The Aetherfae Read Online Free

thought we might need in case the power went out.
    At midnight, with Bianca still a few hours from making landfall, Mom suggested that I try to sleep. That would be impossible, but I could drop back in on the Council, or better yet, visit Gavin.
    Ignoring the tumultuous weather, I floated to the intricate plasterwork of the ceiling a few seconds after lying down. A moment later, Gavin’s chocolate brown eyes greeted me. I focused on projecting a thought, just one, like Tse-xo-be had taught me: “ I miss you .”
    Gavin’s thick lips parted and a slight sigh slipped out of his chest. “I miss you, too.”
    The right side of his face tensed, just slightly, pulling his lips into a seductive half-smile anchored by a dimple.
    “You are so beautiful ,” I thought next.
    The left side of his face joined in, rewarding me with a full smile. “Wow, no more one-sided conversations?”
    “Limited,” I replied.
    “That’s better than nothing. So, what shall we talk about tonight?”
    Gavin stood with his back to a jagged rock surface. There were no clouds, just a gorgeous moonlit sky and a lot of vegetation. I concentrated: “ Where is this?”
    “Ah, welcome to the Grenadine Islands. We’re in the Caribbean, but away from the weather. My kind rarely visits this place.”
    He began asking questions about what happened the night Ozara tried to erase my mind—we’d been through these questions before, but my yes or no responses got us nowhere. I never explained to Gavin that I witnessed Ozara and Zarkus kill Meili and Katarina at Caer Bran. I knew better. Sure, I would have to tell him eventually—I would have to tell them all—but as long as I had nannies watching my every move in Florida, I knew it was best to keep the information to myself. However, when Gavin asked me about Cassandra, I came clean. One short thought followed another in piecemeal fashion as I told him as much as I could.
    He frowned as I explained it all, finally asking, “Are you alright? I know that couldn’t have been easy for you.”
    I responded: “ I am fine. Still see her face when I close my eyes.”
    He dropped his chin to his chest and nodded. “You probably won’t forget that…ever. But you were justified. Human law recognizes self-defense, and quite frankly I don’t care what Fae law says. This is your world, not ours.”
    Gavin never mentioned whether he had taken a life during the Fae wars, but his reaction left no doubt. I confessed that I had found the Ohanzee. Gavin exhaled and stared at the sky when I told him I was about to start watching the Council.
    After an excruciating pause, he said, “Be careful.”
    “ I love you, Gavin ,” was all I focused on.
    He smiled. I melted. He placed his thick hand directly in front of himself, about waist high. I couldn’t really touch him, but I concentrated on the deep lines crossing his palm and compelled myself to make contact. I felt nothing, but he closed his eyes and drew a long slow breath, expanding his chest. Then, as though he were cradling my heart, he gently closed his fist and pressed it to his lips.
    I focused on asking him which new exotic destination he intended to show me tomorrow. It was a silly question, but he smiled and said, “I’ll surprise you.”

    * * *

    I sensed Aether around the Council area. The eight members of the Council were present, along with Zarkus and Ahriman, from Caer Bran, and what appeared to be six new Unseelie Elders. I guessed adding a few more members to the Unseelie Elders made sense. The remaining Council members approached from the Seoladán, and as each drew close, Ozara created openings in the barrier. Equal numbers of Seelie and Unseelie Guards stood just outside the Aether barrier. They weren’t facing each other, which I found odd, but stood with their backs to the Council and the Elders as though they were guarding the proceedings.
    Guanyin, the stunning Fae who originally came from the Ancient Ones in China, was the last Council