Corrigan Rage
Page 13
I nodded, trying to be understanding. Unable to keep looking at her face, I dropped my gaze. When I looked back up again, she’d already gone.
CHAPTER TWENTY
A small part of me was half-expecting the Tower of London guards to recognise my face. I even passed the Beefeater who’d regaled me with his stories of ghosts. He simply gave me the brief smile of a stranger, however. The Arch-Mage had done a good job with this memory wipe at least.
I found Corux displaying his feathers and preening himself ostentatiously in front of a group of tourists. He cawed loudly, flapping towards me. The humans gradually dispersed, sensing that the’show’ was over.
‘How are you doing?’ I asked.
‘Corux is better than you,’ the bird squawked. ‘You’ve not been sleeping much.’
I guessed the dark circles under my eyes were pretty obvious. I’d been having a lot of disturbed dreams – most of them involving dragons. I shrugged awkwardly. ‘No trouble with the vampires?’
Corux snorted. ‘No. They wouldn’t dare come here again.’
I thought of Natalia. The bird was probably right. ‘I’m pleased to hear it.’
The raven hopped over to me and made an odd birdlike approximation of a bow. ‘Corux thanks you,’ he intoned formally. ‘You came to help us and we won’t forget it.’
‘It was nothing,’ I dismissed.
‘If you say so.’ He pecked at an invisible speck on the ground. ‘There’s someone who wants to talk to you.’
I raised an eyebrow. ‘Who?’
Corux raised one wing, pointing down the small gravelled path. I followed his gaze, stiffening when I saw who was there. ‘What does he want?’ I growled.
‘How the hell should Corux know?’ He flapped away.
I watched him go then straightened my shoulders and walked down to meet Solus. The Fae was dressed soberly for once. He also appeared to be carrying a set of clothes in his arms.
‘What’s new, pussycat?’ he drawled when I reached him.
I scowled. He handed the bundle of clothes over to me and my scowl deepened even further.
‘This my suit,’ I said accusingly. I looked at him. ‘You stole it, didn’t you?’
He shrugged awkwardly. ‘I borrowed it.’
‘Why the hell do you do that?’
Solus grinned wickedly. ‘It seemed like fun at the time.’
I stared at him. I couldn’t fathom out how it would be’fun’ at all. ‘Don’t come into my house unannounced again,’ I ordered.
He swept out a bow. ‘As you wish.’ He gazed at me, clearly wanting to say something else.
‘What is it?’ I asked.
He shrugged. ‘Nothing.’
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. Bloody Fae. You could never trust them. I lifted up my chin. ‘What is it with you and Mack?’ I demanded. ‘Why are you hanging around her?’
A tiny smile played around his mouth. ‘Who wouldn’t want to hang around such power?’
I was bitterly reminded that Mack had confided her true nature to him long before I’d discovered it. ‘Are you ... involved?’
Solus threw back his head and laughed. ‘Dear Corrie! I’m always involved.’
I blew air out through my cheeks and rolled my eyes, ready to walk away. Solus grabbed my arm, however.
‘I’m not involved in the way that you think,’ he told me. ‘For a while I thought I would be. But Mack’s in love. True love. There’s no breaking through that kind of barrier.’ He pouted. ‘Shame.’
‘Who?’ I snarled. ‘Who’s she in love with?’
He laughed again. ‘Oh dear. You really are quite dim, aren’t you? You’re well suited to each other. She won’t admit to herself that she’s in love and you can’t see it in her either. This will be fun to watch.’
I narrowed my eyes. ‘Why are you doing this?’
He sobered up. ‘Because I owe her. I ... accused her of something I shouldn’t have. If anyone deserves a bit of happiness, it’s my dragonlette.’ He threw me a slightly disparaging look. ‘Even if it’s with someone with your dress sense.’
My mouth dropped open. ‘I ...’
Solus patted my arm. ‘Don’t worry about it, furry one. You know, she’s going to stick around this time. In London.’ He winked at me. ‘And whether she’ll admit it or not, it’s because of you.’ He patted me on the shoulder, then snapped his fingers and vanished.
I raised my head up to the brilliant blue sky and inhaled deeply. I grinned to myself. Draco Wyr be damned. She would be mine sooner or later – and she’d want it just as much as I did.
About the Author
After teaching English literature in the UK, Japan and Malaysia, Helen Harper left behind the world of education following the worldwide success of her Blood Destiny series of books. She is a professional member of the Alliance of Independent Authors and writes full time although she still fits in creative writing workshops with schools along with volunteering to teach reading to a group of young Myanmar refugees. That’s not to mention the procession of stray cats which seem to find their way to her door!
Helen has always been a book lover, devouring science fiction and fantasy tales when she was a child growing up in Scotland.
Helen currently lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with far too many cats – not to mention the dragons, fairies, demons, wizards and vampires that seem to keep appearing from nowhere.
Other titles by Helen Harper
The Blood Destiny series
Bloodfire
Bloodmagic
Bloodrage
Blood Politics
Bloodlust
Blood Destiny Box Set (The complete series: Books 1 – 5)
Also
Corrigan Fire
Corrigan Magic
The Olympiana series
Eros
Lyre
The Bo Blackman series
Dire Straits
New Order
High Stakes
Red Angel
Bo Blackman Box Set (Books 1 – 3)
––––––––
The Dreamweaver series
Night Shade