Born of Fire Read Online Free PDF Page A

news have you brought?”
    The tiny fae wrinkled her face in concentration. Fiach almost laughed, but knew it would only upset her. Bella had the temperament of a five-year-old human, as most of the smallest fae did. “I have it!” she trilled. “The Lady wishes you to come home for a visit.
    Since you reached the age of majority you have refused to visit her. She wishes to know why you prefer the company of humans to that of your own mother.”
    Fiach rolled his eyes; he’d been expecting this form of attack for some time now.
    “Would you please tell the Lady I only want some time for myself? I would like to enjoy freedom for a while before she and Father find some new way to chain me.”
    The little fae glowed brilliantly. “How dare you mention Him and the Lady on the same breath? He is demon spawn; Lord or not, he was never the equal to our Lady!”
    “I’m his son too, Bella. What does that make me?”
    Bella flew to his shoulder and embraced the side of his face. “I am most sorry, my Lord. You cannot help your parentage. That vile monster should never have been allowed to touch a hair on your glorious head.”
    Fiach snorted, but covered it with a cough so as not to hurt her feelings. “You are very kind, Bella.”
    “I know. I have worked most hard at it.” She grinned devilishly. She patted her tiny pockets until she found a small vial with silver and sapphire liquids swirling through the center. She offered it to Fiach, who accepted it hesitantly. It was rarely a good idea to take anything the fae offered, but it was equally dangerous to refuse their gifts. Even though his mother was the Lady of the Sidhe Court, these smaller fae were less easily ruled than their larger cousins, and his half-demon blood was a temptation few of them could resist.
    Bella noticed the slight hesitation. “My Lord, I would never trick you into thanks or favors.” She grinned a pointy-toothed smile. “Besides, you mother forbade me to. She said to deliver the vial and ask you to visit as soon as possible.”
    “What does it do?” Tiny fissions of light mingled in the strange swirling mixture.
    The vial swelled until it stretched across his palm, almost the size and length of one of the pencils from Cilia’s briefcase.
    “It is a beacon, of course. The Lady says if you are to live among humans, she needs a way to keep you safe. If you crush the tube, the magics will mix and allow the Lady to locate you anywhere. It is in case of extreme danger only.”
    “Of course.” He slipped the vial into his shirt pocket. “Thank you, Bella.”
    Her eyes gleamed with eagerness to collect on what she considered his debt of thanks. Instead, she ground her sharp little teeth and pirouetted into the air. “I will give your mother the message. She will be most pleased to find you safe.”
    Fiach lifted a hand to wave her away. Once her aura dissipated, he escaped to the bathroom and peeled the clothes from his weary body. He felt profoundly inadequate because nothing in his life had prepared him for the tender emotions Cilia evoked in him.
    Her disappointment in his behavior, and disbelief of his motivations, stung far worse than any lash he’d received by his father’s hand.
    He twisted the hot water handle and waited until steam poured from the shower before he stepped in. The water should have scalded his skin, but it was a pleasant way to wash off the memories of a very unpleasant exchange. He shampooed his hair and washed his body with the bottles he found in the shower. Thankfully, because of her son, Stella had a few masculine options that saved him from smelling like peaches and cream.
    He turned off the water and stepped out onto a faded bath rug that covered the tiled floor. He opted to use magic to dry and clothe himself. He had no desire to touch his skin right now. Despite the bath, he still felt unclean.
    He trudged into the kitchen and started looking through the cabinets and refrigerator.
    His options were limited.