Crave the Night by Sharon Ashwood, Michele Hauf, Patti O'Shea, Lori Devoti Read Free Book Online Page B

the
short time they had been talking, he was losing sight of the
basics: he was her prisoner. He was trying to learn enough to
resolve this hellish situation. Maybe there was a way they could
both walk away in one piece. She seemed so damned
vulnerable.
Pickle fork. Remember the
pickle fork
.
    And focus on what she could do—had done—to
other Pack members. His mind flashed to his father, Darak, the
town. What was going on while he was here, about to have lunch with
the enemy? A wave of frustration and impatience mixed with his
attraction, making a conflicting brew of emotions.
    Stay on track and keep
the information flowing
. “Do your people ever have
contact with the other species?”
    “ As I said, some of the younger fey
do.” She turned to look at him, squinting a little against the
light. “It is a mixed blessing, the quiet of the woods. It can be
isolating. I remember my first look at the human schools. They were
so huge, and so filled with people. I was appalled and delighted.
In a single instant, I knew I had to go there.”
    “ And when you arrived?”
    She gave a self-deprecating smile. “I was
hopeless at first.”
    He touched her arm, keeping the gesture
casual. Gaining her confidence. “You?”
    This time, she didn’t pull away at his
advance. “I’d never seen most of the objects around me. I remember
discovering highlighters and thinking they were the most beautiful,
marvellous inventions ever, like exclamation points packed in a
tube. I barely understood computers. I nearly failed the first term
until one of the human girls took pity on me despite the mockery of
her classmates. She helped me adapt.”
    He tried to imagine anyone mocking Lila, but
couldn’t.
    She shrugged and turned back to the view.
“It was the happiest time of my life. I learned so much from her,
including the fact that there are kind people willing to share
their potato chips and pizza even when they’re broke.”
    Rafe studied Lila, trying to envision her
happy. “Do you stay in touch?”
    “ A little. She’s married now.” She
sounded wistful. “I loved my human friends. I wanted a part in
their busy, colorful world. It was bursting with interest for me,
challenging everything I knew. I hurled myself into it, awkward
though I was. Though I still am.”
    He pondered the image for a moment. A girl
who loved friends and excitement, one prepared to throw over
convention and follow her own star. That’s who Lila was once. How
did she get to be the dangerous, frightened woman he’d found
here?
    “ What did your family think about all
this?”
    “ They did not understand the
appeal.”
    “ You were the rebel in the
family?”
    “ Not the only one. My sister,
Rosemund, formed a scandalous attachment to a werebear.”
    Despite himself, Rafe chuckled. “The girls,
they do love their teddy bears.”
    “ I had a partiality for the football
team. In general.” She gave him a sly smile. “But then my sister
kept her trophy. I was more interested in catch and
release.”
    Rafe felt his eyebrows rise. “Obviously, I
went to the wrong college.”
    Her eyes twinkled, giving her fib
away.
Trickster
fey
.
    For a moment, it was like he was looking at
a different Lila. One who was alive, vibrant, and full of
excitement for the future. An odd shock of recognition hit him. In
another time and place, he could fall in love with this woman.
    Her smile grew wider. “So there is my life
story. Now you can stop asking questions and tell me what you would
like for lunch.”
    Something squirmy from
the pet store? A nice, raw flank steak?
“Just a sandwich
would be fine.”
    “ Wait here,” she said, heading off to
yet another part of the rambling house.
    Rafe looked around. The room was large and
airy with a pale pine floor and large, comfortable-looking
furniture grouped around a fireplace. Near the window stood a small
white table and two chairs. It looked like a room people used for
themselves instead of for formal entertaining.