The Runaround: Finding the Faerie: Runaround, #1

By Chessela Helm

Most politicians kiss babies' cheeks, but the cheeky Junior Representatives of the U.S. Non-Human Congress are kissing each other's everything.

 

Vampire Thealla is willing to get her kink on with nine men and one woman after the succubus rep suggests a runaround as their 'getting to you know you' activity. Yet she couldn't have anticipated the wildfire passion that ignites when she hooks up with intense Fae rep, Kian. He's determined to make their relationship more than one night, but she's worried his long term plans don't include a home and girlfriend on the Earthen realm.

 

Kian has no interest in returning to the Fae realm, and he's even more determined to stay on Earth after meeting the sensual Thealla. Convincing her of that will take all of his political skills, especially when his pushy parents get in the way of his fledgling relationship. Now he must show Thealla they're more than just magical in bed – they're an undefeatable partnership that fills the deepest parts of their souls.

 

While reading The Runaround: Finding the Faerie you'll experience a delightful array of emotements (emotional moments) measured by the official Dare in Words kitty masterminds:

embarrassing laughs – low level headbumps

readers' tears – medium level cuddles

sensuality – high level purrs

cheering on fictional friends – high level licks

Read the sample now to get a feel for the feels, then keep reading by choosing to purchase. For added emotement value, save it on your favorite device to re-read when the next Noniverse book comes out. This is the first book in the Runaround series of standalone paranormal romances, with book two, Chasing the Angel, available to binge-read today.

 

(78,000ish words = around five hours to read)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dare in Words
• Release date: Aug 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9798201609689

Book preview

The Runaround:

Finding the Faerie

By Chessela Helm

Copyright 2016 by Dare in Words

Cover by author

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Curiosity

Chapter 2: Lust

Interlude 1: Philippa and Rashid

Chapter 3: Anticipation

Interlude 2: Philippa and Rashid

Chapter 5: Smooth and Scary

Chapter 6: Hard Night and Gentle Afternoon

Interlude 3: Philippa and Rashid

Chapter 7: Flippant and Fun

Chapter 8: Timid and Tender

Interlude 4: Philippa and Rashid

Chapter 10: Dangerous Times

Chapter 11: Insulted

Chapter 12: Reversal

Interlude 6: Philippa and Rashid

Epilogue 2: Another Four Years After That

Acknowledgments

Chasing The Angel

Chapter 1: Curiosity

Thealla

Sure, dating your coworkers could end horribly, and dating people who lived in your apartment complex had an equally high risk. So moving into one building with nineteen people you’d also work with meant the potential for breaking up and being miserable increased exponentially. Thealla knew logically that starting a relationship with one of the other Junior Congresspeople would be a terrible idea.

But lust simply didn’t listen to logic.

When that email went through announcing this year’s Junior representatives of the United States Non-Human Congress and Thealla saw the nineteen pictures of her coworkers, all she could think was, ‘Damn. That’s a lot of hot.’

Some of them she already counted as friends. Most of the representatives from Earth had spent high school competing on the national debate circuit. Besides being friends with the other vampire, Thealla knew both weres, both witches, and the succubus and incubus. The only people she didn’t know from the Earthen realm were the two nature demons. The representatives from the other realms – the shades, Fae, angels, devils, and gods – she’d never had any opportunity to meet.

Still, she’d looked at almost every picture and seriously contemplated whether she could fuck them without any harmful effects. She only dismissed Jeremy as a potential partner because he’d made it very clear over the years he’d never been attracted to women, and even if he got bored enough to experiment, he wouldn’t do it within his species where there’d be a risk of pregnancy.

As she pulled her car into the parking lot of her new apartment building, she prepared to be surrounded by gorgeous twenty-two to twenty-three year olds. She would either let loose and have the time of her life sexually, or she would play it safe and live in a land of horndog regret and missed chances.

Thealla unloaded her angry cat (apparently cross-country car trips weren’t fun), grabbed her purse, and headed inside. She didn’t call her friends because she wanted to get her car unpacked with no distractions. Luckily she met no one in the lobby, elevator, or third floor hallway. Inside the apartment, she let poor Tabitha out of her carrier, dumped her purse on the kitchen counter, and headed downstairs.

Three trips later, Thealla’s sweaty ass wished she’d asked her friends for help. She headed into the hallway to make one more trip to the car and practically tripped over her feet when a man emerged from next door.

She recognized him immediately as the male Fae representative, Kian. If his chiton-like garment hadn’t given him away, his long black hair ending in different lengths and emerald eyes would have set him apart. He looked a little wild, like he came from the primordial forest. She couldn’t help staring at him. Not only did he look thoroughly out of place, he was the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen. Kian had impressed her in his photograph, but in real life his narrow face and angular features made movie stars look yawn-worthy.

It took her a second to realize he’d started staring back. Between his wrinkled brow and frown he seemed to disapprove. That didn’t surprise her – the Fae were generally pretty full of themselves. She’d only met two people from the Fae realm, and they’d been stuck up jerks.

Hi, Thealla said in an attempt to guilt him into being polite.

He pulled back, shook his head, and turned his frown into a slight smile. Hello. You must be the vampire. How do you pronounce your name?

Thee-oll-uh. And you’re Kian?

Pleasure to meet you. He put his right hand towards her and she shook it. Did you just get here today?

Yeah. With just enough time to sort out the movers before I need to get ready for the welcome party.

Kian opened his mouth, but whatever he was going to say got lost when the door across the hallway opened. Jeremy shouted Thealla’s name loudly, then dragged her into a hug. By the time he stepped back, Kian had disappeared into the elevator. Damn.

What’s the matter? Jez asked.

Hmmm? Oh, I was talking to Kian and he just disappeared.

Jez waved a hand. You know how the Fae are. It’s their world, we’re just existing in it. Why didn’t you call and tell me you were here?

I wanted to unload the car before I saw anyone. I have to make one more trip down, and the movers should be here within ten minutes. Let’s put the reunion on hold until after my apartment has things in it.

Come knock on my door when you’re done, then.

When the movers finally left, Thealla had barely enough energy to let Tabitha out of the bathroom before collapsing on her kitchen stool. According to her phone she had two hours before the welcome party, and she still needed to drink dinner and take a shower. She wouldn’t have time to play catch up with Jez. Popping the top of a pureed butternut squash soup box, she lifted it to her lips.

Being a vampire in real life was a lot less glamorous than in fiction. She didn’t have super strength or speed. She couldn’t turn into a bat or a cloud of mist. Instead she had a long life expectancy, a few magical abilities to ensure she wouldn’t be hunted down and killed, and a weak digestive system. Vampires drank blood for its nutrients, and animal blood had the same health value as human blood. Since a little of it went a long way, the majority of Thealla’s diet consisted of juice and soup. Somehow she couldn’t see Hollywood making a movie about a vampire hanging out in an L.A. smoothie place in the middle of the afternoon.

The rest of Thealla’s getting ready routine look little time. Her naturally wavy hair somehow managed to maintain ‘just got fucked’ volume all day, so after post-shower blow drying she just had to pull a comb through it. She decided to wear a bit of makeup since this would be an opportunity to dress up and look pretty. She’d always been too lazy to paint up every morning. If men could be considered handsome without cosmetics, she could be considered pretty. But she wouldn’t deny the sex appeal of smoky eyes and wine colored lipstick.

She slipped into the hallway and found someone else waiting for the elevator. The male angel stood in profile, and his white, fluffy wings looked incredible. She wondered how they bent when he sat on chairs or laid down. With medium brown hair that went to his shoulder blades, he had a face that would make male models weep with jealousy. Though he wore a white suit with a white shirt, he’d apparently felt naughty enough to add a red tie. He seemed pretty buff under the suit. Did angels work out? Was there crossfit in Heaven?

When Thealla approached, he turned with a smile. Dear gods. What a face. She had to slow her pace to keep from tripping on her high heels. Much like Kian, the angel’s picture hadn’t done him justice.

Hello. I am Azkadek, he said in a voice that sounded calming and warm.

Thealla.

Nice to meet you. Vampire, correct?

Thealla nodded. And I can see you’re the angel.

Azkadek laughed. We are hard to mistake for other beings.

Definitely. Can you sit in regular chairs?

Yes, the muscles in my wings are flexible and the bones fold easily. And I can fly. Everyone asks that.

I already knew angels can fly. I do a lot of research into non-humans. We’re representing each other, after all.

Azkadek smiled again. Good to know you take your work seriously. I do as well. Although, it is nice to relax and have fun like we will at our welcome party. I suppose I would shock people if I drank too much tonight.

I know seven of the other people here, and trust me, not much shocks us.

Good. I only know the female angel. We both moved in yesterday.

Nice. How did you get your stuff moved in from Heaven?

Heaven was one of the realms connected to the Earthen realm by magic. Most of the realms had been created as Afterworlds where humans and Earthen non-humans went to live after they died. Each Afterworld had a living non-human population to administrate it. While places like Vyriy, Qudlivun, Patala, Kur, Asamando, Pulotu, and Alam Ghaib attracted people from the same geographical area with  shared mythology, six Afterworlds had become popular desinations for people of all ethnic backgrounds.

Heaven welcomed Judeo-Christians so they could be with the god Yahweh. He really did have a son named Jesus. Both had spent time on the Earthen realm and spread their religious beliefs. Heaven had a reputation for being a bit of a goody-goody place, with angels being classically polite and not rebellious.

The intellectuals gathered in Duat, home of the Egyptian gods. Scientists and philosophers theorized and tested there. Elysium, where the Greek gods came from, had all the artists. Valhalla’s Germanic and Scandinavian gods hosted the bold, physical, sporty types of folks. The Incan gods lived in Ukhu Pacha and gathered those who wanted their urban spaces to reflect the landscape.

Lastly, Yomi-no-kuni sought a balance of all of those elements for each person. While its gods went to Japan to start Shinto mythology, few shared their names on the Earthen realm, instead befriending nature demons and making them an integral part of Asian religions.

The only place that took the bad folks, the Earthers who’d fucked up in life and weren’t allowed to go anywhere else, was Hell. Devils ran it, and it had many other names.

Since Azkadek had been chosen as the official angel representative, she knew he’d come from Heaven rather than being a fallen angel. The fallen rejected the supremacy of Yahweh and Jesus and chose to live in other Afterworlds or the Earthen realm.

The portals to the other realms are in the basement of the building next to us. I transported my things to the portal there, then hired non-human movers here to bring things through the portal and up to the apartment. I felt fortunate they gave us our first paycheck last week.

Yeah, it paid for my movers, too. So does the Congress help you get identification cards?

There is a non contractor who makes the cards and documents. I came once to order them and returned a few weeks later to pick them up. On the second visit I opened an account at the bank run by non-humans.

The elevator doors opened and they stepped inside.

Thealla smiled. It’s cool we have our own lounge in this building to hang out in. I love that the program really encourages the Juniors to spend a lot of time together.

Yes, I look forward to getting to know people who are not angels. Heaven can become a bit boring after a while. That is why I have gone into earthbound politics.

Makes sense. Earth is a lot of things, but boring isn’t one of them.

They stepped off the elevator and walked into the lounge. She scanned the room and found a bar with a bartender, a table with snacks, and the other angel.

The angel could best be described as gorgeous. She had pale skin and light blonde hair that seemed to go on forever.

Hello, Layla, said Azkadek. This is Thealla. Thealla, meet Layla.

Layla smiled sweetly. Nice to meet you.

Did you two know each other in Heaven? Thealla asked.

We never met in person, Layla said. We talked on our own version of your internet. Heaven is a big place. Bigger than the Earthen realm, and Azkadek and I are half a world away.

Azkadek nodded. Layla and I have been talking since we were in school. We take most of our classes through the cloud, because we don’t have many cities, and it is hard to have physical schools when people are spread out. The cloud is what we call our internet. It apparently has become a phrase here, too.

Interesting, said Thealla. There isn’t a lot of information about Heavenly society. Your people are not very fond of writing about themselves.

True. We rarely go to other realms, Layla said.

Layla gave Azkadek a sweet but definitely interested smile. He didn’t seem as intrigued by Layla as he did by Thealla, though. Thealla felt entirely too smug about that. The faerie may have ditched her at the first chance, but the angel had been giving her warm looks.

The door opened, and Thealla’s friends Rashid, Carlos and Philippa came in. Rashid was a werehyena, and Carlos and Philippa represented the witches.

Thealla grinned. Looks like the trouble got here.

Don’t you know it, said Carlos. Baby girl, you are looking beyond amazing. I swear, you get prettier every time I see you.

You’re looking good yourself. Hey, Rashid and Philippa. Have you met the angels? Thealla asked.

Introductions were made, and drinks were asked for from the bartender.

So, who wants to bet Nina’s twenty minutes late? asked Carlos.

No one who knows Nina would bet against that, Philippa said. I don’t think anyone who doesn’t know Nina would bet against it. Have you ever met a succubus or incubus who could manage to be on time?

Rashid snorted. Nope. Not even for debate rounds. I had to wait ten minutes for her to show up to a finals round once. The judges were considering calling it a forfeit. It was eleven o’clock at night, too.

Debate rounds? asked Azkadek.

We all know each other from high school debate, Carlos said. Rashid was a dumbass and did it in college, too. The rest of us wanted to have lives.

Rashid shrugged. I like winning.

So do you introduce yourself to people as a national debate champion? Carlos asked. Is that how you get dates?

I get dates because of my sparkling personality, Rashid said. I always wondered how you got them, though. You use magic, don’t you?

Nah. Witches got game, homes. Carlos grinned. He showed off a row of perfectly white teeth that contrasted against his golden brown skin. With dark brown hair just long enough to get into his eyes, plenty of stubble, and dark blue tattoos on his neck, he looked like a sexy treat. Thealla had always wanted to hook up with Carlos in high school, but the debate circuit thrived on gossip, and she didn’t want to be known for her sex life. Rather, she wanted her reputation to be founded solely on her debate skills. Plus she’d never found out if Carlos even wanted her. He flirted with her, but did he actually want to hook up?

Rashid had always tempted her just as much. Tall with dark brown skin, dreadlocks, and sexy lips, he always seemed to be smirking at the world. Maybe that was a hyena thing. His debate nickname, The Scavenger, supposedly came from his ability to pick through nearly forgotten smaller arguments and turn them into bigger ones. But the non-humans all knew where it really came from.

So, who says we go out and hit Manhattan tomorrow night? Carlos asked. I hear the club for nons here is off the hook.

We have to work the next day, Thealla said. Pass.

Carlos shrugged. If you can’t work after a night of partying, you’re not doing it right.

Doing what right? Philippa asked. The working or the partying?

Who knows. Both? Do you really think I pay attention when I speak? he asked.

Just what I want out of my legislator, Rashid said.

I’m pretty sure non-stop sarcasm isn’t too high on most people’s lists for public officials, either, Carlos said.

You’d be surprised the traits that weres find attractive for their representatives, said Rashid.

The door opened again and six new arrivals came in. Thealla scanned them to see if Kian had come in, but sadly he hadn’t. She wondered when the hot faerie would be joining them. Mmm. Joining with Kian. That sounded like a damn good idea.

Kian

Kian glanced at the clock as he got out of the shower, noting with irritation he was still running late. He’d wanted to get downstairs for the party as soon as it started, but he’d lost track of time while decorating his new apartment. Hanging textile art could be very complex, especially the three-dimensional hung off ceilings kind. He’d wanted to cover all the dull white walls with color, and he’d nearly done it. While his decorated apartment didn’t have the depth of the murals in his suite at his parents’ house, he now had a lot of bright colors to draw the eyes instead of that awful, sterile white.

Ortlan, his cat (or possibly Kian was Ortlan’s faerie), stared up at him with big green eyes.

I’m going downstairs. You’ll have to amuse yourself. Kian tried to ignore the disappointed stare he received in return. Throwing on his clothes, he again reflected on how much easier the day would have been if he’d come to the Earthen realm when he wanted to.

He’d hoped to move in Thursday, the first day the new Juniors were allowed to occupy their apartments. Unfortunately, his parents decided to throw him a going away party. Like any Fae gathering, what could have been simple became hopelessly drawn out. A horse riding tournament happened Thursday, followed by a dinner and dance, and then on Friday they had a picnic lunch.

Kian might have been able to escape that afternoon, but his parents insisted on a family dinner. With eight brothers and sisters, most of whom were married, family dinners held no real intimacy. But family ties were strong in the Fae realm, and Kian remained a dutiful son and brother.

So this morning at daybreak he’d traveled to the portal with everything that could be taken into the Earthen realm. He’d begun decorating after the movers got his furniture in place, then had lunch with Shaunessey, the other Fae representative.

He’d started talking to the pixie online when they got their acceptances to the Junior program. Today marked their first time to meet in person. They’d gotten along instantly, which relieved Kian greatly. They’d be working together closely, and a good rapport would make his life much easier. Both of them were interested in living and dating outside of the Fae realm, something quite rare among their kind. He found it nice to finally have someone who understood him.

After Shaunessey returned to her apartment, Kian had tried decorating again, but he really wanted to go outside to the courtyard and appreciate nature. Leaving his apartment he saw the vampire, Thealla.

What a vision. He’d always had a thing for brunettes, and the warm golden brown of Thealla’s hair could rarely be seen in the Fae realm. Her hair looked decadent and divine, and he wanted to run his hands through it, preferably while kissing her on her rosebud lips. They’d looked so tempting he had to physically stop himself from walking over and taking her mouth with his. That probably wasn’t a good way to get to know a woman. He needed to talk to her, find some common ground, and then he could kiss her.

Crap. He looked down at where his hard-on pushed out his robe. Not the best look to have when meeting eighteen people. He didn’t want them labeling him some kind of sex maniac. ‘Hi, I’m a talented political administrator, but I can’t keep my dick in my pants.’ Nope. Not what he was going for.

A knock on the door made him head to the entry. He opened it just wide enough to show his face. Shaunessey stood there looking nervous.

Hi! Do you want to go down together? she asked.

Sure. But I need a few minutes.

Oh. I can wait in the hallway.

Despite her words, Shaunessey looked a little disappointed to be alone. Kian opened the door all the way and waved her inside. She already knew he wasn’t a pervert, so he didn’t care if she saw him tenting his clothes. In fact he gestured to his arousal and shook his head. She laughed.

Oh, well, that can’t be good. What were you doing?

Thinking of kissing Thealla. I met her earlier in the day.

Oooh. I remember you talking about her when we saw everyone’s pics. Is she still your number one pick for a hottie hookup?

Kian laughed. A hottie hookup?

Shaunessey shrugged. I read romance novels from every realm. So is she?

I’m interested in more than just a hookup. Although if she wasn’t I suppose I’d be amenable to something casual. I just... I find myself drawn to her.

I love it. Sexy and sweet times on the horizon. Well, best of luck with it. I don’t see any reason she wouldn’t want to be with you.

Thank you, but many on the Earthen realm have met our Fae brethren and developed a bad opinion of us.

So true. Or even just heard about how most Fae present themselves in this realm. I can’t stand that feeling of superiority. We’re not better than the people of the Earthen realm. Of course, half the Fae think they’re better than the other half of the Fae. She rolled her eyes.

Kian felt abruptly guilty over the difference between his circumstances and Shaunessey’s. His family were rich aristocrats, and though his parents could be snobbish, they weren’t cruel. Shaunessey had been born to poverty with abusive parents. She’d started working as a teenager and moved out on her own, struggling financially. When moving this week she’d needed the furniture Congress provided to shades and off-realmers since she had very little of her own. In contrast, Kian had to leave half his things in the Fae realm.

While Kian had the best tutors to educate him, Shaunessey attended underfunded state schools. No wonder she wanted to make a career on the Earthen realm. There was literally nothing for her in the Fae realm.

Kian’s desire to live and work in this realm had nothing to do with lack of choices. He’d always been fascinated by the Earthen realm. While he knew they had a class system, too, it didn’t seem as pronounced as the system in the Fae realm. For instance, he and Shaunessey had spent the past year doing the same job for different provinces. She’d been paid barely enough to scrape by whereas he made three times her salary. The difference wasn’t their work ethic, rather that he came from a higher class. He found that spectacularly unfair. Here on the Earthen realm, they’d make the same amount of money.

I’m sorry you had to struggle for so long there, Kian said. I hope that you’re able to stay here and have a better life.

I hope the same for you, Shaunessey said with a smile.

My life was already good. Not entirely true, but how could he complain when he’d been so blessed compared to her?

She gave him a shrewd look. I know you weren’t happy, Kian. Just because you had material things doesn’t mean you had a good life.

"If I had