Lokai's Curse by J. Lee Coulter Read Free Book Online Page A

from his braes anticipating the pleasure ahead. He stilled at Lokai’s approach then jumped up…sword in hand.
    “You are a dead man.” His icy stare bore into the warrior’s black eyes. “You dare to touch what is mine?” With a flick of his wrist, the man’s sword went flying. The blackguard’s eyes bulged in fear as he realized that it was no man who stood before him.
    “Wh…who are ye?” he stuttered in fear as sweat beaded his brow.
    Icy blue eyes narrowed their gaze at the guard, shooting sparks as he answered in a guttural voice. “Who am I?” Lokai sneered at him. “Why, I am your executioner…or, perhaps, your everlasting torment. Which would you prefer, guttersnipe? You, who dares to attack my mate…my future queen, should I allow you to live after such an affront? How many other maids have you treated thusly?”
    The man’s face was ashen…his throat went dry as he tried to swallow the bile threatening to rise. This was no man before him, he thought , facing the golden warrior. His throat constricted as he stared at the glow pulsating around the being before him. He was Fae!
    Lokai glanced at Diedre. He did not have time to play games with this despicable mortal. She needed him. He turned angry eyes on the man . As much as he wished to kill him…it would not be wise. But there are worse things than death. A wicked smile touched his lips as the man trembled before him.
    “No…I will not kill you. I will curse you instead. Every time, from this day forward, that you touch a lass with violence or rape in mind, your manhood shall shrink to half its size and will remain a limp rag. You will receive no pleasure from the assault!” Lokai gestured over the guard. “Now go! Before I change my mind!”
    He ran as fast as he could to retrieve his horse. He knew that he had been given a reprieve and he was not about to waste it.
    Lokai rushed to Diedre’s side and promptly healed her hurts. He placed trembling hands over her womb and listened. Tha-thump…tha-thump. The babe was well. He exhaled deeply. He had not realized he was holding his breath.
    “Sprite? Are you sound?”
    She did not answer. It took only a few moments for him to see that her mind had retreated elsewhere. It was a defense mechanism that she had used before. She basically left her body rather than face the reality of the moment. Lokai decided to take her home as he picked her up. A few moments later she lay in her own bed.
    He would have to call her back. He ran his hand through his golden hair as he thought of where she might have gone. Of course! She would go to the glen. It was her favorite place to go.
    Lokai stretched out beside Diedre staring into her glazed eyes as he brought their foreheads together to touch. Within moments, he found himself in the Fairy Glen observing Diedre staring into the Pool of Vision.
    “I thought I would find you here.”
    His melodious voice rippled through her. She smiled up at him. “Where else would I be?” She frowned. “Is that horrid man gone?”
    Lokai nodded as a dark cloud swept his countenance. “He will be harming no other maids, rest assured.”
    She gasped. “You did not kill him did you?”
    “I wanted to…but …no…I did not. I cursed him instead.”
    She nodded absently. “Did he…?” She could not put her question into words as shame washed over her.
    “No Sprite…he did not. Are you ready to return now? All is well.”
    She raised her cerulean gaze to meet his. Her child-like innocence evident on her face. “Lokai, why did he hurt me? I did nothing wrong…caused no insult to him. What I did to Garrick and Seonaid was far worse but they never struck me. I do not understand.” Her eyes misted.
    He sighed deeply as he pulled her into his embrace. This was why he loved her so…her naiveté. Everything was simply a prank to her, not worthy of anger from another. As he rested his grizzled cheek on top of her head, he tried to explain.
    “There are mortals in this