Phantom Fae by Terry Spear Page B

hostage, intending to kill her, Ena had been torn between terminating him, for the sake of all fae, or agreeing with the princess that he might be one of the fae, and not just a human fae-seer.
    After all that he had done for Ena, she couldn't see him in the same way any longer. He was a true friend…and if she was being honest with herself, more. She was certain he didn’t see her as simply a friend, either.
    "I don't want to see you get mixed up with this mage."
    She opened her mouth to tell Halloran to mind his own business, but when Alton stirred, she said nothing. She would do what she felt right in her heart to do. Her parents had long ago died, persecuted because they were dragon shifters and the ruling dragon fae feared their power. The dragon shifters had tried to keep their bloodlines pure, so that they would continue to exist and not die off like in the human world, though they hadn’t been shifters. Just pure dragons. But look what had happened there? The humans didn't even believe dragons had ever existed. They thought they were just myths and legends.
    She had always felt the same about keeping their bloodlines pure, until Brett had turned her world inside out with his strange ways.
    "Sleep," she finally told her brother, who, she was sure, was waiting for her to agree or disagree with his comment. But she wasn't going to discuss it with him. She would do what her mind and heart told her.
    He raised a brow at her, questioning her tone with him—commanding him to do anything. She was his younger sister, and if anyone commanded anyone, it was he who told her what to do. She tilted her chin up. "You've done the bulk of the work today and will again tomorrow. Get your rest and I'll pull guard duty."
    She leaned over to stroke Brett's bony forehead, hoping the soothing contact would make him know someone was there for him, reaching out, trying to connect.
    Halloran shook his head at her, shifted into his dragon form, and curled up nearby.
    She glanced at Alton, and suspected he had been listening in on the conversation. She was glad she had bitten her tongue and not said anything to Halloran about Brett.
    A woman's soft voice spoke nearby. Ena whipped around, sword unsheathed, but she found only Freya. "I thought you were staying behind in case Elorian could undo the freeze spell on Zane and force him to recant the curse he put on you."
    "He said he couldn't. That Brett has to do it. Elorian hoped there was some loophole that would allow him to unfreeze enough of the mage apprentice to make him comply with his wishes. But since he couldn't, I wanted to be with Brett."
    "Where have you been all this time then?" Ena hadn't meant to sound so accusatory, but she had worried that since Freya was a phantom fae, she might tell others of her kind where they were taking Brett. Maybe with the notion her people could save him when they were closer to the phantom fae queen's castle than to Ena's.
    "I have been watching for my people's movement, much more unobtrusive than if I were a large dragon flying overhead. Ravens are abundant. No one knows me from any other." Freya shrugged, then drew close. "How is he?"
    "Breathing still. His heartbeat is too weak for my liking."
    "I know of a healer nearby. She might be able to take care of him."
    "Why didn't you say anything sooner?" Ena suspected the healer would want payment and they may not like the bargain.
    "She will not like that she is going against our own people's wishes. She will believe Brett has turned and is working for your side. Maybe even that I have."
    "So then she wouldn't aid us."
    "I think she still would aid me. I've done a lot for her in the past. Kept her company, too. I think if I ask, she'll do it. She wished the curse on me to be withdrawn. When she learns Brett may be able to help me, she might agree. But, she will probably wish something from you in return."
    "But the hawk fae healers couldn't do anything for him."
    "He is a phantom fae. She might try to