Free Claimed by the Elven Brothers: Decision (An Elven King Novella Book 1) by Cristina Rayne Page A

course…
    Yesterday I’d had the hottest, most explosive sex ever with a
couple of elves, and given that it had been Seren’s voice that had just
whispered into my ear, it was probably his chest that was currently pillowing
my head.
    I opened my eyes and was met with quite possibly one of the most
gorgeous faces in existence, looking way too put together after the rough and
tumble of our sex play. Damn, what a sight to wake up to!
    “Sorry. I forgot where I was,” I murmured sheepishly as I raised a hand
to rub the remaining sleep from my eyes. “Is it morning yet?”
    “In the human realm, no,” he replied. “Perhaps it is around midnight.”
    “Really? But it feels like I was asleep for a long time.”
    “You were. Remember that the flow of time within the Inbetween is much
slower than in both the human and elven realms.”
    “Oh, yeah, I forgot about that.” I glanced over my shoulder and was
surprised to find the space behind me empty. “Where’s Locien?”
    “He has gone back to the elven realm in order to bring us a meal. He
had hoped to return before you awoke, so I am certain he will be disappointed.”
    I snuggled closer to him. “I’m certainly comfortable enough right now
to drift off again, but that would be a waste. It’s more fun to be awake right
now.”
    I rose up a little in order to kiss him softly on the lips.
    “Megan…”
    I sighed, laying my head back down onto his bare chest. “I know, I
know. No sex unless it’s the three of us. That’s not what I meant anyway. I
love to cuddle, and you and Locien are the first guys I’ve been with in a long
time that are willing to do it.” I laughed, suddenly feeling a little
embarrassed. “Sorry. I doubt you want to hear about my horrible exes right
now.”
    Seren began to run his hand through my hair again. I never knew something
so simple could be so soothing. I swear if he kept that up, I really would fall
back asleep.
    “You can talk to me about whatever you wish,” he said.
    “I suppose there are a few things I should probably ask you about
right now,” I agreed, “the first being something I really should’ve asked you
about before I slept with you.”
    “Are you still concerned about a possible pregnancy?” he interjected.
    “Yes, a possible pregnancy concerns me a lot, but you said that I
wasn’t fertile right now, and for whatever reason, I believe you. What I do
want to know is how you could possible know something like that? Can you
smell it or something?”
    He chuckled. “It’s nothing as simple as that. I am not certain I can
explain it well, but when a woman is fertile, whether Sidhe or human, the—air
about her is much more energized, something akin to the atmosphere during a
thunderstorm. As my people are naturally attuned to the various energies that
surround us, it is just something we can all sense. Perhaps it is a sense we
evolved because of our difficulties in conceiving children.”
    “You never have explained that completely to me, or if you have, those
memories are now gone. You mentioned something about your ancestors being
responsible, but why can’t any of the elven women have kids?”
    He sighed, suddenly sounding weary. “That, I fear, is not a question so
easily answered. One of many reasons is one I have mentioned before, that elven
women have never been very fertile. Perhaps it is nature’s way of keeping our
population in check because of our long lifespan. It is unusual for a couple to
conceive more than two children even after a few thousand years of trying. Most
cannot conceive at all. Adding to the difficulties is the continuing problem of
our females gradually being born barren in great numbers every few thousand
years until eventually, as is true presently, none are left that can conceive.”
    “If you have so much trouble fathering children with your own women,
then I’m shocked that it would even work with a human.”
    “As much as many would like to think otherwise, the Sidhe