That part of Paris you were in last night is called FaeryTown, Ry said. Its where the realm of Faery overlaps the mortal realm. Its always been there. Humans arent aware of it. They walk through never knowing that faeries are all around them, living, existing, doing drugs.
Drugs?
Rather, the faeries sell their dust to Er, she probably didnt need to know about vampires and their addiction to faery dust right now. Anyway, I saw you sitting on the curb, and you could see me.
I did see you. Her eyebrows narrowed. She was starting to think too much.
Ry jumped in for the save. At that moment, I realized I shouldnt have been able to see you, so I figured that you had somehow breached the fabric between the two realms and were actually in FaeryTown. And since you say youve seen faeries in your garden, then maybe you have the sight.
Is that an ability to see faeries?
Yes. I have it. And thats what allows me to enter FaeryTown and to interact with its inhabitants.
Which is why you were there with a big sword and hell gleaming in your eyes?
You did see those black things flying above me.
I did. Not nice?
The nastiest of the not nice. I cant allow them to enter the mortal realm, so I go there every night to slay them.
Every night?
At midnight. One or two collectors come through from Faery.
Collectors? Thats what you call the black sparkly things?
Yes. And while you dont need to know everything, just know that it would be a very bad situation if one got through to this realm. Meaning, they pierced the borders of FaeryTown and completely entered the human realm.
Uh-huh. She rapped her fingers on her leg a few times, then tilted her head at him. Her big blue eyes were so deeply colored they were almost violet. Faeries had violet eyes. But she wasnt faery. Hed sense her faery nature if she was. And she had bled the other night. Red blood. Faery blood was clear and sparkly.
So youre like Batman, then?
Batman? Ry crimped his eyebrows. I just fell off this conversational thread.
Well, I, uh she tapped a finger against her lip and squinted one eye shut kind of sort of...googled you.
To be expected.
I know youre a famous billionaire philanthropist. Thats totally Bruce Wayne. And then you fight the bad guys at night? She shrugged. Batman.
I, uh, would never call myself that, but whatever works for you. Probably more like wolfman, but he was trying to avoid that branch of conversation right now.
So... Indigo placed her hand over her throat again. One of those things, a collector, scratched me. I think?
Yes. And they are deadly to humans. By the time I got to your side, your breathing was shallow. You were going to die.
She gaped at him.
I carried you to a faery healer and she saved your life. She owed me one. Well, not exactly, but I wasnt going to take a no from her because of our history.
Your history?
Its not important. Hestia agreed to heal you. I didnt watch, but it took about twenty minutes. And whatever she gave youthe herbs or faery magic she worked on youmust be whats making you so tired and feeling as if youve been hit by a truck.
That was how I felt yesterday. Only a small car this evening. So a real live faery healed me? Kept me from dying?
He nodded.
And then you carried me here to take care of me?
I wouldnt call letting you crawl under a table taking care of you.
I was probably delirious.
Close.
Okay, so faeries exist and they are doing some bad things in Paris, and you go out nightly with your sword to make sure it doesnt happen.
I try my best.
What are these collectors doing? Killing people?
No, uh... He winced.
Ryland. She touched his leg and it sent such a shock of intense desire through him that he sucked in a breath. But now was no time to kiss her. Even if the compulsion was screaming for just that right now. You seem like a smart man. Doing good for others by giving away your money. Avoiding the celebrity because thats not you. I did creep on you online. Dont hold that against me. Anyway, you dont seem like a man prone to flights of fancy.
I never take to fanciful flight.
Her smile was so cute, curling the corners of her lips like a heart. I think I can believe everything youve told me. I want to, anyway. Its the best explanation for my worst night ever. But you have to tell me everything. Please?
I dont know what else there is to say. As for what Ive told you, I would normally never tell things like this to anyone. Well, I tell Kristine.
A girlfriend?
No, my secretary. She knows me inside and out. And she knows that this realm is populated by more than merely humans.
You keep saying human like its something youre not. She dipped her head to meet his gaze. Are you a faery?
I thought you wanted to hear about the collectors.
I do, but... Okay. Tell me.
He hadnt dodged that one and knew the bullet would ricochet around to hit its target soon enough. Stalling for time had never been his thing. He always liked to come right out with it. Unless it related to revealing his true nature.
Collectors have only recently been infiltrating this realm, he said. I know because I got curious after a news reports about stolen infants.
I remember that a few weeks ago. Such an awful thing. Something like three newborn babies taken from their cribs.
Right. Do you know about how faeries take human infants from their beds and replace them with changelings?
Ive only read about such a thing in faery tales. Thats something that really happens?
It does. Or it did. Its been almost thirty years since any major baby thefts have occurred and changelings were left behind. Related to Faery, that is. But its started again. Only this time, the faeries have decided not to leave a changeling in the human babys place. They just take the baby and run.
What do they want the babies for? She pressed fingers to her lips. Oh, my god, do they eat them?
No. Faeries have a thing for half-breeds. Unless its half demon. Thats a long story. But suffice, they raise the humans in Faery and when they are grown, breed them with their own. Its not like a breeding farm. Some are treated as family. But its how things have always been done.
Thats fucked.
Gotta agree with that assessment.
It sounds like human trafficking.
When you put it that way, it is similar.
Youre protecting innocent babies. Thats so honorable.
I try. Ive gone out every night for the past two weeks. Each night I slay one or two collectors. They often come in pairs, sometimes just the one.
Ry stood and paced to the windows that looked out over the city. Twilight was creeping up and the streetlights below fought with the remaining daylight. The sky was a hazy azure-and-gray violet. Behind him, he heard Indigo shift on the sofa.
You dont have to buy everything Ive told you, he said over his shoulder. But its the truth. And... He turned to face her. You cant tell anyone about this.
You dont have to buy everything Ive told you, he said over his shoulder. But its the truth. And... He turned to face her. You cant tell anyone about this.
Who would believe me? Ive got enough problems without adding crazy faery lady to the list. And I do believe you. Can I just say its kind of cool to know you? I mean, you really are Batman.
Call me what you want. But Im not a superhero. All I want is to stop innocent families from having their precious children stolen.
I wish there was a way I could help you. Im glad you trusted me to tell me.
She walked up beside him, and when he sensed she was looking up at him Ryland met her gaze. The outside light gleamed in her eyes and gave her skin a soft matte texture that looked finer than the most expensive silk. He wanted to kiss her. He should kiss her.
One last question, she said. And this one is the most important.
Shoot.
When I was hiding out in the alley, watching you battle the collectors with your sword, I saw something.
Like what?
I saw you change. Briefly. Your whole body bulked up and your face... Ry, what are you?
Chapter 5
I should have kissed you when I was thinking about it, Ry said.
Indis jaw dropped open. The man had been... You were thinking about kissing me?
He nodded. Smirked. A sexy move that crinkled the corner of one eye. Just now.
Indi forgot her question. Had she asked him something? The man wanted to kiss her? Then why are you standing there staring at me?
His smirk curled to an outright grin. And as he leaned forward, kiss forthcoming, the delicious aura of him surrounded Indi with a fresh, outdoorsy gush of man and might. Overwhelmed by his stature and the sudden glee that invaded her core, she could but remember to close her mouth as his lips touched hers and one of his hands slid across her back to firmly take her in hand.
This was a slow and focused seduction of her senses that lifted Indi onto her tiptoes to taste his lips, his teeth, his tongue. He clutched her tighter and deepened the kiss. The move made her feel safe and owned, yet also alive and sensual. The man knew how to hold a woman.
Gliding her hand up his chest, she slipped her fingers through the ends of his long hair and clutched at it, inadvertently pulling him closer to her, into her, if possible.
She sighed against his mouth as he tilted his head to change their angle. And when his other hand slid down her hip and over her ass, Indi couldnt resist lifting a leg to hook at his hip. And then the other leg. He held her there, wrapped about him, sinking into his taste, his smell, the hardness of his body and the gentle control of holding her.
Something perfect about this moment. But she wasnt going to analyze right now. Now was for pressing her breasts against his chest. Her nipples hardened and the man who held her groaned into their kiss. It sent an erotic hum through Indis system. She rocked her hips forward, wanting the sensations to travel deep, and knew she was growing wet. Just from a kiss. A stunning, all-consuming kiss.
All of a sudden, Ry broke their connection and said, Whew!
Indi realized shed actually jumped into his arms and decided that had been a bit forward, so she disengaged from him. With reluctance. Tugging at her ponytail and stretching her gaze along the floor, she couldnt prevent a giddy grin.
I think I forgot my name, she confessed. And then when she looked up into his eyes, and he delivered her a waggle of eyebrows, she lost it and broke into a giggle. Seriously, that was some kind of powerful kiss.
I could give you another one. Unless that one was too much to handle?
Oh, I can handle a lot. Bring it.
Rys smile collided with hers. And with a giggle, Indi again jumped up to fit her legs about his waist. He reached around and cupped her derriere, all while diving deep into her.
Had she come here to make out with the man? It hadnt been her intent. Shed had questions. That had been answered. Most of them. Yet the flexing of his pecs and abs against her torso enticed her to abandon her previous worries and simply fall into the moment.
Hot and firm, his mouth. And he knew exactly how to kiss her. She clung to his wide biceps as he opened her mouth in a deep, lush takeover. He wanted to be inside her? Yes, yes, and oh, baby, yes, please.
You are some kind of delicious, Princess Pussycat.
I like when you call me that. But it reminds me of my tattered dress that will never get clean. How could you have thought me a princess when I must have looked like
The next kiss was immediate and urgent. And it felt like the admonishment it had been meant to be. Shed been going down the route of complaining and putting herself down, and Ry stopped her. Bless him.
Clutching at his hair behind his neck, she curled it around her fingers and felt her toes curl within the strappy gladiator sandals. Had a kiss ever been so sensual? Targeted to her very core? Every part of her reacted to every part of him. And if she could get any closer to him she would, but she was already clinging to him for all the sweet, hot contact he would give her.
When they finally parted, she lingered in his arms this time, enjoying the feel of his warm chest against her torso and she hugged him. She wrapped her fingers about each of his biceps. So strong. Then she remembered how hed wielded the sword as if a Viking warrior.
And those creatures. Collectors. From Faery.
Indi slid down from the embrace and tugged at her skirt. Youre very sneaky, she said.
One of Rys eyebrows lifted in question.
That was a well-timed kiss. And the follow-up kisses distracted me from the question I asked you. But I cant forget. What I saw that night is seared into my brain.
She gave one of his biceps a squeeze, feeling the strength in his pulsing reaction. She felt sure many men who worked out were as solid and pumped as him. But did they wander about a place where faeries and humans overlapped carrying big swords? And did they...change?
What are you, Ryland?
He stepped back from her, swooping a hand over his hair, a devastatingly sexy move that spilled the brown locks over an ear and forward against his neck and under his jaw. Indis fingers wiggled, anticipating another glide through that delicious darkness.
And yet he looked down at her with an expression she couldnt figure. Challenge? Or an intense anxiety that he tried to bolster with silence?
Are you a faery, too? she prompted, unwilling to ignore her curiosity. Because, you know, I am on board with all the faery stuff. Apparently.
He was the last example of what shed expect a faery should look like. But then, those black sparkly things had never been in her mental catalog of what should and shouldnt be a faery. The few shed thought to see in the backyard garden had been no higher than her index finger and had looked human and had sported glittery wings.
He exhaled heavily, one of those disapproving sighs that could go either way. Resignation or acceptance.
Indi dared to meet his gaze again, and this time he nodded and shoved his hands in his front pockets. Walking to the windows, he stood there for a while. The streetlights beamed and, while the sky was yet light, the moon was nearly full. It hung above the distant spire of the Eiffel Tower. A pretty picture. Made even more intriguing by the silhouette of the handsome yet seemingly troubled man standing before her.