B00XXAC6U6 EBOK (17 page)

When a troll hurried to open the door for them both, she wasn’t prepared for the sudden standing ovation and applause erupting from every single table of the pub-like establishment.

She looked up at Ian, wondering how he would take the adulation and she could see by his smile it pleased him. He lifted a hand, then graciously gestured to Regan.

If she’d been surprised before, she was astounded that she, too, received an incredibly warm welcome. When she glanced at Ian with a questioning brow, he pathed,
Everyone knows the part you played in the Swanicott victory. You’re as beloved here as you are in your own realm.

Tears started to her eyes. Sure, she’d helped out by getting rid of the disguising mist so that the Swanicott army could see the enemy, then engage. But she hadn’t actually participated in the battle so she wasn’t sure just how much adulation she deserved. But it meant a lot to her that her service had been appreciated.

She also lifted a hand and waved, then felt her cheeks grow warm as the applause continued. She wasn’t used to so much attention.

A troll approached them. He wore a white apron, black vest and white shirt, had two menus in hand and a large belly. The latter was his best advertisement for the quality of the food.

He held his head high, beaming as he led them to a private booth at the back. To her surprise, she saw Ben standing against the wall near the bathrooms, scrolling through his cell.

For a moment, though, she got a very strange fae-ish feeling about Ben, as though something wasn’t right. She focused on him, but the odd questioning response dissipated swiftly.

She gave her head a shake. The nature of the secret attack, as well as all she’d been through, seemed to be having an effect on her and not in a good way.

Ben’s here,
she pathed to Ian. She slid into the booth, the high maroon leather backs creating privacy for them.

I see him. I wonder what’s going on.

Ben lifted his gaze from his phone and smiled. As Regan drew her menu into her hand, Ian waved for Ben to join them.

When Ben drew close, Ian asked. “Everything okay?”

Ben held up his cell. “Yes, very light activity tonight.” He turned toward Regan. “How are you, Mistress? I think it’s been thirty years since we last spoke.”

“At least.” Regan had to admit she’d never been completely at ease around the vampire, though she had no idea why.

During the time she’d dated Ian, Ben and his brother had been two of Ian’s closest friends. Ben’s brother, a mastyr as well, had died at Raven’s Overlook during the massacre.

Maybe that was the reason she felt slightly ill-at-ease. Ben had suffered as both she and Ian had. And from what Ian had told her, Ben had taken his brother’s death very hard.

Ben had long, curly blond hair, pulled back in the Guardsman’s woven clasp. He had a regal bearing, a straight nose and straight brows. He was six-five and well-muscled though not as heavily as Ian. He wore a woven maroon shirt and the Guard outfit that had all eyes in the restaurant turned toward the two, handsome men.

Ben’s smile was warm as he said, “I’ll leave you both to your meals. The shepherd’s pie is outstanding.”

Ian asked him to join them, but he refused. He’d only wanted to touch base in person and to say hello to Regan since he hadn’t had the chance the night before.

As he left, he stopped and chatted with a number of patrons along the way. He had an easy style, a perfect complement to Ian. Regan understood why the two men had been friends for such a long time.

During the meal, Ian grew very quiet as he ate his shepherd’s pie. He’d ordered a local stout, but she wasn’t sure he tasted much of either.

“What’s bothering you?” she asked.

He lifted his gaze to her. “Is it that obvious?”

“Your head’s down and you seem to be pathing with your food.”

At that he smiled. “I want this to go well tonight.” He kept his voice low.

“It will. You’ve done the right thing by keeping it on the down-low.”

His mouth worked and after setting his fork on his plate, he twisted his thumb ring a few times. “I think I need to bring Stone in on this.”

She nodded and using her fork, cut into a chicken filet covered with capers and lemon-butter sauce. “You want to add to the numbers.” By this point she was whispering, afraid to reveal the secret plan to anyone who might be listening in on their conversation.

He switched to telepathy.
That’s it exactly. My troops will be too spread out around the perimeter. And once the battling starts, it’s hard for a warrior to retreat even when he’s outnumbered. It goes against every instinct.

She popped the bite into her mouth, following up with a sip of sweet German white wine.
What do your instincts tell you?

At that, he chuckled.

“What? Why are you laughing?”

“I forgot how much your faeness slants your advice.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“No, it wasn’t a criticism, I promise you. I’m surrounded by war-making vampires and shifters. We think in terms of weaponry, time and distance, numbers. Your advice leans toward intuition.”

“We divine our answers as much by the subtle vibrations all around us. Like when I first saw Ben, what I noticed as he leaned against the wall checking his texts or email, was the glitter in his eye as though he was getting ready to do battle. I know he wasn’t, but something about his expression didn’t quite jive with being in a restaurant just to say hi to me.”

Ian took a drink of the stout. “In this case, you’re thinking like a fae. You forget, Ben makes war first, above everything else, just as I do. He could have easily been directing one of the squads to move to support another because of an Invictus attack.”

“That makes total sense.” She then switched the subject and asked about the quality of the stout and if he liked his meal.

He relaxed after that. She’d made the right decision not to press him about Ben.

Once she’d finished her dinner and Ian had as well, he led her outside. Again, he received the thanks of those passing by. When most of the well-wishing had subsided, he pulled out his cell and spoke in a quiet voice to Stone.

Regan also had two young fae women take her aside and ask about her retreat in Swanicott. Regan suggested they check out her website, which had all the information they would need to apply for entrance into one of a variety of programs her team offered.

Ian, a few feet away, replaced his cell in his pocket. He met her gaze and nodded, smiling. He looked pleased with Stone’s response.

She was about to rejoin Ian, when a female shifter ran up to him and threw her arms around his neck. “Ian,” she cried. “I haven’t seen you in ages, not since you took me to your cave.”

Ah, the infamous cave where he was supposed to have held two woman captive.

Ian smiled as he took hold of her arms and untangled the powerful looking woman from around his neck. Ah, a shifter female. “Janice. Don’t you look pretty.”

The shifter, at least six-two in height, had her blond hair teased to a massive height, sported long fake eyelashes and dark red lipstick. She wore a fringed black leather vest, cut low enough to reveal about five inches of cleavage, a really short, red skirt and black, thigh boots.

She didn’t back up either, but planted her hand on Ian’s arm and began to massage, stroking his bicep up and down. The movement was so suggestive, even the young fae women near Regan clucked their tongues in disapproval.

But Regan’s reaction had her blood tattoos fired up and her heart beating faster and faster.

“So how’s it hangin’?” Janice leaned in close. When she reached low, Regan could tell by the movement of the woman’s arm, she’d just slid her hand between Ian’s legs.

Regan had never felt such a quick, possessive response in her life. Nor had she ever moved as fast as she did now, pushing herself between Ian and his adoring fan.

“What the hell?” The shifter wasn’t about to give up her ground, and immediately grabbed Regan by the shoulders ready to do battle.

But the blood tattoos had come to life and flowed with power.

In a swift move, Regan slid her hand up and placed it on Janice’s forehead. She let an infinitesimal amount of her battle energy release. The shifter suddenly looked dazed as she stepped back, then slumped to her knees. She didn’t pass out, but almost.

Ian shifted to stand beside Regan, his brows raised. “Did you just do what I think you did?”

“Yes. The same thing I did to the Invictus wraith in your home, except that I only used about a tenth of the power.”

Janice recovered quickly, however, and gained her feet. She scowled at Regan, then peered at her. “You have a glowing red aura right now. Oh, sweet Goddess, you’re the Ruby Fae.”

Janice, bold as most shifters were, took Regan’s right hand. “You sent power into my mind.”

“I hope I didn’t hurt you.”

Janice shook her head, causing her long silver earrings to jangle. “No, not at all. It felt like a soft rain inside my head.” She glanced at Ian then back to Regan. “And I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean anything. I didn’t know. You’re with the mastyr, aren’t you?”

Regan didn’t want any confusion. “I am,” she responded firmly.

“I apologize.” She offered a sheepish smile. “I’m just so used to having free rein with Mastyr Ian.” Her gaze lingered on him for a moment after which she turned to Regan and spoke in a low voice. “Has he taken you to his cave yet? If he hasn’t, make him. It’s beautiful. I think it would suit you.” She then wished them both well and rejoined her friends waiting for her at the entrance to the restaurant.

She watched Janice go, but suddenly grew aware of how Ian’s forest-fern scent now filled the air. She turned toward him. “Ian? What’s going on?”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Everything with Regan was different this time around, including her aggression. He’d never seen her attack another Realm-person, especially not a powerful a shifter like Janice.

Where had this new boldness come from? Was it their shared tattoos, or because Regan had the blood rose phenomenon working in her?

Whatever it was, her intrusion into Janice’s attentions had done more to fire up his blood than anything else could have.

He leaned close and sniffed her throat above her vein.
I can smell your blood. You’ve built a new supply for me, haven’t you?

Yes.
Her voice, even inside his mind, sounded breathy. She’d begun to shed her mating scent as well, rich with jasmine and lime.

“Ian,” she said quietly. “You should take me into the air. I think we have an audience.”

He glanced around and saw she was right. At least three different knots of pedestrians were watching them.

He acted in one swift movement, dragging her against him and rising swiftly at the same time. He heard the small group of nearby Realm-folk issue a unison, ‘Oh-h-h,’ as he disappeared into the night sky.

Ian, did you settle things with Stone? Because I’m feeling the need for some alone time. I mean, really alone.

Stone is already getting things set up, bringing in his troops from Tannisford. I sent him the coordinates you prepared. He’s following my protocol and keeping everything quiet. So, the answer is yes.

Because he held her tight against him, she had hold of each of his bare arms and dug in her nails. He groaned.

Can we go to the cave? The one Janice talked about?

Right now, I have something else in mind, something I think you’ll love.

She slid an arm around his neck, pressing her body against him as he flew. He felt her lips on his cheek, his jaw, then lower as she half suckled, half kissed his throat.
I’d love to go lower, Ian. Really low.

He grunted, the only sound he could make. He was hard as a rock and his brain kept rolling the images of Regan taking on Janice, then subduing the shifter female with a hand placed on her head.

Regan had staked a claim and he needed to respond in a way she would love and in a place he was sure she’d appreciate.

When he saw the gold gleam of the Camberlaune Fae Guild tower, he began his descent. He didn’t aim for the building however, but deep into the grounds on the far side of the lake.

Your Guild,
she pathed.
I haven’t been here in ages.
He heard her quick intake of breath.
What a beautiful garden. And I remember now, the land was a gift.

That’s right. One of the wealthy fae leaders donated what was her family’s quarry and surrounding property, as well as the money to fund the garden.

Very generous.

He scanned the area for Realm-folk of any kind, including Invictus, but all that returned was a cool December breeze. He dropped down beside a weeping willow.

A few months ago, he’d seen the tree from across the lake and knew it had possibilities for a hidden hook-up. He’d never imagined, however, that one night he’d be bringing Regan here.

He parted several drooping branches, revealing a private grassy space. He moved inside, taking her with him.

She turned in a circle. “You’re right. I love it.”

“I thought you would.” He kissed her. She cooed in response, her arms snaking around his neck once more and holding him tight.

Her scent was heavy in the air, letting him know he was on the right track.

Ian, this is perfect. Exactly what I need. Watching Janice fondle you got my blood all worked up. I can’t explain it, but my desire for you exploded.

Mine, too.

He lifted her off her feet, carrying her to the tree trunk, settling her against it. “Are you comfortable? Because I’m thinking this should be hard and fast.” He released her enough so that her feet once more touched the ground.

She shivered then wiggled her back against the tree. “This will work.” She glanced from one side to the other, whispering, “Is anyone out there? I mean, is there a chance we’ll be seen or overheard?”

“I saw very few in the garden and none as far out as this tree. We’re good.” He dropped to unzip her ankle boots, then took off her jeans. He was pretty sure her thong got lost somewhere down one of her jean leg-holes.