Into the Fire (The Unseelie Court Book 4) by Gwen Rivers (free ebooks romance novels .TXT) 📗

Charming upon his noble steed. No need for her to wallow in the muck of reality with the rest of us.

“That’s why we waited so long to have Tate. Neither one of us was really sure how to move past what had happened, what we’d missed with you. I guess we just had to get used to each other. And accept that we had changed and grown. That we were growing stronger together.”

A lump forms in my throat. “It was like that for me and Aiden at first, too.” I confide. “He had to convince me he just wanted to be with me. It was hard to accept.”

“But eventually he won you over?”

I nod and then whisper the truth that has been eating me alive. “I’m scared to tell him.”

She doesn’t ask why or pry any further as we fill up the second tray.

I work some cookie batter out from under my nail. “Did you ever think…that is…did it ever occur to you to look into getting me back?”

She lays her hand over mine. “If I thought there was a way, Nic, I would have come for you. I guess what I’m trying to say is that though maybe our timing wasn’t perfect, you were conceived in love. You were wanted very much. You still are.”

This time the tears escape unchecked.

The timer buzzes. Sophie turns away and retrieves the first cookie sheet from the oven, giving me a moment to cobble my wayward emotions back together. Stupid fricking hormones.

When at last I feel like myself again there is a cookie sitting on a paper towel in front of me. A glass of milk standing beside it.

I take a bite and smile even as the melted chocolate burns my tongue. “You’re right. These do taste better.”

Aiden hates cities. Too many people, too many scents comingling. He stares out the window into the little enclave neighborhood that is just commutable enough to DC to make it expensive as hell.

“This is the place.” Liam shuts the engine off and turns to face Aiden. His green eye glows brighter even in full daylight.

“You’re sure?” From her perch in the backseat, Harmony hands him a pair of sunglasses to cover the discrepancy. She pulls the hood of the thick parka up to shield her purple face from any prying mortal eyes.

Beside her sits Autumn, one of Liam’s wolves. She is a silent presence, but less threatening than Gray or any of the other large male wolves, making her perfect backup for this particular mission. “You’re absolutely sure that a giant lives in there?”

“That’s the house. It looks the same as I remember it.” Liam frowns. “Like exactly, even that gutter that’s detached over the garage.”

Aiden risks having his olfactory senses overwhelmed and cracks a window. Inhales and cringes. Garbage, rot, chimney smoke, diesel, someone who didn’t invest in deodorant… there.

“That’s a giant’s scent all right.” He points to a brick ranch that sits by itself at the end of the street. “And glamour so thick it’s shellacked over the place.”

The four of them exit the rented Camry and walk up the slushy drive to the front door.

The glamour ripples but holds.

“Do you think he’ll remember you?” Aiden asks Liam.

Liam shrugs. “We weren’t exactly close.”

“One way to find out.” Aiden raises his knuckles and raps sharply three times.

A pause. He repeats the knock.

“I don’t want any!” A gruff voice calls from inside.

“Friendly, isn’t he?” Harmony’s tone is dry.

“Mr. Carmichael?” Liam calls out.

Bulbous fingers appear around the lace edges of the curtain and one beady bloodshot eye stares out with menace. “Who's asking?”

Liam waves. “I don’t know if you remember me, I used to live in that house over there.” He points to a white Tudor-style.

“And?” The giant doesn’t sound impressed.

“And we need your help,” Aiden cuts in. “We’re trying to get to a pocket realm.”

The hand disappears.

“Too aggressive,” Harmony chastises him. “Giants can’t be pushed around.”

Aiden ignores her and pounds on the door. “Mr. Carmichael!”

A chain rattles and then it’s thrown open.

The full sight is…off-putting. In addition to the rheumy eyes covered by skin that droops like a basset hound, the man’s ears stick out. The obscene features continue with a large, bulbous nose complete with a forest of untrimmed nostril hair peeking out. Scruffy salt and pepper whiskers cover a saggy chin. He’s wearing a stained white t-shirt and denim overalls, with one button unfastened so the look is decidedly off-kilter. His feet are bare despite the cold and his toes are just as ugly as the rest of him.

This is not a being who craves company.

The giant stares at the three of them with displeasure. “And what’s in it for me to help you get to a pocket realm?”

Aiden steps forward. “Whatever you want. Please, it’s important I get there as soon as possible.”

The giant scratches his liver-spotted scalp. Aiden had to give the beast credit, his glamour is repugnant and impeccable. No one who beheld this creature would ever think he could wield magic.

“I don’t know. My help don’t come cheap.” Something in his tone indicates that they just need to find the right price. Then double it.

“If money is what you’re after, I assure you—” Aiden begins but Harmony puts a hand on his arm.

“He’s not after money. He wants something else. Something of great value.” Her gray eyes narrow.

Holding onto his patience by a fraying thread Aiden says, “Whatever the price.”

“I want a guard wolf.” His eyes go to Autumn with avarice. “To keep the riffraff away and protect my interests. Maybe a pretty buxom one who’ll sleep at the foot of my bed at night.”

Autumn gives him the finger and the giant chuckles.

Liam growls low in his throat. “Get bent, old man.”

“We’re not trading you a living creature.” Aiden forces himself not to snap.

“Too bad. Maybe I’ll call up that nice woman at the FBI and see if she’ll reconsider.” The dirty, scratching nails move down to Carmichael’s chin.

“What woman?” Aiden and Harmony speak as one.

A flash of