Free Soul Mates: Magic (Soul Mates Series) by Elizabeth A. Lance

believe that they had stopped…” I watched the creature grab a human and drag it into the forest. I started to run after it, but Daire grabbed me around the waist and held onto me.
    “No, Abbey!” he said softly in my ear.
    “Let me go! It just took a person! A human!”
    “I know Princess. And it will be dealt with, just not by you. That was no ordinary person it took. Did you not recognize him?”
    I thought about it, but I really didn’t recognize him. “No, was it a Fae warrior in disguise?”
    “No, it was Tony, a friend of your brother ’s…”
    “Tony? I’ve heard Max talk about him often…but I haven’t seen him since I was a child.”
    Daire smiled as if he were remembering something amusing. “Then you know what Tony is, what his job entails.”
    “He is the keeper of the Light. I didn’t know that meant he fought the Unseelie. I guess I just thought it was some artifact that he kept safe for us.”
    “ He fights the Darkness, Abbey. He seeks them out and disposes of them before they can harm the humans. If you are to be Queen one day, you need to know and understand that we are not the only ones fighting. There are others,” Daire said. He held my wrists and frowned. “Now you know what is in the Darkness, Princess. Are you still willing to go about unprotected?”
    “Do they only come-out at night?”
    “ Silly question, Princess, you just witnessed with your own eyes that they do not. Dim light suits them just fine. And some of them are capable of taking human form and going about in the daylight without the help of Leprechaun magic. However, they are better able to hide at night, and their mistress is better able to communicate with them when it is full dark.”
    Daire flashed us back home, never taking his hands from around me. “What would they want with me?”
    “You are the heir to the throne of Light and Illusion. Why wouldn’t they want you?”
    “How would they know I’m the heir? Doesn’t everyone believe that Max is the heir?”
    “For the most part they do, but should anything happen to him, then you would still be the heir. And don’t think they haven’t tried to get to Max, they have on many occasions. Your brother has a great deal of power as well, which the Unseelie have learned to respect. It doesn’t mean they don’t keep trying to take him out.” Daire let go of my waist and took my bag from me. “We should go. You shouldn’t be standing about in the open like this. You never did answer my question Princess…” he said just as he flashed us to my back door.
    I thought about his question for a moment. Would I give up the protection of the warriors and go around unprotected? Maybe I would, if it only meant something happening to me. And it didn’t affect anyone else. “I suppose, because I am to take over the throne and so many people are depending on me that I should have some protection,” I began, but paused to consider my next words. “However, I would appreciate it if you and the others would not continue to shelter me from any and all threats.”
    “As you wish, Princess,” Daire said softly releasing my waist.
    “Are you staying?” I asked opening the door. “You know Dad is going to have the game on at four.”
    “Perhaps I will be back, after you are finished with… him .”
    I started to go inside, but Daire grabbed my arm, pulled me to him and I stared up into his deep blue eyes, wondering what he could be thinking. “What?” I whispered.
    He lifted his hand to stroke my cheek, his thumb trailing over my lips. “Don’t let him kiss you,” he said softly, barely a whisper, almost painfully.
    I couldn’t take my eyes from his, I couldn’t speak. My heart was beating twice as fast in my chest and I couldn’t breath e. I closed my eyes and held my breath and then he was gone. Flashed away to goddess knows where. I was trembling when I opened my eyes.
    “Abbey, in or out, but don’t stand there with the door hanging wide open!”