Curse And Craving

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“Yes, they are supposed to have protective qualities to ward off evil. A hippie friend of mine had suggested we give it a try. It all seemed like a bunch of malarkey to me, but when your nightmares stopped, I didn’t question it.” “Perfect. I’ll see if I can track some down when I get a chance. It’ll remind me of home anyway.” “My sweet girl always was a homebody, at least until college. You’ve really spread your wings since then.” Her voice held pride tinged with a sadness she couldn’t hide. “I won’t be here forever, Momma,” I said softly. “I know, baby girl. And even if you were, it’s okay. I’ll just move to Ireland,” she teased, lightening the mood. “Night, Becca baby. You try to get some sleep.” “Night, Mom. Love you.” “Love you more.” Armed with Mom’s love, I went to bed with a full heart and enjoyed a dreamless night’s sleep. OceanofPDF.com Chapter Ten I STARTED MY TUESDAY WITH A BIT MORE ENERGY AND OPTIMISM THAN I had the day before. I tend to wear my feelings—dark colors on rough days and bright colors when I'm feeling cheerful. Confidence and optimism meant a red sheath dress that hugged my frame perfectly and black patent peep-toe heels. It was one of the few dresses that fit my figure and was professional enough to wear to work. The bold outfit bolstered my psyche even further, and I felt ready to deal with whatever came my way. A couple of hours into my workday, I got a call from Cat informing me that I had a visitor in the lobby. When I exited the elevator, Ronan was waiting for me just a few feet away. “Rebecca, you look amazing.” He flashed his charming smile, and I patted myself on the back for the choice of outfit. He was looking particularly sharp as well—his long wool coat hung open to reveal a light gray suit with a white dress shirt. His wavy hair was plastered back in an attempt to tame the curl, but he lost the battle with a wayward strand or two. His stiff gelled hair was not my favorite hairstyle, and I wondered how it would lighten his appearance if he let his hair flow more naturally. “Hey, Ronan, what can I do for you?” He might have been easy on the eyes, but he wasn’t human. That changed everything. His face grew more serious as he came to stand directly in front of me and reached out to take hold of my hands. “We need to talk. I know you have a lot of questions, and Lochlan thinks it’s better to keep you in the dark, but I think you deserve more information. I was hoping we could meet after you're done with work this evening—have some coffee and talk. I want you to get to know me. Maybe even learn to trust me.” His expression was hopeful, and a small voice inside me pointed out that I shouldn’t condemn an entire race of people just because some are dangerous. Being cautious was one thing, but I hadn’t been given any reason to truly fear any of the Huntsmen. I wasn’t going to forget anytime soon that they were Fae, but I didn’t have to assume the worst either. This would be a great opportunity to get information and maybe even form an alliance. “Yeah, I can do that.” “Thank you, Rebecca. There's a coffee shop down the road called Common Grounds. Meet me there when you get off work. Six o’clock, right?” I nodded. “I’ll see you there.” I ENTERED the coffee shop and immediately spotted Ronan sitting at a table. He rose at my approach and helped me remove my coat, making every effort to be a gentleman. “Hot chocolate again, or something different this time?” “I think some tea would be good for now, thank you.” He gave a lighthearted bow and headed to the counter to order our drinks. When he returned, he placed two steaming teacups on our table. “I want more than anything to earn your trust, Rebecca. Tell me what I need to do.” My gaze drifted uncomfortably around the room. “I’m not sure, Ronan. Right now, honesty is all I’m asking for, but trust will be difficult when I feel like my whole world has been undone. Nothing is what I thought. How do I trust anything anymore?” He leaned forward and placed his hand over mine, drawing my gaze back to him. “I can understand that, and I'm here to help you in any way that I can. Tell me, what questions do you have?” “You’re Fae, aren’t you? You and Lochlan and the men of the Huntsman.” It wasn’t so much a question as a statement I needed to confirm. Pride brightened his eyes. He was pleased that I had figured it out. “Yes, we are.” I had expected his answer, but it still blew me away to think that these men were not human. “Are you immortal then?” “That is one of those subjects we are not supposed to discuss. However, because of … extenuating circumstances, the rules don’t exactly apply. We are immortal, but probably not as indestructible as your myths would have you believe. We stop aging around thirty, and then we are very long lived, although not totally invincible.” He peered at me coyly. “If you were to cut off my head, it wouldn’t grow back. We are quick to heal, but there are limits to the damage we can sustain. Our healing abilities also keep us from getting sick, which means we can potentially live for thousands of years unless we meet an untimely end.” “Am I allowed to ask how old you are?” His lips quirked in a wry smile. “I suppose you just did.” I returned his smile and arched my brow to indicate that I was still waiting for an answer. “Let’s just say I have the benefit of centuries of experience in life.”