Free The Stag Lord by Darby Kaye Page A

house,” he added, clearly coached. Before she could say anything more, he left.

7
    S TANDING IN THE MIDDLE of the living room, Bann ran a hand down his face. Guilt burned like acid in his gut. The look of shock on Cor’s face when Bann had swatted his butt kept looping through his head. He could count on one hand, minus the thumb and little finger, the number of times he’d had to use hand-to-ass discipline with the boy, including this one. Damn, but he can be stubborn . His mouth twisted in derision. Hello, pot? The kettle is calling for you, person-to-person .
    A deep rumble made him glance at the window. Thunder announced the coming storm. Bann blew out a breath in frustration. The desire to be on the road, driving hard, putting as many miles as possible between them and that monster, ate at him. As if knowing it would just make things worse, rain began drumming on the roof. He glared up at the ceiling. Bleedin’ hell. And the camper with its busted windows .
    Cor appeared, his face a mirror to the storm outside. Shay was right behind him. She headed toward the front door and snagged her keys off the table. “Let me move my car and you can back the camper into the garage. It’s a double, so you should have plenty of room to work on it in there.”
    â€œWait.” Digging into his pocket for his own keys, Bann slipped around Shay and opened the door before she could. He peered out, scanning the yard and street.
    Shay crowded next to him. “I thought you said we were safe here,” she said in a low voice.
    â€œI did, but…” He glanced back at Cor sulking by the fireplace.
    â€œâ€¦but one never knows with gods. Especially the batshit crazy ones. And now would not be a good time to see if the wards will really keep him out.”
    â€œIt would not.”
    â€œI’ve an idea, then. Max. Come.” She swung the door wider as the dog trotted over. He waited by her knees, dancing from paw to paw in anticipation. “Show ‘em what you can do, big guy.” She gave him an affectionate thump on the ribs, then pointed toward the yard. “Max. Guard,” she said in a clear voice. “Guard.”
    Bann watched as the dog bounded out and stood a few feet away, looking back over a shoulder. Shay called out another encouragement. The dog gave a wag, then trotted down the driveway and disappeared behind Shay’s SUV.
    â€œI taught him to guard against goblins,” she whispered. “Since he can hear and smell those uglies, I’m hoping he can pick up on shapeshifters, too.”
    â€œClever. Do you get many Amandán around here?” He frowned at her sudden grin. “What?”
    â€œI haven’t heard that term for years. Amandán . We just call them goblins. But to answer your questions, no, hardly any. Their territory is closer to the foothills and up into the mountains.”
    â€œIs that why you live here?”
    â€œYeah. I’m too busy to do much goblin hunting. Although like most Tuatha Dé Danaan, my family’s pretty fanatical about it. I’ve got a pair of cousins who hunt almost daily.”
    As did I , he thought. For a moment, the lure of the chase sang through him. To hunt instead of being hunted.
    A long minute passed. Then another.
    â€œPerhaps I should—” Bann began.
    At that moment, Max came trotting back. Rain darkened his coat. He shook himself violently, starting with the tip of his nose and working his way in a cascading effect to the end of his tail. Beauty regime complete, he gave a short woof, as if to say all clear .
    As Shay hurried to her car, Bann ran over to his truck, slipping a bit on the wet grass and mud. He climbed in and started it, then pulled out into the street. The rain picked up, pounding on the roof. Backing in with extra care so as not to hit Shay’s house, he managed to tuck the camper inside the spacious garage. He climbed out to unhitch only to discover Cor