Free Smoke in Moonlight (Celtic Elementals Book 1) by Heather R. Blair

blood. A mockery of Lugh's thrones in Ti'rna No'g and the Otherworld. Aillen liked to pretend he was already a king—though if she had her way that was never going to happen—
    Unless she died first, which was a distinct possibility.
    She took advantage of Aillen's back being turned to allow herself a shudder before saying calmly.
    "I would if I could, dear brother. But Lugh's counter spell sealed my magic. I canna undo it now. I've told ye tha'."
    "So, Lugh fixed his pet's fate. Interesting, yes. Does Fitzpatrick know this?"
    "Of course no', ye bloody fool! Lugh donna even know it himself. They think I'm just being a bitch. I've n'ver seen fit to tell them otherwise." It was a gamble to irritate him in his own lair, but she had to make him think she wasn't scared of him. Had to make the effort, at least. "But as I told ye—as yer own damn seers told ye, this American chit can break it for ye."
    "But you want me to wait. I'm heartily sick of waiting, sister." His dull blue eyes made her feel as if she'd stepped in something slimy.
    Aine made an impatient sound. "Ye must wait. If ye kill her now, it's no' a willing sacrifice. Wait and I guarantee ye it will be. Besides, if ye do it now, ye won't really hurt him. I thought ye wanted to savor his pain."
    "Oh, I do. I do. But I just can't quite seem to trust you. Isn't that sad?" Aillen stared at his steepled fingers with their sharp yellowish nails, before calling in that rusty nails voice. "Orthannach?"
    "Nae." Aine whispered, all pretense gone. Her eyes were wild as she watched Aillen's vassal approach. Huge, like all the Fomorians, Orthannach carried a whip in one of his misshapen limbs, a horrible joy shining out of all five of his grotesque eyeballs. "I'm telling ye the truth!"
    “Mayhap so." Aillen nodded, his eyes amused as he watched Orthannach push his sister face first against the stone walls and clap her limp hands in the rings that hung there. She knew it was pointless to resist. He’d taught her well. Her powers were stronger than his, in truth—but his were more insidious and his network was nearly limitless. She had learned she could submit now, or suffer a hundredfold later.
    Orthannach's smile widened and a sticky string of drool hung down from it wet loops as he ripped Aine's dress down the back, exposing her ivory shoulders.
    He looked back at his master, the whip cocked over his hunched red spine. Aillen inclined his head and Orthannach struck.
    Aine's scream rang out like music to his frayed nerves. Instantly, he felt soothed. But it was not enough. It never was.
    Aillen sighed in feigned regret as he repeated his words. "Mayhap so, sister. But you do bleed so prettily." He stood up and walked to where she writhed against the damp walls. He watched the cuts form on her pale skin, thick and angry and red against all that alabaster. Healing almost instantly, but then the whip would come down again and rip her open. Over and over. He sighed and ran one ragged nail against a particularly deep gash before it could close. She whimpered and laid her head against the stone, her face averted from him, her shoulders shaking.
    "Fifty lashes, I think, Orthannach." Aillen smiled. Family could be so useful. Aillen sucked her blood off the tip of his finger as he moved away, the sweet sound of her screams following him deeper into the belly of the mountain.

Chapter 6
     
    Lacey gave a delicious stretch, feeling the sun caressing her face with warmth. She'd never felt so well-rested in her life. It was as if she'd soaked in a hot-tub for days, had an hours-long massage and slept wrapped in strong arms. Strong arms she could almost still feel around her…
    Lacey opened her eyes with a sleepy half-smile.
    Cold unease flooded into her warm cocoon at the sight of the still unfamiliar pink room.
    She remembered everything that had happened in the dark hours in one fell swoop. Here, before sunshine was drenching every corner as it did now. Teddy bears and dolls lined the