Katie's Hellion (Rhyn Trilogy, Book One) by Lizzy Ford

really die?" she asked at last.
    "No. But mortals shouldn’t travel through the
shadow world. It’s hit and miss on what’ll happen."
    "What exactly is going on?"
    He leaned forward and placed the glass on the
table.
    "It’s a long story, one you don’t necessarily
need to know to understand your circumstances. My brother’s people
found you and identified your unique gift for…blocking their
natural talents. It makes you valuable and dangerous. If our
enemies find you, they can take your blood and modify the creatures
who work for them to make them immune to us."
    "Back up a sec. Natural talents?"
    "Our ancestors were immortalized --albeit
incorrectly --in myths. Mages, vampires, elves, immortal creatures
with extraordinary powers who battle evil for supremacy and the
ultimate fate of mankind."
    "And my unique gift could make the bad guys
immune to the good guys."
    "Correct."
    "Why is your brother so pissy when he
interfered with my life?"
    "My brother is never pissy," Andre said with
polite offense. "He’s unaccustomed to having his authority
challenged. We nicknamed him the Phoenix, which is notorious for
not only rising from ashes but also for taking down everyone and
everything around them in flames. He’s forever in that stage that
precedes a perfect storm."
    "Highly combustible, I get it. Send me home,
get rid of everything that shouldn’t be there, and move on.
Everyone will be happy."
    "I wish it were that easy."
    "Why isn’t it?" she prodded.
    "Because our enemies have your blood and know
everything about you. This started out as a mission about us but
has turned into a mission about you ."
    "How did you trick my sister Hannah into
thinking I had a kid, when you and I know I don’t?"
    "Angels must be raised by humans. It’s
something immortals learned long ago. Angels are mortals’ allies,
but they can’t appreciate the intricacies of mortals without the
years of exposure. When we placed Toby with you, we altered the
minds of those in your immediate family circle. We learned that
those outside of this circle are less likely to be concerned about
the appearance of the child. The human mind is quick to find
excuses to accept such things."
    She gripped her head, feeling sick.
    "Go and rest. We'll talk in the morning,"
Andre said kindly.
    "I could use some food, though. Too much
alcohol on an empty stomach."
    "I'll send dinner. Your room is the third on
the left."
    He indicated a narrow hallway off the large
formal living room. She stood, wobbled, and then went the direction
he indicated. The room was dark, the floor-to-ceiling windows
displaying the incredible views of the Eiffel Tower , whose frame
was outlined by lights against the dark Parisian sky She was about
to step onto the balcony when a knock at the door drew her
attention.
    Andre entered, followed by a second man
carrying a large tray of food.
    "I included the whiskey, though I advise you
to stop drinking soon," he said with brotherly firmness. "We'll be
going to a soiree across the street in about an hour. You'll have
some peace, at least until tomorrow morning."
    Katie offered a watery smile, eyes going to
the roast lamb, bread, and custard. They left, and she sat and ate
leisurely. When she finished, she crossed to the balcony.
    She’d never left the country and couldn’t
help but stare in wonder at the romantically lit Arc de Triomphe.
The street below was narrower than it appeared on TV and packed
with cars and elegantly dressed men and women walking to a
gathering across the street --probably the soiree Andre had
mentioned.
    In the distance was a dark swath of park
leading up to the lit-up Eiffel Tower, which was larger than she’d
imagined. The air was chilly, but she left the window open to the
street sounds and the cold, wanting to feel normal.
    Wiggling her toes in the plushest carpet
she’d ever felt, she leaned against the window sill, exhausted yet
wired. Andre was the only gentleman in this outfit and the only to
take pity on