Read Online Dragonfae & The Soul Catcher by H. C. Brown - Free Book Online Page A

his glossy, tight clothes. The small cottage had filled with the unique scent of him. The moment she had taken his hand, his heat had consumed her, wrapping around her like a warm hug. She considered her feelings. One minute the man mesmerised her, the next she wanted to run away from him. Could she trust him? Would he pounce on her the second she fell asleep? Oh goddess, he is so big, so strong.
    Brew rubbed around her legs, his silky caress brushed over her bare flesh. Thalia recollected the day Nell had brought the kitten to her, a very small, black bundle. His eyes had been blue then, and the poor creature had cried all night until she had taken him into her bed. Nell’s words came back to her in a flash. “This cat will be with you always, you must trust his instincts.”
    “You like Lumos, don’t you?” She bent down to rub the cat’s velvet ears. “I must trust your judgement for I have lost my way, Brew. To me, every male is a threat.”
    As if to consolidate Thalia’s remarks, Brew greeted Lumos with a string of chirrups. The Fae looked down at Thalia with a wide grin. She looked from one to the other in amazement.
    “Brew told you, didn’t he? Brew, you are… Gods…I thought you were on my side!”
    “It would make our journey together easier if you trusted me, little one.” Lumos pushed his hands into the back pockets of his pants. “We’ll eventually have to ride the horse together and when the snow comes we must sleep under the same blanket for warmth or you’ll surely die of cold.” He threw logs on the smouldering fire. “If I’m not allowed to drink wine, perhaps you will indulge me with a cup of tea?” He opened a jar and sniffed the contents. “Ah, let me see. Do I smell rosehips, chamomile and mint?”
    The man had acted so nonchalant then had casually inferred they would sleep together. Thalia’s stomach turned over. Fear clenched her in a wave of terror. Drawing a deep breath, she spun around and glared at Lumos.
    “Do you expect me to sleep under the same blanket with you?”
    “Aye, we should sleep together for warmth. The rest of the time, I’ll sleep under the stars and you may have the wagon. If this arrangement causes you to fear me, then I’ll not ask you again.” Lumos filled the kettle from a barrel of water and placed it on the fire. “You should know, the Fae hold females in high regard. They are very precious to us. If any Fae willingly causes harm to befall an innocent female, the elders banish them from the magyck worlds. To be cast out into Nomag realms means we are no longer able to sustain our lives and we eventually die.”
    Thalia snorted in disagreement. She took down two mugs and spooned dried herbs into a large teapot. “We all die, Lumos.”
    “No…we don’t.” Lumos touched Thalia’s arm. “Fae do not die. Beheading kills us but our life force comes from our world. If we’re unable to return, we grow old and die like a Nomag.”
    Heart thundering, Thalia spun around. Immortal? No one said anything about being immortal. She considered Lumos’ attractive features, his high cheekbones and slanted eyes. Her focus went to his mouth. His lips were soft and damp. So much male beauty and it would live forever. One question burned in her mind. “How old are you?”
    “In actual summers, or how old am I in comparison to the lifespan of a Nomag?” Lumos picked up a potholder and moved forward to lift the kettle from the fire. He filled the teapot. “They are quite different.”
    “I think both would be nice to know.”
    “About twenty to twenty-five summers in Nomag maturity.” Lumos cleared his throat. “In actual time, I’m two hundred and fifty summers.” He gave Thalia a sideways glance. “Dragonfae are very slow to mature.”
    With a gasp, Thalia sat down on a nearby chair. Her pulse pounded in her ears. The room swayed and rolled as if she were on a small boat. Cold water splashed her face and she fought against the gushing torrent to