Tainted Read online

  Tainted

  Fey Court Trilogy

  Book Two

  

  Written by

  Cyndi Goodgame

  Fey Court Trilogy was Cyndi’s debut novel.

  Also by Cyndi Goodgame

  (Fey Court Trilogy)

  Deception Book One

  Tainted Book Two

  Betrayal Book Three

  Guardian (Companion Novel to Deception)

  (Siphon Chronicles)

  Siphon

  Stolen

  Return

  (Vampire X)

  Vampire For Hire

  Vampire My World

  Vampire Is Hire

  Vampire The Rogue

  Vampire Art Thou

  Vampire Thy Betrayed

  Vampire My Card

  (Marked Like Me Series)

  Orion Book One

  Son of Ra Book Two

  Scorpion Book Three

  Daughter of Anat Book Four

  The Shadow Queen Book Five

  Protector (Companion Novella to Marked Like Me)

  (Goblin’s Kiss Series)

  Denial Book One

  Yield Book Two

  (Under Cover Chronicles)

  Under Cover Book One

  Over Darkness Book Two

  Mary Never Had a Lamb, She Was the Lamb

  (Twisted Nursery Rhymes for the Paranormal)

  Gargoyle

  (Hyde Chronicles)

  Tainted

  Cyndi Goodgame

  © August 2012 by Cyndi Goodgame Second Edition

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without prior written permission of the publisher. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Acknowledgements go to the various authors of classic fiction who wrote so eloquently that their words have become easy to quote in today’s written word.

  ISBN:9781478100706 ASIN: B00934PFE0

  [1. Supernatural-Fiction. 2. Fey, Faeries-Fiction. 3. Wilderness. 4. Arkansas-Fiction)

  Whitney. Mom. Jherica. Steven.

  A bit of advice for anyone who has ever been told no or felt like you couldn’t do something, listen to the advice of a wise woman of the past, Eleanor Roosevelt, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Stand strong even in the face of adversity.

  

  Oscar Wilde once said, “How can a woman be expected to be happy with a man who insists on treating her as a perfectly normal human being.” We’re not!

  Grace’s story has always been in my head. I forever have been in the top of the tower waiting for my prince or wandering in the forest escaping the big bad wolf. My obsession with fairy tales has never been tapered and will continue to be the guidelines by which I live my life by. Life is one big fairy tale and living it any other way is just not in my blood. Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) the American novelist once said, “Words, so innocent and powerless…when standing in a dictionary, how potent for good or evil they become in the hands of one who knows to combine them.”

  But on with the story. In the famous words of Mahatma Ghandi, “The moment there is suspicion about a person’s motives, everything he does becomes TAINTED.” Because WORDS, no matter what said, lead to somewhere down the path of what or where the speaker wants you to go. It is up to you to best understand your speaker and what they are wanting out of you and if you are willing to give it or reposition elsewhere.

  Email Cyndi at [email protected]

  You can reach Cyndi on Twitter at www.twitter.com/scgoodgame

  You can reach Cyndi at her website/blog at http://goodgamebooks.wordpress.com

  Follow Cyndi on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cyndigoodgameauthor

  Reviews of Deception:

  “Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe! I choose this one. What’s not to love about a girl with three guys who aren’t hard to look at? Who will it be?” -Reading Junky

  “...I love the blend of romance and paranormal in the story. The book starts out very normal and then gets stranger and stranger until the real story begins.” –Andrea H.

  Reviews of Tainted:

  “Gah! I’m in love with this series. :) The guys are yummy and the storyline is complex. The book is intense and full of plot twists. I hope she writes fast, because I am dying to get my hands on book three.” – Andrea H.

  “...really good book. I only wish they would release the third book!” – Hilary S.

  “As far as Fey books go, these are near the top of my list.” – Scarlett J.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  sever- v. put an end to; break off

  Chapter Two

  debt- n. something that is owed or due

  Chapter Three

  duty- n. done from a sense of moral obligation

  Chapter Four

  concealed- v. 1. keep from sight; hide 2. to keep secret; prevent from being noticed

  Chapter Five

  consume- v. strong and urgently felt; overpowering

  Chapter Six

  virtue- n. a quality considered morally good or desirable in a person 2. chastity

  Chapter Seven

  parentage- n. the identity and origins of one’s parents.

  Chapter Eight

  vulnerable- a. exposed to the possibility of being harmed or attacked either physically or emotionally

  Chapter Nine

  shock wave- n. a sharp change of pressure in a narrow region traveling through a medium, especially air, caused by explosion or by a body moving faster than or supersonic flow over a body. 2. a repercussion from a startling event or upheaval; series of after affects

  Chapter Ten

  admiration- n. 1. respect and warm approval 2. the object of such feelings

  Chapter Eleven

  proposal- n. a plan or suggestion for consideration or discussion by others

  Chapter Twelve

  fantasy-n. 1. the faculty or activity of imagining things that are impossible or improbable v. 1. imagine the occurrence of; fantasize about

  Chapter Thirteen

  audacious- a. showing a willingness to take bold risks

  Chapter Fourteen

  cherished- v. 1.protect and care for someone lovingly 2.hold dear

  Chapter Fifteen

  thunderstruck- a. extremely surprised or shocked

  Chapter Sixteen

  outburst- n. a sudden release of strong emotion

  Chapter Seventeen

  experiment- n. usually a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact

  Chapter Eighteen

  assiduous- a. showing great and perseverance

  Chapter Nineteen

  conflict-n. a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one

  Chapter Twenty

  STOLEN- v. take without permission or legal right and without intending to return it 2. dishonestly pass off as one’s own

  Chapter Twenty One

  interlude- n. 1. an intervening period of time 2. a pause between the acts of a play

  Chapter Twenty Two

  RESCUED- v. 1. save someone from a seemingly dangerous or distressing situation 2. keep from being lost or abandoned; retrieve

  Chapter Twenty Three

  improvising- v. create and perform spontaneously or without preparation

  Chapter Twenty Four

  protection- n. a person or thing that prevents someone or something from suffering harm
or injury

  Chapter Twenty Five

  fulfilling- a. making someone satisfied or happy because of fully developing their character or abilities

  Chapter Twenty Six

  content- n. a state of satisfaction 2. the things that are held or included in something

  Chapter Twenty Seven

  tucked- v. push, fold, or turn so as to hide them or hold them in place.

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  quests – v. search for something of need or want

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  breathless- a. gasping for breath, typically due to exertion 2. short of breath or appearing this way because of excitement or other strong feelings

  Chapter Thirty

  casework- n. study involving a person’s history and personal circumstances

  Chapter Thirty One

  friend-n. 1. a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard 2. a person who is on good terms with another; a person who is not hostile

  foe-n. an enemy or opponent

  Chapter Thirty Two

  permission- n. consent to do something

  Chapter Thirty Three

  confrontational- n. a hostile or argumentative meeting or situation between two opposing parties

  Chapter Thirty Four

  recurring- v. occur again, periodically, or repeatedly

  Chapter Thirty Five

  PDA- acronym for public display of affection

  Chapter Thirty Six

  investigation- n. the action of investigating something or someone; formal or systematic

  Chapter Thirty Seven

  politics- n. the activities of governments concerning the political relations between countries.

  Chapter Thirty Eight

  sidekick- n. a person’s close associate, especially one who has less authority

  Chapter Thirty Nine

  refusal-n. an act or an instance of refusing; the state of being refused

  Chapter Forty

  veiled- v. partially conceal, disguise, or obscure; “a thinly, veiled threat”

  Chapter Forty One

  bargain- n. an agreement between two or more parties as to what each party will do for the other. v. negotiate the terms and conditions of a transaction

  Chapter Forty Two

  necessity- v. 1. make something necessary as a result 2. force or compel (someone) to do something

  Chapter Forty Three

  stalemate- n. a position counting as a draw, in which a player is not in check but cannot move except into check v. bring to or cause to reach stalemate

  Chapter Forty Four

  oxygen- n. chemical element and the life-supporting component of the air.

  Epilogue

  Sneak Peek at Denial, book one of Goblin’s Kiss Series.

  Prologue

  Does she even know what she has in front of her? I can give her anything she wants. Anything! I’ve been there for her too. All these years. Why does she think I’m such a jerk? Those other human girls ate it up. They just swooned at the sappiest or cruelest words as long as I smiled. They ridiculed me too for giving her too much of my time. Everyone. I’m the victim. She’ll be sorry. Maybe if I had some time alone with her she’d come around. That’s it! But how?

  Pike was indignant. He knew he could get to me, but that would never happen. He had this idea that he just needs time alone with me and he will have me conquered. Let me see that he had more to offer.

  

  Does she even know what she has in front of her? Whatever she needs, I have more than enough. For all the years I’ve waited! Why does she not see that I acted the way I did for her? Because guardian boy was always there! Human girls fall for it all, but she didn’t like anything I tried. She saw it as evil or mean. If I had some time with her...alone time.

  Kin would not be deterred. He knew he could take me against my will, but he wanted me with my actual consent. A generous offer...that he could give and beat out the rest.

  

  I’ve decided hearing the thoughts of men can be harmful to my health. Both Pike and Kin stay near the court more than away it seems. Now that I have a closer connection, they don’t seem to hide it as well. Mostly they let things leak on purpose, but sometimes they forget to filter.

  My life is war and peace and love and heartache all mixed into a bowl and packed into a jar labeled Grace’s Believe It or Not. This war between the courts will be bigger than me. They think I will be the one to save us. I sincerely hope they are not mistaken.

  Chapter One

  sever- v. put an end to; break off

  Love conquers all. I’d thought long about it since that day in the forest with Ian, the guards, and the goblin attack when leaving Pike’s domain not so long ago. Ian tried to send his riddled hidden messages to appease my inquiring mind as he often did, but I warranted no answers unless he was willing to explain them. He promised to be more open with details, but was being stubborn about what he called “battle tactics” and other secretive man strategies. Diplomacy is hard to earn brownie points in as a queen if I don’t know the system. He says I shouldn’t have to worry about such things. I had a feeling Ian’s ways differ from his mother’s and the outlying semantics of why they brought me here has to do with the prophecy alone, not ruling a people. Honestly, I was okay with that.

  When my directness didn’t warrant the information I wanted, I went for other unanswered questions.

  “The dandelions were never you, were they?” I asked Ian earlier tonight lying in the middle of the trampoline. Kin’s doing. And still doing. That’s why I asked.

  Lying in the bed, still my mind raced as I looked back on the rest of the conversation. I spread out my even longer than ever before inherited blonde tresses in bad need of a haircut across the pillow and replayed the night in my head. I wanted my thick hair to freeze up and allow me to tuck it under my neck in speed mode so that it would send chill bumps down my back like Ian’s kisses. And…it was getting warmer outside and any small cool comfort would feel wonderful to soothe not only my summer warmth but my throbbing head.

  Ian and I talked about an array of things as long they didn’t surface around my safety. I’d been allowed to spy only, but not visit at my human home while my parents continued on with their life. My father still meticulously left everyday in his gray suit and silver gray tie. My mom still woke every morning to kiss my father goodbye at the car and see him off. Sigh.

  Ian took me there yesterday morning to gain a small comfort in seeing them when the Nym guards caught sight of Pike sneaking around the edge of the house for which caused a quick retreat. Pike did say he saw my mom re-salting the windows. All of them!

  When we returned late in the night to sever the stress of the day on the trampoline, I felt him move closer to me as if needing the same calming reassurance I needed by wrapping ourselves around each other in silence. I relished in the closeness as I twisted my newest single red rose laced above my ear but worried it was just a ploy to avoid my questions. When the night ended and not one “battle tactic” question was answered, I knew I was right.

  I grunted at the loss and tossed myself onto my stomach. When I finally closed my eyes and mentally took myself back to my home hoping to find one piece of information that might help Ian or Pike and even me, the queen of the Seelie court as to why Kin would be there, nothing substantially worthwhile came to mind. Other than the obvious, me. And I wasn't convinced.

  Everyone thought I was this queen. The weight of the world on your shoulders is a hard thing to bear and still hold decision making confidence. I wasn’t ready and I was. Since following Ian into the Fey world and accepting destiny as the Seelie court queen, I found that life was just as hard in the supposed fairy tale world. Humans have been misled.

  Speaking of misled, Ian explained once that’s how the legends made history explain that the Fey are just thumb size creatures who float around all day and that no human could fathom the idea that a race could have
different sizes for different purposes. Sounds right to me!

  “All those times, when my mom, you…looked back out the windows and down the street…is all this what you were seeing? Fey people everywhere?” I pointed to the air.

  “Mostly I saw Kinsler! I was only interested in any threats towards you and forever closer than wanted. And some of Kinsler’s minions kept a close eye on you too. Pike taunted me daily on the cusp of telling you more than you should know. It was an endless battle, but yes they were there every day. And so was I.”

  Our conversations jumped around just conveying information to and from each other in every subject imaginable. Like tonight. Another repeat of the night before. We’d known each other for so long, but still really knew so little. Maybe he’d watched me for years, invaded my thoughts even, but really, he had no idea how my human female mind worked. That much I figured out as of late.

  “I couldn’t get into your house Grace. Your mom had salt across all the doors and windows.”

  “Why?”

  He explained the salt tonight. The Fey can’t cross it. The drawback, this kept him out as well. Quite often it was spread across the balcony doors in my bedroom without me knowing it seems, but not always.

  “Who is she keeping out now?”

  “That’s what I intend to find out.”

  Kin. I saw it in his eyes and the way he lifted his crooked eyebrow just the way I liked. I wondered just how many Fey were in the human world and how many like Kin intending harm. “You once told Pike about invading my dreams. I’ve been thinking about that.” I paused with my finger tracing my cheekbone. “Do you know exactly what I dreamed every night?” My eyes drew up in anticipation giving away just how much I wanted to know. I moved back enough to study his face intensely willing him to answer, then crossed my fingers behind my back for extra luck.

  He nodded a yes. I was so glad he was telling.

  “Do you… already know how they ended?”