Page 2 of Bound By Blood
It glanced back over its shoulder. Its ears laid flat down the back of its skull as it howled and scratched faster at the wall, jumping up.
"Are you in trouble?" She started to lean out but remembered the warnings.
No. She was human. She shouldn't go out beyond the boundaries of the house. But maybe…
She gestured toward the door. "Come on, baby."
The dog let loose another howl, then stopped short.
She hurried from her bedroom to the kitchen with its small sitting area and broad door. It only took a few seconds to unfasten the heavy black iron bolts over the door.
Little claws scraped at the door, the cries intensifying. As she flung the door open, the odd little creature peered up at her. It whined, lifting one tiny dark paw as if asking for permission.
She glanced out once more.
The wards would protect her from anything malicious that might change its form to gain entrance.
Crouching down, she held out her hand. "Come on, sweetheart. It's all right."
The dog inched forward, its dark wings folded tightly across its back. Poor darling was so ugly and yet adorable all at once. The uneven tufts of fur made it look a touch ragged, but hope shone in those big red eyes. That little stub of a tail wagged faster as it sniffed her fingertips, then gave her a tentative lick. The reptilian wings reminded her of little dragon wings. Was it a dog-dragon? Was there such a thing? It had tiny little tusks protruding from its mouth.
"Yes, it's all right," she said. "Come on."
It came closer, continuing to sniff and lick at her fingers as its tail wagged so fast it shook the whole of its hindquarters.
If ever there was a little creature in need of a home, it was this one. It had no collar or markings to indicate where it belonged. Looked like a male. He whimpered as she scratched behind his ear.
"Are you thirsty, sweetheart?"
She started to stand, then froze. Footsteps splashed through the creek, drawing rapidly nearer.
Her heart clenched. She had been paying so much attention to the dog that she had forgotten about the door.
The dog twisted around as well, giving a yip of alarm.
As she moved toward the door, a dark figure raced up toward the house. "Get back here!" an angry male voice shouted.
Rustling garments and heavy footsteps drew closer. The dog barked and ran behind her legs.
She straightened as she saw the stranger. Oh, thank all that was good this house was warded and consecrated because that was a blood fae.
He was easily several inches taller than she with a strong frame highlighted by the dark-blue velvet garb he wore. He might have been handsome except his expression was contorted with fury as he glared down at the little dog.
"Don't shout at him," she snapped, scooping the dog up.
The poor creature clearly wanted nothing to do with the fae. And while it really wasn't smart to shout at a blood fae, she was safe in her home. For now. He couldn't cross the threshold or enter unless she invited him. And—well—an odd protectiveness for this little creature had come over her. If anything happened to him, she would die.
"Can't you see he's scared?"
"He?" The fae straightened, seeming to notice her for the first time. A bewildered expression pinched his face. His deep-purple eyes narrowed. "That's not a real anything, human. That's a magical apparition that took the wrong shape, and it has gotten out of hand. Return it to me now. It does not belong to you."
"What are you going to do with him?"
How had this fae gotten past the wards anyway? What magic did he really have?
He shook his head at her, his lip curling. "I don't owe you answers. What I do with my magic is my own business."
"He's in my house. That makes this my business. I don't let anyone hurt dogs."
