Free The Magic Knot by Helen Scott Taylor Page A

different. “Who are you? Or maybe I should be asking, what are you?”
    Niall glanced over his shoulder at her. “Leave it. Best you forget we said anything, lass.”
    She passed her gaze over each man in turn. A revelationhovered at the edge of her awareness. Something so momentous there’ be no turning back. Should she walk away and forget or take a risk? “I need to know.”
    With a resigned sigh, Niall dropped into a chair and rubbed his face. “Your father’s human.”
    “And my mother?”
    Niall glanced at her, then looked at Michael, who shrugged.
    “Your mother was of another race.”
    “What race?”
    “Fairy.”
    “Fairy?” Rose stilled and waited for the burst of shock and disbelief that didn’t come. Had she always known? Had she spent her life running away from the truth?
    Rose took three deep breaths and grounded herself. She could handle this if she had facts to focus on. “Give me details.”
    Niall relaxed the fist clenched against his thigh. “There are many types of fairy.” He jerked a thumb toward Nightshade. “You’ll find everything from the nightstalker to tiny people no bigger than me hand.”
    Rose’s control wobbled as tiny picturebook fairies chased around inside her head on a repeating video loop.
    Niall gripped her hand with cool, strong fingers. “We’re the same species as humans; otherwise we couldn’t interbreed.”
    She sensed his presence surrounding her, protective, strong, calm. “You’re the same as me?” she whispered.
    “Similar, lass. You’re human and Cornish pisky. Michael and meself are Tuatha Dé Danaan and”—he cast a warning look at Nightshade—“leprechaun.”
    “Leprechaun!” The word burst out before she could stop it.
    He pulled his hand back, eyes flaring defensively.
    She missed the reassurance of his touch instantly. “I thought leprechauns were…well, small?” She scanned Niall’s lean body—obviously not.
    His fierce expression softened and he raised one eyebrow slightly. “They are small, but Tuatha Dé Danaan are tall, descended from the gods who traveled to Ireland in the mists of the past.”
    “And praise be to the ancient gods’ dominant genes,” Michael added with a wink.
    She tried to smile, but confusion swirled inside her head until she thought she’d drown in the feeling. What should she do? Pursue her father and face the truth, or take Niall’s advice, return to London, and continue as if nothing had changed?
    How could she live the rest of her life wondering about her father, about her heritage, about fairies? But if she explored this new world, how would she ever return to her normal life?
    Rose rubbed her temples and became aware of Niall’s gaze on her. His presence surrounded her, caressed the edges of her mind.
    How could she possibly return to London without exploring the mystical connection she had with this man?

Chapter Five
    Nightshade crouched in the vee between two massive branches of an ancient oak tree overhanging the rear of the Elephant’s Nest.
    Raucous laughter rang out through the open bar windows, and the hypnotic timbre of Michael’s voice floated into the cool autumn evening as he recited another of his tall tales to the crowd.
    The smell of fried chicken issued from the spinning kitchen vent on a burst of warm air. Nightshade’s stomach rumbled, but he had more important matters on his mind than food.
    He fixed his gaze on the second-floor window where he’d seen Rosenwyn close the curtains half an hour earlier. As he imagined her peeling off her tight shorts and top, revealing her fragrant skin, his fangs ached and his body throbbed. Soon she would be his in every way.
    Shifting uncomfortably on his perch, he snatched a breath of chilly air.
Hurry up and sleep, sweet one.
In darkness, while the O’Connor brothers were occupied in the bar, Nightshade would swoop into Rose’s room, carry her to the manor, and hide her in the maze of tunnels and caves beneath.
    There had been a flash