Glimmerglass

“Any chance you could give me a little breathing room?” I asked him as we left a silversmith’s store. I’d have loved to have taken more time looking at the jewelry, but Fi

Fi

I frowned up at him. “Do you talk?” Maybe that was on the blunt side, but I was getting tired of his strong, silent-type act.

One corner of his mouth twitched, like he was suppressing a smile. “Only when necessary,” he answered. He had the deep, rumbling voice that went with his size. He was nowhere near as big as Lachlan, but he was still one of the biggest Fae I’d ever seen. At least, I was assuming he was Fae. A human bodyguard wouldn’t have done me much good against Fae kidnappers and their magic.

“I find it necessary for you to explain why you have to stand this close all the time.”

He lowered his glasses so I could see his striking, emerald-green eyes with their distinctive Fae tilt. Those eyes were like a secret weapon, so gorgeous I felt my own eyes widening in surprise. Then he cracked a smile, and my breath caught in my throat. He’d give Ethan a run for his money in the oh-my-God-you’re-gorgeous arena.

“I have to be close enough to put myself between you and harm, if necessary,” he said. The smile disappeared, and he pushed the glasses back into place, transforming himself once more from stud-muffin to Secret Service Man. Apparently, that was the end of our conversation.

To tell you the truth, I was kind of glad he’d put the glasses back up, or I might have tripped over my own feet staring. It’s not like I’d never seen a good-looking guy before, but let’s face it, the Fae take good-looking to a whole new level.

I kept wandering, but I hadn’t bought anything yet. Then I saw one of the few chain stores that had a foothold in Avalon: Victoria’s Secret. Cruel creature that I am, I couldn’t resist going in, wondering how Fi

Of course, he didn’t. React, that is. He just followed me around as usual, the sunglasses firmly in place. Even with his eyes hidden and his I’m-a-scary-dude vibe, I caught one of the sales girls checking out the rear view. It made me smile.

I headed for the panties that were on sale—I could buy a bra, but it would be little more than window dressing on my pathetically flat chest. Hoping to make Fi

Not wanting Fi

My feet were starting to hurt, so despite a distinct lack of swag to show for my shopping efforts, I headed back to the Starbucks I’d seen. Of course, with my sense of direction, I took a couple of unintended detours along the way. When Fi

I bought a venti mocha with plenty of whipped cream. I offered to get something for Fi

I had just picked up my drink and was sca

“Hey!” I protested, but he just stood there like a wall. I wasn’t even sure he felt the hot coffee that soaked the back of his spiffy suit jacket.

“I have no ill intent,” a voice said. Ethan’s voice.

I felt a cold lump form in the pit of my stomach as I peeked around Fi

Ethan held both hands up in a gesture of surrender. “I just want to talk to Dana for a moment,” he said. He must have seen me, but he had eyes only for Fi

The cameo suddenly felt hot against my chest, and I reached up to fidget with it. It wasn’t so hot as to be uncomfortable, but it was definitely warmer than it should have been. My skin prickled like there was a current of static electricity ru

“Sir, I’d advise you to keep your distance,” Fi

Ethan looked away from Fi

I folded my arms across my chest—careful not to spill any more precious drops of mocha—and glared. “I have nothing to say to you.” I hoped I sounded angry, though looking at him again made my chest ache. I shouldn’t have felt so betrayed, not when I’d known all along that he was too good to be true. But I did.

Ethan ran a hand through his hair. “I couldn’t have screwed things up any more if I’d tried,” he said, “but you don’t know everything yet. There’s something else I have to tell you.”

The prickling sensation hadn’t gone away. Was lightning about to strike or something? I uncrossed my arms and rolled my shoulders, hoping to dispel the feeling.

“Go ahead and talk,” I said in my flattest voice.

“In private,” Ethan said.

“Not go

Ethan looked exasperated—and even, maybe, a bit scared. “I don’t mean private as in a room with a closed door. I mean private as in the two of us sit down at a table and you do your looming a few feet away. I’m no match for a Knight, and we both know it. She’ll be in no danger.”

Note to self: ask Dad later what a Knight is. Because I could hear the capital letter, and I knew it meant something more to these two than it meant to me.

Fi

“It will be as my lady wishes,” Fi

My lady? Had we suddenly been transported back to the middle ages? But no, somehow I didn’t think they had Starbucks back then.

Ethan turned a pleading look on me. “Dana, it’s very important. Believe me, I wouldn’t be risking a Knight’s wrath if it weren’t.”

I sure didn’t want to talk to him at the moment. In fact, I was pretty sure I never wanted to talk to him again. But I doubted I’d be able to sleep at night if I didn’t hear whatever it was Ethan had to tell me.

“All right,” I said.

Fi

“You’re kind of a jerk, you know. She was there first.”