The Hob (The Gray Court 4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

right outside the front doors. He pinched the bridge of his nose. He could think of only one person who would’ve chosen this is as the place to negotiate her nephew’s release. Laughter bubbled up inside him, seeking release. It was a truly evil mind that had thought up this as a neutral location. “Gloriana’s idea?”
    “Who else? Ugh. Fairies. ”
    The utter disgust in Kael’s voice was his undoing. Robin threw his head back and howled. Truly, Gloriana could not have picked a better venue. The Black Court delegation would be climbing the walls within seconds. The laughter was welcome after his aborted dream last night.
    Just a few moments more, and he’d have had her. But something had interrupted his dream, waking him abruptly. He’d been in a foul mood ever since.
    Trust humanity to find a way to amuse the Hob.
    Kael glared at Robin. “I see nothing funny in this.”
    Robin snorted, his shoulders shaking.
    “How are we supposed to hide in a group of humans this big?”
    “You have got to be kidding me.” Robin snorted, still laughing. The two of them were masters at hiding in plain sight. And here, even if Kael dropped his Seeming, he’d fit right in.
    Robin, not so much.
    “Did you see those idiots with the strap-on fairy wings? I mean, really. Butterfly wings? A real fairy wouldn’t be caught dead with wings like that.” He completely ignored the woman with the purple monarch butterfly wings glaring at him.
    The laughter was turning into outright guffaws at Kael’s continued disgust. The man was entertaining as hell.
    “It isn’t funny.”
    Oh, yes it was. Robin bent double, clutching his knees to hold himself upright. He could just picture some Black Court Sidhe prancing amongst mortals in strap-on wings. He’d have to videotape it just so Oberon could also watch the fun. Perhaps Gloriana was finally developing a sense of humor.
    “Don’t even think you’re strapping fake wings on my ass. And don’t even think about solid-gold Lycra boy over there.” Kael pointed to a man in a skintight gold bodysuit, his face, hands and hair spray painted gold to match.
    “I think you’d look stunning.”
    Kael snarled. “I’m not the one who’s willing to grow a vagina. You wear it if you like it so much.”
    Robin laughed so hard he nearly stopped breathing. He was definitely recruiting Lord Kael for the Blades, if only for his entertainment value.
    Kael sighed, grabbed Robin’s arm and turned him around, navigating around a slightly pudgy faux fairy in iridescent dragonfly wings to enter the hotel. The fact that Kael felt comfortable enough with Robin to manhandle him nearly stopped his laughter. Unfortunately, some human male in far too much body glitter and far too little clothing chose that moment to walk by. His companion, a burly man dressed as, of all things, a large furry pooka, had Kael literally growling, setting Robin off once more.
    Kael sighed. “C’mon. I don’t know about you, but I need some caffeine. I can’t deal with this shit before coffee.”
    Kael managed to keep Robin upright until the last of the laughter worked its way out of his system.
    This assignment had a great deal more potential for fun than he’d first thought.
     
     
    Michaela sipped at her salted caramel hot chocolate and listened to the discussion her two friends were having. Why they insisted on picking on her over her crush on Robin Goodfellow she’d never know. She’d been dreaming about him since she was a little girl, fascinated by bright blue eyes and impossibly long hair. She’d pretty much devoured anything remotely related to Puck. She’d even liked the way the character was brought to life by Stanley Tucci in the movie version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Christian Bale and Calista Flockhart.
    Her friends just wouldn’t let it alone. Did she bother them over their obsession with Jason Momoa? No, she did not.
    Okay, so the dude was hot. But she could so totally tease them if she wanted,