Page 23 of The Werewolf Cowboy
The Dark Fae grinned. “No, but it tastes like shit over here. The water in my kingdom is much more pure, free of Skin pollutants.”
He walked over to a gnarled tree, struck it with the flat end of his sword. A small spring bubbled up on the ground below. Both Katy and Ninnea went to it and drank deeply. Grayson as well. Then they filled the two canteens and sat upon the ground.
Ash and dust caked in Katy’s rumbled brown curls. Her palm trembled against his cheek. Grayson took her hand, turned it over and kissed it.
Such was his relief at finding her, he wanted to kiss her mouth as well, but they had an audience. He had to get her to the only place where he could keep her safe. Not her world, but his world here.
Until he discovered who wanted Katy enough to punch a hole from this world into the Skin world to drag her here, she would never be safe.
Grayson swatted at his head, trying to rid the thoughts buzzing there like a swarm of noisy mosquitos. He kept clutching her hand, marveling at her aplomb and courage faced with a new world and threats.
Then again, he always knew she was a true survivor.
Jaeden sat by Ninnea. “You are Ninnea. The missing Thannach and niece to Queen Morgan.”
“I’m not missing. I know where I am.” Ninnea eyed the other Fae warily.
“Your parents never gave up searching for you, and finally the queen agreed to offer a reward for your safe return.”
Ninnea blinked. “And I suppose you will collect it.”
Standing, Jaeden frowned in the direction of the brothel. “Not if those Night Riders catch up to us. You’ll need me to take you back to the Unseelie Court.”
“I can find my own way,” she snapped.
Jaeden gave a wry smile. “Your powers have depleted, Ninnea, by staying in your Thannach form. You cannot even find water for yourself. Unless you wish your parents to find your body scattered in five pieces, which is what the Night Riders will do when they find you, you will come with me.”
The Fae woman turned to Katy. “I hate to leave you.”
“I’ll be fine. Will you be okay?” Katy hugged her.
“Worry not about me, wolf. I can take care of myself. Do you trust that one?” She pointed at Grayson.
“With my life,” Katy told her.
Ninnea hugged her again. “Then go with him, and be well.”
Motioning to Grayson, Jaeden pointed east to the vast stretch of desert. “The next stationary portal is a good eight-hour journey, but with your wolf, you can make it by dusk. Look for a pile of dry unicorn bones. If you can outrun the Night Riders, you should be safe.”
Outrunning the Night Riders was the least of his worries. He had to find out who the hell aligned with a Dark Fae to bring Katy here, and why. Until he did, Katy would never be safe.
He gave a meaningful look to Grayson. “You know what to do to protect Katy, wolf. Do it if necessary. It will save her.”
Grayson nodded, hoping it wouldn’t come down to that. Katy wasn’t ready yet for his kind of sex, the sex Lupines demanded here in the Dark Kingdom.
Standing before her, Jaeden held out a hand to Ninnea. “Come.”
Ninnea gave him a wary look. “I’m not going with you, until you give me your word you’ll take me to the queen. No detours when you teleport. Deal?”
“Of course,” the Dark Fae assured her.
Grayson sputtered as Jaeden crossed his fingers behind his back, indicating the man lied. But Ninnea had a spark in her eye and Grayson suspected the woman could hold her own against the Dark Fae.
With a doubtful look, Ninnea took Jaeden’s outstretched hand. Jaeden snapped his fingers and they vanished. Grayson wished he had the power to teleport Katy, but he didn’t dare try, not when he’d gone for years without using his full powers. He was like a rusty car and the action could hurt her.
He glanced at the brothel in the distance, and the clouds of dark ash rising on the horizon. The Night Riders could not easily track him, but Katy, with her signature aura of the Skin world, stood out like a beacon.
“We have to hustle, Katy, before they reach you. I’m going to shift into wolf. Don’t be scared. Strap on the pack and climb onto my back when I’m wolf.”
