Scorched Fury: A SkinWalker Novel #5 (DarkWorld: SkinWalker) by T.G. Ayer Read Free Book Online Page A

actually looked disappointed and I wondered if I'd said the wrong thing.
    I lifted my hand. "Not that I didn't want to see you. I-"
    Tara laughed softly. "Stop it, silly. I'm not upset. And I knew you'd respect my need to be left alone. And I also know that this, whatever it is, has to be important or you wouldn't have come."
    She sat back and crossed her legs and only then did I register her dress. Deep green flecked with shimmering lime, it looked like wild moss, only woven into a floor-length dress that would be right at home at a ball or on a runway.
    At her neck she wore a string of shimmering crystals, each glittering with every shade of green, which for all I knew were rare gems. Garb fit for a Fae Queen.
    I cleared my throat. "The Chicago Ash Tree is dying and we need your help."
    Tara's pale skin whitened as the blood drained from her face, bringing her swirling tattoos into stark contrast. "What did you say?" Her voice brimmed over with shock.
    Not the kind of shock one experiences on hearing something the first time. No, rather the expression on her face indicated that she'd heard about the dying Ash before.  
    I leaned closer. "The Ash." She looked upset.
    "You know?"
    Tara's shoulders drooped. "Yes, and no."
    I cleared my throat as the silence dragged on. I seriously didn't have time to waste enjoying deep silences and I had to shrug off the urge to shake her by the shoulders and insist on an answer. But one did not shake royalty, even bestie royalty.
    Tara shook her head. It was obvious something weighed her down. "Sorry. Yes, I know about the Ash Tree being sick, and no, I didn't know about your Ash Tree."
    " Our Ash?" My eyes widened. "Crap. Don't tell me the Boston Ash is sick too?"
    Tara nodded. "It's the reason I was called to Boston so suddenly. The Ash is vital to the Fae and signs of its affliction was enough to gather the troops."
    "Have you been able to figure out what's wrong with it?"
    Tara shook her head. "I've had my people investigating, but they haven't uncovered any definitive reason."
    I stiffened, scowling.
    "What?" asked Tara, watching my face now. She tilted her head. "What do you know?"
    "Something you should know by now if you've been researching the tree's illness."
    Before Tara could answer, someone swept into the room, bringing with him a touch of winter.
    Tara's gaze shifted to the newcomer then glanced at me giving him a regal introductory wave. "Kai, meet Elan."
    He was tall, his body well-muscled despite his slim figure. He wore an ice-white silk suit, probably something Italian from the looks of it. And his attire contrasted with Tara's gift-of-nature gown. His ice blue hair gleamed, shot with white, and he pulled off the dual tone in a very attractive way.
    Attractive probably because of the glamor he wore. The silver of it glittered on his cheekbones, dusting his shoulders and hugging him like a silken shroud. Beneath the glamor, his cheeks were grey, hollow with age, eyes deep and ancient. A dangerous creature to be sure.
    He gave a cool smile which seemed to drop the temperature in the room a few more degrees. I considered standing and bowing, but Tara didn't indicate that I should. So I didn't.
    "Elan, Prince of the Winter Court, at your service." He gave a small bow. Light glinted off a diamond-carved clasp that held his long white coat at his left shoulder. The cold shimmer of the jewel matched the waves of ice that emanated from him. And despite the nice words I suspected he was very far from at my service. Probably the ice in his eyes. He studied me the way Sean looked at Ash.
    Racist Fae.
    "Nice to meet you, Elan." I fell silent, finding little to say in the face of his contempt. Probably the wrong move, because he studied me head to toe, his expression dismissive.
    "My Queen. If you're done mixing with the rabble, you are needed upstairs. We are about to begin."
    "As it happens, Elan, Kai is here about the-"
    I touched her arm. "We do have to go Tara. But I promise we