Fae Guardians

Glossary.

People:

Avery: Heroine; Monster hunter/ Fae assassin; Chestnut hair; pale skin; 5'8"; brown eyes with a golden hue.

Malcolm Gould: Fae; Midnight blue eyes; Faint French accent; 6'4"; Blond hair; looks like a Viking.

Maggie: Avery's best friend; Has rich divorced parents; Her mother is now married to a Fae.

Darrius: Scottish Fae; His court lays closest to the Unseelie court in Balnacraux near the Morar lands; Has copper-colored hair, a beard, and emerald eyes; looks like a Scottish warrior.

Simeon: Fae; Platinum blond hair; Amethyst eyes; youngest cousin of Darrius and Malcolm; His court lays closest to the Human world; faint Canadian-French accent.

Amber: Half-Gwyllion Fae who had convinced Darrius she was the lost queen.

Amber's sister: Full Gwyllion; Dark Fae with white hair and crimson eyes.

Helga: Fae Healer; White hair.

Mrs. Browning: a Brownie at Brimx Castle who cooks and sews for the Fae Princes; Has big amber eyes and dark hair. Married to Mr. Browning.

Mr. Browning: a Brownie who sews cleans and serves at Brimx Castle; married to Mrs. Browning.

Tinder: Black cat; magical.

Creatures:

Leminax: A Shadow Fae; Monster with razor-sharp teeth; Smells of burnt pine and sulfur; Vile creatures that eats the hearts and livers of its victims; Can glamor itself to lure in victims. Has rows of teeth like a shark, hardened gray skin, a misshapen head that looks like a bear’s with retractable spikes, and six-inch, dagger-like claws.

Gwyllion: A Shadow Fae; Can take the appearance of anyone or anything it has touched, like a pooka; Their bones can pierce the heart of any Fae; Looks like an ogre, has a black snake-like tongue, black blood and sharp jagged teeth; shares memories with other Gwyllion when they die;

Grith: Dark Fae creature with serrated teeth that can go through armor and bones.

The Horde: Unseelie/Dark Fae that will eat the flesh and bones of living Fae and Humans. Giant locust like creatures about the size of a large Pitbull with claws the size of a human arm.

Caorthannach: The mother of all demons.

Fachan: a cruel and malevolent Unseelie Fae that carries a spiked club, and only has one arm and one leg.

Brownies: happy, helpful, small, Seelie creatures with humanoid features.

Goblins: Dark Unseelie Fae creatures with sharp teeth.

Banshee: Dark Fae that wails a keening song that heralds death. Looks like a woman with long dark hair and wears a white dress.

Pixies: Tiny, winged, dark Unseelie Fae creatures who carry swords.

Ogres: Giant dark Unseelie Fae creatures.

Places:

Seelie Realm: the land of the Seelie/ Light Fae.

Shadow Realm: the land of the Unseelie/ Dark Fae.

Shadow Kin: the Unseelie/Dark Fae creatures.

Brimx Castle: the Seelie Realm castle close to the Human world.

Balnacraux: Near the Morar lands; where goblins eat children who venture too close to the woods. Where witches wear the pinkie finger bones of their prey as necklaces three rows thick. Where a Chim soaks his cap and cloak in its victims’ blood every night.

***

When Malcolm Gould stared at you, you were frozen in place, rooted to your seat on the uncomfortable bar stool, unable to move, let alone breathe. When those midnight blue eyes fell on me, I couldn’t tell whether he wanted to kill me or fuck me.

Regardless, I longed for his callused hands to wrap around my throat the way they wrapped around the bottle of beer he was drinking and touch me in ways I had never been touched before.

I liked pain, and Malcolm Gould was known for giving pain.

And he seemed to know that.

This was my second night here, hoping to get closer to him despite the danger. I never frequented the same bar twice. The last thing I needed was to be made as a monster hunter who let one of the bastards mind-fuck me like I was letting this Fae do now.

A week ago, I had steadied my hand from plunging the dagger into his heart the first night I came here, and he froze me in place with a mere glance.

I had tried to shake it off and done eight other kills in the meantime. But Malcolm drew me back in, invading my thoughts, my dreams, which was why I was here again. To figure out why he had such sway over me and to end it.

The bar grew hotter, quieter as the intensity between me and my prey spiked. Or I imagined having the upper hand and I was the quarry. I licked my lips, hating they trembled more than I planned, and inclined my head in an invitation to the empty bar stool next to me.

His mouth quirked in a crooked grin and my breath hitched. He shouldn’t be able to affect me like this.

Not when I had a job to remove all of his kind from the city. The vermin took everything from humans: money, power, sex, and life. They lived on the essence of a human’s soul. As far as I was concerned, every single one of the Fae could crawl back into whichever layer of hell they’d come from.

“I’ve seen you here before, yes?” His breath tickled my throat as he leaned in.

But he didn’t know I sensed him using his magic and charm that echoed in my head like someone had struck a crystal wind chime to seduce me and ensure his words were clear over the noise.

“Been to lots of places.” I smirked, slightly turning my body to face him. I’d dressed the part tonight, like I always did on a hunt like this, in a black cocktail dress that hit my thighs. There were slices in the fabric to show more skin and distract from the extra folds and pockets I’d sewn into it to hide my weapons.

“Why, do you come here often? Maybe you can recommend a better martini than the one I’m having.” I twirled my glass for effect. “It seems watered down.”

His laugh drew multiple stares from women and men alike throughout the bar. It took everything in me not to jump him right there and then.

Yeah, this Fae was way too dangerous.

I was immune to most of their powers, yet Malcolm had my panties already damp with his closeness.

“You don’t know who I am, do you?” he asked.

Sure I did. Since my last visit here, I’d researched Malcolm Gould—doubted that was his real name—and discovered all I wanted and more about the Fae playboy.

He owned this bar along with two other unnamed business associates. He went through girlfriends like a junkie on crack and never looked back, leaving a trail of missing women or broken ones in his tracks.

“Should I know you?” I snapped my fingers and feigned ignorance. “Wait, wait you’re that football player that scored the touchdown for the other team last week, right?”

His growl sent a shiver racing up my back, but instead of feeling I was on dangerous ground, it only excited me more. Shit! Just what kind of Fae is Malcolm?

“I own this bar.”

“And you play pro ball too?” I took a sip of my drink, purposely spilling a bit so he’d think I was drunker than he first thought. “Wow.”

“No, just the bar.” He sat on the bar stool beside me so smoothly like he had practiced the move a hundred times before. Reaching across the bar, his arm grazed mine and sent my core tightening. He gathered some cocktail napkins and handed them to me.

I dabbed at my dress, crossing my legs and letting one trail closer to his.

“How about we go upstairs to a more private area to hear each other better.” He leaned forward, his leg brushing aside mine.

His space filled mine, and I swore my aura purred from the contact.

“Private? Meaning your bedroom?” I leaned back a fraction, forcing my brows to furrow.

Fae like Malcolm wanted to be in charge, and they liked the chase. Make it too easy and he might lose interest and snatch up one of the other women drooling over him. “Sorry, I don’t do sexual romps with strangers.”

“Who said anything about sex? Though if that’s what’s on your mind, I can certainly entertain the idea.” His fingertips traced the edge of my dress along my thigh.

My thoughts jumbled into images of me and him tangled in sheets and screaming his name as ecstasy washed through me. I shook my head to dislodge the growing need to feel him inside me. To see if he was as good as I believed.

No, I needed to keep my head. As soon as we were alone, I had to kill him. Before he took whatever he wanted from me and left me dead.

“A golden martini for the lady, straight-up this time.” Malcolm’s bass voice sent heat coiling in my belly.

It was like dark chocolate wrapped around a delicious candy center. He was dangerous.

“You must try this one.” He gave me a lazy smile. “House special that only our favorite clientele are offered.”

The bartender set a glass in front of me filled with a golden, glittery liquid. I’d never seen anything like it before. I needed a sample of this Fae roof for Maggie to do a complete analysis on. Drinking it was out of the question as I didn’t know what it would do exactly, and my saliva would mess up the readings.

Malcolm’s laugh drew me back to him along with his hand, fiddling with the hem of my dress and making it hard to breathe.

“Never seen a woman refuse a free drink from me before.”

I shrugged a shoulder, pushing his hand from my leg. “I’m not most women.”

“I’m beginning to see that.” He leaned back, taking a long sip from his beer and reminding me again how much I wanted those hands on me, on my neck, everywhere.

Don’t get attached. Don’t get swooped under his spell.

“So what’s this made of?” I swirled the glimmering liquid in the glass, smelling a hint of fruit and something like vanilla. “Ambrosia? Idun’s Golden Apples?”

“Not exactly, though you’re a fan of mythology?” He quirked a dark eyebrow.

“Some.” I set the glass down, casually drawing my purse closer while unclasping the lock.

His sapphire eyes snapped to the movement. I didn’t need him suspecting I’d smuggle his specialty drink out or that I was here to kill him.

“You know, you’re right.” I slip my hand from my purse to rub the side of my neck, pushing back my chestnut hair. “I’d enjoy the martini and your company in a more private setting.”

For a second, he narrowed his eyes like he tried to read me.

He backs out now and I’m screwed.

This had to be tonight. I wouldn’t get another chance like this to be this close to him alone and find out what was in this drink.

Killing Fae, especially one this strong, was better when they’re distracted. Like when kissing, which I gritted my teeth and did for only the sexy ones who were too cunning and dangerous for an all-out fight.

Sneaky?

Of course, but I didn’t have any other choice. They outmatched me strength-wise, and it wasn't often I could get an advantage over them. The viler ones who looked like nightmares were easier. I could ambush those well enough. Fae like Malcolm who looked human were clever and much more dangerous. I always used whatever advantages I could to tip the scale in my favor even if that meant compromising my morals.

My body involuntarily shivered from the image of Malcolm’s hands on me. God, me reacting this way from a mere thought wasn’t good. What would happen if he kissed me, or I let him touch me in order to get close enough to kill him?

“Shall we?” He held out his hand.

Ignoring my wariness, I slipped mine inside his.

A tingle spread up my arm. I tucked my purse under my arm, then grabbed the martini. Needed to distract him long enough to get a sample.

For now, this took priority over killing him. This could tell us what had happened to the women who disappeared in the city. And if we found them alive, an antidote to whatever this sick Fae had planned. Though Malcolm would expect it to work shortly after I drank it.

He guided me through the bar to a private patio outback. Flowers dotted the wire screens and a small fountain with two lovers embracing stood in the middle of the miniature garden.

We followed the stoned-trail path to the lush marble fixture. The water carried the scent of jasmine and oranges.

“Amazing.” I swallowed, setting down my purse beside me on the marble ledge. “This is beautiful.”

“Took me years to get the plants to grow.” He nodded to a rose bush in the corner. “Everything would die as soon as I left for business. I’d return to a decayed mess.”

“How did you fix it?” I brought the martini glass to my lips, forgetting for a second not to take a chance that this wouldn’t make me forget all my inhibitions.

“Tinder.”

“I’m sorry, what?” Surely I heard him wrong. Why would he use tinder and burn this place? Then again, why did the Fae do anything?

“You’ll see.” Malcolm let out a low whistle.

When a bell jingled nearby, I tensed. My hand moved to my hip where I had the iron and silver twined knife.

A black cat leapt into Malcolm's arms, purring so loudly I heard him from where I stood.

“This little guy saved the garden.” Malcolm rubbed his head. “Something about the magic of Tinder keeps the plants alive. I can’t explain it, but you can see for yourself how the garden is thriving, and I’ve been in New York for over a week.”

Unable to help myself, I set my glass down and strode closer, brushing Tinder’s dark fur. His purr vibrated against my palm. I didn’t think the cat was Fae, but there was something special about him.

The cat jumped onto the ground, and I was so close to Malcolm that his breath of mint and liquor enveloped me. When I moved to step back, his hand snatched on my forearm, stopping me.

My mind screamed to go for another knife, but my body froze again by his dark blue eyes like I had been inside the bar. I inhaled a hiss and tried to break the trance. My gaze shifted from his eyes to his luscious full lips.

Bad, bad mistake. Now I couldn’t stop thinking about him kissing me and feeling those lips on every part of my body.

His fingers pressed into my skin as he drew me nearer.

“What kind of game are you playing?” he asked in a growling tone.

Shit, that isn’t good. What had given me away? I had to remedy this fast. I placed my free hand on his chest, thrilled his heartbeat pulsed against my fingers through his thin shirt. I tilted my head up with a coy smile.

“Why don’t you find out?”