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During this time the wizard kept jumping up from the table as he remembered yet one more thing he needed to find in order to accomplish the task they had set for him.
Chance took the opportunity to escape when Miss Charm excused herself to chase down a puppy that had followed her into the chamber. He excused himself to go outdoors.
He looked back at the castle he had just exited, and although he knew he would only see a small Irish cottage, it always astonished him how well the wizard disguised their home in the Irish countryside.
He had to think. He had come outside to collect his thoughts and calm his nerves. He was on the edge.
He wasn’t sure how it had happened. He had been with exquisite women over the years and some for whom he had experienced great affection, but never had any made him feel the way his wee Royce made him feel. Now he was going nearly mad attempting to remain calm while she was out there—with the devil!
He was so deeply hypnotized by her lips, her movements, her laughter, and her eyes that she seemed to have somehow reached in and woven a web around his heart. When she looked into his eyes, all he wanted to do was take her away and forget the damned Dark Prince, forget his need for justice. All he wanted was to be with his wee princess and listen to her whispers in his ear.
She loved and respected life. She had an empathy that reached out and touched everything she came across. She had an openness about her that was full with emotion and set logic off in the distance, and he loved that. Loved all that she was …
He would not want to live without her. He frowned as this thought filtered into his brain. His father had once expressed just such an emotion. He had declared that he was alive only because of Chance and Lana, that life held nothing more for him.
Now he understood just exactly what that meant.
Without her, everything would always be off. He was nearly sick with worry about her—about the reasons for her actions. Why would his wee love go off with that monster? Why? Had the Dark Prince somehow entranced her with magic? Was she even now in his arms? No, she wouldn’t—not she!
And how far would she go to do whatever it was she went off with him to do? Had she found a way to destroy him? Why had she not tried to contact him—why had she left without a word? No struggle? He knew, he sensed, he was sure she had gone off willingly with the Dark Prince, and it gnawed at him.
“Chance.” Trevor’s voice at his back made him spin around.
“Aye then?”
“There is something I should tell you …” Trevor said hesitatingly.
“Is there now? Then doona wait, lad—tell me,” Chance said, ever direct. His eyes narrowed to see the lad looking as though his nerves were frayed.
Trevor heaved out a long sigh and dove right in. “The reason Red was sent to join us on this mission by the queen … was because the queen believed she was too involved with humans, one particular family, in fact. Apparently the child would have been crippled for life because of a Dark Fae. Red broke all the rules and healed him. It is against all our strictest covenants to do so without leave from our queen. We never for any reason are supposed to interfere.” He shrugged. “Some of us do though … and this is what comes of it.”
“What are ye saying?” Then it dawned on him. “That child … she stopped at that home with the boy in the yard …”
“Yes, I have given it some thought, and I believe now that Pestale has threatened Red—using this human family as a target,” Trevor said quietly. “And before we do another thing … now, while the wizard is working to get us into Pestale’s dimension … I think we should collect this human family and see them safely out of harm’s way. Someplace where Pestale can’t use them against Red.”
Chance’s eyes snapped with sudden sure understanding, and he almost grinned. “Trevor lad, are ye coming to our way of thinking, then?” Of course, he said in his mind, that was precisely what his beloved had done. Gone off with the Dark Prince to keep a human child safe. That was just like her!
“No, not exactly, but this time … we have put these humans in the direct line of fire. It is our duty to remove them as a target.”
“Aye then—we must hurry.”
“Yes,” Trevor said quietly. “And when my queen discovers that I have interfered so grossly …” He shook head dolefully. “But it is the only decent thing to do. Red has been like a sister to me all my life—and while I don’t agree with her about humans … I do see that this is necessary.”
Chance put a hand on his shoulder. “Then off we go, lad … for I mean to end this with Pestale today!”
And they shifted.
* * *
Pestale stood straight and proud and thought himself glorious. He knew how he appeared to humans when he was not invisible. He knew he was seen as the very broth of masculinity. After all, he almost said out loud, he was broad and lean, and he exhibited an aura that suggested he owned the bedroom.
He thought it was a shame that no one could see him and enjoy the sex he oozed and the promise of pleasure he breathed.
He was, however, cloaked in the Féth Fiada, and from his vantage of invisibility he watched the child Princess Royce loved so much.
He felt a growing sensation of resentment as he considered this.
It was but a human child.
