Read Prince by Blood and Bone: A Fantasy Romance of the Black Court (Tales of the Black Court) for Free Online Page A

who knew what the queen would send next.
    “Good,” he said. “Swear to me you’ll not tell anyone about our visitor, anything about the girl, nor my endeavors.”
    The gnome’s voice came out almost too low to hear, but Kian caught the words. “I swear.”
    For the first time in too long, the tell-tale energizing upswing of joy and anticipation tingled along his nerves. Finally, after too many years in this dusty abandoned place, he would have his own shape, his powers, and his freedom.
     
    An enticing aroma of cooked meats and strange spices had Bryanna’s mouth watering. Her stomach gurgled. She covered the blue silk with her palm and stepped inside the dining room. The wide room could easily have held the entire Albuquerque house in its walls, and yet, Beezel had called it the “second dining room”, which must mean there was a larger one somewhere within the maze of underground walls. A large table with a pristine white table cloth and chairs for twelve held center stage. Four silver candelabras clustered at the near end surrounded by an array of polished silver-covered dishes. And a place setting for one.
    “Please come in.” The golden voice of her captor came from the far dark corner.
    Bryanna startled.
    In another time or place, his elegant vowels and consonants would have had her melting. She loved British accents. But he wasn’t some kilt-wearing Highlander in a Hollywood version of history. Despite the elegant dinner setting and her fairy-tale ball gown, he was her jailer and therefore, her enemy.
    She took a breath, gathered her skirts, and stepped into the room. The doors closed behind her, and she heard the lock turn.
    Her palms went damp.
    “It’s traditional to curtsey.”
    Her chin shot up. “I thought you said you weren’t a king?”
    “I’m not.” His shadowy figure seemed to grow taller. “But I am a Lord of the Fae, and you are naught but a gypsy witch.”
    Her heart squeezed tight. He was not just her captor, and possibly insane, but he was also one of her family’s assailants. An elf .
    “I may be nothing but a gypsy witch, but you won’t catch me bowing to an elf.” She hid her clenched fists in the folds of her skirt. “The fae have brought us nothing but trouble and murder.”
    She braced for anger. Instead, his breath sighed through the room, bringing with it a deep feeling of melancholy.
    “Let’s start over.” His voice was smooth and calm. “While I know your people use that term, it’s insulting. I’d prefer you stick to fae, elvatian, or my name. I am Kian.”
    “Just Kian? Not Lord Kian? Or Your Highness?” She couldn’t help the note of sarcasm.
    “For now, we’ll just go with Kian.”
    She detected a slight undertone of humor that she didn’t understand and frowned.
    “Sit down and enjoy your dinner,” he continued, gesturing at the table. “Beezel has worked hard to provide you with suitable food.”
    “Aren’t you eating with me?” She took a cautious step and peered across the room where his dark cloaked shape lurked in the corner.
    “No. I don’t think it would be wise. But you go ahead. I’m sure you must be starved.”
    The tantalizing odor rising from the covered dishes had her stomach rumbling, but hesitated. “You’re not eating. Any of it?”
    “I ate earlier.”
    “Look, I don’t want to be rude but if this is Underhill maybe I shouldn’t eat the food. It could be magic or poisoned.”
    He chuckled. “What reason would I have to poison you. I could kill you with my bare hands. It would have saved Beezel the trouble of cooking. And poison is messy and difficult to watch. I prefer cleaner ways of killing.”
    It wasn’t reassuring, but he was right. He could have killed her as soon as he saw her. Why go to the trouble of poison?
    “What about the magic? Some say you shouldn’t eat in Underhill, if you do you have to stay forever.”
    “Those people are fools. If someone has the power to keep you forever, they will, and