Yeah. I liked him. And that was definitely odd. Maybe the oddest thing that had happened to me in the past.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The Kelpie let me build a fire to cook a fish. I had to build it at the entrance to the cave so the smoke could escape, and he stood outside the cave to ensure I didn't make a run for it. But at least he caught the fish for me. After it was cooked, I kicked dirt onto the fire. Then we went back into the cave.
I sat down and pulled a few bits from the bones, then popped them into my mouth. “Mmm.” I swallowed. “Surprisingly delicious.”
“Why does that surprise you?” the Kelpie asked.
“It's not seasoned.”
He cocked his head at me. “Were you thinking about eating one of the Ballybogs?”
“What?” I gave him the same look he'd given me earlier.
The Kelpie chuckled. “Dragon-Sidhe have worse reputations than Kelpies.”
I blinked. “I never thought of that.” I turned my lips down in consideration, then nodded. “I guess we do. King Arach is known to be especially vicious.”
“Yes, he is.” The Kelpie narrowed his eyes at me. “I saw you with him.”
“We are both Dragon-Sidhe.” I shrugged. “Common ground brings people together.”
“You looked . . . intimate.”
I grinned and repeated, “We are both Dragon-Sidhe.”
He grinned. “Ah. So it's just sex between you?”
“Yup.” I dug into the fish. “He's not a guy into commitment.”
“I'd think he'd make an exception for a woman who could give him Dragon-Sidhe children.”
“Yes, you'd think,” I murmured, thinking back to how Arach and I had gotten together. He'd been truly underhanded, abducting me and erasing my memories like that. Then he told me I was his. Damn, he was a bastard.
“You like him.”
I looked up at the Kelpie. “Actually, I was just thinking about what a bastard he is.”
He snorted. “But you still had sex with him?”
“Of course. He's my king.” I winked at him.
“Now, you're using my words against me.”
“What is it that you really want to know, Nice Kelpie?”
The Kelpie glanced at the cave entrance. “Just if I should be worried about him coming after you. Dragon-Sidhe are known for their tracking abilities.”
“Yes, we are. That's why I've been helping King Rory.”
That distracted him. The Kelpie shook his head. “I don't understand that. Why would a Dragon-Sidhe help the King of Earth?”
“King Arach has decided it would be better to make alliances than enemies.”
The Kelpie widened his eyes at me. “So, you're here at his behest?”
“Yes.” I focused back on my fish. I was a terrible liar.
