Free Song of the Fairy Queen by Valerie Douglas

Kyri was therefore less vulnerable on that front.
    To risk herself that way…
    Letting out a gusty sigh, she said, “This I know. No more than we can lose you, our most able general.” She paused. “Our only general.”
    Those incredible eyes looked at him evenly.
    It didn’t help that she was right.
    Kyri looked at him and took a calming breath.
    “Morgan, I will not apologize, nor will I say I won’t do so again. I must do what I think is right, for myself and my people as you do for you and yours. We didn’t choose this, but it’s for us to deal with. Both of us.”
    The Gods had chosen her, named her Queen, whatever her heart and mind. She would do as she must.
    Looking at her, Morgan had to laugh. “In other words, you’re conceding nothing.”
    She grinned, unrepentant. “Exactly.”
    “You’re impossible,” he said, both amused and exasperated.
    With a small shrug, she said, “I’m Queen of the Fairy.” She eyed him, lifted a delicate, perfectly arched brow. “And you’re the only man who’s ever shouted at me…and lived to tell the tale.”
    He should smile more often , Kyri thought, it changed his face, softened it .
    Even in these times, it was necessary to smile now and again.
    In fact, in times like these, it was more than necessary. She resolved to find a way to make him smile or laugh at every opportunity. And after all, she was Fairy, it was no more than her nature.
    Morgan laughed. “I can’t promise not to do it again.”
    At the echo of her own words that mischievous smile curved Kyri’s lips and brightened her eyes.
    “Ah, well, then we understand each other perfectly.”
    Morgan chuckled and let out a breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding. Some of the tension he’d been carrying melted away.
    “We need to talk to Oryan,” Morgan said.
    She nodded. “I agree. He’s still in transit. Head west, one of my people will find you.”
    Although Kyri hadn’t seen the thing that had attacked Morgan well – the shadows had hidden it as it was designed – she hadn’t failed to notice the menace of the thing.
    Light slender fingers brushed over Morgan’s arm.
    “Have a care, my Lord Morgan,” she said, her voice worried.
    Her concern touched him.
    Her wings spread. Silvery starlight glistened and sparkled on them. The thin silk thing she wore moved lightly against and over her body, swirled around her lovely legs as her wings lifted her into the air.
    In spite of his weariness, of all that had happened, his body responded.
    Why couldn’t she wear robes as the wizard Queen had, thick and more concealing ? he thought in exasperation, deliberately loudly.
    He thought he heard her laughter high above him. The soft sweet sound drifted on the breeze, brilliant, heartening. In his mind was the image of her lush and lovely body, but in his heart he heard the sound of her laughter sparkling on the air.
    Morgan couldn’t help but shake his head and smile. She was Fairy…every small inch of her.
    He never noticed that the slash across his shoulder had been healed.

Chapter Eight
    Oryan listened as Morgan and Jacob made their reports and paced worriedly across the room that Dorset had given him to use as his office. Arriving only an hour or so before them, Kyri had already given her account but she’d only seen a blur of shadows and teeth in the night. Besides Kyri and her people, Oryan had built up a small network of trusted people who reported to him via message posts. All of those supported and more than supported what Morgan and Jacob told him.
    However disturbing those reports were.
    He and his entourage – such as they were – had only been in Dorset a few days and Oryan didn’t intend to stay long. So far as they knew no one knew he was here yet, hopefully, save for Dorset and a few of Dorset’s most trusted people. They wanted to keep it that way, not only for Oryan’s safety but for that of Philip and his people. Preparations were already being made to leave. He dared