Outcast (Book Two of the Forever Faire Series): A Fae Fantasy Romance Novel Read Online Free PDF Page A

She smelled of sunshine and woman instead of perfume, and as he breathed her in he saw the palest shade of pink roses bloom on her cheeks. He could see she had been working, for stains mottled her boots and jeans, and bits of straw clung to her jacket like odd confetti. Seeing the damp tendrils of her dark, silky hair that had escaped her cap made him remember how it had felt brushing against his flesh.
    “She must be weary after her night with Jannon.”
    Kayla’s eyes narrowed. “Nothing happened, and picking a fight with me right now is a bad idea.”
    “Angering me is always a bad idea,” he countered.
    “True.” She pursed her pretty lips. “Sorry.”
    In that moment Ryan wanted Kayla in his arms, Titan, and a clear path to the forest beyond the lodge.
    “Come with me to my cabin. Alone there, we can speak freely.”
    The pulse beating in the hollow of her throat fluttered frantically. “The last time we went you didn’t want to talk much.”
    His own heart hammered in his chest. “Then we’ll find other things to do.”
    “You promised to stop doing those things if I stayed,” Kayla said, her voice soft and almost regretful, until she cleared her throat. “Look, the only reason I’m here is because Christine told me something this morning that you need to know.”
    Ryan listened as Kayla repeated the dancer’s claims of what the Blackstones had done. He felt no surprise at learning that Dirk was using drugs and magick to control the women, for Dark Fae regularly abused mortals in such ways. The details of Christine’s demonstration of her power for Kayla also confirmed Lawrence’s suspicion that the dancer was part Fae, particularly when she related that Christine had been abandoned.
    “I hope you’re not going to tell me that Christine’s a changeling, too,” she said once she had finished the tale.
    “She’s likely a halfling—a child borne by a Fae’s mortal female lover,” he admitted. That brought an image of Maeve, her belly swollen with his baby. Yet for once the bleak despair such remembrances always brought did not come with it. “We are forbidden to marry mortals, but that does not stop us from dalliances.”
    “Is that what you were doing with me?” she demanded. “Dallying?”
    “You know better.” He came around the work table, stopping only when she took a step back. “Kayla.”
    She held up one hand, which she dropped as soon as she saw it was trembling. “We’re not talking about us, Ryan. What happens to Christine?”
    “We search for halflings as we travel with the faire. If they are grown, and we can unveil their Fae bloodline, we take them to their father’s clan.” He could taste her desire for him warming the air between them. “They are bound by blood to watch over them. A few are even brought into the clan, although that is rare.”
    Kayla considered what he’d told her for a moment. “Okay, but what if it was her mother who was Fae?”
    “A Fae woman could never bring a half-mortal child back to her clan. It is undeniable proof she has broken our laws. She and the child would be cast out.” He hesitated before he added, “The woman would also fear retribution from her Fae husband. I have heard of a few who took revenge by murdering the halfling child.”
    “Kill the kid instead of the cheating wife. Right. How charming.” She shook her head. “Back to Christine. However she got here, the girl needs to know who and what she is. Since I’m just a lowly mortal, I can’t answer the million questions she’s going to have. Have Colm explain it to her.”
    Ryan folded his arms. “You think I am not up to the task, my lovely one?”
    “Oh, no. She just likes him. I think you’re driving me crazy.” She strode out.

Chapter 6
    O N HER MIDDAY break Christine used the ancient landline in Lawrence’s office to call Louisa Hayes. When she didn’t answer, Christine left a message asking her to come to the faire to perform a reading for the Rowe