A Whisper of Rue (The Trouble With Elves Book 5) Read online

  One by one fairies flew from the Elder’s mouth and into the glass ball, turning into a swirling colorful dust like substance. The Elder’s skin grayed paler and paler and his hands stopped scratching at his throat. He slumped to the floor when the last of the creatures escaped him. His eyes stared straight at Rue with a deadpan look that sent goosebumps running over her skin. Her vision blurred and things moved slower. She could hear Gage’s voice, but it wasn’t clear. She needed to close her eyes, to rest only for a moment...

  Chapter Nine

  Something cool and wet touched Rue’s forehead. She opened her eyes. Gage’s clean shaven, she scrunched her nose, face came into view first followed by...her bedroom? “Where’s th––”

  “Shh... He’s been properly taken care of. He won’t bother either of us anymore.”

  “Did you kill him? Where’s his dragon?” She tried to sit up and her body protested with shooting pains in her arms and legs. She flinched and settled back down. Her room was lit with a few candles and the light flickered along the walls in a mesmerizing dance. Rue took a deep breath, calming the ache in her body.

  “No. The Elder evidently syphoned the energy from the poor creature and the dragon turned back into its knick-knack form. I found it on your doorstep, as if it knew its way home. He’s safer this way. The healer needed to wait for you to wake up to help. She’s waiting. Should I call her in?” Gage pulled away from her and she felt the chill in the room without his body near to prevent it. She mad small movements and pain shot up her arms, legs, and chest.

  “Please. And what did you do to the Elder then?”

  Gage lifted his hand and nodded toward the doorway, then turned back to Rue. “I didn’t do anything. The fairies on the other hand had some difficulties letting go.”

  A middle-aged female walked in but didn’t seek eye contact with either of them. She hunched over Rue and began a low melodic chant. A chant that spoke to Mother Earth, the winds, and the soul. Urging them to hear her.

  A breeze blew over Rue’s skin and instantly the aching receded. Rue lay still as the healer placed hands on her. A white light glowed from her palms. Warmth spread over her skin. It began in the middle of Rue’s chest and then traveled both up to her head and down to her feet at the same time, as if submerged in a hot bath. She sighed as the sensation left her. “Thank you, healer.”

  The female nodded, Gage handed her a gold coin, and she blinked away.

  “What happened to him?”

  “The fairies, vindictive little creatures, pulled him into the glass ball with them.” He grinned.

  Rue put a hand up to her mouth to trap the shock and laughter that threatened to bubble out. She shook her head. “I almost feel bad.” She giggled.

  “Don’t, we tried to show mercy last time. Your father was lost in the process. I allowed the fae to keep him, to do with him as they will. They are not nice creatures in the end. They look pretty, but they have an insatiable mean streak when crossed.”

  “So where’s the ball?” Rue feigned looking around her room.

  “It disappeared. My best guess is it’s within the fae community somewhere.” Gage leaned over and kissed Rue on the forehead. Her heart quickened. He kissed her temple, her cheek and finally hovered above her lips. She held her breath. “Should we finish what we started or am I still the big bad guy?”

  Rue laughed and pulled him into her. “You are not that big you know.”

  Gage claimed her lips and she melted into him. His kiss was deep and all consuming. He pushed the blankets down Rue’s body and she shivered at the cool air. Her hands rushed to remove his shirt and he lifted from her to free himself of the material. He gazed at her with a heat that nearly set her body aflame with desire. His pants fell to the floor and his beautiful erection beckoned her. Rue crawled over to the edge of her bed, wrapped her fingers around the shaft, and slipped the hot tip of him into her mouth. He moaned and she took him in deeper.

  “I love the feel of your lips around my cock.” His voice came husky. His hands found her hair and bobbed with her. Hips pumped as she sucked him in and out. Gage pushed her head back and his prick fell from her mouth. She gazed up at him. His eyes hooded, his jaw clenched. She was already so wet for him. He lowered himself to kiss her and pulled her hair back. Fingertips found her nipple and gave it a light flick. She arched for him.

  “This will not be slow, or love making. I want to fuck you.”

  Rue nodded unable to speak for fear her voice would not come. She lay back on the bed and he covered her with his hot flesh. Gage kneed her legs apart and slipped between them burying his cock inside her in one swift movement. She gasped and met his thrust with her own. He growled at her and began pumping faster, harder and her climax built with each pump. She grabbed a nipple and squeezed it as her other hand trailed down to find her clit. Gage watched her and she loved that he saw everything she did to herself.

  A fingertip flicked over her sensitive nub and she arched into him. Her hand moved faster and faster over her clit urging her orgasm on. She pinched her nipple once, twice, and then felt Gage’s hot mouth on the other and her climax exploded inside her, wave after exquisite wave. He sucked her nipple into his mouth and groaned as he thrust with abandon in and out of her until finally his hips stopped. The last legs of her orgasm milked him. He let loose her nipple and groaned as she felt him twitch with his own release inside her.

  “Next time we do it my way,” Rue said. He huffed and set his head up to look at her. His face flushed and sweat dripped down his temples. She cocked her head and asked, “How well did you know my father?”

  “I was like his apprentice. I studied under him for years. When he died, I was lost for a while. I had made the mistake of confronting the Elder on my own and he was ready for me, hence me getting trapped in his room.”

  Rue shook her head and reached a hand up to his face, memorizing the curve of his jaw.

  “So I’m not the villain anymore?”

  “Oh you’re a villain for sure, a bad boy in all the right ways.” She leaned in and gave him a sweet slow kiss, with every intention of making up for all her spiteful words. She’d never wanted a mate before, never needed a male in her life. Feeling Gage harden again inside her, his breath speeding up, and his warmth and safety wrapping around her, maybe it was time she considered having more, of Gage and anything else she hadn’t considered before.

  ***

  Warm sunshine kissed Rue’s skin as she woke. Her eyes fluttered open and she stretched out on the bed, careful of Gage fast asleep beside her.

  “Hello my child,” a male whispered.

  Rue flinched and pulled the sheets up to her chin. “Who’s there?” She scanned the room. A golden hue moved from the window, taking the shape of a male she’d never seen before. All yellow like the sun with bright stripes of white in his hair...like...hers. “Dad?”

  “Yes, my little Rue. I have come to give you a present.”

  Confused she tilted her head sideways. “You’re dead.”

  “Death is only the start for me. I’m an elf of the light, and so are you. And now I must pass down my light to you.”

  “Wait. An elf of the light? What does that mean?”

  “I don’t have much time, but basically there are a select few elves in the realm who carry a bright light within them. We are realm guardians. That’s why you were able to unlock everything on your adventure, and it’s why I’m here now. As a guardian, I’m giving you the bright torch lit within me, only passed down through a family. The light will always know what to do. It will point you in the right direction for as long as you have it.”

  “I’m a realm guardian, so what I go out and fight the bad guys now?” Her father’s shimmer grew whiter the closer he walked toward Rue.

  “Yes and no. The bad guy was the Elder. I can’t tell you if you will ever face another one like him, but he drains the realm creatures of their magic, siphons it out of them, consumes it, and uses it as he wishes. Power is usually
what creatures like him want. We protect the realm from those who threaten all the lives within it. If another creature ever comes to be like the Elder, the light will tell you, will draw you to it. You will know.”

  “Is it magic then?”

  “It’s a form of magic. You can’t blink because of this. The light is a part of our blood. But you will be able to travel through the light within you. It’s like shimmer, flying through the breeze, and then floating down to your destination.”

  “What else can I do with it?”

  “Guard the realm, my sweet. I can’t stay longer. This magic is a last resort protection from Mother Earth. It’s not normal elven magic, you can’t do anything with it other than protect.”

  “Will it hurt when you give it to me?” Tears sprung to her eyes. There were so many things she wanted to ask him. About her mother, about his life. Had he been proud of her? Had he watched her grow up? Did he wish he could be with them?

  “No.” Thane leaned in to kiss Rue on the forehead. The moment his lips touched her skin, her flesh began to glow yellow, and warmth spread through her stomach. Her father disappeared in seconds. There wasn’t any time for questions, and now, she was a guardian. Pain slashed through her heart, loss. She would never know much about her family because she lost them too soon. A tear slid down her cheek and she brushed it away.

  “Do not cry daughter.” It was a soft female’s voice this time. “I’ve made you a part of me. Help me protect all the families.” It was Mother Earth. Rue could fill it deep inside her soul like a hug.

  “I will, Mother. I promise.”

  Decadent Kane, author of the trouble with elves series, writes paranormal romance with heat. She lives in Wyoming with a full house: 3 dogs, 1 cat, 1 guinea pig, 1 rat, 2 kids, and 1 fiance.

  An elfess in human form, Decadent enjoys dipping her fingers into the human realm where she took pen to paper and began the tales of the trouble with elves. Her obsessions include reading, Dean Winchester, and honey.

  She will devour your soul with glimpses of the feral ridden drow elves, with their dark skin and soul consuming. She’ll sneak morsels of naughty thoughts to you via goblins, and seduce you into stepping inside the elven realm where females disappear when lust takes over among other elfish troubles.

  Beware the sprites.

  Follow the wisps.

  But never look a drow elf king in the eyes...

  amazon.com/author/decadentkane