side with her head propped up on her hand. They lay like that facing each other, their eyes searching the other's for any sign of fear or uncertainty. It took Keenan a few moments to find the right words to explain, but soon enough he started telling Aislinn the truth, however unbelievable, and maybe even destroying it may be.

"And you are the one, Aislinn. I just know it."

She couldn't form words. It was as if the reality she had chosen to believe in was now not the correct reality. What she had thought was real, had just been a figment of her imagination.

Keenan had told her of his quest; the quest to find his Summer Queen, the one who would rule the Summer Court by his side. The one who would own his heart and complete him. And now he was telling her that she, Aislinn; a normal girl, was the one to do that. She was the lost Summer Queen.

It seemed so surreal. It couldn't be.

Although, as she remembered the dreams she had been having, her receiving a crown from Keenan in a dress which seemed to made of sunlight. The look in his eyes that seemed to depict summer. The way his touch burned her skin… like a sunburn…

She believed him.

Whether it was her wanting so desperately to believe him, or that sincere and almost scared look in his eyes, she knew he was telling the truth.

And with this realization came the grueling thoughts tainted with doubt.

She couldn't become his Queen. Even though she loved him, she wasn't ready. She knew nothing about fey. She was just a mortal who would be invading their world, and expecting other fey to follow her every whim, her every poor decision.

She imagined how the Summer Court would suffer under her rule. Sure, she would have Keenan to guide her, but what if he wasn't around at all times? What if she had to make some decisions on her own?

And the thought of eternity scared her shitless. She had come to terms with the idea that she would live her life, find a man she loved, have kids and build a home with him, raise her kids with all the love and care in the world, grow old in the sanctuary of her man's arms, and then die a peaceful death.

And now Keenan was telling her that it didn't have to be like that. That she could experience the world for several centuries; that she would always have him to confide in, and that she would always be in protective enclosure of his arms.

Her reality was turned upside down. However much she wanted to stay calm and be able to handle this, she couldn't. She didn't find the strength to stay rationale and by Keenan's side.

She quickly threw the sheet off her body and bolted out of the bed.

She rummaged around for her clothes, and the ache she felt in her heart from leaving him brought her to tears.

Keenan rose from the bed to walk over to her. She was searching the floor, looking for her trousers, trying to keep a panic attack at bay.

He saw how much she was struggling, and grabbed her by her arms, keeping her still for a moment. She wouldn't look at him, for fear that she would hurt him when he saw the pain in her own eyes.

He pulled her chin up to face him, the ache in her heart only increasing when she saw that he, too, had tears in his eyes.

"It doesn't have to be like this," he said softly. Her breath hitched in her throat as she heard his voice crack, and she couldn't stop her tears from overflowing.

How could she possibly explain to him how scared she was? That how even though the thought of eternity with Keenan was something she would gladly agree to, she feared that she would fail at her task as Summer Queen. She feared that maybe one day Keenan realized that he no longer loved her; that he had made the wrong choice, and they were now stuck with each other. She feared they would end up being bound together by duty, rather than the love they felt for each other.

However hard she tried, she couldn't seem to find the words to voice her fears.

So instead she simply kissed his cheek, before whispering words of raw sorrow.

"I'm sorry, Keenan."

She walked to the oak door of his bedroom, stopping to look at him once more.

His face was contorted in sadness, his tears now dripping down his face. She felt like she was betraying him as she left the loft, which was now dark and hiding the magic that had once existed there.

She had barely made it out the door of the building before the pain in her chest and the thick sorrow in her throat got the best of her and she sank to the ground, her face buried in her knees.

She covered her face with her hands to muffle her cries, as her whole body shook from sadness. She couldn't shake the sight of him from her mind. That hurt in his eyes… He almost looked like he had feared this. That he predicted that she would react this way.

She hated herself for acting this way, but it all was just too much.

After she had sat there for God knows how long, she slowly made her way home. It was the middle of the night and the sun wouldn't rise for couple of hours. She didn't dare glance at their park as she walked past it. She kept her gaze down at the ground, counting her steps as she walked, for fear that she may just accept Keenan's offer.

The cold bit at her cheeks and she pulled her jacket tighter around her, shoving her hands in her pockets.

She decided to take a shortcut home. It was not a route she took very often, since it was often referred to as the neighborhood's "Red Light District." It was full of shady nightclubs, and there had been several rumors of women being assaulted in the dark depths of enclosed alleyways.

This didn't stop Aislinn. The sooner she got home, the better.

Just to be sure, she glanced behind her and several yards in front of her. There was no one out but her. She could hear the distant bass from a nightclub nearby, but other than that it was just her and the night sky, which was littered with twinkling stars.

She proceeded on, listening for any sounds that may warn her of imposing danger. She heard nothing.

Thoughts of Keenan flooded her mind as she walked, and she couldn't help but shed a few silent tears, which were chilled instantly by the cold night air.

She thought she saw something out of the corner of her eye. A flicker of movement, movement which seemed to be a shadow within the shadows; darkness that loomed in the distance, yet still imposed a great danger once crossed.

She stopped to stare into the darkness, to see if she could spot any shapes moving. She saw nothing, and turned to continue walking.

As she had her back turned to the darkness, she felt shivers on the back of her neck, and several hands grab her. She was being dragged into the dark corners of the street by what seemed like slithers of dense shadows.

As she took a deep breath, preparing to scream so loud that maybe even Keenan heard her, she felt one of the hands clamp down over her mouth, silencing her pleas of release.

She felt herself being pushed up against a cold, damp stone wall, and being held in place by strong hands. The only light provided was the light from the full moon above them, and the soft glow from the streetlamps several yards away.

She couldn't make out their faces, only their angular facial features and their dark eyes.

"What do we do with her?" one of them asked. He was the closest and she could feel his cold breath on her neck.

"Whatever we do, I want to it first." It was another voice. She could hear that whoever spoke was smirking, and she shivered in fear of what they might do with her.

"Don't do anything stupid until Irial gets here," a third voice sounded. This voice was furthest away, and obviously not holding her captive, just supervising the other two.

"Can't wait…" She felt the closest voice bring his face closer to hers, and fear crawled all over her skin as she felt his tongue lick its way up her neck, leaving a painful ache in its path.

Her heart pounded in her chest, and she couldn't help but wish that Keenan would come to her rescue, however much she had hurt him.

"Cannot we not have a little fun until Irial gets here?" the other voice asked. She felt his hand drift from holding her shoulder pressed against the wall to cup her breast.

The third voice sighed, and she could see he dismissed them with a wave of his hand.

"Fine. But don't rough her up too much."

She could hear the two pinning her against the wall snicker, and they didn't waste time as she felt their cold hands rip her jacket off and throw it on the ground.

She struggled against their hold, trying desperately to escape their dark and dangerous grip, but to no avail. She felt their hands roam underneath her shirt, and nip her neck with teeth that seemed razor sharp. One of them nipped particularly hard, and she felt a warm trickle of liquid run down her neck, which one of the men licked with his intrusive tongue.

She felt tears of fear well in her eyes, and she begged for some kind of savior to take her away from these men who's only intention was to defile her.

One of them dipped his fingers under her jeans and stroked her gently. She violently shook her head, trying to shake their touch away. Fear of the person they referred to as "Irial" made her knees almost buckle, and she cursed herself as she felt her back arch due to filthy pleasure she didn't want.

The other man who held her, slackened his hold on her for only a second; a second she saw as an opportunity. She flailed her arms and slashed him across his cheek with her nails, causing dark welts to appear on his cheek and blood to drip down his neck.

She heard him growl with rage and could have sworn she saw his eyes flash red, before her head was violently jerked to the side as he slapped her across the face.

Her whole world spun for a moment, and she worried that she would lose consciousness. She couldn't faint now, not when these monsters threatened to take advantage of her. She needed to stay awake…

"Don't hurt her too much, Gabe. I thought we agreed you would save her for me."

A strange voice sounded from the street corner that led to the alley in which she was being held captive.

She could see him in the glow of the street lamps next to him. He had dark wavy hair and dark eyes that seemed to promise her dark and painful pleasure. She could have sworn she saw shadows encircle and hover next to him. The shadows seemed to caress his skin, but he dismissed them with a gentle wave of his hand.

He, too, had angular features. If she had seen him anywhere but here, she would have thought he was attractive. Now, he was just the personification of danger, and boy, did she fear him.

Her heart stilled as he neared them, and he waved his two minions who held her pressed against the wall away.

He stood to hover over her and placed both his hands on either side of her face against the wall, caging her in. She didn't dare make a move to try to escape, even though he wasn't actually holding her captive. She had a feeling that if she tried anything with him, there would be lethal consequences.

"So this is the one who has been getting cozy with the Summer King?"

His three minions stood behind them, giving Irial his space. He was obviously a powerful leader.

"Yes, my King," answered the third person who had only observed up until now.

Irial lifted his fingers to stroke her cheek, and she moved her face away from his touch. He snickered. "The spitfire type, is she?" he asked rhetorically.

She didn't answer him. She only balled her hands into fists by her sides, her whole body tense with fear.

"I've never cared much for the Summer King," he confessed. "And I thought his Queen would be the ultimate prize." His voice was covered in malice.

She wanted to explain to him that she wasn't actually his Queen; that she had stupidly fled from him. Still, she felt that even though she had turned down the offer of being his Queen, she was still his, and therefore she chose to say nothing, but instead stare into Irial's eyes and endure whatever may come. For Keenan's sake. Better they hurt her, than cause any harm to Keenan and his court. She owed him as much.

Irial could see the fear and hate in her eyes, but only chuckled as he grabbed her chin forcefully between his fingers, pulling her face closer.

"Don't be scared. I'll make you scream my name in immense pleasure. You just wait and see."

However noble her actions had seemed only a few moments ago, she was still terrified and as Irial forced his lips to hers, she tried desperately to push him away. He quickly captured her wrists in his hands and pinned them above her head. It was useless. Escape was useless.

She was trapped.