Midnight Enchantment Read Free Page B

was
possibility
just waiting to be activated.
    And it was her sad job to see that it never was.
    That familiar mixture of regret and relief filled her as she verified the pieces were still safe. Slowly, she refolded the fabric and replaced the objects, the voice of the Summer Queen ringing through her ears: “I know you already have one compelling reason to keep these pieces out of the Shadow Queen’s hands, but you know you have another one…
don’t you
?”
    The threat had been audible. If she refused the Summer Queen, she would be killed. But it wasn’t for that reason she’d agreed to hide the pieces. If it was just her life at risk, things would be different…easier.
    The pieces hidden once more, she sat down near the base of the tree and closed her eyes, feeling with her senses for Niall Daegan Riordan Quinn’s location. She’d never deliberately sought him out, but after the glimpse she’d had of him today, she wanted another. Once she had a lock on his unique presence, she dissolved, her limbs going soft and her body once again finding its water self and traveling to him.
    Re-forming, she found herself at the edge of a campsite, a fire flickering merrily not far away. Standing, not making a sound, she moved from her place between two bushes and peered through the foliage at him.
    She didn’t worry about being caught. Niall remained sadly deluded on this point, but he would never catch her. Watching him now she decided that was somewhat of a pity. Maybe being caught by this man wasn’t the worst thing that could happen to her.
    He leaned up against a rock, blanket spread underneath him and the fire crackling and spitting near his booted feet. He had his eyes closed and his hands behind his head, looking restful…maybe just a little defeated. Her lips curled in a smile. His shirt was unbuttoned, giving her a glimpse of his muscular chest and a hint of his broad shoulders. This man was much stronger than her; no doubt about that—but she was faster and trickier.
    He had dimples. She hadn’t noticed that before. They gave him a mischievous look. Her gaze traced the curve of his lips, and she wondered what his hands were like, wondered what his hands on her body might feel like.
    She knew she shouldn’t be thinking about this man in that way. He was her enemy. He wanted the pieces she was guardingand therefore, by default, his success meant her mother’s death. Still, she couldn’t help fantasizing about this man. She’d been doing it from the first night he’d tracked her down and she’d heard his voice in the darkness, caught the scent of him on the wind. It was true she lived a sheltered life, but she’d met plenty of men, mostly nature fae—this man was different. This one called to her in a primal way.
    This one made her wonder what it would be like to slide naked down the length of him, to feel the cup of his big hands on her body and the fit of him between her thighs. Maybe it was just because he was the one man she could never have, or maybe there was something more substantial to her attraction.
    Either way, it didn’t matter.
    This was just fantasy. She couldn’t have this man. Not even for one night.
    NIALL opened his eyes, feeling the pressure of someone’s presence nearby.
Elizabeth.
It had to be.
    He remained still, searching the area with his senses for her exact location. Once he thought he had it—she was
right there
, between those two bushes—he sprang to his feet and lunged for her.
    A woman’s yelp. A flash of a long, peach-colored form. The softest brush of bare skin against his fingertips.
    Then nothing.
    He lay sprawled in the foliage, cursing under his breath, branches poking him in the side and leaves tickling his nose. Then he rolled onto his back. Sweet Danu, she’d been naked again. He rubbed his fingers together, recalling the lovely sensation of her skin.
    He wanted more.

T WO

    GIDEON P. Amberdoyal, archdirector of the Phaendir, stood at the window of his office