Rachel Morgan

“Colors shift like smoke within the branch beneath our feet. Sprites jump from leaf to leaf, leaving sprinklings of glittery dust in the air behind them. Droplets of water are strung like pearls from the silver strands of a spider’s web. Bluebottle glow-bugs stick to the leaves and branches, lighting up the night with their blue-green bodies. And high above us, clouds are draped like sashes of color across the sky. Amethyst, azure, jade.”

“Whatever game you’re playing, you’re going to lose,” he whispers. “And I’ll be right there to rub your nose in it when it happens.”“Great. Well, at least I have something to look forward to.” I cross my arms. “Now why don’t you go parade your lack of dignity somewhere else?”

“Did you really think I wouldn’t look for you?”“Honestly? Yes. You seemed a little busy losing your tongue down someone else’s throat.”

“Whoa, this isn’t the Training Center, you know,” I tell him. “There’s a certain level of clothing etiquette in this house, and you’re currently violating it.”He reaches for his jacket. “I believe you’re the one who tore my clothes off in the first place, and now you’re complaining?” “Trust me, there was no tearing involved. You’ll have to get that fantasy fulfilled somewhere else.”

“I refuse to let you talk me into a make-out session in a dodgy, underground tunnel. I have standards, you know.”

“It’s hard to say no to Nate, even when he’s wearing a shirt. I should have made him cover his face too.”

“The bathroom door swings open and Nate walks out. He’s toweling his damp hair and wearing nothing but a pair of boxers. Crap. I should have left this for a more appropriately clothed time of day.”

“I put my hands on my hips. “What’s wrong with the way I look?”“Come on, Vi,” he says, keeping his voice low. “You just need to add your boots and you’re like the forest version of Lara Croft.”“Excuse me? Lara who?”“I mean, it’s really sexy and everything.” He pulls me closer and slips his arms around my waist. “But it’s not exactly the way I’d want you to meet my mom.”

“I angle my head down and peer up at him through my lashes in what I hope is an alluring manner. I have zero experience in this area though, so it’s possible I look like a total moron.”

“You guys dated, didn’t you?”“Are you insane? Not even if the continuation of our kind depended on it would I be tempted to do something so awful.”

“Are you serious? Vi’s arm has been magically barbequed and you think sheneeds a cupcake?”

“Seelie Court,” murmurs Nate. “Sounds familiar. Was it in a computer game?”“Do I look like someone who plays computer games?”A grin stretches across Nate’s face. “You look like someone who could be in a computer game.”

“Creepy Hollow?” He snorts. “Like Sleepy Hollow?”“No, like Creepy Hollow. It has nothing to do with sleeping.”

“I would have thought you’d pay more attention to your closest competition.”“I would—if you were competition worth paying attention to.”

“Is that what you were doing in my room?” he asks after a moment.I sigh. Why am I telling him any of this? “Yes. I was on assignment.”“I was your assignment?”“Yes.” He hesitates a moment, then grins. “That’s kind of hot.”