Read Online To Love a King (Court of Annwyn) by Shona Husk - Free Book Online

nineteen-year-old she had been when he disappeared. There was nothing wrong with caring about an ex. She was kind of sad for him that his life hadn’t gotten any better the way hers had. But she had to admit that he still scared her—not because she thought he’d hurt her, but because he still had the power to turn her life upside down. She didn’t want fairies in her life.
    She opened the front door, dropped her handbag and the flowers in her room, then went looking for Ash. She was watching TV in the living room. Their other roommate worked in a bar and must have left for work already.
    “You’re back way before I thought you would be.” Ash turned down the volume, while the news reporter kept talking about a disaster in Africa.
    Jacqui plonked onto the sofa, her legs suddenly tired. “We didn’t have much to talk about.” Or rather, there wasn’t much to say. What had happened was in the past. He wasn’t the jerk she wanted him to be—that would be so much easier—he was just torn between two worlds. The same as always.
    Ash leaned forward as if expecting more details. While Jacqui had kept her relationship with Felan a secret for years because she was afraid people would think she was crazy, she wanted to talk about him now. He had been an exciting part of her life…a part she’d thought she’d always have at the time.
    “We dated for over a year, but we broke up…” She didn’t want to tell Ash the full story, about the baby or about where Felan came from—some things were best kept secret, even from her friends. Like the three awful years that had followed the breakup. “It was part misunderstanding, part wounded pride.” Part parental meddling.
    “Ah, ended badly and neither of you ever got over it.”
    “Not really. We got over it—it was years ago—but I guess we both needed the chance to air the wound and let it heal.” She leaned back against the sofa and closed her eyes. In her mind, she saw Felan the way he had been when they’d first met, smiling and laughing as if he didn’t have a care in either world. He’d changed. He was more serious, more cautious this time. She wanted to see him grin without the edge. She wanted him to be happy.
    “So that’s it? He didn’t beg for another chance?”
    Jacqui opened her eyes. He hadn’t. In fact, all he’d done was ask about what had happened. She had been the one to jump to the conclusion that he was looking to rekindle what they had. “No, he didn’t.”
    He hadn’t behaved the way she’d expected at all. She’d seen the look in his eyes, the heat half-hidden behind his cool green gaze. But he hadn’t acted on it the way he once would’ve. He’d kept the distance between them, even though she was sure he wanted more than the truth. So why hadn’t he done anything? What game was he playing with her?
    “You know he’s going to be back.” Ash flicked her hair over her shoulder, her gaze somewhere else. Jacqui was sure she was picturing Felan and imagining what it would be like to be with him. He had that effect on women.
    “I hope not.” But her words didn’t ring true. Even now there was a place in her heart that belonged to him, though she’d gotten used to living with it being empty and unfulfilled. Today had reminded her of what was missing, but also of the danger of being with Felan. He was too seductive, like a drug that she knew was bad for her but she couldn’t resist. She couldn’t go back. She didn’t know if she’d have the strength to rebuild her life when he left her again. Which he would. He’d even admitted that Annwyn was still the first thing in his mind.
    “You wouldn’t give him a second chance? Man, half the women in California wouldn’t kick him out of bed in the first place.”
    Oh yes, they would, and if they knew what he was, they wouldn’t even get into his bed. But that was how he worked: he’d let her think he was human for six months before revealing he was the Prince of Death. He’d