Shadows of the Past (13 page)

Mathis winked at Amethyst.
“We missed our little sister.”

Paavo nodded and t
urned his attention back to her. “So how have things been since the move?”

“Good, been super busy.” She crammed the last bite in her mouth and went to wash her hands. When she came back he had a little dish of cobbler set at her seat
. “Mmm, that looks really good, Hayden.”

He squeezed her shoulder
. “It is. I got it down at HoneyLove. They have great pastries.”

Paavo grinned at her
. “The sheriff seems to have his eyes set on you.”

She didn’t miss the dark look Hayden shot at Paavo.
“Just being friendly, and apologizing in person for missing out on a game of pool.”

Amethyst couldn
’t help blushing. “Anyway, as soon as I finish my cobbler, we’ll go back and take care of the piercings.”

Hayden tipped his head to her.
“Well, I need to be going. I’ll see you tonight?”

She nodded enthusiastically.

Hayden glanced at Paavo and Mathis. “Before you head back to Seattle, can you stop by my office? I need to talk to you both.”

“Sure thing,” Mathis answered, and Paavo nodded with a smirk.

Hayden stood up with a smile and left with a little wave.

“The sheriff
, huh?” Mathis chuckled. “He is really big and gorgeous. How are you not all over him yet? He obviously wants a piece of you.”

She blushed. “I think he’s giving me time to adjust
.” Her mouth twisted into a grin.

“And you like him.”

“Yeah, I really do. He’s sort of perfect so far. For now he’s taking his time to get to know me.”

“And sweeping you off your feet,” Paavo
teased.

Mathis snorted
. “I give it a week, tops.”

“I’ll be surprised if she lasts
four days.” Paavo snickered.

She blushed again.
She wasn’t totally sure if she was ready for all of his big-and-grr warrior self, but she planned to find out.

Amethyst couldn’t help a wicked grin.
“Haha, very funny. And you are both wrong. I plan to make my move soon, maybe tomorrow.” She needed to build a little confidence first. “Come on, let’s get this done.”

* * * *

Dacia had watched the whole scene play out from the window of the A Good Book. It was located across from Inktastic and provided an excellent view. That little shit, Zack, was trying to stir up trouble everywhere. She watched as he tried to intimidate Amethyst. What was it about her that drew all these men, especially Hayden?

Hayden
had stormed in, dropped a bag on the table and charged down the hall to throw Zack out.

“Just a warning,” Tremai
ne said, nearly startling Dacia. “You should go after a man who is honestly interested in you. I have never once in the time I’ve known either Brody or Hayden seen either man give you any clue they might be interested.”

Dacia spun around and glared at him. She would have gone after Tremaine if it wasn’t so damned obvious he was in love with Liz from the moment she met them. Dacia didn’t like women and she was half tempted to fall in love with Liz herself.

“Why do you care?” Dacia snapped.

Tremaine leaned against the wall and shrugged one shoulder. “Look, after what you did to Fallon, I would think you learned your lesson. That little woman across the way has done nothing to you, and yet I see the wheels turning in your head as you plot her demise.”

Dacia crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not plotting her demise. I’m plotting a way to turn Hayden’s attention from the tramp with hair by Crayola to me. I don’t plan on harming the little snot.”

“And when you can’t sway his attention?” Tremaine asked with narrowed eyes.

Dacia closed her eyes and groaned. “Then I plan on leaving her alone.”

“Good
, because you could learn something from Amethyst. She’s a sweet girl, and if you give her a chance, you might just like her.”

“Take your fucking advice and shove it.”

Tremaine shook his head. “You don’t have to be such a bitch.”

“Why do you care? You’re in love with Liz
. Maybe you should take a page from my book and go after her.”

Tremaine rubbed
the back of his neck as he glanced out the window. “Doesn’t matter what I feel for her. She’s in love with a close friend of mine and I would never hurt either one of them.”

“And it will never get you the girl.” She sighed and turned back to watch Hayden
and Amethyst eating lunch.

“
Liz was never meant for me. Just like Hayden is not meant for you.” She heard Tremaine walk away and she felt a little guilty for throwing his feelings at him.

Hayden walked out of Inktastic
a whole ten minutes later and turned back to look at that little wench one last time before heading back to his vehicle.

It was time to nip his little infatuation in the
bud once and for all. She had claimed Hayden, so she refused to let a little tramp waltz in to steal him away. She hurried out the door and caught up with him.

“Just the man I was looking for,” she murmured seductively.

He kept walking without a glance in her direction. “I don’t have time for your games, Dacia. I have work to do.”

“You had time to bring that little
girl lunch, and a pastry. A fucking pastry. Since when do you eat raw fish or baked goods?”

“If I wasn’t so busy, I would ask you why the hell you’re stalking me. Seriously though, I don’t care. Get lost.”

“Look, what has you wound so tight? Little girl won’t play with you? I’m telling you, she can’t handle you. Not like I can.”

Hayden stopped, closed his eyes and took a deep breath as his jaw clenched and his hands cranked into fists. “I’m warning you, Dacia. Back the fuck off the girl. You go near her to start shit, and you will answer to me.”

She smirked. “I like to play rough.”

“I’m not playing,” he growled
. Stalking off he climbed into his SUV and then slammed the door.

* * * *

Hayden sat in his office with his father’s old journals laid open. Xenu had helped Sapphire in her mission to rid Faerie of the Shadow Fae when the nightmare creatures were still a plague. He remembered the tales, but he never really believed. What Xenu recounted on paper was so much worse than the stories he told.

Preston had filled him in on the basics
. He now had a tense truce with the damned mage, at least for the time being. Somehow, he had a hard time believing that Preston’s intentions toward Amethyst were as pure as he claimed, but there was no trace of a lie. He couldn’t even blame Preston for worrying about Hayden being with Amethyst. It wasn’t going to stop him from pursuing her when she was ready though.

Paavo and Mathis strolled in and took a seat across from him. “Take a look at this.” He passed a vial of the black sludge mixed with blood. “Is it really the Shadows?
”

Mathis grabbed
Paavo’s hand before he could reach for it. “It is. Preston took a similar sample. It feels the same.”

“
He did?” Hayden asked with a snort. “That conceited ass actually took evidence?”

“Keep in mind that he is one of the few open minded Silver Council Enforcers.
He also takes his position rather seriously.”

Hayden narrowed his eyes at Paavo.
“Yeah, but what about him and your sister?”

He shrugged, a crooked smile tweaking his mouth. “If he wasn’t still half in love with my mother, and the age difference didn’t bother him, he would be good for
Amethyst. He risked much to step in and stop Jarvis from touching her while she was held by the Council.”

Sitting back, Hayden scrubbed a hand over his face. “Did he really?”
Now he felt like a prick because he’d spied on her while she was swimming.

“Yeah.
Trust me, he’s not a bad guy. He could have had Amethyst a decade ago, when she threw herself at him. As much as he wanted her, and he did, he turned her down because he thought it was wrong.”

Hayden growled and Mathis and Paavo both laughed.
That didn’t stop Hayden’s mile wide jealous streak. Just the thought of Amethyst in Preston’s arms made him want to break something.

Mathis co
ntinued, “She had a crush, and no one ever turns her down. He has always been good to her, but he never crossed any lines. So cut him a little slack.”

“Fine.”

“But,” Paavo raised one eyebrow and pointed at Hayden, “if you do hurt her, I will help Preston gut you. Just keep that in mind, lover-boy.”

“
I don’t plan to hurt her. I’m taking my time because she said she isn’t ready. Think you could tell me why?”

Paavo gave Mathis a
long look. Mathis nodded and Paavo turned back to Hayden with a serious expression. “I’m only going to tell you because you should know, but when she does tell you what happened, you better listen to her like we never said a word.”

Hayden leaned forward.
“Done.”

* * * *

Amethyst hopped up on a stool and looked into Hayden’s eyes. He watched her with a slight smile that warmed her all over.

She couldn’t help her flirty tone. “So, you don’t mind losing to a girl?” One corner of her mouth tipped up.

He leaned closer as a smile crossed his lips. “Not at all. I’m enjoying my evening. Are you?”

“I am, but I’m nearly famished.” She glanced over at the kitchen, feeling just a little nervous. “I hope our food comes soon.”

His laugh was light, and he never took his eyes from hers. “We could have ordered sooner, but I think you like kicking my ass.”

“Only because you’re taking it so well.
If you were one of those guys who whined and pouted I would have stopped playing in favor of dancing.”

One brow rose.
“And now you tell me?”

Her eyes widened. “You like to dance?”

“I am Fae. Don’t we all?” His grin was wicked.

“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been there.”

“That’s right, but yes, I do like to dance.”

Lincoln chose that moment to bring their burgers. He smiled bashfully. “If you would like anything else, please let me know.”

“Thank you,” she answered. Hayden nodded. Poor Lincoln blushed and hurried away. She couldn’t help wondering why he was so shy before she turned her attention back to Hayden who watched her intently.

“Do y
ou ever want to visit Faerie?” he asked quietly.

She shrugged one shoulder. “I really don’t know.” A sigh escaped her lips. “
Do you?”

He took a deep breath as he picked up a fry. “Sometimes I miss it, but until Henroyld is no longer the Earth Realm’s king, I won’t go back.”

“But I thought Aeryana was the ruling leader. He only holds the title as her husband. Or am I mistaken?”

“You’re right, but he had his own father killed to take the title. He’s plotting a way to take the throne from his wife.”

“Is that why you left?”

He nodded slightly.
“In part. I was his father’s advisor and General for a century before Henroyld took over.” His eyes slid shut as a grimace twisted his features. “He expected me to do his dirty work. I left Faerie instead.”

Her eyes were wide when he opened his. She was slightly breathless when she asked, “And he doesn’t hunt you?”

“I told him I would stay away from Faerie almost two hundred years ago. He took me at my word and I haven’t been back. Aeryana is a good woman, and I advised her to keep her trusted protectors closest before I left.”

“And if he were gone?”

He smiled slightly. “I’ve made a life here. I might visit if he were no longer a concern, but I doubt I would move back. As odd as it is, I fit here with the Others in Edenton. This is home now.”

“I’m not sure I could live in Faerie. Mom has told me about how most fae are stuck in the past, with old values and ideas I just don’t share.”

“Yes, in ways the Fae have more modern ideas and in others they carry many double standards. It took me decades to get used to living with humans. I think perhaps I’ve changed too much to find my place there again.”

Amethyst watched him eat as she took a bite of her
salmon burger. Thinking of Faerie brought up questions she was afraid to ask, but if she really was considering making a move, it might be good to have a few answers.

As if he read her mind, Hayden said, “You can ask me
anything.”

The words fell out of her mouth. “Did you ever form a bond with anyone, or have a spouse?”

He gave her a sad smile as he set his burger down. “No, neither. I disappointed my parents when I didn’t find a woman who could captivate me.” His gaze held hers as he licked his lips. Then he sighed. “My parents died in the Great War between the Fire and Water Realms.”