Of Rogues And Monsters

Chapter 3 Caspian, Northern California When Kai had pulled Ro into his arms, she had willingly stumbled into all that warmth and strength. Somehow, he had managed to belt her into his car and now they were on the road, headed for her house. The early December sky arched overhead, an endless blanket of stars close enough to wish upon. Ro studied the fiery light and wondered if Cian had seen her crying, had witnessed her little pity party. Kai pulled the Mustang up to the curb. The porch light was on, but otherwise, the home looked deserted. “You want company?” he asked tentatively. Ro blinked. Dickhead was being nice. Pretending to be invincible, she dismissed his offer. “No, I’m good.” Throwing him a quick smile, Ro added, “You need to get back to Mira. She’ll be worried.” He nodded and glanced away. It was Ro’s cue to hop out. She curled her fingers around the door handle. “Uh, thanks for, for the ride and, and....” What the hell? Kai had held her while she’d cried her damn eyes out. “It’s fine,” he said, trying to ease the awkwardness unfurling between them. Ro stepped out of the car, offered one last thank you, and shut the door on the weirdest evening….ever. Kai waited until she was inside before driving away. Ro smirked. Who would have guessed there was a bit of a prince charming hiding inside that testosterone saturated body? Mira, that’s who. Although his reputation sucked, Mira believed Kai was pretty decent. Maybe it was true love? Maybe love had changed Kai, beat back those slimy toad tendencies of his. It just didn’t seem likely. Or logical. Ro sighed, unlocking the door. But love wasn’t logical, so maybe…. Inside, the house was dark and desperately quiet. Heading up the stairs to her bedroom, Ro didn’t bother with a light. She pulled her cell phone from her back pocket, tossed it on the dresser, and collapsed onto her bed where Merlin lay curled up in a wad of sheets. Ro cradled her cat against her chest, hid her nose in his soft fur and sighed. Cian’s golden gaze and fierce grin filled her head. The faery had been hers, and Ro had been his. She closed her eyes and let the images turn to dreams.... Cian’s arms close around her like a vice. His bottom lip between her own. Her legs around his waist, pulling him close, but never close enough. They are a tangle of limbs, a parley of tongues and hands and want. “Ro,” Cian whispers against her neck. “I’m here. Wait for me, lass, wait for me.” Her eyes flashed open. With only starlight streaming through her window, despair swallowed Ro. A hollow sob, the recognition of a vanished dream. Curling her legs into her chest, Ro balled herself up against the memory of Cian and their endless need for each other. It had all felt so real. So cruel and terribly real. Even now, awake, the ghost of his touch lingered on her skin, haunting her. Deep breath. Ro needed air, but even more than air, she needed to get herself together. Cian was gone…forever. Throwing back the blankets, still in her clothes from earlier, Ro jumped off the bed, threw open the window, and inhaled. Sandalwood and summer seas surrounded her. Sandalwood and summer seas? “Princess,” the title rumbled through the room, bold and gritty. Her heart shot into her throat and tumbled back again. Had she really believed Eriu, the Queen of Faery, would forget Ro’s promise to return? Turning, she spotted the fae reclined against the wall, covered in shadows and moonlight. The warrior with eyes so glacial they swirled like a pool of fresh snowmelt; the warrior who had helped Ro get to the stones where Lia Fail had proclaimed her royal blood, proclaimed her even though she was human. “Cayden,” his name barely a hush of breath. He pushed off the wall, all muscle and sinew, all leathered armor tight against a body of stone. “The queen sent me.” Staring down at her, the fae frowned. “Why have you not returned to us?” Ro’s eyes slid to his. “Eriu said…, the queen said, I had until the solstice.” Her voice sounded small, weak, human. “Two weeks, right?” Cayden nodded, watching her, studying her. “You would rather be here?” He glanced around the tiny room as if looking for a reason she would choose Caspian over Faery. “My life is here. My mom and friends. My horse,” she told him plainly. His eyes shot back to hers. “You have a week. I’ll be back for you then.” She dropped her gaze to her hands, to the ring on her thumb, to the scar on her palm. A week? Shit. “Princess,” Cayden used the title like a weapon. “Don’t think of running. She’ll find you.” He put a finger under her chin, waited for her eyes to meet his. “I’ll find you. She’ll send me and I will find you. It’s what I do, I hunt...fae mostly, but humans when necessary. And, well, you’re both. Do you understand?” Oh, shit yes, she understood. Cayden, beautiful fae that he was, had been sent by Eriu to remind Ro of her promise. To politely command her return to Faery else Cayden would most certainly assure it. To forcefully suggest Ro’s only choice was no choice at all. As if her blood had suddenly caught fire, Ro heated from the inside out. Sweat pooled on her forehead and ran down the back of her neck. Her mouth turned desert dry and her pulse beat at her temples. And then the air between them sparked. Cayden jumped. “Bloody, fucking hell,” he roared, staring at the fingers that had been beneath Ro’s chin. Fingers which were now smoking, wisps of vapor spiraling off the tips like ghosts.