Read Online Lover Enslaved: Thieves of Aurion, Book 1 by Jodi Redford - Free Book Online
Authors: Jodi Redford
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level. “Some kind of protest.”
The aerocoach slowed. Mara peered at the signs and the irate faces of the people being corralled behind a barricade heavily patrolled by a group of fae law enforcers. Other than the enforcers, everyone else appeared to be human.
“Ah, they’re protesting the free-trade embargo.”
Mara’s fingers slipped from the cold window. She turned towards Dash, her forehead scrunching. “Isn’t this kind of an out-of-the-way place to hold a protest?”
“I think it has more to do with the proximity to the harbor. Less and less human-produced goods are being allowed shipment by sea—the least costly means of cargo transport.”
“That’s terrible. How are people supposed to make a living if they can’t get their products where they need to go?”
Dash’s mouth tipped in a sardonic smile. “I suppose that’s the whole idea.”
Ire welled inside Mara’s chest, threatening to explode. Would the injustices facing her species never end? For over a thousand years, Aurion humans had fought for equality—yet they seemed no closer to achieving the goal than the first humans who toiled in the vineyards beneath the harsh whips of the fae royals.
Out of nowhere, a large rock slammed into the side of the aerocoach. A screech ripped from Piper and she scrabbled for safety under the seat. Another rock hit the vehicle, making it shake.
Mara instinctively hunched her shoulders and ducked beneath the window’s edge. “Why are they throwing stuff at us?”
“The bloody crest on the hood.” Dash growled and rapped his fist on the divider between the cockpit and the rear compartment. “Get a move on. This crowd is out for royal blood.”
Ronan heeded the warning and the aerocoach rocketed past the screaming crowd. Several blocks down they slowed and everyone released a relieved breath.
Dash leaned back in his seat. “Exciting enough for you?”
Mara patted her chest as her heart slowly descended from her throat. “If that’s excitement, I’ll blissfully resign myself to a life of boredom.”
They drove a little farther along the coastline until a small inn popped into view. Ronan parked the aerocoach and stormed outside to check the damage to the vehicle. Once he finished his litany of curses, he joined them in their investigation of the potential lodging.
Weather-beaten shingles drooped from the inn’s exterior, many of them flapping in the breeze with a creaky whine. If a stiff wind kicked up, the entire place stood in danger of sliding into the ocean.
Mara dug for words of reassurance. “It looks…promising.” Okay, so she was stretching.
“It’s a dump.” Ronan—ever the optimist—thrust out his chin.
“Sure, it has its issues.” Mara nodded reluctantly. “But you have to admit the flower boxes on the porch are sort of homey and charming.”
Ronan’s chin regained its stubborn tilt. “There’s nothing in them.”
A sigh rolled from Mara. There’s just no pleasing some people .
Piper flew to the porch and settled on the rail. “I bet a crazy woman runs this joint.” She pointed to a pine floorboard jutting at an odd angle. “All three of her dead husbands are probably shoved under there.”
The gravel crunched beneath Ronan’s black leather boots as he slowly backed towards the aerocoach. Shooting Piper a quick I’ll-strangle-you-later look, Mara snagged his arm. “You know better than to listen to her insane musings. Besides, do you really want to cross paths with those protestors again?” She patted his elbow soothingly. Glancing over, she caught the amusement splashed across Dash’s face.
Ronan must have noticed it too because he jerked from her grasp and bared his teeth at Dash before swaggering up the porch steps.
Inside, the inn appeared better maintained. The floors gleamed with a recent waxing and a delicious odor of apples and sweet spice filled the air. An older woman with plump, rosy cheeks and a full head of bristly gray curls stood behind
The aerocoach slowed. Mara peered at the signs and the irate faces of the people being corralled behind a barricade heavily patrolled by a group of fae law enforcers. Other than the enforcers, everyone else appeared to be human.
“Ah, they’re protesting the free-trade embargo.”
Mara’s fingers slipped from the cold window. She turned towards Dash, her forehead scrunching. “Isn’t this kind of an out-of-the-way place to hold a protest?”
“I think it has more to do with the proximity to the harbor. Less and less human-produced goods are being allowed shipment by sea—the least costly means of cargo transport.”
“That’s terrible. How are people supposed to make a living if they can’t get their products where they need to go?”
Dash’s mouth tipped in a sardonic smile. “I suppose that’s the whole idea.”
Ire welled inside Mara’s chest, threatening to explode. Would the injustices facing her species never end? For over a thousand years, Aurion humans had fought for equality—yet they seemed no closer to achieving the goal than the first humans who toiled in the vineyards beneath the harsh whips of the fae royals.
Out of nowhere, a large rock slammed into the side of the aerocoach. A screech ripped from Piper and she scrabbled for safety under the seat. Another rock hit the vehicle, making it shake.
Mara instinctively hunched her shoulders and ducked beneath the window’s edge. “Why are they throwing stuff at us?”
“The bloody crest on the hood.” Dash growled and rapped his fist on the divider between the cockpit and the rear compartment. “Get a move on. This crowd is out for royal blood.”
Ronan heeded the warning and the aerocoach rocketed past the screaming crowd. Several blocks down they slowed and everyone released a relieved breath.
Dash leaned back in his seat. “Exciting enough for you?”
Mara patted her chest as her heart slowly descended from her throat. “If that’s excitement, I’ll blissfully resign myself to a life of boredom.”
They drove a little farther along the coastline until a small inn popped into view. Ronan parked the aerocoach and stormed outside to check the damage to the vehicle. Once he finished his litany of curses, he joined them in their investigation of the potential lodging.
Weather-beaten shingles drooped from the inn’s exterior, many of them flapping in the breeze with a creaky whine. If a stiff wind kicked up, the entire place stood in danger of sliding into the ocean.
Mara dug for words of reassurance. “It looks…promising.” Okay, so she was stretching.
“It’s a dump.” Ronan—ever the optimist—thrust out his chin.
“Sure, it has its issues.” Mara nodded reluctantly. “But you have to admit the flower boxes on the porch are sort of homey and charming.”
Ronan’s chin regained its stubborn tilt. “There’s nothing in them.”
A sigh rolled from Mara. There’s just no pleasing some people .
Piper flew to the porch and settled on the rail. “I bet a crazy woman runs this joint.” She pointed to a pine floorboard jutting at an odd angle. “All three of her dead husbands are probably shoved under there.”
The gravel crunched beneath Ronan’s black leather boots as he slowly backed towards the aerocoach. Shooting Piper a quick I’ll-strangle-you-later look, Mara snagged his arm. “You know better than to listen to her insane musings. Besides, do you really want to cross paths with those protestors again?” She patted his elbow soothingly. Glancing over, she caught the amusement splashed across Dash’s face.
Ronan must have noticed it too because he jerked from her grasp and bared his teeth at Dash before swaggering up the porch steps.
Inside, the inn appeared better maintained. The floors gleamed with a recent waxing and a delicious odor of apples and sweet spice filled the air. An older woman with plump, rosy cheeks and a full head of bristly gray curls stood behind
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