Page 37 of The Mating Frenzy
“You have the manners of a prince. For a man I first met walking aroundnaked.”
At her teasing grin, he shrugged. “I am accustomed to dining with royalty, fair maiden. The Winter King has often invited me to his table. I would not be invited if I had the manners of aboor.”
“The Winter King? The king of Sweden?” Ella frowned. Kieran didn’t have the fair hair and skin ofScandinavia.
“My ruler.” Kieran toyed with his spoon. “Ella, I may appear to be an ordinary human, but I amnot.”
She lifted her wineglass in a salute. “I agree. I have seen younude.”
At her wink, he didn’t even crack the ghost of a grin. “I am not human. In fact, I do not live here onearth.”
Oh lordy, here we go again. Just when I think the water is warm enough to dip my toes in…“You’re really an alien from Planet X and you’re looking for your leader. Or a nice girl to have sex with because she doesn’t have tentacles,” she quipped, desperate to keep the conversation light and not have him stray into La Laland.
“I have never had sex with a tentacled female before.” He frowned. “Although there was that Fae with the extraarms…”
No. Not now. Nellie had reacted well to Kieran. In fact, she hadn’t seen her mother this animated and happy in years. She and Kieran hadbonded.
“Please, Kieran, a favor.” Ella lowered her voice and leaned close. “Leave the crazy act behind. My mother likes you and she seems willing to listen to advice. If you start talking as if you’re not human, she’ll tune youout.”
“Your mother is not human either, Ella.” Kieran balanced his spoon on the edge of one finger. Fascinated, she watched, wondering what kind of other tricks he couldperform.
And then she realized he’d called her mother an alien as well. “What? My mother…listen chum, stop insultingher.”
Kieran twirled the spoon on his finger, making it spin faster and faster. Eyes wide, she stared at the utensil. Magic tricks. She’d never seen a real magician. “How are you doingthat?”
“Simple Fae magick trick I learned centuries ago. Nellie is not a Skin. She is Elven and I suspect your father was as well. The goddess appointed them to watch over you. To guard and raise you is anhonor.”
“Guard me? Against what?” Ella gulped down more wine. She neededit.
“Against those who would harm you, or worse, before you matured into your powers. Because you have stayed hidden from Others, you were safe andhidden.”
Safe and hidden. “Why? You’re not makingsense.”
Common sense ruled Ella’sworld.
Kieran glanced at the stairs as footsteps sounded. Then the doorbellrang.
Voices in the living room, her mother’s pleased and high-pitched one, and Stan’s unpleasant one that sounded like a backhoe running over steelshavings.
“But now is not the time to discuss this. I smell something coming… male, big, a scent I cannot quite identify.” Kieran placed the spoon on thetable.
“That’s Stan.” Ella sighed as her mother led Stan into the diningroom.
Clad a white t-shirt, puke green trousers that looked new in 1980, and brown shoes, Stan had managed to comb his wispy hair. And shave, though the thick brows over his eyes could use sometaming.
A vacant look entered Nellie’s face, replacing the animated girlishness that Kieran coaxed out. Odd how Kieran, a stranger, made Nellie light up and Stan only made Nellie retreat into vacuouscontentment.
Like a drugged cow being led to the slaughterhouse. What an ugly thought.Ella forced a smile. “Hello,Stan.”
But her mother’s boyfriend didn’t return the greeting. He was too busy staring at Kieran. Stan actually took a stepback.
“What the hell is that doing here, Nellie?” Standemanded.
All smooth grace, Kieran jumped out of his chair, withdrawing a sleek sword from his jeans. Ella stood as well. Shock filled her. The curved blade was big as her arm, and glinted beneath the chandelierlight.
She hadn’t seen a scabbard on his hip, and yet here was theweapon.
“Where did you get that? Put it away, Kieran.” Ella criedout.
