Page 15 of A Dance with the Fae (Mistress of Magic #1)

‘Thank you.’ She pulled the coat around her, and Rav replaced his arm around her shoulders.

His touch made her feel safe, but the weight of his heavy, muscled arm on her inspired another feeling: a warmth and a a tingling across her thighs and a soft throbbing inside her.

There was something so solid, so grounded and animalistic about him. She wanted to melt into his arms.

‘I think all the disturbances you’re getting are because of the faerie traffic going up the hill to whatever that glowing thing is up there.

Which would explain why no one’s ever settled here.

The fae must have been livid when this house was built.

Grandmother used to say that they were very protective of what they consider to be their land. Faerie mounds, roads, passageways.’

‘Hmm. How do you know that?’

‘There are documented cases of people having to placate faeries when they’ve built on their territory. In Iceland they build roads around their elf-hills. They wouldn’t dream of knocking them over.’

‘Really?’

‘Yeah. There are people who are brought in specially to negotiate with the elves when a new road is to be built.’ Faye was warming up now, but she didn’t want to move.

‘So, what’re you saying? That I need to pacify the faeries?’ he breathed, speaking quietly, as if he didn’t want to spook her.

‘I would say so.’ She snuggled into him, and he tightened his grip on her, as if he knew that she needed the physical reassurance of his body.

He smelled lightly of sweat and some musky, woody scent.

Faye wanted to nestle her face into his neck.

Neither of them were openly acknowledging what was happening between them, but Faye had the sense that they were following their bodies.

‘Well, what are we talking about? Saying a prayer or something?’ he asked huskily.

She looked up at him, and met his dark eyes, which were heavy-lidded with desire.

‘Maybe.’ She wet her lips with her tongue. He groaned and looked away.

‘Faye. I know this isn’t the time, but…you must know that I’m attracted to you,’ he muttered.

‘I…I know it’s a strange time to say it, but…

having you in my arms, I…I just can’t control how I feel.

You’re so…I don’t know. Mesmerising. Feminine.

I just…’ There was a desperate look in his eyes. ‘I want you. So badly.’

‘I don’t know what to say,’ she said quietly, not breaking eye contact. She wanted Rav, too, but it was a fraught moment. Faye didn’t know whether what she was feeling was desire, or a light-headedness that came from being suddenly jolted onto the faerie road.

What she couldn’t say, or even explain to herself, was that in that moment when she stood on the faerie path, she had felt at home. What could she say to Rav that would help him understand that? She hardly understood it herself.

‘Perhaps I’d better go.’ She stood up, caught between the desire to dissolve into Rav and a need to be alone to process what had just happened.

‘Don’t go.’ Rav stood up and placed his hands on her shoulders. ‘I…I really like you, Faye. All of this is kind of crazy, too. I just feel like ever since I met you, I’ve been enchanted and…it’s really weird. But I can’t stop thinking about you.’

‘Oh.’ She put her hand to his on her shoulder and they shared a long look. Faye felt the attraction pull between them, as if she was being immersed again in the heady mist of faerie; intoxicating and overwhelming. ‘I…I don’t know, Rav. What happened just then…I’ve never…it was a lot.’

‘I know.’ He gazed into her eyes. ‘What just happened…I have no frame of reference for it. But ever since I met you, it’s like I’ve been plunged into this world of magic and I’m just…enchanted. Lovestruck. I don’t know what’s happening.’ He rubbed his eyes with the edge of his sleeve.

‘I know. I feel strange, too,’ she breathed. ‘Maybe we should get out of the house.’ She could still hear, still sense, a high-pitched whine. The power of the faerie road, so close to them, was undeniable.

‘I think that’s a good idea. Come on. Let’s go for a walk.’ Rav guided her out of the house, and pulled the door closed behind him. Instantly, the intensity of feeling decreased in Faye’s whole body: she didn’t realise how keyed up she had been until the energy changed, like a switch being flipped.

It was a relief, but it gave Faye a chance to think more clearly.

It couldn’t just be a coincidence, witnessing the faerie road, and dreaming of Finn Beatha.

If Finn was a faerie king – as unlikely as that might seem – then, was he causing all this strange stuff to happen?

What was the connection between the Morgan women and the faerie world of Murias?

And where did Rav fit in with all of this?

Faye’s heart was heavy as she stepped onto Black Sands Beach.

She felt as though she had a foot in two worlds: one normal and familiar; and one perilous, unpredictable and riven with desire.

Had the spell caused this break in her reality?

Had the spell brought her Finn and Rav, and somehow opened up the door to faerie?

None of this had ever been her intention.

Be sure , Grandmother’s voice reminded her. Be careful what you wish for: you might get it.

But I didn’t ask for this , Faye thought, looking up at Rav. I don’t know what this is.

This is magic , said a different voice in her ear. If you knock at the door, don’t be surprised when it opens.