Page 23 of Ancient Magic

“I paid your debt,” she informed him in icy tones. “And in return I told you I never wanted to see you again. It was a simple transaction.”

“I have left you alone,” he insisted, grabbing the bottle of wine to pour himself a large glass of the dark liquid. He drained it in one gulp before returning the empty glass to the table. Then, clearing his throat, he finally got to the point of why they were sitting in the noisy demon pub. “But now I’m in trouble.”

Skye rolled her eyes. Of course he was. “And?”

“And I need your help.”

“What sort of help?”

There was a tense pause before Howard leaned forward. “I’m having some money problems and I need—”

“I knew this would be a waste of time,” Skye sharply interrupted his plea for a handout, scooting out of the booth.

She had plenty of money, but she wasn’t stupid. The minute her father believed she could be a steady source of income was the minute he would become a perpetual intruder in her life. Like a barnacle she couldn’t scrape off.

“Skye, I’m serious,” Howard rasped, hurriedly wiggling his way across and off the bench to stand next to her.

“So am I,” she warned, stepping back as he tried to grab her arm.

His bloodshot eyes glittered with his first genuine emotion. Fear. “They’ll kill me.”

“A shame, but I have no doubt you brought on whatever terrible fate is waiting for you.”

He blinked, as if caught off guard by her stubborn refusal to be swayed by his dramatic claim.

“You don’t care if I die?”

Did she? Skye took a moment to consider the question. It was true that he’d kept her with him after her mother’s death. At least until he found a way to make money off her. Maybe she should feel some grief at the thought that he might be in danger. But honestly, he might as well be a stranger.

She had no feelings for him, one way or another.

“As I said. It’s a shame.” She shrugged, preparing to bring an end to the unwanted meeting. “But it’s not my problem. The only reason I came here was to make sure you understood that I don’t want you in my life. Don’t ever contact me again.”

“Skye.” Without warning, her father lunged forward and grasped her upper arm. “I’m so sorry.”

Skye eyed him in confusion. “Sorry for what?”

He didn’t answer, but he didn’t need to. A prickle of heat wrapped around Skye. A demon was approaching. One who possessed enormous power.

Cautiously she turned her head, discovering the two fey she’d spotted at the back of the pub had crossed the narrow space to stand directly behind her. One was short, barely taller than herself, with deep-red hair chopped short and green eyes. He was wearing a black sweatshirt and jogging pants, as if he was trying to blend into the shadows. His aura was green, but no more than average strength.

It was his companion who was giving off the pulse waves of power.

Allowing her gaze to skim over the taller male, Skye took an instinctive step away. Most fey creatures were lovely. This male was exquisitely beautiful with satin-smooth skin and pale green eyes with flecks of jade. His golden hair was long enough to brush his shoulders and he had a golden stubble on his chiseled jawline. His lean body was shown to perfection in a tight, emerald-green turtleneck and black jeans that molded to his long legs.

There was something oddly familiar about the elegant features, but she didn’t think she’d seen him before. This wasn’t the sort of male you would forget. Still, there was something in the manner he peered down the narrow length of his nose and the half smile that played around his lips that stirred her memory.

Skye didn’t bother to try to pinpoint the vague sense of recognition. She was far more interested in the aura that surrounded the fairy. It was a deep green, revealing his bloodlines were royal, but it was the jagged streaks of silver running through the glow that captured her attention. It looked like lightning dancing around him.

She’d never seen anything like it.

Unease trickled down her spine as she turned back to glare at her father. “This was a trap?” she demanded.

He tried to look apologetic, but he couldn’t disguise his relief that his part in the nefarious plot to lure her to this pub was presumably coming to an end.

“I had no choice.”

“We always have a choice.” She shook her head in disgust. “You consistently make the wrong one.”

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