Hot Blooded by Donna Grant Read Free Book Online

primeval god inside him that made him immortal, but even before that he was a powerful Highlander since he was part Fae. Rhi had been the one to find him and introduce him into the Fae world.
    Phelan reminded her of the brother she had lost to one of the countless wars the Fae were always involved in. Yes, Phelan would have tried to help, and the Kings would have stopped him, just as she would have wanted.
    If the Dark ever learned of Phelan, it could be a game changer. It was worth enduring all of Balladyn’s torture to keep Phelan’s identity a secret.
    Rhi wanted to talk to Phelan, to let him know she was all right. If she did, it would alert the Light as well as the Kings that she was back. Was she ready to return to everything? Could she act as if she was the same Fae as before? More importantly, could she ever enter a Dark stronghold again?
    Rhi quickly turned to the left and went down a narrow alley. She rested her head against the stones of the building as she struggled to breathe. Every time she thought of seeing the Dark, a panic attack would hit.
    She hadn’t even known a Fae could get a panic attack, but there was no denying that’s exactly what was happening to her.
    There was no telling how long it would last this time, and she didn’t want anyone to see her. Rhi vanished from the alley and reappeared at her cabin overlooking the Italian lake. She dropped down on the grassy hillside and sank her fingers into the dirt. It seemed to take an eternity before she was able to stop shaking and take a calming breath.
    Blinking at the bright sunlight, Rhi shaded her eyes and remembered why she had fallen in love with the place. Light twinkled off the lake as birds chirped nearby. A soft breeze danced around the poplar trees and pulled her hair into her face.
    Rhi pushed the locks aside and got to her feet. She threw a quick look at her cottage to make sure no one was there. Once she was certain Ulrik wasn’t sitting on the porch, she faced the cottage for a closer inspection.
    She was going to have to find a new location. This one was ruined now. It was supposed to be a place she didn’t have to worry about being found, not one that she needed to inspect to see if someone awaited her.
    After a check, Rhi stepped onto the porch and then inside the house only to come to a surprised halt.
    The last time she had been there she had destroyed everything. Every piece of furniture, every item of clothing, every bottle of nail polish—all three hundred bottles. She anticipated returning to clean up, but it was immaculate. Someone had been there repairing furniture or replacing it.
    Apprehension coiled tightly within her. She closed the door and quietly walked from one room to another until she reached her bedroom.
    A new comforter of soft cream covered her bed. Dozens of pillows of all different sizes and shapes in various shades of peach, pink, and gold were stacked against the headboard. She didn’t dislike the colors. In fact, she found them soothing. Not too bright or flashy.
    Then she turned to the right and peered inside her closet. There were two outfits hanging. One was a white lace shirt paired with light denim and brown heels.
    The other was a sheer black shirt with black jeans and black booties.
    Whoever cleaned her house was giving her a test with the clothes. If she chose the white set, she was still the person from before. If she chose the black, she was more Dark.
    Rhi twisted away and her mouth fell open when she caught sight of the nail polish. Every bottle she had collected—and some new ones—were lined on the shelves clustered by color. She walked to the colors and ran her finger along the bottles. If it was a test, then she would give them an answer.
    Rhi grabbed a bottle and teleported to her favorite nail salon in Austin.
    *   *   *
    Laith leaned his hip against the table with his arms crossed and listened to Tristan and Ryder tell Con of their