His Second Chance Mate

Chapter One

(Present Day- Human Realm)

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**LINCOLN POV**

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“Peanut butter, bread, maybe some ice cream, eggs, Ramen, hmmm, muffin mix? Banana bread muffin mix!….”

“Are you really eating Ramen, again, tonight?” my coworker, Kerri, drawls out, stepping in behind me to clock out from our shift. “I know your tips are just as good as mine… I think you can afford something better…”

I shake my head, knowing I was talking out loud… yet again. At least everyone here is used to it by now. “Quite possibly. Don’t hate. I love that shit,” I giggle out while switching from those horrid heels to comfortable tennis shoes.

She takes off her apron and pulls out a wad of cash, counting her tips. “Or… you can come with all of us to get drinks and let loose?”

I sigh out loud. She’s been inviting me out every weekend for the past year since we started working together, even though I tell her no each and every time. “I’m okay. Plus, I really need to go to the store.”

We each grab our purses on and she links her arm through mine as if we were best friends. Don’t get me wrong, she’s great, possibly my ‘best coworker friend’, but that’s it for me. “Oh, come on Lin! We’ve worked with each other for ages now! It won’t kill you to have fun once in awhile!” We walk out of the changing room and through the posh restaurant we work at, telling everyone bye in the process.

Once outside in the full polluted air, we steer the way to the subway station. The streets are always packed this time of night, especially on a Saturday, so it’s going to be a minute before we can actually get there. Too many slow walkers. “I do have fun, but you know I don’t like going out… too many people.”

She looks at me with a snobbish sneer, but shrugs her shoulders. “You’ll never get a boyfriend with that attitude. Even Kevin wants to get all up in your honeypot, and he’s hella gorgeous!”

I laugh, thinking of the chef at work who truly has heart eyes for me, but I just can’t seem to find to feel anything towards him… or anyone else. “He’s sweet, but not my type.”

“Well then, tell me your type, so I can set you up girl!!” A few people look back at us and I awkwardly laugh as we descend the stairs to the tunnels. A left turn then a right, and we are standing among the crowd. Hopefully we will be able to push through them once the railcar comes up.

Shifting my feet side to side, trying to avoid the smell of body odors and perfumes, and still trying to get my thoughts on getting chicken or beef ramen, Kerri suddenly jerks my arm down. “Oh, look Lin!! A pretty blue bird!” My stomach drops as I instantly turn my head into the direction she’s pointing at. “I’ve never seen one in the city! I hope it’s not lost!”

“….yea,” I say softly, staring into its bright beady eyes. I want to say that it was just coincidence, but there’s no such thing. The blue is too vibrant and familiar. Everyone sees a regular bird, perched on the black iron, possibly lost and searching for a nest to hide away in…

I see the magic attempting to call me back home….

I take my eyes off of it, not wanting to believe it to be true. Even as we step over the threshold on the jampacked tram, I can still feel it’s pull of magic. It’s been years since I’ve been home, or since I’ve seen that bird, but what used to be happiness to go back, is now filled with a void.

Home? That’s a funny word. The human realm has been my home for over 20 years. There’s no reason for me to be summoned back.

Kerri and I split ways- her stop coming before mine. She once again tried to get me to come out to the club, but I kindly decline, yet again. I make my way to the Smart Mart and pick up a few groceries. As I meddle around the apples, I feel it on my shoulder. I try to ignore the slight weight that’s been added, and even shrug in the process, but to no avail. I look up and around, but everyone is in their own world, then I turn my head slightly as the blue bird cocks it’s head to the side. The eyes twinkle with magic, knowing its quest to follow me until I give in. I quickly swat it off and rush through to the check out.

It’s only a few more blocks to my apartment, but I can feel it following me, flying from tree branches to phone wires, to taxi cabs. I shake my head no to it- why? I don’t know. Maybe some part of me thinks my mother can see me from the other side, seeing how I don’t want to go, but I know she can’t.

Once I make it to the inside of my apartment, I put the groceries on the floor and press my back to the door. With my eyes closed, I take long and deep breaths. Yoga has definitely taught me some good tricks to calm my mind down over the last decade, but this sudden appearance is threatening my emotions to stir.

I am not from this world. The ‘enchanted’ and humans don’t generally mix. Most Enchanted’s like to live openly, and not hide from what they are, which is why they mostly stay in their own realm. I, on the other hand, am neither enchanted, nor human.

My mother is a powerful witch- Lady Amelia Carroway. When her parents died, she had a last ‘hoorah’ before she took over her title and position. She came to the human world to let off some steam, and wouldn’t you know? Ended getting pregnant with me. It was quite the scandal.

By the time I was two years old, she and other witches performed tests on me, to see if I carried any magical traits, but alas, none. She thought it was best for me to be raised with my own kind, knowing I would be the weakest in her world. I was sent to the human world with my nanny, Ms. Gunther, who descended from Ogres but could pass off as human easily enough.

Of course, at that age, whatever routine I had, I found normal. Mom and my sister would come to visit me several times a year, and when they would have time to let me come home, she always sent a blue bird to let me know. I used to be so excited. I loved the Enchanted realm- watching magic unfold, playing with fairies and gnomes. Running with nymphs. I wasn’t even scared of the vampires and werewolves that came to have meetings with my mother.

But, as I got older, the visits were less frequent, and I started feeling more alone. I was teased relentlessly because of my views on ‘fairytales’ and because of my looks. I was the weird girl, not belonging to any world.

And then I turned 16. Just days after my birthday, I got really sick. I ended up in the hospital and had to stay there for weeks. None of the doctors could figure out what was wrong with me and passed it off as extreme pneumonia.

My mom and sister never came.

And the blue birds stopped appearing.

That was 10 years ago.

I would get letters from them every now and then, but the ties were cut. I was alone. Ms. Gunther was great to me and provided me with as much happiness as one could have with an estranged magical family and being a social outcast in the human world. When I got a job after high school and was able to provide for my own self, I told her she could go back home, knowing she missed it.

I’ve been on my own ever since. So why in the hell would they want me back now? It makes no sense!

I put my groceries away, with a little more force than necessary, and decide that a nice hot shower will be the perfect end to my night. My apartment isn’t the best, so when I turn the water on, I know it’ll be at least five minutes before it reaches maximum heat.

I look in the mirror at my reflection, and pull my ungodly thick, unforgiving curly hair out of its pony tail. I take the contact out of my right eye and really gaze into the reflection. This is another reason why I don’t belong in either realm. My left eye matches the one of my ancestry- the deep blue just normal enough to pass off as human. But my right eye is a totally different story, with a soft orangey color- almost that of fall leaves, encircled with a bright emerald green rim.

No one has my eyes, in either world. All the more to be considered a freak.

“You know, you could break that mirror with the evil glare you’re giving it…”

“JESUS CHRIST!” I grab my chest as I turn around, holding the heart attack at bay. “TINK! How many times to I have to tell you not to do that!”

She sits on top of my toilet smirking at me. “Keeps you on your toes, you dork.”

I glare as I move to shut the water off. Guess the shower can wait. “I’m not going,” I huff out.

“Hence the whole reason I am here, my very, very, very best friend,” she says with that stupid fairy smile that’s a cross between terror and mischief. The iridescent sheen on her skin sparkles under the bathroom florescent light as she gets up to hug me, which I wholeheartedly embrace and return.

Tink is a fae (obvious by the slightly pointed ears), and currently works in the Carroway household. She’s also my only true friend. Her mother worked there before her, and we are pretty close in age and would see each other often. And when I had to move to the human realm, she started sneaking over into this realm whenever she could. She never once judged me for my human-ness and I love her for that. After my family abandoned me, she’s been the only constant connection to the magical world I have.

It also makes me smile that her name is Tink. I still haven’t told her about the human’s most beloved fairy. “Coffee?”

“OOO YES!” She jumps up and immediately sifts, leaving me in the bathroom alone. By the time I make it to the kitchen, she’s already got the machine running and spraying down my countertops.

“Don’t clean my kitchen,” I groan out.

“I’m a brownie, what do you expect? Plus, your counters are disgusting, Lincoln. How the hell can you live like this?”

“Very easily actually.” I smile brightly at her when she shoots me a glare. Her whole life is about cleaning, and she just can’t help herself. One time when she came to visit and I wasn’t here, I came home to a literal sparkling floor and she said it still wasn’t good enough.

Once the coffee is done, she grabs us both a cup while I get the creamer. She sits at the table, pushing my cup closer while I pour a good amount of creamer in hers. After I give myself a splash, I take the creamer back to the fridge. “You’re doing it again..…” she singsongs.

I turn around and mentally scold myself as I watch a spoon from the drawer float to my coffee cup and settle in, stirring ever so gracefully. Once I sit down, the spoon comes to a halt. “Sorry…. habit.”

“And when you come back home… what happens with this ‘habit’?” Tink says, taking a long sip and eyeing me for an appropriate answer.

“Easy….. if I don’t go home, no one can find out,” I state as if that was a no brainer.

Not sure on why or how, but about three years ago, I started developing powers. Witches are born with magic, and can cast as soon as age 10, so I accepted a long time ago that I was just human.

Imagine my surprise.

It started out small, with lights flickering when I was upset or objects moving about. When I finally got the courage to tell Tink about it, she helped smuggle books in from my mother’s library so I could learn more, and she taught me how channel the magic safely. It helps out immensely that I have a eidetic memory- that way, Tink could take the books back as soon as I read them. It’s also the reason why I’m a waitress for a high-end restaurant- people give great tips when you memorize everything they ask for.

So, I’ve been studying by myself for years, practicing when I can. Tink helps the best of her ability- talking with me about my emotions and how to channel, but she doesn’t share the type of magic I have, so it is what it is.

“Do you even want to know the reason why she wants you back?”

I roll my eyes. “It doesn’t matter.” She gives me a long, sympathetic look, one that causes my anger bubble to break, then I let out a loud sigh. “Fine, why, after ten years, does she want me to come home?”

“The summer solstice festival starts this week.”

“Annndd?”

“Annnndd…. Your family was chosen to host it,” she says with a cheeky grin.

My eyes almost bulge out of my head. That’s a huge fucking honor. I’ve only been to one solstice festival, when I was like 7, and it was in the troll kingdom- courtesy of Ms. Gunther escorting me. Usually, only royals hold such events. If mother was asked to do it, she must have high praises from the Queen’s council. “What does that have to do with me?” I ask, as I gather our cups and put them into the sink, feeling for the first time a sense of longing, and that scares me.

I feel Tink’s hand on my shoulder and I turn around to look into her soft lavender eyes. I’ve always loved the fae’s eyes. They all shared the same trait of soft mocha, shimmery skin, but each class of fae had a brilliance variety of eye colors.

Plus, hers matched.

“Despite everything, Lin… you’re still part of the Carroway name. Your mom wants you there, next to your sister. You belong with them as presenters.” I feel a tinge of years and years worth of hurt. Part of the Carroway name. Since when do they want me a part of them? “Plus, if you come back, you can totally sneak into the library and grab a hold of your family’s grimoires. I know you’re dying to take a peek.”

I give a half smile, knowing she’s right. Those are the only books Tink can’t touch. This would be the perfect opportunity to read through the histories, to see if there is such thing as delayed magic. I shake my head as reality checks in. “Tink,” I say with a defeated voice. “You know how time works. If I go there, for even a day, who knows what I’ll come back to and how long time will pass. I have a decent job, bills, a plant for crying out loud!” I dramatically throw my arms up. “She really can’t expect me to just drop everything in my life, like I had to do on multiple occasions growing up, come back, and start fresh somewhere brand new because people think I went missing?!”

I turn around and Tink still has that sympathetic look. She knows how the time between worlds works. To her, we probably saw each other yesterday, but it’s been almost a month for me. “I kinda want you back too,” she says quietly, looking down at her feet.

I almost, almost roll my eyes. “Guilt trip? Really?” She’s trying so damn hard not to smile and look sad and I rub my temples from the impending headache. “How long will I have to stay?”

She immediately brightens up and practically jumps for joy towards me. “It’s a week long! And you probably won’t have to stay for the whole thing! We can do all the activities together, eat all the junk food in the kitchen, run down the halls like we used to, and-“

“Stop, stop,” I laugh, holding her still to one spot. I really, really want to read more spell books, and part of me- the part of my heart that always belonged in the Enchanted realm- wants to go back and just have that carefree feeling of ‘happiness’ again. But everything always comes with a price. “Okay, tell her I’ll come.”

“What have I been reduced to? Messenger? I’m a simple house elf,” she whines with a smile.

I chuckle. “Should I give you clothes to set you free?”

“Huh? I already have clothes.”

“Ugh, nevermind…. I’m doing this for you, not her….”

“Yay! Then we can really have a sleepover!! We haven’t done that in years!” She claps her hands excitedly, but I grab a shoulder and point my finger so she knows I mean business.

“Absolutely no talking about me having magic!”

“My lips are sealed.” She slides her fingers as if she’s zipping her lips, then pulls out the portal key. “I’ll see you in a bit Lin! I’m so excited!” She rushes up to me in a hug, then places the key into the wall. And just like that, she’s gone.

The quiet apartment feels dull and lifeless without her. I grab a clumpy pillow from my couch and plop down, resting my head and feeling the effects of what I just agreed to. My family are practically strangers now. For the past ten years, I’ve barely gotten letters letting me know all was well and hope I was doing okay. I knew that Tink was giving my mother updates on my life, but still. How am I supposed to go home and pretend everything was okay?

After a long shower, I crawl into bed, with hopes of sleep, but I toss and turn for what feels like hours. I finally sit up extremely frustrated, and eventually, decide to just go ahead and pack.

The festival is only a week long, so I shouldn’t need many clothes. “Contacts, a few toiletry items…. Ugh, and I just bought groceries too!” I ended up packing more than I should, including the ramen and muffin mix. Lord knows they don’t have that stuff there.

After a phone call of a family emergency and request for an extended absence to work, and struggling with the zipper on my suitcase, I lay on my back against the cold floor and close my eyes, taking deep breaths. I turn head to the side and see my keepsake box under the bed and my heart begins to beat wildly. I sit up and drag out the plain black shoe box that’s slightly covered with dust- having not being touched for at least a year. Opening the top, mixed emotions play on my mind as I see everything inside. I pick up each item, remembering its contents and the value it held throughout my life. Dried flowers from the forest behind my mother’s house. Shiny crystals that my sister told me would help me grow boobs when I was 14. Obviously, that didn’t happen. Each and every letter I received from home… and not a single invitation to return.

I emptied everything out, with only one thing remaining: my portal key.

The antique silver key was given to Ms. Gunther to help her travel between realms while she was raising me. When she went back home for good, it was passed down to me, even though I had no intentions of ever using it.

I clutch the key in my hand gaining the nerve to do this. It’s now or never.

I pull my bathroom door shut and put the key close to it. When the key is almost in contact with the wood, a key hole appears. My hands begin to shake as it enters and I turn it. White light outlines the door as the lock clicks open, and quickly, the door disappears as the magical barrier opens, just waiting to be breached. I take the key out, and put it in my pocket, then pick up my suitcase, heading for what used to be my home.

I take a breath and pick up a foot. “Here goes nothing.”