Well. Ellie had definitely managed to ruffle Kelissande's feathers. It had been a long time since the lovely Miss Minset had struck out at her with such a lack of finesse. Surprisingly, the insult didn't cause even the tiniest wound. Suddenly Kelissande's eyes went wide. "By the gods, who is that?”

Ellysetta glanced over her shoulder and saw Rain Tairen Soul striding boldly down the street. Sunlight glinted on the myriad blades bristling from his black leathers, and his long hair blew back off his fiercely handsome face as he walked.

A thrill of pride coupled with the swift bite of desire shivered up Ellie's spine. She straightened to her full height. "That," she replied, "is the crazy half-man who has claimed me.”

"He is magnificent." The words were a bare whisper. Ellie doubted Kelissande even realized she had spoken aloud. Her dazzled blue eyes seemed to drink in the sight of Rain as he approached. She turned to Ellie and smiled. "You must introduce him to me.”

Ellie's satisfaction shriveled to a heavy rock that sank to the pit of her stomach. Never once in her life had she known Kelissande not to get her way when she had that hungry, determined look in her eye, and now Kelissande wanted to meet Rain? Ellie wanted to scream "No!", rip out Kelissande's silky blond hair, and scratch her perfect skin.

"Of course," she replied politely. And she wondered how she would survive the torment of Kelissande Minset's perfect beauty calling Rain's attention to Ellie's many physical flaws.

Rain sensed his shei'tani's unhappiness as he drew near. Her gentle face, with its dusting of golden freckles and large, expressive eyes, was set in a carefully composed mask, and the glowing aura of compassion and fresh innocence that called so sweetly to his ancient soul was dimmed. Something had wounded her tender heart. Or someone, he corrected when Ellysetta quietly introduced him to the sun-haired woman beside her. The blond girl was physically beautiful, but darkness hung about her like a shroud.

"Hello," the young woman purred. "Mistress Minset." He did not bow. Somehow she was to blame for his truemate's distress. Such a woman would receive no honor from him. He turned to Ellysetta. "Shei'tani." His voice was a caress. He did not touch her—it was not the Fey way. But he reached out to her with a warm weave of Spirit. « What has made your heart sad?» When she did not reply, he sent the same question to Bel.

«The golden one with the dark soul said unkind things and took the laughter from your shei'tani's eyes,» Bel replied with disgust. « We did not know what to do.» Had Kelissande Minset been a man, she would have found herself facing bared Fey'cha steel. But she was a woman, and no Fey warrior would ever harm even a dark-souled female except to save lives.

"Come on, Ellie!" A chorus of childish voices called out from a short distance away.

"I'm coming!" Ellysetta called back. To Rain, she said, "The children and I were just about to play a game of Stones." She paused in the process of turning away. Hesitant invitation and uncertainty flickered in her gaze. "Would you … like to join us?”

A harsh, mocking laugh rang out. "For the gods' sake, Ellie, he's a king," Kelissande sneered. "Kings don't play Stones in the park with a bunch of filthy peasant children.”

Rain saw embarrassment redden Ellysetta's cheeks. "I'm sorry," she said. "I wasn't thinking." She turned away quickly.

"Shei'tani." He started to follow her, only to stop in his tracks when Kelissande grabbed his wrist. The instant her skin touched his, the mean, grasping ugliness of her soul poured into him. Her thoughts were hateful and self- indulgent. She was beautiful, Ellie was not. She was the one who deserved a king for a mate. Rain was handsome and powerful, and Kelissande had decided she would have him. Stealing him from Ellie Lack Grace would be child's play.

With a grimace of distaste, he grasped Kelissande's wrist and removed her clinging hand. Deliberately, gritting his teeth against the soul-eating darkness that emanated from her, he gripped her other wrist as well and bent close to her beautiful face.

"You dare too much, foolish Celierian female," he growled. He let power flare in his eyes, and enjoyed the fear that blossomed on her face. How could she think a truemated man would ever have eyes for anyone but his own mate? Stupid woman. Ignorant, primitive, ungifted, dark-hearted creature of no worth. "Even were she not my truemate, I would choose Ellysetta over you every time. Do you think a Fey Lord cannot see past your pretty face to the ugliness inside? All your beauty, all your wealth, could not make any Fey desire you.”

He bound her in weaves of Earth and Spirit to keep her still and grasped her heart-shaped face with frightening gentleness. He felt her terror, and it made him smile, made the tairen roar and flex its claws. «Hurt my shei'tani again in any way, and female or not, you will have made an enemy worth fearing. This I do promise you.”

«Rain . .

Even as Bel's warning voice sounded in his mind, Rain felt the waves of Ellysetta's emotion roll over him, misery bubbling with hurt and anger and disappointment. And something unexpected that Rain recognized as—Jealousy?

He lifted his head and found Ellysetta staring at him. Her eyes were huge in her fine-boned face, filled with accusation and, yes, jealousy. He gazed at her in bewilderment. Why would she feel such a thing? Had he not claimed her? Had he not set aside even the memory of his love for Sariel to court her? Did she not understand what that meant?