Page 5 of Tempting the Fae Lord
I watch until the Gatekeeper’s black leather-clad back vanishes around the corner. He takes with him the frenetic buzz of energy he brought, and we settle back into the night’s amusements: Amaris and I to our game, Jack and Marissa to theirs, and Eulayla to her knitting.
But I’m antsy now. Curious. The urge to follow and see more of him tonight rises like the full moon.
Other than the folks in this house and perhaps half of the villagers, the entire realm hates the Gatekeeper. For what he is.What he’s tasked to do. For being solitary and detached. They say he has ice in his veins.
They say far worse things than that.
Ultimately, it’s his fault I’m stuck here and not thriving on the other side of the gate with my real family, where I belong. By all accounts, I should hate him too.
But I don’t.
I can’t.
I’m far too fascinated by him for something so simple as hate.
Chapter Two
Gale
“Nature calls.”I excuse myself from the game, prompting a whine and narrowed gaze from Amaris.
“You promised.” She pouts.
“I’ll only be gone a moment. Then you may continue mopping the board with me.”
She rolls her eyes and crosses her arms. “Fine, but hurry.”
Carefully, I follow Chester and the Gatekeeper, sneaking on light feet through the wide hallway. Should I be nosy and spy on them? No. Will my curiosity get the better of me someday? Probably. Am I already halfway to the study to peek through the keyhole? Yes.
I crouch, close one eye, squint the other, and peep through the tiny opening. Chester is seated in a brown leather armchair. He looks relaxed and unbothered by what’s about to happen.
The Gatekeeper stands at his side. “Are you well?”
Chester huffs a laugh, unbuttoning the cuff of his sleeve. “As well as this old man gets these days.”
“If you are in pain, let me help.” Gracefully, he kneels and rests a hand on Chester’s knee.
Chester shakes his head. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
“You needn’t handle any. A small drop of my blood will go a long way.”
“Thank you.” Chester pats the Gatekeeper’s hand. “But no.”
“If you change your mind, you’ll say the word, hmm?”
“I will.” He offers his left arm.
With gentle hands, the Gatekeeper tilts Chester’s wrist just so. He darts his tongue out and wets his lips, which he then draws back to reveal the twin daggers of his fangs.
I shiver.
He bites.
Chester doesn’t flinch. Utters no sound. Just closes his eyes and continues breathing as if this were a totally ordinary thing to be doing.
I suppose for them, it is.
The Gatekeeper’s throat bobs as he swallows. Not even the tiniest drop of scarlet spills from the seam of his lips.
