Bayou Shadow Protector by Debbie Herbert

Author:Debbie Herbert
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-09-10T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Steven’s face was red and he breathed air hotter than a dragon. Licks of his carrot-top hair flamed like an out-of-control fire.

“She’s here, isn’t she?” He pushed his way inside. “You couldn’t have let me know?”

Chulah shut the door behind Steven. “I don’t know how to get in touch with you. Do you even have a phone?”

“Um, no,” he admitted. “I should check into that.” He frowned again. “You still could have run over to tell me.”

The little man had a lot of nerve barging into his house and scolding him like he was a misbehaving child. But Chulah bit back his annoyance. Steven was only concerned about April, and she needed a champion. More than one.

“Now you know she’s safe, feel free to leave.”

Steven folded his arms. “I’m not going anywhere. I have bad news.”

“What’s wrong?” April stood in the hall doorway, his clothes dwarfing her small frame. She looked thoroughly his. In every way.

Steven tossed a quick, irritated glance at him over his shoulder.

Chulah smirked. Served him right for busting up their round two. The morning had been going so well until he dropped in.

“We should talk,” Steven said, hurrying to her side. “Alone.”

“Whatever it is, you can say it in front of Chulah.”

He couldn’t help smirking again at Steven’s loud harrumph. “It’s Fae business. None of his concern.”

“If we’re going to work with the shadow hunters, they need be in on whatever’s going on. That’s only fair, Steven.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “All right. But I don’t like it.”

So April had the same problems with Steven as he did with his own friends. Both sides too stubborn and mistrustful to cooperate.

“So what’s the news?” April pressed. “I just visited the Council and queen an hour or so ago, so it can’t be too serious.”

“You’re dead wrong.” Steven drew a deep breath. “Our queen has been captured.”

* * *

April swayed. Such a thing was unheard-of. “Impossible,” she whispered.

“It’s true. All is chaos. They sent a messenger to tell me. Seems they couldn’t enter the cabin to contact you—what with all the salt surrounding the borders.”

“Was it Hoklonote?” Had to be. Who else would dare attempt such a crime? Or have the knowledge to do it.

Steven ran a hand through his rumpled hair. “No one else could have infiltrated our realm but Hoklonote. And all because of that damned traitor. When we find him...”

Chulah’s brow furrowed and he raced to the front door.

“What is it?” April asked.

“I smell smoke.”

He threw open the front door and she and Steven followed him outside.

Across the road and a mile farther down, a single thin column of smoke wafted from a neighbor’s cotton field.

“I didn’t see that when I flew here,” Steven said, puzzled. “Must have just happened.” He turned to April. “Chulah can call the fire department. We need to return to our own realm.”

Red-and-black flames burst upward, spreading rapidly to the cotton plants. Mature white blooms crackled as a wave of fire swept the land. The field of white was transformed to a sea of orange.

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