Return of the Fae Read Free Page A

troll are guarding the house. They say someone is watching us.”
    He frowned. “Another witch?”
    “Toki said yes and no. What good is having a fairy attached if she can’t give you a straight answer?” Parris shut the book and finished her club soda.
    “There are rules to follow.”
    “So I’ve heard.” Parris looked over at April who chatted with a young man sitting at the bar. “You think she’s okay?”
    “I think you trained her well. The bar is in good hands.” Ty sipped his coffee. “Relax.”
    “She looks worn out. I mean, she’s always taking too many classes. Maybe taking on more responsibilities came too fast.” Parris kept watching her second in command.
    He tapped her hand with one finger. “She’s fine. You want a reason to worry.”
    “I do not.” Parris’s eyes flashed with a touch of anger.
    He smiled. There was her spark. He changed subjects before she turned the fire on him. “Your grandmother says hello.”
    Parris started. “I’d forgotten you went to see her. Could she break the spell?”
    He shook his head. “The woman is good. Her spell has more twists and turns than any I’ve seen in the last ten years. She’s almost…” Ty paused, Robert’s face popped into his head for the first time in a long time. He needed to talk to his mentor and teacher. The man had more than a few tricks up his sleeve.
    Parris laid her hand on his arm. “What?”
    Ty grinned. “I think I thought of someone who might help. Last I heard, he lived in Cincinnati. Feel like a road trip?”
    “We’re going to Ohio?”
    “Why not? April said your schedule is clear until Monday. That gives us four full days, time to work with Robert and see if he can find your name. Until we know your secret name, you’ll be useless in training.” Ty finished his coffee and stood. “Come on. Let’s get some provisions.”
    In two hours, they were on the road. Derek reluctantly agreed to stay with Dragon. Ty stuffed overnight bags in the sedan’s trunk. Parris sat next to him, eating peanuts. In his Mercedes. The woman was impossible. At least she’d bought already shelled nuts. He shuddered thinking about the mess peanuts shells would make in the carpet.
    “Don’t drop any.” He sped up on the freeway entrance, merging with traffic. He couldn’t believe the amount of food she’d bought at the gas station. The woman had provisions for a week of camping in the back country, not a six hour drive.
    “Worried I’ll get your pretty car dirty?” Parris grinned. “Can’t you clean it with a wave of your hand?”
    “I send it to the car wash for a detail every week. I don’t use magic for things I can hire out.” Ty turned up the stereo, an old George Jones song drifted from the speakers.
    “I guess having money and magic are a lot alike. I don’t understand what you use magic for then. Will the books enlighten me?” Parris opened the volume on her lap, and scanned the page before her.
    “Different people use magic different ways. I never saw a need for making my entire life about magic.”
    “And yet, hunter, your real world is about magic,” Parris said, her voice flat.
    She had him there. He could preach all he wanted on the subject of using magic for noble reasons, but for months, maybe years, he’d been The Council’s pawn. His recent assignments consisted of tracking down runaway kids and concubines more often than rogue witches.
    “Sorry, you didn’t deserve that.” Parris turned a page in the book. “You’ve been nothing but nice and I’m being a royal butt.”
    He smiled. The girl could turn him six ways to Sunday, yet in the end, she oozed sweetness and light. A very non-witch skill.
    “Ask me the questions you have. What don’t you understand? Maybe we can finish up the preliminary training before we get back. That way Derek can take you into foundations.” Ty sped the car forward passing a minivan filled with what looked like an entire girl’s baseball team. “Thank God