LITMIR.BIZ

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has an iPhone,” Laurel said to David. “My faerie sentry who generally lives without running water has an iPhone. That’s. Just. Great. Everyone in the whole world has a cell phone except me. That’s awesome.” Her parents still insisted that cell phones were for adults and college students. So behind the times.

      “It’s essential for communication purposes,” Tamani said defensively. “I have to admit, humans are far beyond the fae in terms of communication. With this we can deliver messages instantly. A few buttons and I can talk to Shar! It’s astounding.”

      Laurel rolled her eyes. “I’m aware of what they do.” She paused, a pained expression clouding her features. “Shar has one too?”

      “Granted,” Tamani said slowly, not answering her question, “it doesn’t work quite as well for us as humans. Our bodies don’t conduct electrical currents the same, so sometimes I have to touch the screen more than once to get it to react. Still, I can hardly complain.”

      David offered Laurel an apologetic smile. “You’re always welcome to use mine.”

      Tamani growled and muttered an unfamiliar word under his breath. “No answer.” He shoved the phone in his pocket and stood with his hands on his hips, looking pensive.

      Laurel stared at him, his tense shoulders, his dominating posture. He’d been back for about two weeks, and everything in Laurel’s life had been thrown into chaos.

      Sexy, sexy chaos.

      At least he had his shirt on this time. She cleared her throat and looked away, pulling her thoughts back where they belonged.

      “We need to go to the land,” Tamani said, pulling a ring of keys out of his pocket. “Let’s go.”

      “What? Wait!” Laurel said, rising to her feet and feeling David do the same at her side. “We can’t go to the land tonight.”

      “Why not? Jamison needs to know about this. I’ll drive.”

      That sounded so wrong coming out of Tamani’s mouth. “Because it’s almost six o’clock. My parents are going to be home soon and I still have homework.”

      Tamani looked confused. “So?”

      Laurel shook her head. “Tamani, I can’t go. I have things to do here. You go. You don’t need me. Besides,” she added, glancing out at the purpling sky, “it’ll be dark soon. This whole thing has really put me on edge and I would feel better if we were all home before sundown tonight. You’re the one who told me there are still trolls around,” she added.

      “That’s why I have to stay close to you,” he insisted. “It’s my job.”

      “Well, high school is my job,” Laurel said. “Not to mention keeping my family and friends safe. Anyway, you have your phone. Call Shar again later; have him arrange a time this weekend for Jamison to come out and talk with us. We have a half-day at school on Friday, so we can go then. Or Saturday, when we can be back in plenty of time before sundown.”

      Tamani was gritting his teeth, and Laurel could tell that although he didn’t like what she was saying, he knew it made more sense than rushing off on an hour-long drive to the land just as the sun was starting to set. “Fine,” he said at last. “But we’re going on Friday, not Saturday.”

      “After school,” Laurel said.

      “Right after school.”

      “Deal.”

      Tamani nodded stoically. “David should probably head home then. It’ll be sunset soon.” And with that he turned and headed towards the back of the house. Laurel listened for a door, but heard nothing. After a few seconds she peeked into the kitchen, but he was nowhere to be seen.

      David nestled his face against her neck, his breath hot on her collarbone. She wanted to hold him closer, tighter, but knew it would have to wait. Despite Tamani’s assurance that he could handle things, Laurel was back to wanting David safe inside his house at sundown.

      “You really should get home,” she whispered. “I don’t want you outside after dark.”

      “You don’t have to worry about me so much,” David said.

      Laurel pulled back and looked up at him. “Yes, I do,” she said softly. “What would I do without you?” It was a question that no longer seemed so hypothetical, and she didn’t want to know the answer.

      Chapter Five

      Tamani shut the door noiselessly behind him, breaking into a silent run towards the darkening tree line. He didn’t have much time – one of the less pleasant parts of his job was seeing that David got home alive once Laurel was safely in for the night. Keeping the human boy breathing didn’t rate high on Tamani’s personal priority scale, but since Laurel’s happiness was second only to her safety, David was watched.

      Aaron reached out to grab Tamani’s arm as he passed the nearest tree. “What’s happening?” he whispered.

      “We have trouble,” Tamani replied grimly.

      Trouble was the least of what they had. Now that he didn’t have to look confident and strong for Laurel’s benefit, Tamani sank to the ground, ran his fingers through his hair – he still wasn’t used to it being so short – and let his worst fears wash over him. Not for the first time, Tamani wished Jamison would simply order Laurel to Avalon for good. But Jamison insisted it wasn’t time and that Laurel had to come willingly.

      “Another faerie has arrived,” he said.

      Aaron raised one eyebrow. “Shar didn’t say anything—”

      “With the Huntress. Not from Avalon.”

      Aaron’s other eyebrow went up. “Unseelie?”

      “That doesn’t seem likely. She’s got to be some kind of. . . wild faerie.”

      “But that’s impossible,” Aaron said, stepping closer, his fists on his hips.

      “I know,” Tamani said, looking towards the house and seeing two silhouettes moving about the kitchen in the dying evening light. He recapped the visit to Aaron, fear gripping his chest as worst-case scenarios ran through his head.

      “What does this mean for us?” Aaron asked.

      “I don’t know,” Tamani replied. “More reinforcements, for one.”

      “More?” Aaron stared in disbelief. “At this rate we’ll have half of Avalon here by winter.”

      “It can’t be helped. We’ll need at least one squad watching the new girl. Maybe two. Jamison promised me more sentries if we need them, and I don’t want to take anyone from Laurel’s house.”

      Tamani looked up at the sound of a car engine turning over. David’s car – it had a distinctive tick that had become all too familiar the last couple of weeks. It was time to go. Rising to his feet, Tamani pulled his phone out of his pocket. He’d try Shar again as he tracked David. He turned and placed his free hand on Aaron’s shoulder. “This faerie has the potential to destroy everything we’ve worked for. We cannot take her lightly.”

      He didn’t wait for Aaron’s reply before sprinting off after David’s tail-lights.

      Whatever Yuki was up to, it apparently required her to ignore Laurel at all costs.

      At first Laurel thought Yuki was simply shy, as any attempt to approach her resulted in a murmured apology followed by a hasty retreat. But when Laurel settled for smiling at her in the hallway, Yuki pretended not to notice. By Thursday, even finding Yuki became a challenge, and Laurel’s efforts were giving her a headache. Laurel didn’t want to go to Jamison before she’d found something out about Yuki, but the elusive faerie wasn’t giving her much choice.

      On Friday morning Tamani wasn’t in Government when Laurel walked in. She was beginning to worry when

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