Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 121008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
The trouble is I don’t want that life. I’m enjoying the one I found. I feel a great sense of belonging and accomplishment when I think about the changes I made to the cottage. I’m bonding with the villagers and rapidly becoming important to them. Cian seems to need me as well.
I have no intention of allowing Beck to hire a woman to do my work. Although, if he proves as insensitive as he was before, he might have to pay someone to sleep with him.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Cian’s whole body is tense.
I smile sweetly at him. I don’t have high hopes that Cian will be able to truly top me when it comes to sex. He’s far too indulgent. He’s nothing like his brother. Beck would have ordered me to stay away from the goblins. If I disobeyed, he probably would have locked me away. Cian followed even though it’s obvious he’s reluctant.
“Yes.” I don’t feel a bit of the trepidation Cian is experiencing. I’ve met vampires and faeries and trolls and those rude dwarves. How bad can goblins be?
“Aye,” comes a deep voice. “I thought I smelled something tasty coming this way.”
Holy crap. What the hell is that?
I’ve only briefly seen goblins in the arena, but they’re different up close. This one is as tall as I am, though it has to outweigh me by a hundred pounds. Like the little brownies who are so helpful, the goblin has a head of scraggly, wiry hair. This one’s hair is black, and his leathery skin has a distinctly green cast to it. His eyes are large as though he spends most of his time in the darkness. They’re pitch black and seem a little dead, reminding me of a snake’s eyes. His mouth is the largest feature on his triangular face. It’s filled with razor-sharp teeth. He wears only a small animal skin around his waist, and I find myself very grateful for the attempt at modesty.
“I love to eat sidhe,” the goblin grumbles, the words tangling around his teeth. He scents the air with the holes in the middle of his face that seem to pass for nostrils. “And something else. You aren’t sidhe, girl.”
Cian tries to pull me behind him, but it seems like running. I read an awful lot, and running is a good way to get oneself chased down and eaten by a predator. There are times when boldness is called for. If I’m the queen, then I should start acting like one. And maybe Beck’s name will come in handy. Everyone seems to be afraid of him.
“I’m human, goblin,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “And I’m Beckett and Cian Finn’s wife.”
The goblin does not look impressed. “So the boys finally found a mate, did they? I’m sure my king will be interested in that bit of news. Unfortunately for you, you brought the wrong brother to our camp, little girl. If you’re going to greet the goblins, you should have brought the warrior with you. As it is, I’ll tell my king all about the brothers getting married and then me eating one of them.”
He looks ready to do it, too. His clawed hands twitch dangerously.
“I want you to run,” Cian whispers into my ear. “Run and don’t look back.”
He’s so dramatic. The goblin, on the other hand, is a big old bully. It’s time to gamble a little. I walk straight up to the goblin and use my thumb and middle finger to thwack him on his sensitive-looking nostrils. According to many a nature documentary, it works on sharks. The goblin howls and takes two steps back.
“There. Now we’re starting to understand each other.” I look at the small flask on his hip. “Is that what I think it is?”
The goblin pulls the flask out. He holds it in one hand as he protects his nose with the other. He isn’t so scary now. “It is mine. You would not like it. Sidhe do not like our liquors.”
I stalk the goblin because I am so close to getting one of the things I want more than my next breath. “I told you before, I’m not sidhe.”
With a curious expression, he hands me the flask. “It is strong, I warn you.”
I wipe the rim with the towel I placed on the basket of cookies. I can’t be sure, but I suspect goblins are probably not the most hygienic of creatures. It doesn’t matter once that smell hits me. Heavenly coffee. It’s still warm. I tip the flask and drink it down in one long gulp. It isn’t even as strong as an espresso.
“Strong, my ass,” I say with genuine relief. This is a piece of home I’ve missed. “It isn’t strong, goblin, but it will do. I’m going to need more. Take me to your leader or whoever the hell can negotiate a trade agreement.”