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Voices and laughter sounded in the hallway right outside her door. She really should yell for help, but what if he was telling the truth? When the noise receded, she admitted, “Yes, like a fairy, although your storybooks don’t have all the details correct.”

“That’s amazing. Are there more of your kind here? I have never heard of fae on Earth.”

He was taking the news of her being a different species well. “As far as I know, my sire and I are the only ones, unless there are those who are also using glamour to hide their true nature. How is it you can see through it?”

“That’s a good question, one I’m not sure I have the answer to. There are those of my kind with gifts, and it’s possible this is mine. I have another theory, but I’d rather not go into it yet. This sigil, what does it do?” he asked, changing the subject.

Elle pulled her sleeve up, revealing the mark Grevolus had put on her. “It is a tracker of sorts. My sire marked me when we came through a portal from our realm so I couldn’t escape him. He can find me anywhere. Also, if he dies, I too perish.”

Anthony whistled low, reaching out and tracing a finger down the mark.

Elle’s skin prickled at the contact. In that moment, she wanted his hands elsewhere.

It had been too long since she felt the touch of someone intimately.

Not since before Grevolus had taken her from her home.

“Elle...” Anthony’s voice deepened, and she shivered.

Taking a step back, she lowered her sleeve. “So, you see, you cannot help me. To answer your earlier question, yes, Grevolus makes me steal money since neither of us have the means to get a job. Not that he would.”

“You called him your sire instead of father. Why is that?”

“When I was twenty-five, he arrived at my home in Summerland, claiming to have fathered me. I was taken to the elders where my blood proved he was indeed my sire. He used glamour to hide his appearance, poisoned my mother, and pretended to be her mate, the male I believed was my father. He was then allowed to take me to Winterhaven, where I lived a lesser life with his mate and their son. The rest is a long story.”

“I have all the time in the world.” Elle opened her mouth to protest, but Anthony stepped forward and placed his finger against her lips.

“You weren’t supposed to hit the bank until Tuesday. Unless you informed Grevolus you already did the job, that gives us time to figure out a way to remove the sigil.”

Elle shoved her hands in her jacket pockets, taking another step backward. “He’s the only one who can remove it. And if I do not return within the designated time, he will come for me. Grevolus is an evil male, Anthony.”

“How long are you going to continue doing his bidding? Because if my cousin and I figured out your schedule, it’s only a matter of time until the human authorities catch on, then you’ll get caught and arrested.”

“That was the plan,” Elle admitted. “He cannot get to me if I’m in jail.”

“You wouldn’t be tossed in jail for a few months, Elle.

With the amount of money you’re taking, that’s a felony.

They’d send you to prison with the harsher offenders.

Let’s set it up so Grevolus believes you’ve been taken,” Anthony offered.

“That will give you time away from him while my family and I confer regarding the sigil.”

“Why? Why are you insistent on helping me?”

Anthony rubbed the back of his neck, looking over her shoulder.

When his eyes met hers, he dropped his hand.

“I don’t want to see you in prison, nor do I want you spending any more time with Grevolus than necessary.

I...” Anthony rubbed at his beard. “From the moment I saw your picture, I was drawn to you. In my world, when we have someone that’s important to us, we do everything in our power to help them.

Shield them from all harm. Protect them. ”

Elle wanted to be important to someone, but she couldn’t trust that he wasn’t lying to her. “I won’t risk you being harmed, or worse. I will bide my time until my siblings come for me.”

Anthony scrunched his dark red brows. “I thought you said there weren’t more fae on Earth.”

“There aren’t that I know of, but my sister and the prin... her friend were at one point. It was their portal Grevolus dragged me through from Evyndral.”

“Evyndral is your realm?”

“Yes. It is home to the fae and the dragons.”

“Holy shit. Dragons are real?” Anthony grinned, and Elle wanted to get lost in his stunning smile. “Wait until I tell Tabitha.”

Jealousy clawed at Elle’s skin. Of course, someone like Anthony had a female. “I’m sure she must be missing you. If you’ll get out of my way, I’ll take my leave, then you can go back to your female.”

His smile faded. “Tabitha is my twin, not my female. Please, Elle. You aren’t expected back until Tuesday at the earliest. Give me until then to try and help.

” Tony placed his fist against his heart and inclined his head.

“I vow on all that’s holy I am your protector from now until the stars fade, Elledan.

” Her breath hitched as his promise settled within her.

She didn’t know what he was other than not human, but she had witnessed his extraordinary speed.

What if he could help her? Wouldn’t trusting him be better than returning to Grevolus and living a life she hated?

Her instincts told her she could put her faith in him.

“O-okay. I’ll give you until Tuesday.”

“Yes!” Anthony pumped a fist in the air, his grin returning. Goddess, he was too cute for someone of his size. “Question. If you move to a different hotel, will Grevolus think anything of it? How closely does he pinpoint your location while you’re out of town? He isn’t here with you, is he?”

“No, he isn’t here. In the beginning, he did drive me to each city, but now he stays home since he trusts me to return.

As far as the sigil, I honestly don’t know how it works.

We’ve never discussed it other than when he marked me.

Since I wasn’t supposed to hit the bank until Tuesday, it won’t look odd for me to move about. ”

“Then I propose we check you out of this hotel and get you a room at mine. That will make it easier to bring my cousin in on the issue of the sigil.” When Elle didn’t immediately agree, he offered, “I’ll pay for your room.”

“I appreciate that, and yes, I’ll go with you.” Elle was a little disappointed he wanted to get her a separate room, but he offered to protect her, not... She disregarded that line of thinking before her pointed ears reddened.

“Would you like me to help you pack?”

“I don’t have much, so it won’t take long. If you tell me where you’re staying, I’ll meet you there.”

“Do you mind if I wait and ride with you? I walked down to the coffee shop.” Staring at his empty hands, she arched a brow. Unabashedly, he admitted, “I tossed my cup in the trash when I noticed you in the area.”

“You noticed me? How?”

“I sensed you, in here.” He pointed at his chest. “Let’s move to my hotel, and I’ll tell you everything. I promise.”

Elle nodded, then packed her meager belongings. She was probably a fool for trusting this stranger, but something about him called to her on a soul-deep level. She removed the cash from the safe and added it to the smaller bag. “I’m ready.”

Anthony offered to carry her duffel, and Elle handed it to him, keeping the bag of money strapped across her chest. He opened the door, allowing her to step through.

Anthony glanced down several times as they approached the elevator.

Once inside, he pushed the button for the first floor, and as they rode down, he stared at her reflection in the shiny door.

When they stopped at the front desk, Anthony handed the clerk a credit card.

Once the bill was paid, he ushered her outside with his hand on her back.

That small touch had Elle wishing for things she couldn’t have but wanted more than almost anything.

“You didn’t have to pay, but I appreciate it.”

“No thanks needed.” When they got to her car, she handed Anthony the key fob.

He popped the trunk so they could stow her bags, then walked around and opened the passenger door for her.

After she was seated, he rounded the vehicle and slid into the driver’s seat after scooting it back to make room for his long legs.

He started the motor, then asked, “Where were you headed earlier?”

“I really was going for coffee. I skipped breakfast before hitting the bank.”

“We can stop somewhere, or we can order room service at the hotel.” Elle had never had room service, and she told him as much. “Hotel it is.”

Elle stared at Tony’s profile as he deftly navigated the busy streets.

He pulled up to the front doors of a large hotel and parked.

“Wait there,” he ordered, angling out of the car and coming around to open her door.

A valet approached, and Tony opened the trunk, removing Elle’s bags before handing the key fob to the male.

The man gave Tony a piece of paper in exchange for money.

Elle reached for the smaller of her bags, but Tony waved her off.

“I’ve got them.” He slung one over his shoulder, leaving his right hand free so he could open one of the glass doors.

Inside, he led her to the front desk. “Do you have a room close to 507?” he asked the clerk.

“Let me look,” the female offered after totally checking Tony out. “I’m sorry, but there’s nothing available on your floor. I can put your... friend on the fourth, if that will work?”

“No, it won’t. I need two rooms together. Either that or a suite with two bedrooms.”

The female’s smile was forced. “The only one open at the moment is the presidential suite,” she informed him. Elle had no idea what a presidential suite was, but it sounded expensive.

“I’ll take it. I’ll have my things moved out of 507 within the next half hour.”

“Very good, Sir.” The clerk typed on the computer, and Tony handed her a credit card.

Once the exchange was complete, Tony put the card in his wallet, shoved it in his back pocket, and thanked the clerk without looking at her.

He led Elle to the elevator, and once inside, pressed the button for the top floor.

The suite was bigger than the house where she lived with Grevolus in Winterhaven.

Anthony took Elle’s bags to one of the bedrooms, then strode to the coffee table in the middle of the living room.

He opened a notebook and handed it to her. “What would you like to eat?”

Elle perused the options, which were surprisingly numerous.

She didn’t know what some of it was, so she opted for eggs, bacon, and pancakes.

After placing their order, Tony stuck one of the key cards in his back pocket.

“I’m going to get my things from the other room.

I should be back before the food gets here.

” He squeezed her arm on his way past her to the door.

As soon as it closed behind him, Elle went in search of the room’s safe.

There was one in her closet, so she placed the seventy thousand inside and set the code.

She then removed her jacket and unhooked the sheath from her arm, placing the dagger under one of the pillows.

Elle unpacked her clothes so they didn’t get any more wrinkled than they already were.

There was an iron on the top shelf of the closet, but after burning a hole in one of her blouses, she relied on magic instead.

Elle then placed her toiletries in the attached bathroom, which was almost as large as her bedroom back home.

By the time she finished, the door was opening, and Tony entered the suite with a duffel bag over his shoulder and his phone at his ear.

Tony winked at her as he continued on to the other bedroom, and Elle’s heart skipped a beat. He didn’t take the time to unpack, as he walked back into the living area and plopped down on the sofa. “Elle, can I take a picture of the sigil and send it to my cousin?”

“Sure.” She closed the distance and held out her arm.

“I’m texting it now, C. No, I won’t send you a picture of Elle.

Because she—” Tony rolled his eyes, muttering something about nosy cousins.

He patted the cushion next to him, and Elle hesitantly sat, leaving space between them.

Just because he winked at her didn’t mean he was interested.

“Okay, I’ll ask. Elle, can you change your appearance to look like anyone? ”

Elle knew it was mean, but she pulled on a glamour of Anthony.

He angled his head with his eyes narrowed, and Elle realized he couldn’t see the change.

“Take a picture and send it to Carleigh.” Tony did as she requested, and once the photo went through, Carleigh’s yelp was audible through the tiny speaker.

“What did you do?” he asked. Elle shrugged but didn’t tell him.

“No, I couldn’t see myself in the photo.

I still see Elle. No, I’m not telling her that.

I will not have the two of you ganging up on me.

I get enough of that shit as it is. Yeah, okay.

Call me back.” Anthony disconnected and tossed the phone onto the coffee table where it slid off the other side.

After scrubbing his hands down his face, he rolled his head to look at her. “You are going to be trouble.”