Curse And Craving

25

“The Unseelie and Shadow Fae are not burdened by rules, and periodically a resourceful one can find a way between the worlds. Over the past few months, there has been an increase in this activity. Someone has figured out a way to open portals and has been sneaking Fae onto Earth.” His words made my stomach turn. “What does that mean?” I asked quietly. “We aren’t sure. We've been tracking the portals and attempting to locate the responsible party, but they're powerful and have managed to stay well hidden.” “Is there anyone who can contain the Unseelie and put a stop to it?" “Several millennia ago, the Unseelie were ruled by Queen Mab. She was a malevolent and vindictive queen and one of the only Fae in our history powerful enough to bend the Unseelie to her will. The best that Guin could do was ward the Seelie realm and keep the Unseelie contained to the Wilds of Faery. Since they are by nature solitary creatures not found in groups nor apt to unite in any great numbers, they haven't posed a threat of escape. Should they ever have the opportunity to make their way onto Earth in any great numbers, the havoc and destruction they would wreak would be unending.” He paused, eyes distant. “What happened to Queen Mab?” If she was so powerful, why wasn’t she still around? “She had a fatal weakness that ended in her downfall. Her love for her twin brother was her Achilles’ heel, and that love got her killed. You will likely be familiar with her brother—his name was Merlin Ambrosius.” “Merlin, as in the legendary sorcerer in King Arthur’s Court? Of course! He was rumored to be half-Fae—the son of a Faery woman.” I gasped, eyes wide in total astonishment. “I'm not sure where the half came from. He is full-blooded Fae. As far as I know, conception between the races is not possible.” I ignored his musing as my mind threatened to explode. “Are you going to tell me the Arthurian legends were real as well? Guin … is that short for Guinevere?” His lips quirked in amusement. “Sometimes, there is a seed of truth in fairy tales. Yes, your fabled Guinevere is the Seelie queen. The Fae have a long and complicated history. Although many Arthurian legends are fictional, the people—Arthur, Morgan, and many others—were very much real.” I was blown away, though I shouldn’t have been. At some point, I would need to start expecting the unexpected. Question my beliefs and assume nothing. I wanted to ask more about what he’d unveiled, but my entire factfinding mission was aimed at gaining information about my necklace. I needed to stay focused. “I was reading on the internet that the Fae often have objects of power like a cauldron or a spear … or an amulet. Does that kind of stuff exist?” “Yes, there are any number of Fae objects imbued with power.” “Could something like that be destroyed?” His head tilted just a fraction, and I was hoping he was contemplating his answer rather than becoming suspicious of my question. “I suppose nothing is indestructible, though the magic used on the object would likely create a challenge.” As he spoke, my eyes were drawn out the window behind him. That tingly sense of being watched clawed at my skin. The reflection on the glass made it hard to see, but my eyes zeroed in on a puddle of shadow containing the outline of a man. As I stared, the form clarified, revealing that Lochlan had returned to his stalkerish habits. He was suspicious of me, and though I wasn’t sure why, his scrutiny pissed me off. How dare he question me when he’s the mystical magic man masquerading as a human. He was the one who was a member of a mythical band of savage warriors. I was just a simple girl trying to make sense of what was happening around me. Outrage simmered in my veins, spurring me to action. “Hey, Ronan? I just remembered that I never told Ashley that I'd be coming here after work. Let me give her a quick call before she thinks I've been kidn*pped. I’ll be right back.” Before I could overthink it, I slipped from my seat, phone in hand, and escaped to the back door. I stepped into the cold, realizing too late that I had left my coat inside. Hurrying around to the side of the building where I couldn’t be seen through the window, I called out in a whisper-yell, “Why are you following me again?” His body slowly shifted from the shadows, then prowled in my direction. He was a hunter in every sense of the word, and I hated how my body responded to his. I could understand if my legs itched with the need to run. That would make sense. It was the warmth that pooled deep in my belly that I found unsettling. It had to be of his making. How could I possibly still react to him on such a visceral level when I knew the truth about him? He didn’t stop until we were toe-to-toe. His frigid azure eyes assessed me. “Why don’t you ever listen?” he asked with subtle accusation. “I’ll listen when I’ve been given reason to trust the person speaking.” His massive body maneuvered me against the frozen brick wall, and he spoke so close to my face that I could feel his warm breath ghost against my skin. “When I saved your life, was that not reason enough?” My lips parted in preparation for a quick reply, but the resounding truth of his statement stole my thunder. He was right. Actions speak louder than words, and Lochlan had saved our lives. Well, s**t. “You didn’t tell me you were Fae,” I said softly. His hands came up to rest on either side of my head, caging me against the wall. “You weren’t ready to hear it.” His voice was as coarse as the brick at my back, grating along my skin like a tangible caress. “I’m ready now.” “You think you are, but you’re not.” His eyes drifted ever so briefly to my lips. “You’re still clinging to a reality that doesn’t exist. Tell me, Rebecca, are you looking for answers or an escape?” Both, is that so shameful? Who wouldn’t want to escape such a dangerous situation? “I’m keeping myself alive,” I quip, irritated at his insinuation. “If that’s the case, you’re not doing a very good job.” His eyes lifted to indicate my presence out on the dark street. “Are you saying you’re a threat to my safety?” “That’s what you want to believe, isn’t it?” “It’s not a matter of want. I’m trying to be cautious, but obviously, I trusted you enough to come out here.” My voice trailed off with the reluctant admission. Lochlan slowly pulled back, and my body shuddered at the loss. “If you’re being cautious, then you won’t pretend Ronan is something he's not. His past is far uglier than you could imagine.” He turned to start walking away when I called after him. “Funny, he gave me the same warning about you.” He glanced over his shoulder with a look as sharp as a razor’s edge. “For once, he isn’t wrong.” As his figure retreated, his booted feet didn't make a single sound on the glistening pavement. What the hell was I supposed to do with that?