The Orange Cat and Other Cainsville Tales (Cainsville 3.5)

A whisper behind him. A shadow snaking toward the ledge. That whisper coming clear. It is her. The lady.

Ricky dropped the fae and shot for the ledge just as Liv broke through the surface. The shadows slid toward her. With a sweep of his arm, they fell back, and he heard the whispers, No harm, my Lord. We would do her no harm, but his heart pounded too hard to pay them heed.

He scrambled across the rock, sending the shadows scattering as Liv said, "The fae!" and he turned to see the fae bolting. He didn't go after her, though, didn't care if the shadows swore no harm to Liv. Arawn wouldn't let him take that chance.

Ricky reached for Liv, but she shot past him, leaping onto the ledge and running, hunched over, after the fae.

Running into the cavern.

Running toward the glow and the music and the laughter.

And death.

"No!"

Arawn's fear, Arawn's voice, booming through the cavern, enough to send the shadows skittering and gibbering. Enough for the fae to turn, wide-eyed, her lips parting with, "Fy arglwydd?"

Liv dove and grabbed the fae by the ankle.

Ten - Liv

"Really?" I said to Ricky as I held the fae's ankle. "I may hate losing my prey, but I wasn't going to pursue her into the afterlife." I peered into the dark. "Presuming that's what it is."

"Move back," Ricky said, his voice thick.

I glanced at him and saw fear in his eyes, and he added a please, but he didn't need to. I saw that look and backed up, hauling the fae with me.

"Sorry if I spooked you," I said. "When we got separated by a vision, I knew you'd wanted me to leave, so that's what I did."

"See?" the fae said, her voice shrill. "I told you she left. You did not believe me."

"He didn't believe a fae? Shocking. It not like they've ever lied to us before."

"You know what I am," she said, her eyes narrowing. Then she looked at Ricky and hunger touched her eyes. Which was totally understandable, given that he was a hot, naked guy, but it wasn't that kind of hunger. It was a look that sent a chill up my spine. I remembered what she'd called him. Fy arglwydd. Welsh for my Lord. Lord of the Otherworld.

"Arawn," she said. "You told me you were not Arawn. You lied."

"Ar-oon?" I said. "What's an ar-oon?"

"Exactly what I asked," Ricky said. "Seems to be more of that foreign shit it talks."

"It?" the fae said indignantly. "I am not an it."

Ricky crawled over, rubbing his shoulder and wincing.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, just scraped it up charging after you."

"Trust me a little more," I said. "So bring me up to speed on the conversation. I only caught the tail end. I heard you guys talking and wanted to be sure I wasn't, you know, interrupting anything."

I waggled my brows. He gave me a look and said, "Trust me a little more."

"Hey, I gave permission."

"Yeah, with you around. Whole different thing. And if you're not around? I'm not interested."

"Saw those sharp teeth, huh?"