Page 104 of The Mating Quest

He stiffened. “She is not mine and how do you know aboutIlana?”

The Fae’s ears twitched again, and he laughed. “Why do you think I returned to my brothel to cross you over here? Tristan summoned me, but I do not answer to him. No, Ilana carries your scent, as you carryhers.”

He forgot his irritation in light of this news. “You’ve seenher?”

“Recently. She was on the edge of the Blasted Zone, where I buried my niece.” Jaeden looked cynical again. “Long story, and no time to explain. She’s looking forCormac.”

“So amI.”

Jaeden flicked a finger at Ethan, and a tendril of gray smoke wrapped around him. “But you search for more than her formerlover.”

Growling, he batted away the energy, surprised he could. “I know about Fae tricks and yanking information from my mind. Not working withme.”

The Fae gave an elegant shrug. “Understood. Since you display no interest in this fascinating Mage, Ilana is free to choose another lover. Perhaps I will sample her delights. She is quitelovely.”

The growl fled his lips before he could stop it. “Do not touch her, Fae, or I’ll rip youapart.”

Laughing, Jaden shook his head. “You Lupines are so possessive. No need to use magick on you for the truth, only say a few words and you get allsnarly.”

Ethan decided he didn’t like this Fae. “Are all Dark Fae likeyou?”

Jaeden smirked. “I suppose, though I am more powerful thanmost.”

“Good.”

His fist smashed into Jaden’s mouth. The Fae went tumbling downward with a look of pure shock. He sprang to his feet, his face twisted inanger.

“I needed the practice on a Dark Fae,” Ethandrawled.

As Jaeden advanced, instinct kicked in. He shifted into his wolf and power flooded him in a dizzying rush. Ethan glanced down, stunned to see his legs were at least four feettall.

I’m enormous. Superwolf!

The Dark Fae backed up, looking wary. “Ok, I deserved that, Lupine. Shift back and we’ll call it atruce.”

Ethan growled, baring histeeth.

“I will give you a hint where Ilana is, if you shift back to Skin,” the Faecajoled.

Shifting back and clothing himself by magick, he eyed Jaeden. “Where?”

The Fae relaxed. “I will tell you to look for her in the Crystal Forest. She headed that way last I saw her. It is on the edge of the BlastedZone.”

Ethan glared at the Fae, and turned to set out there. The map Ilana had drawn of the Dark Kingdom was firmly in hispocket.

“You will need transport. By the time you reach there, she may be gone,” Jaeden called afterhim.

Torn between trusting the Dark Fae and wanting to strike out on his own, Ethan hesitated. Jaeden whistled. To Ethan’s surprise a unicorn rounded the building andapproached.

The unicorn was purple, with a gold horn upon his head. Prancing, he preened and bowed before Ethan. With more than a little awe and fascination, Ethan stroked hisnose.

The unicornwhinnied.

“Calisto approves of you. You may ride him to the Crystal Forest, where he makes hishome.”

“And if he didn’t likeme?”

Jaeden shrugged. “He’d stab you with hishorn.”