Into the Fire (The Unseelie Court Book 4) by Gwen Rivers (latest ebook reader .TXT) 📕

The girl called Pharaildis finishes the dance with a flourish of her hips, her face hidden behind her Veil. Most of her father’s guests clap and remark at her grace and beauty then return to their banquet. She straightens and moves to the doors that lead to her private chambers. She can feel the man’s eyes upon her body, the way he follows her every step. She loves the attention he devotes to her every performance.

Almost as much as what comes next.

A tray with a light repast has been set on the table in her room. Ignoring the food, Pharaildis instead goes out to the patio and stands beneath the glow of the moon. Her fingers grip the railing and she leans over, staring down at the winding dirt street below, empty of all activity in this late hour.

“You were beautiful,” the man says from behind her. “But then you know that, don’t you?”

The corner of her mouth pulls up and she turns, greedy for another look at his bearded face. “It is always nice to be appreciated, my lord.”

“I am no lord.” He smooths a hand down her cheek, his gaze hot. “This is dangerous.”

“It doesn’t have to be,” she catches his hand and brings it to her lips. “We could be married. Leave my father’s palace. Go live out our lives somewhere else, somewhere we aren’t known.”

“You don’t know what it’s like out there, love. What people are truly like.”

She turns away, angry and frustrated. “No, because my father doesn’t let me leave this palace. I was born into captivity and in captivity, I will remain.”

His hands settle on her hips. He pulls her back against him until she can feel the evidence of his desire. “It’s not all bad, is it?”

She reaches an arm behind her head as his lips lower to the side of her neck. “I want more, John. Eventually, my father will marry me off to someone else. You know he will. And if he finds out that you’ve touched me—”

“Ssshhh, lovely. Do not trouble your mind with such things.” He turns her in his arms and lowers his mouth to hers. His kiss is hot, insistent and after another moment, she yields to him completely. There in the moonlight she finds satiation if not satisfaction.

“A pocket realm?” Liam shakes his head. “Never heard of it.”

“It’s a place that runs parallel to this world, at least in natural architecture,” Aiden explains.

“And they are only accessible by magic,” Harmony adds. “Giant’s magic.”

Liam scratches his chin stubble. “Which is why you need a giant.”

“Right,” Aiden says.

Liam makes a show out of checking his pockets. “Sorry, fresh out.”

Harmony rolls her eyes. “His sense of humor is irritating.”

“What do you want me to do? I can’t conjure a giant from thin air,” Liam grumbles.

Aiden squeezes the bridge of his nose. “Like dwarves, giants make it a habit to visit Midgard, this world. You said you came from the Eastern part of the United States, correct? Then you’re our best shot at finding one near the location we’re heading to.”

“You think I know how to find a giant in Washington D.C.?”

Aiden opens his mouth to explain but Harmony holds up a hand. “First, we need you to get us there. We need airline tickets, passports. Anything a human would require for international travel.”

“Again,” Liam shakes his head. “I can’t—”

“I can,” Owen says from behind his shoulder. “I know someone. There’s a woman in the village.”

Hope leaps in Aiden’s chest. “And she has access to a plane?”

The wolf shifts his weight, clearly uncomfortable under Liam’s scrutiny. “Yes.”

“And how exactly do you know this?” Liam turns and narrows his gaze on his packmate. “Haven’t I forbidden all contact with mortals?”

Aiden sees the guilt on the wolf’s face, but also the glint of steel in his eyes. “You know,” Aiden says thoughtfully, “I bet if we asked around, most of your wolves have mingled with the mortals. You all started out as humans. You’re all related. And you all have animal lusts.”

Liam casts him a murderous look, but even he flushes slightly. “It isn’t safe for us to take bedmates.”

“That doesn’t mean no one has. You’ve been here for a long time. Surely others of you have connections that we can use,” Harmony interjects.

A female wolf steps forward. “I know a man who can get the documents we need.”

“I don’t remember agreeing to help,” Liam growls.

“Alpha—” the woman protests.

“No.” Liam’s tone is final. “I won’t risk the pack.”

“If what they say is true,” Gray says quietly, “the pack is already at risk.”

Liam looks as though he’s been chewing on rancid meat. “And this is what you all want? To cross this Veil into a world we don’t know? To fight for the fey who mean nothing to us.”

Owen shakes his head. “I do not wish to fight. But I think I speak for many others as well when I say I also do not wish to linger in this place like a bad smell.”

“We want to live as people again,” another wolf says.

Aiden steps forward. “You aren’t people, or rather, not just people, not anymore. I can’t promise you lives like you knew when you were mortal but I understand how important it can be to embrace both sides of your heritage.”

Harmony flashes him a dazzling smile.

Liam searches the faces of his pack, his face going at last to land on Gray’s. “This is truly what you all want?”

“You’re a good leader, Liam. A better protector than I ever was,” Gray says. “Come with us.”

But Liam shakes his head. “Someone needs to stay here, to find the ones who haven’t found the pack yet.” He turns to Aiden. “You will watch over them?”

A lump forms in Aiden’s throat. “I will do everything in my power to protect your pack, nephew.”

Several wolves decide to stay with Liam, but the majority want to come with them. With each name Harmony adds to the list of those who will need forged documents,