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to the table
behind him.
    "What did you say?" He could feel his
father's rising anger at the back of his neck. There wasn't much
Creed had punished him for as a child, but the man did have a
temper about some things. "Kai? It sounded like you said she's a
faery?"
    The last breed his father would ever approve
of him dating, let alone touching.
    "She is, but we just met, and I've only been
with her a few times, so it's probably nothing. Although…I feel as
though she's behind my inspiration. Sort of my muse. Can you
understand that—"
    Shoved against the wall, his father slammed
Kai's shoulders to the tin wall and bared his fangs. Stunned at the
fang reveal, Kai lifted his chin, but did not retaliate with an
equal show of dominance by growling. He was bigger and stronger
than Creed, but also respectful.
    "Haven't you been listening to me all these
years?" Creed shoved Kai hard, and walked away, but turned back on
him. "Faeries are out of the question. You walk a wide circle
around their breed. You look away when they glance at you. You stay
away!"
    "Dad, she's—"
    "She's what? Pretty? Sexy? Just another fuck
in your endless cavalcade of fucks?"
    Harsh words from a man he respected, but not
undeserved.
    "She's different, Dad." And how could he
discount his muse?
    Creed smacked his fist in a palm and shook
his head. "Don't do this, Kai. Don't be a fool."
    "There's nothing to that idiotic curse. It
was made so long ago."
    "Faeries never forget," Creed insisted. "A
decade in the mortal realm is mere days in Faery." He kicked the
base of the work table. "I thought you were smarter."
    His father's disdain cut across his soul.
Never had Creed shown such vitriol toward him. Kai slapped a hand
over his pounding heart. "I don't know what to say. I'll…"
    He wanted to see Rissa again. Needed to, as
if his life—his very art—depended on tasting her kiss once again.
But he didn't want his father's disdain.
    "Tell me who she is?" Creed demanded.
    "No. You'll go to her."
    "Damn right I will."
    "She's mine!"
    Creed reared from Kai's sudden lunge. Kai
realized he'd followed that statement with a growl. Never did he
allow the animal side of him to show against his father. Had a few
nights with the tiny faery changed him so remarkably that he could
disrespect his father with such ease?
    "This will kill your mother," Creed said.
    "Dad, mom doesn't need to know. It was a few
nights. I don't even know where she lives."

    "You called her your muse."
    "I…" He never lied to his father. Lies were
for cowards. "She is. That sword was forged because of her. And I
will see her again. I have to."
    "Then make it your last." Creed strode toward
the shop door and kicked it open. Sunlight burst across his face
and he reactively blocked it with a hand. "Or I will." He marched
off.
    "Stupid curse," Kai muttered. "It's not real.
I'm not in love."
    And he would see her again tonight, because
it felt too good to fall into Rissa's arms. So good, he'd risk
pissing off some faery who had a death wish for him.
    ***
    Kicking off his boots by the door and
shucking off his overalls, Kai wandered naked through the kitchen.
Taking out a few items from the fridge to make a shake, he tossed
frozen fruits in a blender, along with protein powder and some
fresh spinach. Hitting the low blend button, he let it run a
minute. He didn't bother to pour the shake in a glass, drinking it
straight from the pitcher. That hit the spot. And he only spilled a
few drops down his bare chest. He swiped it off, wincing, because
his bicep was sore. Hell, he'd lost himself in work for days if
he'd not noticed how exhausted he'd become until now.
    But the waning energy was worth it. It was a
marvel to him that he'd been working so steadily on the blade. It
was as if something had come over him.
    "Inspiration," he said. "Gotta love her."
    And thinking of his muse… After he showered
and did some yoga to stretch out his achy muscles, he'd go in
search of more inspiration.
    "Rissa," he