The Tainted Web (The Godhunter, Book 7) by Amy Sumida Read Free Book Online Page B

like seaweed, like the woman who'd been dancing with Thor earlier. “Are you a merman?”
    “ A what?” He laughed. “Do you mean a water-sidhe? No, I'm a kelpie and yes, I happen to know where the wash room is.”
    “ Oh good... isn't that a horse? The kelpie I mean, not the wash room.” I looked him over again, lingering over a particular area I probably shouldn't have but jeez, a girl can't help wondering about that old saying. I mean if he really was a horse... well, there you go.
    “ I can become a horse, yes,” he was laughing at me again with his eyes. “I'm a type of water horse.”
    “ Huh, good for you,” I crossed my legs under my heatwave dress. “So about the bathroom?”
    “ Ah yes, my lady,” he gestured to a hallway on his left. “If you would follow me.”
    “ I'm Vervain,” I said as we walked.
    “ Yes, you are,” he smiled. “I am Kael, Knight of Water.”
    We walked a bit before he opened a door and miracle of miracles, there was a bathroom behind it. I rushed in with a hurried thanks thrown over my shoulder. I didn't really take that long but I was still surprised to find him waiting for me outside.
    “I thought I'd escort you back,” he grinned at me with a mouth full of sharp looking teeth. Not at all horse-like.
    “ Oh, that's nice of you,” I smiled but inside, my stomach was clenching in alarm.
    What were the myths about kelpies? I remembered something about them drowning humans for fun but I think you had to climb on their back first and there was no way I was gonna let this guy give me a piggy-back ride. No matter how pretty his face was.
    “Shall we?” He held out an arm to me and I took it, letting him lead me away. “I must confess, I was sent to find you. My Queen asked me to bring you to her.”
    “ Your Queen?” I thought back to my first visit in Faerie. I think I met the Water Queen. “Queen Dubheasa?”
    “ Yes,” he smiled brightly. “You remember her.”
    “ From my first visit,” I nodded. “What did she want to see me about?”
    “ Oh, I'm not privy to that,” he laughed, “only the location of the privy. Would you come see her? This is supposed to be a visit of alliances, is it not? Maybe she has thoughts of forming one with you?”
    “ She doesn't want to see King Arach as well?” I frowned.
    “ I believe this has more to do with your god alliances than your Fire,” he smiled gently. “The last thing we want is a war with Fire and when King Arach and Queen Dubheasa get together, it can sometimes get,” he sighed, “steamy, and not in a good way.”
    “ Ah, yes,” I laughed, “he can have that affect, even on his own fey. Okay then, take me to your leader.”
    “ Right through here,” he led me out a side door and down a shell-covered path. At the end of the path was a beautiful garden, filled with night blooming flowers. They gave off a sweet fragrance and glowed white in the moonlight, just like the stunning woman who waited for me there.
    Queen Dubheasa turned to me, her light pink hair luminescent in the soft light, her skin glowing like mother-of-pearl. Actual pearls were strung around her slim throat and through her beautiful hair, their sheen set off by the muted blue of her long dress. On her brow was a crown made out of some kind of shimmering translucent material, set with sparkling blue stones in the shape of water droplets. She looked like a goddess emerging from the depths of a lake, more Aphrodite than I was and that just wasn't fair. I held Aphrodite's magic and yet I felt gaudy and crass standing in front of her but then I usually felt like the ugly stepsister when surrounded by goddesses, so the feeling was familiar.
    “Queen Vervain,” she smiled sweetly, just barely showing me the tips of her tiny, sharp teeth. “I'm so glad Kael found you.”
    “ It's good to see you again, Queen Dubheasa,” I smiled back.
    “ Alas,” she sighed, “you may not feel that way shortly. Kael,” she gestured and from the corner