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wrinkle with my mind and stepped inside. Within the wrinkle every step I took covered as much ground as I wished it to. So I was able to walk beside the sprite as he flew at a speed the human eye couldn’t even capture.
    I quickly found myself looking at Etta. She sat upon the ground at the base of a frail looking tree, staring dejectedly into space.
    She jumped when I stepped out of my wrinkle. Her face was smudged and her robes were ripped. One wing hung at an odd angle. “You startled me, Nuria.”
    The female sprite, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, lunged towards Etta’s face and the guardian gave a little gasp and hunched over, covering her face protectively.
    A chorus of laughter erupted and I scowled. “Leave us!”
    A sound like bees wings filled the air. The laughter faded away with their flight.
    Etta scowled after them. “Nasty little bugs.”
    I couldn’t disagree. “So you tried to pull another fast one on me, huh?”
    She just shrugged. “If he’s human I’m the one who should be looking for him, Nuria. Technically you’re out of your jurisdiction.”
    I dropped down beside her and leaned against the tree. “Technically I am. But he’s using faery dust and he’s in the faery wood. This is my territory. You could get killed here without me to protect you.” I turned to look at her. “And the Council gave me the assignment to find him. Not you.”
    She shrugged but kept silent.
    I laid my head back against the tree. Suddenly oh so weary. I’d done little but search for the damnable human for weeks. I hoped I could finally track him down in the Wood and be done with it.
    “So, we meet again, ladies.”
    My eyes flew open to find Ian Lavelle standing over us, looking at me with a smug smile on his handsome face. He wore tight, rough brown breeches, soft black boots, and an emerald stud in one ear. And nothing else.
    His smooth, brown chest glowed under the unnatural light. The illumination softly highlighted the tightly sculpted flesh of his abs and chest as if he’d been painted with it. I wondered if he knew how the light played to him. Something about the smug smile made me think he did.
    I stood to face him. On my feet, I still had to look up to see into his sparkling, brown eyes. “Mr. Lavelle. Fancy meeting you here.”
    He threw back his head and laughed. “Apparently it’s a very small world, Monad.”
    I felt Etta at my back and prayed she wouldn’t scare him away before I could figure out how to get the potion into him. “I don’t know why you keep calling me that, Mr. Lavelle. I have no idea what a Monad is but it sounds exotic.”
    His brown gaze sparkled. “I admit I’m shocked at your denial, Warrior. It’s quite obvious to me that you are a Warrior Spirit. Why you are chasing me I don’t know. However…” He stepped close and lifted my chin with a strong finger, lowering his lips to within inches of mine. My body tightened in reaction to the violent pull of his sensual aura.
    His nearness created a whirlwind sensation. I got the sense of chaos and destruction whirling around us, with unspeakable passion and calm sensuality in the eye of the storm where we stood. “…I find that I really don’t mind all that much.”
    Against my will my lips parted and my chin started to tilt. Before my eyes closed in anticipation of his kiss, the sound of a throat being cleared behind me jerked me back to reality.
    Etta’s voice was soft with anger. “Ian Lavelle, we have questions for you, regarding your activities with a certain rebel group. A group you apparently lead.”
    Ian turned toward Etta, his finger still under my chin.
    I blinked twice and stepped away from him, clearing my throat in embarrassment. “Yes, Mr. Lavelle. We have questions.”
    His slow grin made my knees knock together. I cursed myself. Pull yourself together, Warrior. Your behavior is ridiculous.
    I second that. Etta intruded on my thoughts.
    Shut up, Guardian.
    His eyes found mine again. “I don’t