Under the Bridge Read Online Free PDF

class,
frequently nodding off. Her teachers had thought she was on drugs.
Though her mom had attended several meetings with concerned
teachers, she’d remained adamant. Billy was to focus on what was
important; human education was of passing importance.
    She fingered her long dagger, distracted by
the memories. The sheath was made of the hide of an animal that
could not exist outside of the fae world, and kept the weapons more there than here. A pixie had no trouble drawing it, but a
human would not be able to detect its presence. It saved all manner
of trouble with metal detectors and cops.
    In her mom’s world, survival was often a
full-time job, especially if one didn’t have a large clan. There
were rules to follow: court rules of etiquette, and the rule of the
uncivilized Wood. Her mom had grown up deep in the Wood where those
without woodcraft died young. Since offspring were so rare and
special, they could not afford to be ignorant.
    Unfortunately for Carrie, Maura had not grown
up in the Wood. She’d schooled her daughter in the arts of credit
card usage and husband snaring; her inept fumbling with any kind of
weapon was painful to see. Perhaps if Maura has been more diligent,
they would not be in this situation.
    She remembered the first time she’d realized
just how bad Carrie really was. It had been the beginning of the
troubles.
    They’d been sparing on Gran’s orders. (Billy
had not known Gran was her mother then.) Billy knew better than to
be bored; her Gran would have her practice until midnight if she
made that mistake. To stay alert, she’d pretended she was schooling
a clumsy beginner. Since it was obvious Carrie had spent little
time practicing, Billy took the opportunity to introduce overhand
strikes and low strokes, harrying her on all sides.
    In spite of her athletic prowess at school,
Carrie was soon panting, slick with sweat. As her sword arm began
to slow, it became obvious that she just didn’t have the
conditioning necessary to fight long. That wouldn’t have been so
bad, if she were good enough to end a fight in the first five
minutes. As it was….
    “Enough!” Gran glowered at Carrie, who
wouldn’t meet her eyes. “Pitiful.” She glared at Maura. “How could
you allow this? What would she do if she had to fight for her life?
She would be dead in a day in the Wood!”
    A muscle twitched in Maura’s jaw. “She’s not
being raised in the Wood, Mom. There’s not much in the suburbs that
could do her in.”
    Gran hissed. “The Wood is our natural home.
You know I always planned to bring the girls there to find
mates.”
    Billy’s eyes widened in alarm. She had no
interest in leaving behind the Internet and mass-made consumer
goods for the dubious pleasures of a man-eating wilderness. Even
the fae High Court sounded more devious than desirable. Gran made
the elven princes sound a great deal like the preppie guys she
avoided at school—preppies with swords and killing magic. She
grimaced.
    Billy figured she had more chance of ticking
one off and ending up locked inside a cloven tree than she did of
finding romance.
    Gran went on, oblivious. “Now is the time to
prepare them! They are almost ready to bear children. How can we
grow our clan without more young? You can’t bear them.”
Clans were everything, a seat of power and crown of distinction to
those whose line could bear the most offspring. So far, the single
births in Gran’s clan were not doing much to increase her street
cred.
    Maura stiffened at the reference to her many
miscarriages. “Bitter, are you? I’m so sorry I couldn’t grow your clan, Mother.”
    Unable to stand it, Billy broke into the
brewing argument. Maybe it was selfish and disrespectful, but she
just had to speak up. She tapped the edge of her hand against her
palm. “Whoa! Time out. Just wanted to throw out here—I’m so not interested in being a teen mother. Sorry to disappoint, but I’m
not obsessed with finding a fairy prince, you know? They