A Low Down Dirty Shane Read Online Free Page B

protected might take hours. She was going to have to give him the CliffsNotes version. “Druids are protectors. There are gates…metaphysical passageways between this world and the reality belonging to the fae. The two realities exist simultaneously, one on top of the other but never mingling. These gates allow fae to pass from their reality into ours.”
    “And that’s bad, I take it.”
    “It isn’t always disastrous, but it’s never…advisable.”
    “Okay, so if these gates are such a bad thing, why doesn’t someone close them?”
    Siobhan snorted. “The gateways have been open for millennia, since the fae wandered freely on this realm and wreaked havoc at will. Then my people became the defenders of mankind and—”
    “ The defenders of mankind ?” Shane started laughing and didn’t stop even when Siobhan glared and started thought-stabbing him. “Lady, you’ve got a pretty inflated sense of purpose.”
    “ Siobhan ,” she replied curtly. “My name isn’t lady , so I’d appreciate it if you either called me Siobhan or kept quiet. In fact, given your habit for saying truly moronic things, I think it would be best if you just didn’t interrupt until I’m done.”
    “You sure know how to woo a dude into helping you… Siobhan .”
    Siobhan thought it best to ignore him at this point and plow forward with her story. “The gates are now guarded by druidic clans all over the world. There are two gateways in New York. One is under the protection of a fae guardian. The other is exposed and watched by my people, the Claughdid clan.”
    She waited for Shane to interrupt, but he only nodded, and she carried on. “The few who break through are not the kind we want mingling with humanity. Fairies have freedom to pass at will since they are the guardians on their side as we are on ours. It’s the lesser fae we have to worry about. The trolls, like the one you saw today, goblins and sprites, and other unique and repulsive creatures who would rather eat people than coexist with them. That’s what we are here to protect people from.”
    “You’re doing a bang-up job of it if things like a giant fucking troll are getting through on a regular basis.”
    She glared at him. “I am the only person protecting that gate. My clan is spread throughout the country, and I am the sole gatekeeper for the passage.”
    Shane shut his mouth.
    “That’s not why I need your help, though.”
    “Okay.”
    “I’ve got a bigger problem.”
    “A bigger problem than escaped trolls?”
    “Yes.”
    “I’m all ears.”
    She looked away and felt her cheeks flush. “I’m the first daughter in seven generations of Claughdid. Sons beget sons, and the line is carried on through them. I’m an anomaly. I’m a problem for them.”
    “You can shoot. You can kill. What’s the problem?”
    “Well…traditionally in our clan the job of daughters was much more cut-and-dry than what I do. I’m a guardian because my father sired no sons. Only me. But my time is almost up.”
    “What does that even mean?”
    “I’m almost twenty-five. When my birthday comes, so will the high council. And I will be sacrificed.”
    “I’m sorry, you’ll be what ?”
    “Sacrificed. By the dudes in cloaks as you so politely phrased it. To appease the gate. That’s the duty of my clan’s daughters. Our job is to die.”

Chapter Six
    Shane sat next to his heterosexual partner in crime Nolan Tate, and they each stared into barely touched pint glasses of beer.
    “She…” Nolan started, then his voice trailed off.
    “Yeah.”
    “’nd there was a troll?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Lemme see if I get this straight. The lady-druid version of Hawkeye wants you to help save her life from her own crazy druid family. People who can make magic light circles out of blood that’re designed to suck bodies into a differen’ dimension?”
    Shane took a swig of his beer and swallowed hard. “Yup.”
    “Huh. You got some thoughts on how you’re gonna manage