Return of the Fae Read Free Page B

I’m not that driver.”
    “What, you never wanted to be the dad of a teenage athlete?” Parris smiled, watching the blue minivan disappear behind them in the side view mirror.
    “I never wanted to be a dad,” Ty blurted, checking the rearview mirror before switching lanes.
    Parris shot him a look. “Really? No wanting a boy or girl you could teach to ride a bike or take fishing?”
    Ty glanced down at his expensive suit. “Do I look like the fishing type?” He waited, but Parris didn’t answer him. “I mean, I’ve never thought of the whole kid, family, and white picket fence future. I didn’t think I’d live past thirty when I became a hunter. People in my profession tend to have short life spans.”
    “I don’t understand. You bring lost witches back to The Council. How could your job be dangerous?”
    “If a witch is in hiding, there’s usually a good reason. Like they found the dark side or more commonly, the dark found them. Evil exists, Parris. In the human world and in the magical world. Where there’s good, there’s evil. It’s the yin and yang principle.” Ty sped the car around a sedan with an older couple in the front seat. Sunday Drivers . “When witches don’t want to be found, they get testy when you tell them you’re taking them to The Council.”
    “They attack you with magic?” Parris stared at him now, the book forgotten in her lap.
    “With magic, with guns. Hell, last year, a succubus stabbed me. Took ten stitches and a pint of blood to get me able to travel. I spent a week in the makeshift hospital on Council grounds.” Ty grimaced.
    “How’d you explain your absence to your boss, the law office, I mean?”
    “I took an impromptu Caribbean vacation and had an unfortunate zip-line accident. By the third time I told the story, I felt like I’d been on vacation.” Ty tapped the book. “Read, you need to read.”
    Parris sighed like he’d sent her to the library for detention. She opened a packet of strawberry licorice and started reading.
    As he drove, Ty let his thoughts wander. Robert Nelson had mentored Ty once he’d been tapped for placement into the prestigious hunter program. They’d fought when he’d taken Rowena to meet Robert. The man had been cordial, but curt. He’d told the couple although the girl seemed perfectly nice, she wasn’t Ty’s soul mate. When Ty protested saying he’d asked Rowena to marry him, Robert laughed, and called him an idiot being led around by his penis.
    Two years later, Ty knew Robert had been right. Ty couldn’t see it then. All he knew, all he wanted, had been Rowena. Then she’d betrayed him. Now, being honest, the woman had probably set up their chance meet that had led to a hot and sex-filled first date.
    Kind of like his relationship with Parris. They’d been thrust together too fast, too quickly. And he felt the danger. Not just with Coven X, but between the two of them. He needed to keep this relationship professional. At least until he could sort out his feelings. Protection mode wasn’t the best reason to enter a relationship.
    Now, he hoped Robert would even talk to him. He prayed the man would tell him Parris wasn’t his soul mate too. He’d been wrong back then and Robert had been able to see through the emotion to the truth. This time, he’d listen and maybe not play the patsy like he had for Rowena. Something in his heart knew history wouldn’t repeat itself. Not this time.
    * * * *
    B. O. R. E. D. Between the hum of the tires on the asphalt and the chapter on using herbs in magical spells, Parris fought sleep. She looked over at Ty. The man still gave her chills, with a glance.
    Since she’d been kidnapped by The Council and then placed into Ty’s hands for training, things had felt different between them. He kept a professional distance. Maybe their relationship had been a one night stand for him, but God, she still wanted him. Wanted to run her fingers through his dark, curly hair, and pull him down for a