Bayou Shadow Protector

“Like hell. But forget that. I want straight answers from you.” He sat across from her. “Who and what are you?”

April chose her words carefully, ones that she’d practiced ever since she’d been called to solicit help from the shadow hunters. “I’m an ambassador of sorts. Sent to warn you that Hoklonote is seeking dominion over the Fae realm—”

“Whoa.” He leaned forward, eyes gleaming. “The Fae realm? There really are such things as fairies, then? Is that what you—”

“I’m not a real fairy.” At least not a pure one.

“You’re lying. That was you I saw in the woods.” He swiftly lowered his lips to her neck and sniffed. “That’s it. That’s the scent.”

April inched away, dismayed at his heightened sense of smell and at the same time aroused at the intimate contact. “I already told you I was there,” she said coolly, hiding the flustered beating of her heart.

“I smelled violets by that tree. It’s the way you smell.”

“I use a floral perfume,” she said, determined to refocus the conversation back to what mattered. “As I was saying, the Fae sent me to warn you and ask your help to defeat Hoklonote. They aren’t the only ones in danger here. If Hoklonote forces the Fae to work with him, he might succeed in unleashing Nalusa.”

He gave a low whistle. “You know your stuff. I’ll give you that.”

“Of course I do. I couldn’t solicit your help without knowing the situation.”

“An ambassador, huh? What the hell does that mean?”

She ran a hand over her skirt, ignoring the question. “Will you help us—I mean, will you help the Fae?” She sucked at lying.

“I’m not agreeing to a damn thing until you tell me the truth.” His eyes burned with anger...and perhaps a touch of fever.

Back off, April. He’s not buying what you’re selling. She reached across and ran a hand down his heated cheek. More than temper was at play. “You’re unwell. I can read it in your eyes and the flush on your face.”

“Nothing wrong with me. Just a headache from hell.”

Not likely. But she’d help him with that. “And your friend?”

“Worse. But he’s in good hands with Annie. She’ll fix him something to ease his pain.”

“Tia Henrietta’s granddaughter? The witch?” All the Fae had heard of Tia, the hoodoo queen of the swamp. Stood to reason that her granddaughter, Annie, was psychically gifted as well.

“Don’t call her that,” he snapped.

“I didn’t mean it as an insult. What does she call herself?”

“A root worker. Says she’s into hoodoo.”

April couldn’t understand the distinction. But whatever. Magic was magic no matter which name humans chose to call it.

A sliver of jealousy clawed her heart. So Chulah stuck up for this woman? While she had been saving him from harm for years, and was viewed with mistrust. She could ease her man’s pain, too, with a little Fae enchantment. April discreetly blew out a breath and directed her essence toward Chulah.

The pain lines in his forehead eased and the tension in his shoulders relaxed. He sat up suddenly. “Hey, what are you doing?”

She gave him her most doe-eyed look and shrugged, palms out. “Do you see me holding a fairy wand?”

“No, but...” Confusion knotted his brow. “This...this wave of...calm washed over me.”

“Bet this is the best you’ve felt since last night.” His eyes turned cold at the mention, so she hurried to add, “Judging by the look on your face when you opened the door.”

He shut his eyes. “I’m not going to fight you over this. I do feel better.” He cocked one eye open. “But no more of that fairy stuff. Okay?”

“I’m not a fairy, but agreed.” April kicked off her shoes and hugged her knees to her chest, trying to contain her glee. He’d accepted her help! After the fact, without prior permission.

But still. Progress could be measured in the tiniest of increments. There was hope they could help each other with more important matters. Like Hoklonote.

But we might not have time for this, Steven’s words whispered in her ears. As if he were sitting beside her. April frowned, but couldn’t pick up any sign he was present. She must be paranoid; Steven couldn’t slip past the sage and salt any more than she could. Chulah didn’t sense something amiss either, or he wouldn’t be half-asleep in the chair.

Poor guy probably hadn’t slept all night.

“Maybe you should drink some coffee or something,” she suggested. She’d volunteer to make it for him, but had no clue how to perform domestic chores.

He picked up a can of soda and took a swig. “I’m fine.”

The man sure liked those drinks. She wondered what was in it. “Can I have a sip?” she asked impulsively.

Chulah handed her the soda he was drinking and she tilted the can back, downing its contents in a long swallow. Sharp bubbles scalded her tongue and throat. Disgusting. She crinkled her nose.

“Not your taste? I’ve got—”

Hiccup. Her body jerked upward.

“Aha! You rose again. Just like you did when you drank that brandy. Not a fairy, my ass.”

She was so, so sick of the lies between them. At least, in this, she could acquiesce. The man wasn’t stupid, and she refused to slowly enchant Chulah in order to force his cooperation. “Liquid seems to have that effect on me,” she admitted.

“It was you I saw in the woods.”

It wasn’t a question.

“Steven claims it’s some glitch in the glamour causing the levitation,” she continued, all business. As if this were a normal conversation. “Anyway, I came over because I thought we should have a little talk. One-on-one.” And not with his friends turning him against her.

Chulah scowled. “Of course you did. The better to influence me, right? I can’t believe a thing you say.”

“I’m telling the truth now. You know my deep, dark secret.” One of them, anyway.

“Yeah, right.” He stood and paced. “Bet you have a million secrets buried under that beautiful, innocent face.”

Beautiful. He thinks I’m beautiful. That was something she could grasp and hold on to while facing his disgust.

“I’m not considered particularly beautiful by the other Fae,” she said casually. “To them, I’m not even run-of-the-mill pretty. ‘A bit plain’ is how I’m usually described.”

Chulah snorted. “Impossible. Harder to believe than the fact that you aren’t human.”

“I’m half-human. On my father’s side,” she said quickly. As if this might make her appear more acceptable and less foreign.