The Tainted Web (The Godhunter, Book 7) Read Free

fountain of molten lava, set in the center of the fire garden. It reminded me of the caverns beneath Castle Aithinne.
    I stared out in the direction of the Fire Kingdom, feeling excitement clench my belly. I hadn't realized how much I wanted to see Arach until I was actually there. I took a deep breath, looking out into the darkening forest. There were sparks of light and echoing cries as animals either bedded down or woke up with the night. I had no idea that so much went on above ground but I wasn't really surprised. In Faerie, it seemed like no space was ever wasted, there was life everywhere.
    “ I hope they don't have faerie termites,” Odin came up beside me and winked his one eye at me.
    “ That would be unfortunate,” I laughed before I turned to look at Danal. “I didn't realize we'd come so far up.”
    “ Ah,” Danal nodded. “Just a bit of magic. If you know where you're going and keep it in your mind, the tree will shorten the distance for you.”
    “ Like in Castle Aithinne,” I recalled how it never seemed to take very long to get all the way to the top of the castle.
    “ Yes, most likely,” Danal agreed. “Most of the royals utilize the spell.”
    “ Fascinating,” Odin wandered back out into the hall, to peer at the floor as if he might be able to catch it in the act of folding space.
    “ Is he alright,” Danal watched him warily,“mentally?”
    “ He's fine,” I pushed the fey's shoulder. “Give them a chance to adjust.”
    “ Take all the time you require,” Danal grinned. “I trust everything is acceptable for your needs?”
    “ Yes, perfect,” I smiled my thanks and then called out to Odin. “It's not Dune, you're not going to be able to catch the tree folding space, Odin.”
    “ And we don't have sand worms either,” Roarke smiled to himself, inordinately pleased that he was able to catch my movie reference and I have to admit that it was nice to not have to explain myself. I looked over to where he was stretched out on one of the couches, posed as seductively as possible. I don't think he even did it on purpose, it was just a cat thing, looking beautiful while being lazy.
    “ Do you want me to rid you of this annoyance?” Danal waved his hand at Roarke.
    “ He's not that annoying,” I shook my head when Roarke proved me wrong by sticking his tongue out at Danal. “Roarke,” I groaned.
    “ What?” He blinked wide green eyes at me.
    “ Leave Danal alone.”
    “ I did nothing.”
    “ Well if you stick that nothing out at me again,” Danal patted the sword at his hip, “I shall cut it off.”
    Roarke sat up in affront, letting out a long meow. “A little extreme don't you think?”
    “You've been spending too much time in the God Realm if you think that's extreme,” Danal huffed and left.
    “ Hmph,” Roarke made a snide face which slowly faded away. “Yeah, maybe he's right.”
    “ No one's cutting anyone's tongue off while I'm here,” I sighed.
    “ Unless it's you doing the cutting?” A slick voice asked from the doorway, garnering everyone's attention.
    The excitement that had been building in my belly, clenched and shot out into my limbs with a shivering delight. I turned slowly to face him, a smile spreading over my face that I wasn't able to suppress. Then I saw him, he looked so different from the way he did in my mirror. As beautiful as he always seemed when I spoke to him in the looking glass, reality was so much better when it came to my husband.
    “Arach,” I went over to him.
    “ A Thaisce,” he wrapped himself around me and his scent filled my head, citrus embers and dragon musk, an earthy sort of smell with a tinge of sweetness. “I've missed you.”
    “ It's good to see you too,” I limited my emotional response to him, in respect of my watching lovers and my indecision regarding our relationship. I pulled back but I wish I could have stayed in his embrace and judging by his expression, he knew it.
    “ Well met,” he said to the others