Half-bloods with Thierry's skill set are given two options. They can join the conclave's marshal program, or they can pack their bags. Turn down the job offer, and you've just shredded your residency pass for the mortal realm and booked yourself a one-way ticket to Faerie.
Texas is the only home Thierry has ever known, and she's not going anywhere. Even if it means following in her notorious father's footsteps as a peacekeeper. But pinning on the badge opens her eyes to the fact sometimes fae need protection too, and that sometimes humans are the real monsters.
Born in the Deep South, Hailey is a lifelong resident of Alabama. Her husband works for the local sheriff's department and her daughter is counting down the days until she's old enough to audition for American Idol. Her doxie, Black Ilex, helps Hailey write by snoozing in his recliner in her office.
Her desire to explore without leaving the comforts of home fueled her love of reading and writing. Whenever the itch for adventure strikes, Hailey can be found with her nose glued to her Kindle's screen or squinting at her monitor as she writes her next happily-ever-after.
Shaw kept his eyes glued to the digital display as it
counted down the floors we whooshed past on our way back to the lobby. I bit my
lip to keep quiet. No sense in risking the fallout from what I had to say to
him if the booth was wired for sound. They hadn’t bothered hiding the cameras.
They hung in corners, watching silently.
By the time we hit the street, I had worked up a good head
of steam. “Why did we leave?”
He kept walking, his long legs outpacing me. “We gathered
all the information we could.”
“How can you say that?” I grabbed his arm. “Their boggart is
a—”
“—slave who would die before incriminating its mistress.
It’s part of their compulsion. They hate humans, hate fae too, but they’re
trapped by their nature…” he exhaled, “…just like the rest of us.”
I recoiled, a wave of nausea bubbling in my stomach. “I
guess that explains the kiss.”
He stopped so suddenly I smacked into his back.
“I wanted the kiss.” Shaw backed me against a wall of glass,
the front of a coffee shop, I think. His palm slapped the pane over my head,
pinning me with his body as much as the fury simmering in his dark copper eyes.
“Hunger does not control me.”
“That was a cheap shot.” I rested my hand on his chest. “I
shouldn’t have taken it.”
“Your aim is too good sometimes.” He covered my hand with
his and gently removed it. He let me straighten, lowered his hand and got
himself under control. “If the Richardsons left any evidence behind, the
boggart would have hidden it in his den until they returned. By law we can’t question
an indentured house spirit without its masters present, otherwise their
testimony is coerced at best.”
“They killed someone there,” I reminded him.
“They killed a human.” He turned to leave. “That’s a matter
for the human authorities.”
I darted around in front of him. “The Richardsons are
human.”
He sidestepped me. “They’re suspected of committing crimes
against Faerie.”
A cold realization settled in my chest. “You don’t care
about them, do you?”
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Shaw regrouped. “I was
raised to view humans as food. I might enjoy their company, I might have been
fond of a few in my time, but at the end of the day they are a breed apart.
They’re safer as far from our world as they can get. Don’t act like you don’t
know this.”
“If Mac had stuck around,” I snarled, “Mom would have been
fine in our world.”
“You know half their story.” He touched my cheek. “Don’t
judge your father too harshly before you hear his side. Your mother did the
best she could by you. She loves you. Your father might too.”
I scoffed. “He loves me so much he ditched both of us, so
much I’ve never met him.”
“He’s old. He was born in Faerie and has lived among the fae
most of his life. You can’t judge him by human standards. If you do, he’ll fall
short every time.” Shaw started walking, slower this time so keeping up was
easier. “I’ll make a note on the file, okay?”
“If the Richardsons are proven guilty, they aren’t walking
away from this.” I said it out loud to make it real.
“No, they won’t.” He took my arm and crossed the road.
I glanced at where his hand gripped me. “You’re humoring
me.”
“Yes.” He scanned the stores lining the street. “Your
fondness for humans is dangerous.”
“Seeing as how I am half human,”
I emphasized, “I do have a vested interest in that part of my heritage as
well.”
His exhale closed the subject.
DOG WITH A BONE: Copyright © 2014
by Hailey Edwards used with permission of author.
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