Read Online Flight (Children of the Sidhe) by J.R. Pearse Nelson - Free Book Online Page A

said it meant Tir Nan Og grew darker. That sounded pretty ominous. From looking through his sample, he already had suspicions about several species he would not like to run into in the forest. It was hard to gauge what a darker Tir Nan Og meant. This place was so strange to him just as it was.
    Among other things, he ’d found part of a snakeskin, with scales so large Nathan shuddered to think how vast the creature must be. How many of those were in the forest? He was glad the form he was most likely to take in the forest had wings. He’d also found what appeared to be a chipped off piece of razor-sharp tusk, ivory white and as large as his thumb.
    Now he understood a bit more why Season had been so nervous when he went into the forest with only her for company. Friendly company, that is. There had surely been other things out there. In fact, he had a sneaking suspicion that one of them had noticed them, and that ’s why Season had hurried him back to Tessa’s.
    Nathan was still pondering as he left the study and ran headlong into Tessa. They collided hard enough to leave his jaw aching. “Tessa. I’m so sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”
    She rubbed her cheekbone, but shrugged. “No, it was my fault. I’m distracted.”
    “ Are you?” He smiled, thinking of last night.
    Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t be so full of yourself. It’s not attractive,” she said haughtily.
    “ I’ll try to remember.” He knew damn well she found him attractive. She’d admitted as much yesterday, in numerous ways.
    They walked down the hall together, toward the dining room. It was a large house, with enough time en route for Nathan to take Tessa ’s hand, threading his fingers through hers and stroking the soft skin of her wrist with his thumb.
    They entered the dining room that way. Mikhail was seated to Tessa ’s right, leaving the left hand seat for Nathan, who took it without question. Mikhail smirked at his sister, a look Nathan could only take as one thing – Mikhail knew they were lovers, and he was taunting her over it.
    When Mikhail looked at him, Nathan held his gaze with some belligerence. The familiar smirk soon returned, but they both turned toward their plates before pressing a confrontation. The food was delicious. A rich stew of potatoes, leeks and salmon, and a platter of soft, freshly baked bread. After Hazel’s advice, Nathan had decided to put worry over Otherworld food out of his mind. He had enough to ponder without borrowing trouble.
    “ I thought you’d appreciate knowing how the investigation is proceeding,” Mikhail told Nathan.
    He nodded, not quite sure what to say. The idea he was on an assassin ’s hit list, and there were others out there who weren’t yet safe from harm…well, it was hard to grasp next to the revelations about his own nature.
    “ There were three others on the list,” Mikhail started in. “The twins, Joel and Therese, are safe with their Sidhe father, at the sacred Well of Slaine, where he resides. The third, a young woman called Eva, has yet to be located.”
    “ So, what, you’re a cop or something?”
    “ I’m an agent of the Sidhe Authority, yes. Law enforcement. I understand this term, cop, though we don’t use it in Tir Nan Og.”
    “ So you’ve done some work in my world, then?”
    “ Yes, I’ve been beyond the veil often in the course of duty.”
    “ You definitely talk like a cop.” Nathan raised his glass as if in salute, and Mikhail returned the gesture, obviously taking it as a sign of respect. Nathan didn’t bother to correct him. He just ate his soup and let the silence carry.
    Tessa rose from her place before Nathan had finished his meal. “Please, continue. I’ll be back in a moment.” Whether she realized the tension between him and her brother or not, Nathan couldn’t tell.
    Nathan forced himself not to fidget , and focused on his meal. He was surprised when Mikhail said, “Enjoying my sister?”
    Nathan sputtered, choking on his soup.