\u201cWhat do you suppose he means by that?\u201d Gray murmured in her ear. Aoife shrugged, watching her brother as he kept walking. A woman who reminded her dangerously of Sif Freyrsdottir gave she and Gray a long, hard look before pivoting on her heel and following Phelan. Her voice drifted back to them on the breeze.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I\u2019d known he was coming, I\u2019d have stayed where I was.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not Seamus\u2019s keeper,\u201d Phelan answered his companion. \u201cI didn\u2019t know he\u2019d be here to meet them with me. He might not have even known.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aoife shivered involuntarily. Gray wrapped his arm around her shoulders, lips close to her ear.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you okay?\u201d he asked, his voice low.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat remains to be seen, I think.\u201d She gave him a brave smile. \u201cCome on. We\u2019d better hurry or they\u2019re going to get completely away from us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seamus had lingered nearby, though, watching them even as Phelan and his companion walked away. Another man, slender and appearing a bit older, spoke to the men that Aoife was now certain belonged to the Wild Hunt before he, too, turned and began to walk away. The men who had escorted them up away from the river headed back for the trees, disappearing the way they\u2019d come.<\/p>\n
They must have been on routine patrol. But why? Is this some sort of enclave of the Wild Hunt? I didn\u2019t think they had anywhere they could lay their heads, anywhere they\u2019d\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n She frowned. Unless things have changed more drastically than I\u2019ve ever suspected they might.<\/em> That wasn\u2019t exactly a comforting thought.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a bargain,\u201d Seamus said, intruding suddenly on her thoughts. She startled, her gaze snapping to him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was?\u201d she asked, trying to hide her sudden shaken state.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Hunt\u2019s presence here.\u201d He slid his hands into his pockets. \u201cThey exchanged my freedom for a home.\u201d<\/p>\n Aoife stared at him for a long moment before shaking her head slowly. \u201cWhat kind of people would grant them that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPeople that will change the world,\u201d Seamus said, then smiled. \u201cPhelan and Sif have outpaced us rather significantly. If we hurry, we might catch them on the bridge.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBridge?\u201d She felt like she was in a daze. Gray squeezed her hand.<\/p>\n Seamus grinned. \u201cJust follow me. You\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cWhat do you suppose he means by that?\u201d Gray murmured in her ear. Aoife shrugged, watching her brother as he kept walking. A woman who reminded her dangerously of Sif Freyrsdottir gave she and Gray a long, hard look before … Continue reading