Under the Bridge Read Online Free PDF Page A

steps, slowly shredding a leaf. She wasn’t
happy about condoning cannibalism for any reason. The fact that
Maura approved just showed that Billy’s gloom had cause. Maura
wasn’t known for her stern moral fiber in the face of
self-sacrifice. She’d trade a baby for her own life in a
minute.
    Unless, of course, it was her baby.
That was entirely different.
    “The most important thing, of course, is for
you to stick together,” Maura said. “Until the troll is taken care
of, we must be careful. If I can’t be with my daughter, you will,
Bianita. Her safety has to come before your petty rivalries.” She
sighed heavily. “I’ll have to rearrange my schedule too, it seems.
Carrie simply can’t be alone.” Her grim expression showed just what
a sacrifice it was to give up her leisure time.
    Billy’s lip curled. “I’d rather haunt the
troll. You forget your place, Maura. I don’t take your orders.”
    The time in the Wood had changed her. Billy
had seen how the old clans worked, and understood the magic that
wove them together. Maura couldn’t disobey her. If Billy were still
reluctant to issue those orders, it was something she’d have to get
over. A matriarch that was not respected, even feared, would not
last long.
    Maura’s lips twitched, showing a sliver of
teeth. She took a breath, and got herself under control. She was
not used to giving obedience to Billy. “We can’t let the troll have
her, Bianita. She is my child.” The most precious thing a fae could
have, and likely the only one Maura would ever have. Even with her
human blood, she hadn’t proven very fertile.
    Billy met her eyes without compromise. She
couldn’t afford any compassion, not with Maura. Compassion would
get her a dagger in the back. Once the troll was dead, Maura would
forget everything she owed Billy and go back to plotting. “Then ask
nicely.”
    Maura’s shoulders softened, though her eyes
did not. “Please. I don’t want to have to shadow her at school
myself. The glamour would difficult to sustain for that length of
time.” Maura wasn’t as weak as she pretended, but there were other
factors.
    Billy sent a look of disgust toward Carrie.
For once they seemed in complete accord. The only thing worse than
spending time together would be having Maura in school with them.
It would be worse than having the troll underfoot.
    Maura took the silence for assent. Now that
she had her way, she tried for a more conciliatory tone. "I am
curious what the troll looked like," she admitted. “I've never
actually seen one."
    “He's ugly,” Carrie said sullenly. “Big,
hairy, dirty. Billy would like him,” she said with a sour smirk.
“He looks like a twelve foot sheep dog.”
    “Carrie,” her mother chided.
    “What? She’s the animal lover. After all, her
best friend has a horse’s ass.”
    "I could just let the troll eat you," Billy
growled. Too bad it would be a form of animal cruelty. The poor
thing would probably die of indigestion.
    Abruptly fed up, Billy stood and dusted off
her rear end. “Look, I’ve got homework to do. You know the way
out.”
    Maura’s lips tightened, but she lowered her
eyes. “Of course.”
    Good riddance. Billy got a snack and settled
down at the battered kitchen table for a few hours of work. She was
trying to get ahead while she could. They were going to need her at
work soon, and she needed the extra hours. She was smart enough,
but she wasn’t one of the whiz kids who could glance at a book and
get an A. It was better than it had been, though. Until now, she’d
never had the luxury of spending free time studying.
    There was a reason Billy had been held back a
year in school. Her mom’s instruction had always been demanding,
but the year she’d turned sixteen, it had turned brutal. Punishing
hours in martial science and studies into the pixie magical arts
had numbed her, drained every ounce of energy she’d had left.
Formally a decent student, suddenly Billy couldn’t focus in