Free A Mate Worse Than Death by J.L. Ray

can’t stop it.”
    “Alien.”
    He nodded, “Yes, unnatural and alien.”
    She shook her head. “I meant the creature in the movie. Never mind. Crap.”
    “You have had one? Just now?” he asked.
    “Yep. And it feels like that, squared, “ she grimaced. “I’m having trouble standing up straight.” She started to open the door, which had gone to green after she put in the code.
    Phil stuck out his hand and pressed the door shut. “We shouldn’t go.”
    “The hell you say,” and Tony turned to punch in the code again, but Phil captured her hand and pulled it back to his chest. He looked down into her face in all earnestness.
    “You have no fae blood in you?” he asked her.
    “No,” she said vehemently, then amended, “not that I’d mind that, but seriously, my folks, my mom and dad, they have a long-time prejudice that my sibs and I are trying to change. I’m gonna say that they got it from their parents since all of my of grandparents seem to feel the same as they do. There is no way that there is any fae in either line. Why would you think I did? And why would it be a problem?”
    He stood looking at her, searching her face as if he could see inside her head, and suddenly she flushed, uncomfortable with his scrutiny even though, for once, she felt no overt sexual overtones, despite the intensity of his gaze.
    “What?” she demanded, hoping he would let her hand out of a crushing grip and back off. She wasn’t comfortable this close to him. It felt too intimate, too warm. And she still felt the effects of the premonition. Her heart was racing, and she couldn’t seem to get a full breath. She didn’t wan t him to misinterpret it.
    He shook his head and suddenly let go, causing her to fall backwards a bit from the pull of his grip. He reached for Tony again to steady her, since the robe seemed intent on dropping her on her ass. He caught both of her arms above the elbows and pulled her close. His look now had all the suggestive smolder she had come to expect from him, but despite that he told her in all seriousness, “Premonitions in Naturals don’t happen.”
    “Ever?”
    “Never.” Then he leaned in closer to whisper. “I have to suppose that one of your remote ancestors was a very bad boy or girl.” Tony couldn’t seem to take her eyes off of his wickedly sensual lips. “Because I don’t see anything when I look at you.”
    “The cloak is working on you?”
    This time he gave her a look from under his brows.
    “You’re telling me you can see fae blood?”
    He shrugged, “I can see fae essence. I don’t see anything in you. It must be very old and very diluted.” He smiled again and looked into her eyes as he spun a tale, “I see a lovely young lass in a mile of red velvet, backed against a rough castle wall by some handsome fae swain in midnight blue, her farthingale holding her tucked up skirts up while he--”
    And at that point, Tony threw caution to the wind and headbutted him.
    He dropped her arms and grabbed his head, “Ouch! What the hell?” He turned to her and glared from under his hand.
    “If I want soft-core porn, I’ll pick up a well-written, interesting romance, buddy. Trust me, romance writers can do that so much better than you can. And me, I really do not give a shit if there is or is not fae in my background. I am what I am. But I need to know--is what I am, or what you think I am, going to be a problem in the Fairie or not? I need an actual, helpful answer, not your idea for your next couples ‘Mix and Meet’ night.”
    Phil couldn’t help himself. He smiled and narrowed his eyes as if sizing her up for the red velvet in his portrait. “You are a delightful surprise.” He waved one hand when she started to protest, “To answer your question, I don’t know. I have never met a pure-bred Natural who had the Sight. It seems unlikely. So I don’t know what will happen.”
    She frowned, “It wasn’t a Sight, by any means.”
    He shook his head.