Unholy Blue Read Free

go.”
    Bann twisted around, one hand on Shay’s headrest. Something about his position seemed to block her out of the conversation. Her temper ratcheted up a notch. “Bann—”
    â€œCormac Boru.” Bann’s use of his son’s full name made Shay sigh in exasperation. “You have three seconds to tell me what it is that you and Shay are laboring so hard to hide from me.”
    â€œBann, really—” Shay tried again.
    The man ignored her. Which made her want to nail him with a
hey, I’m talking to you here
smack on the back of the head.
    â€œOne. Two—” he intoned.
    â€œIburneddownpartofthejunglegymbyaccident,” Cor said in a breathless rush.
    â€œY-you burned down—”
    â€œSee?” Shay said. “Not worth mentioning.”
We’re going to have a come-to-Danu meeting sooner rather than later about his stubbornness
. She patted Bann’s knee. “So. Who’d you rent your house to?”
    Bann stiffened. “Do not minimize my parenting,” he said coldly.
    â€œDon’t undercut
mine
, then,” Shay fired back. “I was in charge of him. I handled it. End of story.”
    The rest of the drive, while Cor sat in silent bewilderment in the back, Shay watched out of the corner of her eye as Bann stared straight ahead, stony-faced as only the Knight could be. She tightened her grip on the steering wheel.
    Our first fight. And over Cor. This is not good
. Shay knew the statistics of success in second marriages, especially when children were involved.
But that’s among humans, not us. We Tuatha Dé Danaan are the poster people of “it takes a clan to raise a child” philosophy. Hell, that’s why we have a history of fostering our children to other Knights
. She thought back to her own experience of leaving her family at thirteen to apprentice with a seasoned Knight and Healer, who had taught her the ancient art of hunting goblins and encouraged her to follow her heart and become a Healer.
    Why, Bann was an apprentice himself, declaring his master was as much a father, albeit a stern one, as his own. And hasn’t my family taken both Bann and Cor into their hearts and homes? So I don’t see why he’s suddenly all pucker-assed about someone else disciplining his kid
.
    â€œMy apologies, Shay.” Bann’s voice was so low she almost missed his admission. “Cor was under both your care and your guidance. I should not have questioned you.”
    After picking her jaw up off her lap, Shay nodded. “I guess we’re all feeling our way in this. Like you saidbefore, we’ll just have to figure it out as we go along.” She wondered what
go along
entailed.

2
    A S THE AUTOMATIC GATES swung open to Hugh and Ann’s wooded lot high in the foothills overlooking the city, Bann rubbed the back of his neck, tight with the tension of the last week’s scramble. As well as the last year’s flight from the monster.
    That same monster was now back, this time in dog form.
And not just any dog, but Shay’s beloved hound
. Fate had to pound him into the dirt once again.
Because that’s what Fate does to you
, Bann thought
, when you are the long-son of the High King of Éireann, Brian Boru. And the cursed recipient of a thousand-year-old grudge from the Stag Lord himself
.
    Except…
    Fate also sent me Shay Doyle
. He glanced over. The last rays of the sun created a halo around her hair of the exact shade of the gold torc around his throat.
How can I have lost my heart so quickly? And Cor loves her, as well
. A tiny voice spoke in his head.
Because she was a friend first, when you both needed one. And love based on friendship has a thrice-blessed strength
. He slipped a hand inside his jacket pocket and touched the velvet-covered box with his fingertips. With a rueful shake of his head, he reached over and wrapped his hand around hers. “
Mo
chara
,” he said softly in