Page 10 of Denied

Sheridan lifted his crystal, touching it to the one held by the smith.

Dirk watched as the mists were swept away by the closing spell. For a few moments he glimpsed the place the Fae had chosen to flee. Oaks and pines hemmed a moonlit lake, and shaded dozens of old cottages there. It looked to Dirk like any of their faire grounds. But beside a dirt road that skirted a dark lake, he spotted a small sign.

Totten Lake Nature Trail Closed for Repairs.

The stripper’s face sagged over Dirk’s as he grinned and stood. Sheridan turned his head and saw him in the instant before the portal closed, and frowned.

“I have you now, you fucking madman,” Dirk muttered.

Pain stabbed into his side as the skin suit parted, and his own flesh was exposed to the wrath of the Fae crystal. He staggered out of the cave and into the tunnel, falling several times as his guise peeled away. Halfway out he collapsed and jerked on the rope.

A long moment passed before Beck began dragging him out. Dirk gritted his teeth as magick pummeled him. When his cousin at last yanked him from the tunnel, he promptly puked all over Beck’s boots.

“I just had these cleaned,” his cousin complained as he helped him to his feet. “So? Did you find them?”

“They’re in Florida,” Dirk said, spitting the last of the vomit from his mouth before he grinned. “By a large, deep lake.”

Beck began to laugh.

CHAPTER 6

K AYLA USED THE last of her apple cookie stash to give the horses a treat before she stopped by the stall where Fallon had been left chained for the night.

“I’ve never taken care of a dragon,” she admitted as she held out the last cookie. “But our herd loves these.”

Reptilian jaws grew out of the front wheel guard, and delicately plucked the treat from her fingers before vanishing.

We have always been expected to fend for ourselves. You are kind, my lady.

“So are you.” She patted one of the handlebars. “I’ll arrange to have something more substantial for you in the morning.” She hesitated before she asked, “You don’t eat people, do you?”

We would, but your kind are very stringy, the dragon thought back. If you will permit me to shift for an hour to make use of the lake, I can hunt for myself. He showed her an image of a dragon swallowing a gator whole. These creatures are especially delicious.

“Works for me.” She concealed a shudder. “Good night, Fallon.”

When she left the barn Kayla glanced over at the nearby cottage where Colm had put her things. It was after midnight, and she would have to be up at dawn to feed and exercise the horses. But as tired as she felt, she knew she wouldn’t sleep. In the space of one day her life had been turned inside-out.

How could she do this to me?

Kayla walked along the dirt path to the cottage down by the lake that Ryan occupied, and stopped in front of the door. She wouldn’t whine to him about Tara’s betrayal. That was something she had to handle on her own. She’d report on the herd, find out what their next move was, and see what she could do to help.

The door opened, and Ryan loomed over her. “You think so loud I can hear you inside.”

“There’s a lot on my mind.” She glanced past him at Wallace, who nodded to her. “You’re busy. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Wallace?” Ryan said, never looking away from her face. “Get out.”

“Yes, my liege.” The blacksmith exited the cottage, winking at Kayla before he strolled away.

Ryan drew her inside, guiding her around crates and boxes to a pair of chairs out on the small screened-in back porch. Beyond a short stretch of grass the lake shimmered under the moon’s silvery glow. Artful silhouettes of the palmetto fronds formed a hedge of dark fans beneath the fuzzy drapery of Spanish moss on gnarled oak branches.

“I never thought I’d mind the heat.” Kayla shrugged off her jacket and sat down with him. “I think Tennessee’s winter turned me into a snow bird. Did everything go okay with the move?”

“Everyone and everything is present and accounted for.” He paused for a moment, scowling a little. “I saw a mortal female in the cave, but I closed the portal before she could wander into it. She must have been one of the crew, come back for something left behind.” Ryan breathed in deeply. “I do like how it smells here. ’Tis like walking through a garden.”

“I used to plant watermelon seeds behind our house,” Kayla recalled. “I had no idea they would take over the whole yard. I set up a little stand by the road to sell them. Tara would always try to steal some of the sample slices I set out for people to taste…” She stopped and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I promised myself I wouldn’t talk about her tonight. I’m still processing, I guess.”

Ryan reached for her, and before she could blink she was sitting on his lap. He tucked her head against his shoulder, and his big hand stroked gently up and down her spine.