Blood Faerie by India Drummond Read Free Book Online Page A

her skin. What was he?

    When she stepped into the clearing where he lay nestled in a bed of pine needles, his eyes fluttered. He gazed at her, his eyes burning with delirium and said the last word she would have expected. “ Dem’ontar-che. ” Love, in the ancient fae language. Yet more than love. Devotion didn’t even define it. The phrase was spoken only at sacred ceremonies, and never lightly. It implied blind faith, utter servitude, and unquestioning loyalty.
     
    Eilidh’s eyes widened. “What did you say?”

    Munro blinked his red, bleary eyes and slowly sat up. He shook his head, as though trying to clear it. His keen eyes took in the clearing and then fastened on her. “How did I get here?”
     
    “Munro,” she persisted. “What did you say to me?”

    He rubbed his hands over his face and paused a moment before struggling to rise. Eilidh could see he was stalling, working his thoughts, trying to remember.
     
    “‘Damn, my arse,’ I think it was.” He grinned in a half-hearted apology. He looked around the forest again. “How did you find me?”

    Eilidh reached toward him, running her fingers over the magic that pulsed between them. “I think you found me.”
     
    He moved toward her, and it took all her will not to step away. I am fae, she reminded herself.

    His hand went to the side of her face and traced the gentle curve of her upturned ear. “I thought it was a fevered dream,” he said. Eilidh tried to pull her hood up, but Munro pushed it back. “No, don’t. Please. I want to see.” With a fingertip he touched her ear and stared at her spiky white hair before settling his gaze on her eyes. “Where are you from?” he finally asked.
     
    Eilidh started to turn away, but his hand guided her face back to meet his gaze. “Here,” she said. He clearly had no idea what an intimate gesture he’d made.

    Munro chuckled. “That’s no Perth accent you’ve got.”
     
    A century of teaching railed against her. Avoid the humans . Never speak to them. Whatever you do, never reveal our existence. They would seek us out and destroy us. We are stronger individually, but they have numbers and machines. They would drive us into the Otherworld completely, and we would be forced to shut our gates to the Ways of Earth forever.

    Eilidh saw that he understood. The frown that quickly replaced the smile told her he had likely worked it out. Perhaps he only wanted confirmation that he had not gone completely mad.
     
    After a very long, intense silence she said, “I am fae.”

    He sat, silently searching her face, as though he could read the truth in her expression. She felt him processing it, making a decision.
     
    Although she didn’t know why, she wanted to reassure him. She wanted him to believe her. Perhaps, more than anything, it occurred to her that maybe she didn’t have to spend the rest of eternity alone. One person could know, perhaps. One friend. Maybe. This strange human shed a ray of hope into her life.

    Eilidh suddenly glanced up. It had gotten late. “Faith,” she cursed.
     
    “What is it?” Munro said, turning as though listening to the forest around them.

    “Darkness falls, and the gateway to the Otherworld will soon open.” When Munro stared blankly, she explained further. “We must go. The kingdom borders are expanding.”
     
    It was more words than she had ever spoken to a human at one time. She didn’t know how he would respond. She could, of course, leave him behind. He would be in less danger than she when the borders overtook them. The kingdom fae did not hunt men who did not seek trouble. But, inexplicably, she didn’t want to. She wanted him to accept and follow her.

    “Your eyes are shining,” he said.
     
    She nodded. “As darkness falls, I will be able to see much better than you. Take my hand.” She offered her long, pale fingers, but he hesitated before accepting. When the skin of his palm engulfed hers, heat washed into her, racing up her arm. A wave