Tressa's Treasures (The King's Jewel Book 1) Read Online Free Page A
Author: Belinda M Gordon
was in a drunken stupor."
She smiled sadly and patted my cheek. I laid my head back in her lap and she went back to stroking my hair as she spoke.
"You did it to prevent an act of violence. The Decree of the Ancients is clear that this is one of the situations where you can call Dominion without it being reported to anyone at home."
"Hmmm. Unfortunately, that isn't the real problem. Holly was too traumatized to realize what was happening, and Fred won't remember any of it, of course. However there was another man in the shop at the time. He saw everything."
" A leanbh , that is unfortunate."
"I've never seen him before. He's not from around here. Surely he was a tourist who will go home and forget all about it. At least, that's what I'm hoping." I bit my lip, silencing the small part of me that hoped he would stay.
Determined to shake that thought, I reminded myself what was at stake. I had dangerous enemies. Several of my friends had lost their lives just by being close to me. The memory made my stomach churn.
I had found a haven here at my grandmother's Pine Ridge Estate. Here, people liked me for myself, rather than for what I was. Here, disappointment didn't attack me at every turn. Deaglan Mór didn't know I was here. To keep everyone safe, I had to keep it that way.
"The episode has made me think about my life, and how I would feel if I had to leave," I said to my grandmother. "I'm fond of this place. I've never fit in anywhere the way I do here. It's my home, now."
"Ah well, that's not a surprise to me. That's why I brought you here," she said.
We sat in companionable silence for a few more minutes.
"You need to get dressed for dinner. We have guests coming," she said, patting my shoulder.
"Guests?"
She loved to entertain, so the fact that people were coming wasn't unusual; however, I was hardly in the proper mood.
"A geologist from Marywood University will be staying at the guest house for a while. He and his assistant will be joining us."
"Are you taking in renters?" I asked, surprised, as I got to my feet.
She chuckled.
"Hardly that. He's a guest lecturer and only planning to be there for a semester. Evidently it was quite a coup for them to get him, even for such a small amount of time. I met him this morning and I must say, I have a good feeling about him."
Mamó was notorious as a sound judge of character, so her good opinion was high praise.
"Then I look forward to meeting him. Do you need any help before I go?"
"No, child. I've only to go dress as well."
I walked home, retracing my steps on the stone walkway that led from her back door to mine.
My home was humble compared to my grandmother's grand manor. It was the 18 th century farmhouse originally built on the property. Whereas when you entered the main house you had a grand foyer, my little house had no foyer at all. The front door opened directly into the main living area.
I went upstairs and took a quick shower before picking out a dress from my closet. Its deep turquoise color would set off my coloring well. It was a flattering choice that would make Mamó happy.
I sat at my dressing table, deft fingers pulling apart the long braid I had worn all day. I picked up my brush and ran it through my hair.
My people were the Sidhe of the Tuatha Dé Danann . Others thought of us as vain and superficial beings. Though my brethren often deserved the stereotype, I pride myself on being different.
Having said that, I admit that my hair is my one vanity. I admired it as I brushed. The color was a brilliant coppery blonde with golden highlights that shimmered in the light. I had big, wild curls. No matter how often I ran my brush through it, I never managed to tame them.
My final step before leaving the dressing table was to put on some jewels. I chose a necklace and a matching bracelet: simple strands of chrysocolla with its soothing, tranquil properties. Unfortunately, my ears have no real lobes, making wearing earrings virtually
She smiled sadly and patted my cheek. I laid my head back in her lap and she went back to stroking my hair as she spoke.
"You did it to prevent an act of violence. The Decree of the Ancients is clear that this is one of the situations where you can call Dominion without it being reported to anyone at home."
"Hmmm. Unfortunately, that isn't the real problem. Holly was too traumatized to realize what was happening, and Fred won't remember any of it, of course. However there was another man in the shop at the time. He saw everything."
" A leanbh , that is unfortunate."
"I've never seen him before. He's not from around here. Surely he was a tourist who will go home and forget all about it. At least, that's what I'm hoping." I bit my lip, silencing the small part of me that hoped he would stay.
Determined to shake that thought, I reminded myself what was at stake. I had dangerous enemies. Several of my friends had lost their lives just by being close to me. The memory made my stomach churn.
I had found a haven here at my grandmother's Pine Ridge Estate. Here, people liked me for myself, rather than for what I was. Here, disappointment didn't attack me at every turn. Deaglan Mór didn't know I was here. To keep everyone safe, I had to keep it that way.
"The episode has made me think about my life, and how I would feel if I had to leave," I said to my grandmother. "I'm fond of this place. I've never fit in anywhere the way I do here. It's my home, now."
"Ah well, that's not a surprise to me. That's why I brought you here," she said.
We sat in companionable silence for a few more minutes.
"You need to get dressed for dinner. We have guests coming," she said, patting my shoulder.
"Guests?"
She loved to entertain, so the fact that people were coming wasn't unusual; however, I was hardly in the proper mood.
"A geologist from Marywood University will be staying at the guest house for a while. He and his assistant will be joining us."
"Are you taking in renters?" I asked, surprised, as I got to my feet.
She chuckled.
"Hardly that. He's a guest lecturer and only planning to be there for a semester. Evidently it was quite a coup for them to get him, even for such a small amount of time. I met him this morning and I must say, I have a good feeling about him."
Mamó was notorious as a sound judge of character, so her good opinion was high praise.
"Then I look forward to meeting him. Do you need any help before I go?"
"No, child. I've only to go dress as well."
I walked home, retracing my steps on the stone walkway that led from her back door to mine.
My home was humble compared to my grandmother's grand manor. It was the 18 th century farmhouse originally built on the property. Whereas when you entered the main house you had a grand foyer, my little house had no foyer at all. The front door opened directly into the main living area.
I went upstairs and took a quick shower before picking out a dress from my closet. Its deep turquoise color would set off my coloring well. It was a flattering choice that would make Mamó happy.
I sat at my dressing table, deft fingers pulling apart the long braid I had worn all day. I picked up my brush and ran it through my hair.
My people were the Sidhe of the Tuatha Dé Danann . Others thought of us as vain and superficial beings. Though my brethren often deserved the stereotype, I pride myself on being different.
Having said that, I admit that my hair is my one vanity. I admired it as I brushed. The color was a brilliant coppery blonde with golden highlights that shimmered in the light. I had big, wild curls. No matter how often I ran my brush through it, I never managed to tame them.
My final step before leaving the dressing table was to put on some jewels. I chose a necklace and a matching bracelet: simple strands of chrysocolla with its soothing, tranquil properties. Unfortunately, my ears have no real lobes, making wearing earrings virtually
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