Hidden In Shadows, A Fae and Vampire Romance: Shadow Court Chronicles, Book 1

Chapter 3.1: Broker A Deadly Deal

 It was now Kieran's turn to whine, and he was doing a rather excessive amount of it, too. She knew he didn't care for Sam, but she hadn't realized how much until they were right in front of the Sheerwood Library. It was creepy this and creepy that comments and complaints about how Sam was unnatural. These comments coming from a Fae Redcap, who stayed alive using the blood of his slain enemies, was rather amusing to her.

They stood in front of the library, an old brewery that had been restored, while she waited for him to get all of his complaints out of his system. He didn't like that they were in a public place. He didn't like meeting with Sam. He didn't like that she had cut her hair. He didn't like their situation. She did not want to take a snarly Redcap into a public place, nor did she want him meeting Sam in his current emotional state, so she waited until he got misgivings out of his system.

She wasn't doing it patiently though. Her foot was tapping impatiently as she listened to him ramble on. "Are you done yet?" She was ready for him to be done. If he weren't done in the next few seconds, she would gag him with a dirt troll sock to force him to be done. She was as uncomfortable as he was standing in the open with an obscenely large target on her back.

"Yes," he grumbled.

"Good."

She linked her arm through his and pulled him up the stairs. She didn't understand what all of his complaints were about. So far, between her appearance and the slight glamor she wore, no one was wiser to who she was. She had toned down her otherworldly human features and muted her natural coloring. He had nothing to worry about either as he was wearing a more complex glamor that she had woven for him herself. Humans tended to panic, call the police, or worse when they saw the non-humanoid Fae.

She pulled the door open, and they were met with the blast of a chilly, air-conditioned library. It was June on the East Coast, and humidity had people melting on the spot. Their search for Sam wouldn't be a long one. She had an idea where they could find the broker, the research section, a location where she almost never wandered from. A familiar giggle alerted her that she was on the right track, not that she had any real doubts, almost instantly after they had gotten off of the elevator at the third floor.

Most people would have been shaking in their boots meeting with Sam without an appointment. She was an infamously deceiving creature and was considered to be even more deceiving than many of the Fae. She was a powerful witch of untold skill, and no one knew exactly how old she was or what her powers were. The only thing everyone could agree on was that she was deadly.

The most unnerving trait about her was that her skill, knowledge, and attitude was in the body of an 8 year old. She was an adorable 8 year old though. Lyss would give her that much credit. Bouncing blonde curls, bright blue eyes, and the deepest dimples had the unsuspecting simply handing her whatever she wanted. She was cute and utterly charming when she wished it, but she was always dangerous, and never to be sought after lightly.

Lyss turned the final corner of the stacks and came face to face with the broker and her bodyguard sitting at the furthest wall with their backs against it. "Samantha," She greeted the other woman with a low bow at her waist. Sam may have looked like a child, but she had learned long ago that only a fool would treat her like one. She had once seen her casually rip a werewolf into shreds for not bowing properly to her.

She looked up from the rather gigantic book on human law with a gentle smile on her face. "Lyssandra, I like the hair."

"Thank you."

"Have a seat," she said, motioning to the chair across from her. "I am sorry for your loss. It is a great one."

She fought back the tears. She had promised herself no more tears, or at least not until she had strung up and destroyed the parties responsible for it. "Thank you." Her voice sounded a little rough to her ears, but it was impossible not to show a portion of her pain. It was too great.

She took the time to regain control of her emotions as Kieran pulled out her chair for her. She gave the faintest bow of her head to thank him as she took her seat. The protocol was just as important in this space, and he was never one to shy away from it, even when he argued with her.

"What deal have you come to broker with me?"  

~~~

The next part will be released on Friday December 18, 2015. If you want to read the whole book NOW Absolutely FREE. Just visit here http://hotromancestory.com/scc1-free-book-wp/ To grab your free copy of this book today.