As Good as Gold Read Online Free PDF

had been set back in its place.
    He’d kissed her again, and in her mind, this was how things were supposed to be. The faerie had been right.
    She wanted him to kiss her again, though her heart had skipped a beat when she thought he was going to carry her off the road and ravish her. A tiny corner of her heart wanted him to. That same tiny corner wanted to goad him into it.
    But he had run away, taking the faerie with him.
    Oh! If Alishandra discovered that someone else had the faerie...
    Fear carried Daywen the rest of the way to the garish wagon.
    Sure enough, Bel had beaten her to it. She heard him calling out in the glen before she saw him. Daywen emerged, panting and prickly with sweat a moment before Alishandra slipped through the trees.
    The gypsy glanced over Bel before settling her gaze on Daywen. “I see ye have found him.”
    “Found nothing!” Bel insisted. He strode up to Alishandra and thrust the velvet back into her hands. “Lift this spell and give me back my gold.”
    Alishandra’s hand closed over the bag. “What spell? And no.”
    Bel’s hand went to his waist and rested on his dagger. “You tricked her and trapped me.”
    “I did nothing of the sort.”
    “Then what is this?” he demanded, pointing to his head.
    Alishandra came closer to him and sniffed about him. “The real source lies within you. I’d say you’ve been the victim of someone else.”
    Daywen felt let down. “Then what has the faerie done?”
    “What it was meant to do for ye; show ye the best match for ye, nothing more. For you, she is simply to glow when she senses the presence of an ideal man.” Alishandra lifted the bag to her ear. “And she tells me she has done that.”
    Alishandra waved her hand in dismissal, sending her bracelets clattering. “Now off ye go and dance at your wedding. I wish ye both many fat babies.” She turned to leave.
    Bel caught her by the arm. “What about my gold?”
    “You mean my gold?” Alishandra spat at him.
    Bel grabbed her by the front of her shawl and growled in her face when a voice interrupted them.
    “Meine Goldmünzen?” it said.
    Both Bel and Alishandra turned to face the newest arrival.
    The Germanic gnome stood in the clearing. “Sie sind schnell, Sohn von Adam, aber nicht schnell genug,” it said. “Wo sind meine Goldmünzen?”
    Daywen had no clue what he said, but she recognized the word “Gold”. She drew in a deep breath and put her hand over her mouth.
    Alishandra’s eyes narrowed.
    Bel drew in a breath as he faced off the gnome. “Sie hat sie,” he said, pointing to Alishandra. “She’s got your gold, you wretched creature.”
    The gnome looked at him, then at her. He stepped closer and held out his hand. “Ich habe meine Goldmünzen zurück jetzt.”
    Daywen’s gaze rested on the velvet bag of the faerie which Alishandra clutched in her hand as she faced down the gnome, shrieking at the fey creature in a language Daywen didn’t understand. She had a sinking feeling that she would never get it back, nor would she ever get another.
    When she turned around, Bel had gone.
    ****
    “Belenus, back so soon?” His mother’s smile faded as she looked upon the angry countenance of her son.
    “What did you do to me, Mother?” He stared down at this frail old woman. He’d never expected such interference from her.
    Her eyes shifted in a way that reminded him of the gypsy woman. “What do you mean?”
    He threw his arms out. “You’re interfering in my life. Where did ye get magic like that?”
    His mother gave up her pretenses. She steepled her fingers before her and tapped them against her lips. “I am disappointed in you, Belenus. I will not tell you what I have done, for I see I wasted such a precious gift on you.” Then she turned her face from him.
    “Now, Mother...” If anyone could get to him, it was her. He knew how much she loved him, how much she’d sacrificed for him growing up. He knelt by her chair. “Please, Mother. Tell me what