Fae of the South (Court of Crown and Compass Book 3) by E. Hall (libby ebook reader .txt) 📕

“She had files with biographies of all the fae...and me.” Tyrren runs his hand down his face.

“Can we trust her?” Callen asks.

“No,” I say. “But right now, I don’t think we have much of a choice. Glandias is probably on our heels.”

As we walk toward the building, Soren asks me, “So I take it you weren’t controlled by Glandias’s use of your true name. Power of will? Unseelie rebel?”

I shake my head.

“She had me good,” Kiki says. “I would’ve brayed like a mule had she asked me.”

“Me too.” Val hangs her head.

“I think it was because I was a shadow fae, but even then, in that state, it was an ever-present feeling of disconnection. I was numb. Lost. I can’t explain it but the feeling lingers.”

“So there’s no destroying the shadow fae, but they can be reunited with their shadows.” Tyrren grips my hand.

“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing,” I reply.

We exchange a private smile.

“Can you guys read each other’s thoughts, like how shifters can communicate?” Callen asks.

“Like how you and Soren were doing when we first met in the Humvee?” Tyrren asks.

He nods.

“Nope. We just know each other, really really well.” I squeeze Tyrren’s hand back.

The others start up the steps after Jurik.

I pause and lift my gaze to meet Tyrren’s. “We have a long road ahead, but I like the way you think.”

“Oh, yeah?” he asks. “If you’re also thinking about pie, then let me have it. All of it. Apple pie, peach, banana cream, pumpkin, pecan. Remember my mom used to make some mega-crazy recipes? Butterfinger with a graham cracker crust. There’s an awesome Elvis recipe she had with peanut butter. That was my dad’s favorite. She made Mississippi blood pie for Halloween one year with cherry syrup of course. It was delish in a dish.” Tyrren’s smile falls. “But I guess I can’t have pie.”

I lift my eyebrows in question.

“You may have gotten your light back, but I’ll always be a vampire.”

“I’m sorry there’s no reversal or redemption for that. But maybe Ivan will figure something out. He did invent those dissolvable blood pellets, after all.”

“Blood for life.” Tyrren pumps the air.

We laugh at the irony.

“Actually, I wasn’t thinking about pie.” I lift my chin. I was thinking about how to end the shadow army, but now I’m distracted.

His eyes are twin stars that will always lead me home, to comfort, laughter, to everything I need and want. I melt into him. He wraps his arms around me. His embrace is a promise never to let me go, but also assuring me he’ll never hold me back. I return it, entirely, fully.

For a long moment, I forget everything else, awareness fades, and it’s just the scratch on his cheek, the rough tousle of his hair, and the contour of his lips.

“You have really sharp teeth,” I say.

“Better to bite you with?” He smirks. “I’m kidding. I would never.”

“I know, but funny, how it’s always been us against the world and now it is, like, for real.”

He smooths his hand down my cheek. “I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather wage an epic battle against supernatural powers with.”

I playfully swat him. He catches my hand and gives it a kiss.

“You know, I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.”

“What? Fight with swords in real life.”

He shakes his head. “I mean be with you. Like this.” His hand travels to my low back and he pulls me close with surprising strength. Actually, it shouldn’t surprise me at all. He’s built from working the forge and now being a vampire, but still, he’s my dorky best friend and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

The truth is, Tyrren and I fit together—two unlikely parts of a whole—always have and always will.

As if reading my thoughts, he smiles and our lips crash together.

We kiss for love. We kiss for freedom. We kiss for the future.

His mouth is warm and soft, a welcome oasis amidst so much difficulty. I press myself against him, trying to absorb whatever it is that makes me love him. I need it right now. I need it always.

“You’re courageous,” he whispers.

“You too.” And because I want to prove it’s true, at last, I say, “I love you.”

He repeats the words, “I love you,” and we kiss one more time before we go inside to face the future.

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Want to read about the fourth sister, Elsie, and meet Asher in the Eastlands? Wondering whether or not the gang breaks the curse? Read the first chapter of the fourth and final book in the Court of Crown series Fae of the East.

Chapter 1

Elsana

I turn away and roll my eyes, busying myself with the task of cleaning up after my cousins as they get ready for the Thunder Tournament.

“Elsie, you missed a spot,” Nesrin singsongs. I return to the mirror and touch up the pink rouge on her round cheeks. She narrows her lavender eyes at me. “You never do things right the first time.”

If the situation were different I’d retort with why is this my job again?

“The crown is off-center.