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Daniel’s checking the cormorant nests when it happens. All the eggs look healthy and he’s spotted the parents, heading off for food most likely. He’s making notes on his phone when he hears a red kite’s cry. He hasn’t spotted one all season so he turns, raising his phone to get evidence for Michelle who keeps saying Monaco can’t claim there’s kites on shore if no one’s ever tagged one or published a photo.
He’s grinning thinking about the sweary response his photo will get, his feet moving automatically to follow the bird's beautiful flight, when his ankle hits something and he looks down to see...
He’s disturbed a fairy ring.
Fucking hell . He steps outside its limits instantly, not wondering how he missed the white wild mushrooms because everything’s gloriously overgrown underfoot. It’s why he loves this bit of Monaco and why he comes here weekly to map it out more and more in terms of wildlife and what’s changed. It’s one of his favourite parts of the job.
The ground is already shaking. He doesn’t try to run because the fae that’s about to visit him is already gonna be pissed. He stays where he is, phone tucked back in his pocket, heartbeat thundering, fucking hating himself for missing such a basic step like checking underfoot.
There’s a snap, a feeling of pressure in the atmosphere like rain’s about to fall. Then there’s a tall fae standing inside the fairy ring with a face like thunder and a body like...well, a body and a face that makes Daniel’s jaw full-on drop.
He’s met Fae before, accidentally and on purpose, and resisting a hypnotising glamour is always part of the experience. This doesn’t feel like the druggy zone-out of a glamour though, this is just wow, breath-taking. The fae appears male, he’s tall and lean and muscled, wearing only a strip of deep-blue cloth that could maybe generously be called shorts. The fae’s skin is marked all over with dark-green runes, one covers almost half his face, and his eyes are intense and furious. Daniel has a dry mouth because he can’t say this fae is beautiful, the fae's features don’t add up to beauty. Instead, everything is sharp, angled and dangerous . He looks younger than Daniel too but that doesn’t mean shit.
He’s got a long bow hitched over one shoulder and a quiver of arrows strapped across his back. Yep, very dangerous and Daniel can’t stop staring. Fuck, he’s never been this kind of struck by a fae before.
The fae’s eyes are burning murderously though and he hisses, “You dare disturb us, human.”
Daniel swallows and bows his head deeply, hands folded across his heart, “I swear by the name given to me, the name I own and that owns me, it was an honest mistake. I swear I’m sorry.”
The words roll off his tongue easily, he’s been trained since childhood (despite the rookie mistake that brought this fae to the surface) but he fucking hopes he sounds as sincere as he feels. Fae hate lies and liars.
“What name is that?”
Daniel shakes his head, looking up now. Yup, the fae is still dangerously hot. “Not one I give out lightly, fair one.”
Fae also use names to bind and destroy. And Daniel really isn’t as stupid as he seems right now. The fae tilts his head slightly but doesn’t look any more murderous. Maybe he’s testing Daniel, maybe he’ll disappear now and never come back. Daniel’s stomach drops and he’s got the vital urge to say something, anything, to make the fae stay.
The fae speaks instead, eyes slightly narrowed, “You call this land home?”
“Yeah, and despite my recent disrespect, I work for the Bureau.”
The fae looks disbelieving now, “You fail in your work.”
“Not usually. I swear, I’ll bring you a proper tribute to make up for this.”
The fae’s gaze flicks over him, it’s quick as a dragonfly but Daniel catches it and his mouth starts to faintly curve because there’s a chance the fae was checking him out instead of just measuring him for burial. Daniel knows how it feels to be checked out, whatever the biology behind it. The jaw-drop feeling ramps back up immediately but the fae speaks first.
“Before the sun sets.”
Then he disappears as quickly as he arrived, with the same pressurised snap. Daniel stares at the empty fairy ring for a long moment. There was definitely a fae there, Daniel didn't imagine the whole thing. He’s let Daniel live, until Daniel brings him a tribute. Fae games and punishment in effect obviously, much kinder than Daniel deserves, considering his unbelievable blunder. The fae checked him out.
His insides are feeling kinda on fire now and he’s really not interested in cooling down. He remembers to grab his phone when it hits him how little time he has. Adrenaline kicks up sharp because he’s got to impress a fae when his freedom could be on the line or worse. There’s a delicate peace between the people of Monaco and the fae that have been there for centuries, and it all hinges on both sides obeying vital cultural rules. So there’s a possibility Daniel could have caused an international incident, depending on how vengeful the fae is feeling. That’s the focus, not the fae’s insane hotness.
He messages Michael, Upset a fairy ring. Got to make proper tribute before sunset.
The answer is immediate, Checklist.
It’s 4pm local time.
Confirmed.
Photo of what I can see. Monaco woodland, should be a cormorant nest to the right.
Confirmed.
No light-headedness. Energy’s good.
Everything gets confirmed and Daniel jingles his free hand in his shorts pocket, finding tiger-eye beads and half an energy bar. That's definitely not a proper tribute.
He's the hottest Fae I've ever seen. No glamour.
Because Daniel has only now told Michael how gorgeous the fae is. If he was under Fae glamour, he wouldn't be able to talk about anything else.
Is this an Uncle Den or a cousin Tyler situation?
Uncle Den spent a decade hanging out with a fae but didn't end up cursed after. He still gets birthday gifts from her and she's sworn to bless his kids and line after. Tyler's a jackass who got whammied for a year after disrespecting a fae by hitting on them.
Aiming for Uncle D.
Even before he finishes typing, Daniel’s decided he isn’t joking. He doesn’t want presenting a tribute to the fae to be it. He’s got that feeling again to do some desperate shit to get the fae to stick around. It’s like paddling out and knowing the waves can carry you anywhere.
If I don’t hear from you 2 hours after you set out with the tribute, I’m calling the Monaco Bureau. Don’t jump off any cliffs. Be safe.
You too.
Michael knows. Daniel grins, he’s aimed for the biggest waves to surf and the furthest rock faces to climb since he knew how to deal with mermaids and nixies. He's used to seeing their sharp teeth when they snap out of the water, close enough sometimes for him to hear them hiss.
He sends a message to HQ about the location of the fairy ring and takes a lot of photos for the database. Then he heads away and into town to get what he needs. He’s got ideas already. He regularly leaves tributes in the garden behind his flat, in hope that any fae nearby don’t have reason to twist him into a game that’ll take years off his life. He likes riding a rush, but he’s not an idiot. This has got to be a really special tribute though.
He runs home to grab stuff, then raids his favourite shops and the ones that are cheap for Monaco, touristy places. Perfect. Daniel never half-arses a tribute - again, not an idiot - but he’s determined that this is gonna be the best one he’s done yet.
He gets back up to the fairy ring and makes sure there’s no litter to clear up first. The sun is starting to set, there’s orange bleeding across the blue sky, shining through the sails of boats out on the water below. Daniel arranges his tribute close to the fairy ring but not touching it. He makes sure of that. He’s still kneeling by it, adjusting a cluster of sea-green beads, when there’s that snapping noise and he grins down at his tribute, anticipation shimmering through him. Fuck, this can’t be the last time.
He looks up quickly, not wanting the fae to think he’s being disrespectful or that he doesn’t like looking at the fae. Yep, the fae is still gorgeous and still armed. The fae approaches as though Daniel isn’t there, so Daniel decides to stay on his knees. It’s not necessary but it might sweeten the tribute and honestly, the view is great from down there. The fae's got serious thighs.
The fae is concentrating on the tribute - there's two bottles of the sweetest orange juice Daniel could find, honey cakes freed from their wrappings, piles of cheap beads arranged to match the changing colours of the sky, and a couple of old bracelets he used to wear, narrow strips of leather braid adorned with some tarnished trinkets.
Daniel is actually pretty nervous, kneeling there beside everything, hands resting on his tattooed thigh. He doesn’t get nervous, but he is, and his mouth is so dry. He messaged an update to Michael before he came back to the fairy ring, saying he was still good and still sure this wasn't a glamour.
The fae nods, running curious fingers over the bracelets, and Daniel feels pride blooming in his chest. He’s never felt that around a fae before. Fuck, this and the adrenaline? He wants this again, forever probably.
“Your tribute is accepted,” the fae says shortly, glancing over Daniel like he did before, checking Daniel out for sure this time.
The fae turns away then, like the glance is all Daniel’s getting and this could be it . Daniel gets to his feet, heart pounding, tongue licking dry lips. It’s a wave about to carry him safe or throw him under.
“Can I have something like your name? Please?” he asks quickly, in case the fae’s gonna pop away without saying anything.
The fae turns back, eyes narrowed, the air pressure around Daniel feels very tight suddenly and he stays very purposefully still.
“You seek to bind me?”
“No! I swear, by my name. I want to…” Daniel licks his lips again and the fae’s eyes track the movement. That’s fucking awesome, but right now the fae’s needs to hear the absolute truth, even if it gets Daniel sliced or worse. He can’t think Daniel’s hiding anything, “I want to see you again.”
The fae doesn’t look any less pissed off, “You want to summon me.”
“Not for any binding. I’d like to see you again. I can leave more tributes, I want to make sure they get to you .”
Something changes in the fae’s expression. It doesn’t get softer but he looks like he’s weighing Daniel up, not lining him up for a drop. Daniel smiles, wide and warm, it’s how he feels when he looks at the fae, it’s how much he wants to look at the fae and know him.
The fae nods again, the movement is decisive, “They will.”
There’s another rapid look over Daniel, then he’s gone. Daniel breathes out and laughs, thrilled, adrenaline flooding him. He socks the air and can’t stop grinning. As he messages Michael to say he’s fine, he’s okay, he’s got a date, he notes with his grin getting bigger that his tribute has disappeared with the fae.
///
Daniel researches the shit out of Monaco fae tribes. He's fairly sure he knows all he needs to for his job but this is different. He doesn't want to give the fae any reason to never turn up again. He grins thinking about the fae, his heart does a bump-bump rhythm it never does when he's scaling a rock face or diving off the top into the sea. It's just as addictive though.
He spends a lot of hours away from work foraging for and buying what he needs for tributes. He makes them every night before turning in. There's always sweet food and drink and beads - Daniel's bought a lot in bulk - and whatever else he can find that might please the fae. He changes it up each night.
He has a lot of fun with the beads. He makes them into mosaic patterns, animals a lot of the time. He makes an amazing dolphin, and a red kite, because him trying to snap a photo of that bird started all this. The wings are a bit wonky but it’s definitely a red kite. Daniel makes sure there’s eggs included at the bird’s clawed feet.
He still goes diving and surfing and climbing, he still rides his bike down steep hills and tries to escalate the jumps he’s trying out. He still gets a rush from it all. But he’s seeing things differently in Monaco now. He sees the lines of the fae’s body and face in the land, he wonders if the fae enjoys swimming.
He thinks he sees the fae in the water sometimes, nowhere near any mermaids. It’s like a reflection when there’s no one there but Daniel.
He takes to sitting out in the garden where he leaves tributes, his bare feet settled in the grass. It’s not nearly as hot as back home but in the summer he goes shirtless, threading beads onto string for bracelet tributes. He makes a bunch for his family too, painting protection and good fortune runes on some of the beads. Creativity in tributes might not be rewarded but Daniel feels like he’s putting more of himself into them that way and that’s definitely what he’s aiming for.
The tributes are always gone in the morning. He thinks about the fae looking at them, touching them, that’s when Daniel needs to take a moment. Not outside, obviously. He waits until he’s in his flat to get a hand around his cock, thinking about strong fae fingers, a hissing voice in his ear, breath against his face, no, against the back of his neck, his ear. Then that mouth. Daniel moans, his cock hot and hard and getting harder as he thrusts into his fingers, thinking about someone else’s.
It doesn’t take long to chase down that feeling, heat surging through him, the sound of tree branches scraping against the window. After, when Daniel opens his eyes again, smiling and still hot, it’s all quiet outside. Daniel likes to think the fae watches, like maybe there’s another reflection he doesn’t see, this time outside the glass. Lying there, panting, Daniel waves towards the window.
///
It’s an evening Daniel’s spent watching the barn owls. He loves seeing them fly, their moon-faces and amazing silent wings, hovering through the inky darkness. He loves hearing them hoot too, he hooted all the way home and continues hooting now while setting out his latest tribute.
By the time he hangs a mobile that drips strands of mismatched stained glass, it’s starting to rain. It’s light to begin with, kissing Daniel’s bare shoulders. He hasn’t bothered pulling a shirt on, it’s still warm out and he loves the contrast. Rain in Monaco is the best, especially at night. It’s magic time, seeing all the water come down, making house and street lights look like they’re part of the streams. Everything feels closer in the rainy darkness.
Daniel wonders if his fae likes the rain.
He sits under the little roof that shelters the building’s back door, closes his eyes and hoots into the night. He hopes the owls already got their hunting done because the rain sounds like it’s getting heavier.
When he opens his eyes again, the fae is standing close by, staring down at Daniel. Daniel’s heartbeat leaps this time and he can’t stop grinning. Fuck, the rush is even stronger than he remembers. There’s rain running down the fae’s practically naked body, the cloth around his pelvis soaked yet somehow staying put. His rune tattoos stand out more. His stare down at Daniel is a total lack of comprehension.
“You are hooting at nobody.”
Daniel has to make a really strong effort not to smirk something about who he’d like to hoot and holler at. He doesn’t squash the smirk but he does dip his head respectfully.
“I’d rather talk to you,” is what he says.
The fae looks at him assessingly and Daniel realises, with a gut-punch jolt of hot happiness, that the fae is wearing one of Daniel’s leather bracelets with rusted charms around his left ankle. Daniel stares and then smirks even more. The fae is wearing one of the first tributes Daniel ever left for him. That definitely means something.
“Why?” the fae asks at last, his expression intent.
“I like talking to you.”
It’s that simple, to start with. The fae’s look of incomprehension gets stronger. Does no other fae like to just chat with this one? There’s no way the Fae in general can fail to see how hot he is.
“You talk to all fae like this?”
Daniel shakes his head and slowly gets to his feet. He likes looking up at the fae but he wants to get a different angle now. He can look the fae in the eye and admire his jawline almost up close, but Daniel is very careful to stay out of the fae’s personal space. In no way does he want the fae thinking Daniel’s challenging him.
The fae looks totally at home, in the rain. Daniel’s first impression of the fae was the smell before a thunderstorm. The fae raises an eyebrow, right, he’s waiting for an answer.
“No, not usually.”
The fae looks him over. It’s more of a drag than a quick glance this time and Daniel feels the heat of it. Fucking hell. His hands twitch but he stays still, his own gaze fixed on the fae. The fae’s eyes are incredibly dark now.
“Rain suits you,” Daniel tells him.
The fae holds his gaze, then looks around the garden, eyes fixing on the tribute. Daniel watches as the fae goes to inspect it, the stained glass trembling when the fae splays fingers through it. Daniel can’t speak, his tongue somehow silent now. It wasn’t a line, the fae looks right out there in the rain, like he could be part of the garden come to life.
Daniel’s hands slide into his pockets, oh, he nearly forgot, “There’s this too.”
He holds out a bead bracelet - black interspersed with forest green, painted with runes. The fae walks back towards Daniel, his steps are absolutely sure, his bare feet are muddy. Daniel’s breath pretty much stills in his throat.
He’s still holding it when the fae takes the bracelet from him. There’s no contact but Daniel still feels like his feet should be hovering off the ground. The fae looks at the bracelet and nods, turning like the darkness is about to swallow him up.
“How do I know other fae aren’t taking my tributes?” Daniel asks quickly, anything to stop that turn.
He sees the fae’s sharpened teeth as the fae smiles. It’s terrifying and glorious . Daniel’s feet have that left-the-ground feeling again.
“None would dare,” the fae replies.
He’s still smiling when he and the tribute disappear and Daniel’s cock is half-hard in his shorts. The thunder starts up not long after.
///
He messages Michael regularly.
I’m still alive :)
Tributes?
Left and taken daily.
Runed your flat?
Yes. Refreshed every weekend.
In love with your fae?
Probably.
Stay above ground.
///
The fae is the last thing on Daniel’s mind one evening when he meets a wolf outside the Alpha Wolf Sanctuary. The fact the wolf’s out isn’t the biggest issue, the fact it’s clearly a werewolf and near tourist trails and snarling aggressively is. Daniel calls it in immediately but that gets the wolf’s attention.
Daniel holds up his hands, heart hammering because werewolves are really hard to predict, especially this close to a full moon. It’s late enough for the moon to be out and for the sky to be navy blue and Daniel has no backup whatsoever. He has to hope this werewolf isn’t feral or one that only sees humans as prey.
The wolf leaps at him and Daniel runs. He hasn’t brought his car, his only option is to find somewhere he can stay safe until the werewolf either loses interest or can’t get to him. His mind whirls, where can he go? He’s far from town, the trees nearby aren’t climbers. There isn’t much he can do but keep running, his heart pounding in his ears.
He can hear the wolf gaining on him, then there’s a sudden burning smell and a snarl. But the sound of the chase behind him has stopped. Daniel chances a look back over his shoulder and woah . He stops running.
The wolf is growling but it’s not close to Daniel, because the fae is standing between the two of them. He’s got an arrow notched to his long bow and aimed at the wolf. He’s hissing in his own language. Daniel stays where he is, heart still pounding, heat launching through him. He’s got a great view of the fae’s back, all lean muscles and rune tattoos. He’s trying to get his breath back but the view isn’t helping.
“He’s mine,” the fae is hissing, furiously.
The wolf snarls and the fae spits back before adding something about markings? “He will be. He’s mine , moon-stealer.”
The wolf snarls even louder, the sound breaking into a whine when the fae fires an arrow that barely misses a front paw. The wolf turns tail then and runs, the fae stares after it, his body tense, until there’s no sign of the wolf at all. Then he turns to Daniel.
Honestly, Daniel has no clue what to say. Fuck, how far did he run? How did the fae know he was in trouble? But then the fae is storming towards him, grabbing hold of Daniel’s shirt and shoving him up against the nearest tree. The next moment, his mouth is on Daniel’s, demanding and claiming.
“Mine,” the fae growls, the moment he stops the kiss, his body pressed up hard against Daniel’s.
Daniel is nodding before he even speaks, “Fuck, yes, I’m yours.”
The fae kisses him again and Daniel feels the needle-points of the fae’s teeth sinking into his bottom lip. The fae’s hands are grasping past Daniel’s clothes and then Daniel’s feet really do leave the ground. He gasps, feels solid earth and thick soft moss suddenly meet his back, the fae stretching out on top of him. Wherever they are, they’re still above ground. They haven’t moved far. Daniel can’t hear anyone.
Everything’s a blur after that. The fae does something and then all of Daniel’s clothes disappear. The fae is naked too and Daniel groans, hips bucking when he feels how hard the fae is. The fae is really strong, he easily pins Daniel to the ground and Daniel loves it - all that strength and it’s focused on him. Daniel really wants to trace the fae’s runes and know what they all mean. He wants to ask all the questions he's been trained never to ask.
The fae mutters in his own language and strokes at Daniel's thighs. Suddenly Daniel is wet and open and fuck, the fae is pushing into him. The pace is punishing and all Daniel can do is wrap his legs around the fae’s waist and try to match his rhythm. It feels fucking great. The fae is growling and muttering and digging his sharp fingernails into Daniel’s chest and shoulders, leaving trails of sharp pain behind. Is Daniel going to be marked after this? That’s so fucking hot.
Daniel loses track of how long it takes before he’s coming, the fae’s hand around his cock. It’s a searing wave of pleasure, even better than Daniel imagined. He rides it for as long as he can, his body bucking to get every last moment. The fae is snarling now and bites Daniel’s shoulder, hips shoving harder than ever.
By the time they slow down completely, the owls are out and hooting.
Daniel smiles faintly. The fae has slid out of him but is exploring Daniel’s body really thoroughly with those sharp teeth. Daniel’s got an amazing collection of bite marks across his chest and throat as well as the bite in his shoulder, he hopes they all last for weeks. He hopes the fae wants to come back and refresh them.
Very slowly, Daniel touches the fae’s shoulder. The skin is cool and smooth, even across the tattoos. The fae stills and looks at him sharply, but doesn’t stop him as Daniel carefully continues exploring the fae’s body. The fae doesn’t exactly lean into the touch, but he does shift a bit when Daniel hits certain areas - bottom ribs, biceps, pecs. Daniel files that away for a hopeful later.
He finds that the fae is wearing Daniel’s bead bracelet around his ankle, next to the leather one. Daniel grins, especially when the fae curls his leg up so that Daniel can spend some time brushing his fingers against beads and skin.
They kiss again, slow and deep this time but just as claiming. Daniel could stay there all night, he’s not cold at all, blanketed by a fae that makes him feel hot and happy. This isn’t the rush of riding a wave, it’s the sea lapping at his feet as he walks through low tide, the sky a fantasy of pink and orange.
Daniel wraps his arms around the fae, nuzzling soft hair that smells of honey and fire lilies. The fae doesn’t feel tense, he tongues the marks he’s left on Daniel’s chest, sounds that Daniel decides to class as possessive rumbling out of his chest. Daniel hopes he’s right, it’s awesome. So is the soreness of the fae’s bites. Fuck, he doesn’t wanna lose that feeling.
“Daniel,” he says suddenly, decision made. “My name’s Daniel.”
The fae looks up at him for a long moment, fingers skating over Daniel’s chest, then pressing one of the tender spots, making Daniel bite off a breath with a sigh.
That’s when the fae says something really complicated but the end sounds like, “Max?” Daniel tries.
The edges of the fae’s mouth flicker up and then he’s gone. Daniel takes a deep breath and notices, oh, his clothes are piled up beside him. Phone, keys and wallet are all present. Daniel’s shoulder aches like a bitch, did the fae draw blood there? Wow. His chest and neck feel insane. He can’t stop grinning as an owl passes overhead. Max.
///
Daniel doesn’t tell anyone except Michael and even then he just says things are progressing, after passing another glamour check. He doesn’t say anything at all to his family. He reports the werewolf encounter at work and says the wolf got distracted by something else instead of hunting him down. Everyone tells Daniel he’s lucky and he bloody knows it, not just for his escape either. He loves touching the marks across his chest and shoulder, especially when he’s got his other hand around his cock and fuck, that’s fantastic. He still hears the tree branches against the window, he always waves after. He says Max’s name sometimes too.
Daniel doesn’t get bound or anything so Max hasn’t used his name as a weapon. Maybe he hasn’t told anyone either. This is just theirs. Daniel’s heart bump-bumps a lot.
He keeps leaving tributes. He makes a really big one that weekend, it’s mostly a mosaic. It isn’t an animal. It’s a forest scene, he pops an owl in there too. It takes him a few hours, he uses beads of all shapes and sizes, smiling as he finishes, kneeling in the grass. It’s got to be the best tribute he’s ever made.
There’s a pressurised snap and Max appears beside him. He isn’t armed this time, though Daniel doesn’t doubt the fae’s ability to throw down if he needs to.
“Max.”
“Daniel.”
Fuck, it’s really good hearing the fae say his name. Daniel can’t help grinning. He goes to stand but Max gestures for him to stay kneeling by the tribute instead. Oh really? Daniel smirks, eyes fixed on the gorgeous fae who knows his name and has marked his body but hasn’t used anything against him. He doesn’t think Max’s runes have changed but Daniel’s going to have a really good look at them to check anyway, just in case.
Daniel can read approval in the lines of Max’s face.
“The first time I collected your tribute, you sat like this. I almost asked if you were part of the offering.”
The fae’s hand grazes Daniel’s cheek, then gets firm there. Daniel presses into the touch, more sure he won’t be destroyed now he’s got a bite mark in his shoulder that matches Max’s teeth. Max’s eyes go dark and sure enough, his teeth go on show, which definitely raises Daniel’s temperature, especially when Max’s fingers travel to press at the shoulder bite mark and then touch the marks on Daniel’s throat. There’s that possessive little growl again.
Daniel’s eyes close as he savours the ache, inside and out. He’s on the cliff face again, he’s hoping to hit the waves.
“I am,” he says.
He touches the fae’s knee in front of him, the shin, the foot. He smiles, kissing his own fingers and pressing them to a sharp fae ankle bone, then to the bracelets he finds there. There’s a sound like the whip of a bowstring. Then powerful hands dig into his arms and haul him up and close, a mouth hungrily taking his. It feels like it should be raining.