Tiernan Shadowcall, Lord of the Wild Hunt, lost his cool, blank expression for just a moment as his lips twitched. Then he lifted his chin along with one perfect, blond eyebrow. It appeared to be all the answer I was getting from him."Count Tiernan has asked to join our investigation," Murdock answered for the fairy. "And we're very happy to have him," the last was said with a bit of force and the Head Councilman's gaze fell hard on me and my father.All I got from the exchange was that blondie was a count. Seriously? A Count? That was a fairly impressive title; somewhere between a Baron and a Marquess. Not at all what I'd been expecting when Aideen said he was a royal. A count definitely didn't belong on the Wild Hunt. He should be parading about some fairy estate in fairy finery, petting his fairy dogs and painting sparkles in the air or whatever silliness fairy royalty did. My thoughts must have shown on my face because the Count gave a slow blink as his lips twitched once more.
"Brendan is here," Councilman Murdock said to me on our way out of the council chambers."Oh?" I lifted a brow politely.Murdock's son and I had been friends when we were kids, but I hadn't seen him in years. All extinguisher children had to go to normal, human school as well as take extinguisher classes. Physical training was done by the parents but the educational classes on fairies and their culture were taught by the Councils. I'd attended the same Council school as Brendan had; the San Francisco school. That was back when my father and I had lived in SF and Mom was still alive. The thing was; Council classes ended at age fourteen, and Brendan and I hadn't exactly kept in touch since then. I wasn't sure why his father was bringing him up to me now."I thought this might be a good opportunity for you two to catch up?" Murdock offered as he stepped aside; opening the door to his private office and going in so the rest of the council could get past us.I followed him inside since
Aideen had been right. Dad was so thrilled by the idea of me going on a date with Brendan that he started treating Aideen as if she were his long-lost sister and not an evil, murdering fairy. It was a shocking turnabout for him, but one that gave me some hope. If he loved me more than he hated the Fey, then he wasn't entirely lost.I know that sounds obvious—that no one should hate anything more than they love their daughter—but you just don't understand hatred if you think that. I had been just as consumed as he was, and I can honestly say that love could not have swayed me from my vengeance. I would have understood and even supported my father for hating the Fey more than he loved me back then. Now, however, after exile in paradise and with the addition of Aideen's crucial information, I was slowly letting go of my blind rage. Although, it was being replaced with a new type of anger; one colder and more devious but which also left room for reason. It made no sense to hate an entire
The club was down a back alley and through an unmarked metal door. Unmarked to the casual observer that is. For all of us with clairvoyance, there was a large sign which read: Lights Out. I grinned at the obvious play on extinguishers and glanced at Abby, who fidgeted with excitement beside me like a puppy waiting at the door for his daily walk. We'd been to this club once before when we were both eighteen and had just given our vows to become Extinguishers. It had been a crazy, tequila-soaked night filled with debauchery, and I was both scared of and hoping for a repeat.Brendan rapped on the door sharply and it was only a few moments before it swung open to reveal a large Irish man in your basic bouncer attire; black muscle T and black jeans. He looked us up and down and then stepped aside. Abby grinned wider at me and took my hand as we went in. I glanced back at Brendan, but he seemed to have learned his lesson from his failure in the limo and had adjusted his behavior. He waved m
I wound through the throng; several members of which were staring aggressively at the fairy Count who was leaning so casually against their bar. As if he belonged. No, as if he owned the damn place. I felt my face settle into harsh lines as I stepped before him and crossed my arms."Explain your presence," I demanded."I was raised by courtiers." Tiernan shrugged. "I can't help having a dignified air. I apologize if I don't blend in better.""I mean explain your presence here," I snapped. "Why are you standing here, right now, in an Extinguisher bar?""I'm here for you," he said as his gaze wandered over my ensemble appreciatively. "Wasn't my staring obvious enough?""Well, yeah." I frowned; my arms slipping down in confusion. "But why? What do you want?""I have a theory I'd like to share with you, but I had reservations of revealing it to the others." Tiernan leaned forward so I could hear him above the music."Then why didn't you tell me when I was back at the council house?
"That man is not a good match for you," Tiernan said as he moved smoothly through the wicked web that was also known as the streets of San Francisco."We're not talking about Brendan," I said impatiently. "Or my job requirement of marrying another extinguisher.""It's a job requirement?" He looked at me aghast."Pretty much." I closed my eyes and rubbed at my forehead. "But, as I said, we're not discussing it.""Fine, we'll discuss how I'm going to be stuck to your side until we figure this whole thing out.""Excuse me?" I opened my eyes to stare at him in shock. "Who named you my guardian?""The High Council of Fairy," he proclaimed serenely."They did not." I smirked at him."Not in those exact words, no." He never lost his cool. "But they told me to discover the truth of these events, and I intend to do so.""And you think I'm going to somehow lead you to the truth?" I laughed."Yes, I do." Tiernan barely glanced to the left before he zipped into the other lane."You driv
An unnatural darkness descended around the car. I could hear the engine revving—a plaintive rumble—but we were no longer moving forward; we were moving upward. I pulled my little iron dagger from the sheath strapped to my thigh, and Tiernan automatically shifted away from it even as his attention settled on the impenetrable black outside our windows."Unseelie," I whispered as I stared out from my side."Yes," he agreed as light started to emanate from his palms. "But I am not.""Do you have a plan or should we just jump out and hope for the best?" I asked him with a jaunty smile."Are you enjoying this?" He asked with wide, horrified eyes."Maybe." I grinned. "It's been awhile since I've seen this much action.""If you had agreed to a different sort of action between us, we may not be in this situation right now." Tiernan narrowed his eyes at me."Are you seriously blaming me for this attack because I wouldn't have sex with you?" I laughed."Yes," he said simply. Then he rolle
The San Francisco Council House was in an uproar when our cab pulled up in front of it. First, Brendan had returned without me and then a huge magical discharge had been felt emanating from somewhere over San Francisco Bay. The Extinguishers and councilpersons alike were in a tizzy. Then I walked in holding the hand of a fairy and looking as if I'd been rolling around in a battlefield; frolicking with him in the blood and muck. I thought my father was going to burst a blood vessel."There he is!" Brendan pointed an imperious finger at Tiernan. "He must be the one responsible for that magic.""He's not," I growled, "and I'm fine, Brendan; thanks so much for asking. Don't worry, this blood isn't mine.""Extinguisher Seren." One of the councilwomen approached us. "Would you please tell us what happened tonight? It appears that you may have first-hand knowledge.""That I do." I grimaced and let go of Tiernan's hand reluctantly. Oh, that reluctance was not a good sign."Allow me." Tier