Fae in Cardiff Book 2: Gwyn

By A.R. Moler

Ethan Whitney is a rock star-literally. He's filming a video in Cardiff, Wales. Gwyn Davies is a professional make-up artist doing Ethan's make-up for the current shoot. Ethan's really attracted to Gwyn but a previous one-night stand with the female actress starring in the video means that Gwyn isn't too sure about Ethan's motivations. Besides, Ethan's rich and famous; Gwyn isn't. Then too, Gwyn's got secrets that complicate her life a good bit.

So does Ethan. His psychic abilities aid in his performances. Outside of that, those abilities are kind of a nuisance. Gwyn's secrets are a lot bigger than Ethan's--and they are about to slam into her life.

Gwyn's father is a fae aristocrat. Once again, fae politics and half-blood secrets are about to collide. Violence and love swirl around Ethan and Gwyn. How will their future look, if it happens at all?

• Language: English
• Publisher: A.R. Moler
• Release date: Jan 7, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370929979

A.R. Moler

A.R. Moler is a chemistry professor at a community college, a homeschooling mom and an avid science fiction fan. She is a devotee of first hand research for her writing whenever possible and to this end has - learned to fire a handgun, been rappelling, ridden with both EMS and the police, flown a helicopter, bought a motorcycle and learned to ride it. She has traveled to nearly all the places where her stories are set and taken hundreds of photos for documentation. She has been writing since her high school years, but only recently has become published. Her website can be found at http://armoler.com

Book preview

Fae in Cardiff 2: Gwyn

by

A.R. Moler

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations or persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.

Copyright 2016 by AR Moler

Cover by P.E. Ash

Castle Coch photo by A.R. Moler

Royalty-free stock photo ID: 129452537 by Aleksey Mnogosmyslov

Chapter 1

A blond fairy princess wearing a deep crimson gown took the crystal heart from the hands of the creature standing before her; he had the face of a tiger and wore the armor of a twelfth century knight. Crushing the heart in her fist, the princess let the fragments sift down into the tiger-man’s cupped hands. She mounted a unicorn standing behind her and rode off across the Welsh countryside into the sunset as the tiger-man sang to a moderate rock beat.

And you leave me

Shattered heart in my hands

Our love was just a fantasy

The camera boom swung in a wide arc around the tiger-man, filming him as it went.

And cut! Good job! shouted Rudy Engills, the director of the video. Somebody go round up the horse and Pamela. Ethan, we’ll probably do an in studio over dub of the vocals because we’re getting an awful lot of wind noise out here.

Fine. Ethan Whitney handed the collection of broken, transparent plastic chips to a props man. I love the way the chain mail looks but lord, couldn’t we have gotten some made out of aluminum? This stuff is damn heavy.

We borrowed it from the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds. I think they were going for authenticity as opposed to comfort, said Rudy with a laugh. "

So are we done for the day then? asked Ethan. He used one finger to scratch at a spot where his heavy makeup met the metal gorget of the armor.

Yeah, we are. You can go get the makeup removed. We need to film the scene where you’re walking on the battlements next but I’m still in negotiations with Pembroke Castle to sign all the waivers and such.

Okay, Ethan said. And so that means no filming tomorrow?

No, probably not. I doubt we’ll get the legal stuff done in time.

Good, I could use a break. Ethan headed in the direction of his trailer. He still had at least an hour of sitting in the chair getting all the layers of latex, grease paint and foam removed, but the damn chain mail had to come off first. He whistled at one of the costume people. An older woman and her assistant followed him inside the trailer, and helped him out of everything that could be removed without seriously damaging the makeup. By the time he was done, the makeup artist was waiting to do the next phase.

Hey Gwyn, long day huh? he said to the lady who’d been doing his make-up for the past four days. She was slightly above average height with long dark hair pulled back into a pony tail. Considering the number of hours he’d spent in her company getting the makeup done each day, he knew precious little about her other than she was Welsh and had been in the biz for nearly a decade. He thought she was sort of cute, and definitely more real than some of the models he’d dated.

Did I hear there might be no filming tomorrow? she asked.

Probably not. Legal stuff has to get done for the next castle scene, some things about releases promising we won’t damage anything historical and they promise not to sue us if we do. I could use a break from getting up at 5 a.m. anyway.

Gwyn Davies smiled at him, and gestured for him to lift his chin as she began careful removal of the appliances on the lower part of his face. It’s probably for the best. The weather forecast for tomorrow is dismal. Rain, and more rain.

Somebody warned me that sideways rain is the norm is Wales.

Not … untrue, she replied.

The door to the trailer popped open and Pamela Bellwood, aka the fairy princess, flounced into the room. The folds of her gown swished as she came in. That nasty ass horse tried to bite me! God, what a perfect end to a freaking awful day. She leaned against the counter near the makeup chair.

I actually thought everything went okay. Nothing took more than a few takes and Rudy said we’re pretty close to being on schedule, said Ethan.

The wind kept messing with my hair and I had to get someone to help adjust my corset. And then there was that pathetic lunch that catering served. Tonight I want to go to that place down by the bay, the one that does the amazing smoked salmon, Pam said.

Have a good dinner then. Ethan bent his head forward so that Gwyn could start peeling the forehead appliance loose.

Aren’t you taking me to dinner? Pam snapped.

No, I’m not interested. Ethan really wanted to add the word bitch at the end.

An expression of fury crossed Pam’s face and she stormed out of the trailer.

One quick tumble in the sack and she thinks she owns me. Biggest mistake of my entire summer, Ethan said with a sigh. TMI? He glanced up at Gwyn.

I’ve heard worse, she said.

Ethan studied her for a moment. "How ‘bout I take you to dinner?"

She was quiet for a moment before answering him. I don’t think I’d make a good revenge date.

Sorry, it did sound like that didn’t it?

Gwyn gave a little nod shrug combo.

Then how ‘bout I take you and Rudy and all the rest of the crew out for a drink in an hour or so? That way it’s group revenge. Ethan grinned at Gwyn.

And what about Ms. Bellwood?

Fuck her, or rather don’t because it’ll come back to bite you big time.

~

By the time all the crew made it to the pub, the place was pretty full. Ethan Whitney did in fact volunteer to foot the night’s tab for everyone. Gwyn Davies had a general idea how much the singer made in a year, so she knew it wouldn’t put that much of a dent in Ethan’s bank account. He commandeered the piano in the corner and belted out a batch of tunes made poplar by other singers for almost an hour before he claimed he was done.

She was surprised when he came and sat beside her at a table near the bar.

How’s my revenge going? he asked.

I don’t know that anyone would recognize it as revenge, so that’s probably a win.

His close cut dark hair curled against his temples, damp with a film of sweat. Gwyn allows herself one good look before focusing her attention on her drink. Ethan was just sinfully beautiful, and miles out of her league. Dark eyes, angular jaw, a heavy hint of five o’clock shadow this late in the evening, oh and that mouth. Better that her hands were wrapped around her pint glass, because she knew what those lips felt like against her fingertips. She had touched nearly every spot on his face, head and neck over the past few days of doing his makeup for the video.

You want another pint? he asked.

Ie, os gwelwch yn dda, she said, distracted.

Huh?

Oh sorry, yes, if you please.

Was that Welsh?

Yes.

Interesting rhythm. Ethan stood up and went to the bar and came back with two pints. He sat one down in front of her and took a sip from the other as he plopped down next to her. So how’d you get into the makeup business?

It started with school plays and then just kind of spiraled on from there. It was a blatant lie but she couldn’t tell him the truth.

They sat drinking and talking about places they’d been in their jobs for another half hour or so, before Gwyn decided she’d had enough to drink and probably ought to head home. I should go, she said.

Are you driving? Ethan asked.

No, I caught a ride over with one of the gaffers. I’ll take a taxi home.

Can I walk you out?

My, he was being gallant, or did he still think she made a good substitute for his starlet ex-girlfriend? There was a definite level of temptation, if for no other reason than he was both gorgeous and talented. Being just a notch on his bedpost though, was probably not a fabulous plan. No need, I’m fine. See you day after tomorrow.

He nodded, and gave her a little smile as she got up.

Outside, the street lights were on and the sky was a shade of dark pewter. It never got dark enough to see the stars here in the middle of Cardiff. She decided she would walk a ways before hailing a taxi, maybe it would clear her head.

Turning away from the pub and starting down the sidewalk, Gwyn had the sensation of being watched. She gazed around as she walked. There were a few people having a smoke out to the side of the pub, but they didn’t appear to be looking at her. She opened her extra senses, something she wouldn’t have dared inside the pub and scanned for danger. Something watched, something… not human. More than that she couldn’t tell, but she knew the difference between a human predator and one who was other. She strode purposefully toward the next intersection, a place she knew taxis often lingered hoping to pick up a fare.

There, just ahead. She raised her hand flagging the taxi that sat at the curb. As she opened the door, she glanced back over her shoulder. A figure crouched between two parked cars. It was little more than a heavy shadow. Maybe it was just her imagination. A flash of light from a passing car’s headlights illuminated the space and she saw a man. Was it a man though? In that moment of brightness, his skin looked indigo blue and his hair was pale as bone. The car went by and he vanished. No shadow remained.

North Road, Gwyn told the driver.

~

Ethan’s chauffer stopped in front of the townhouse that Ethan had rented for the duration of the time he spent in Cardiff.

Are you in for the night then? the driver asked.

Yeah. I’m done.

What time tomorrow?

Um, I think it might be a wash tomorrow. Call Alissa in the morning to confirm. Ethan made reference to his PA. Lord, he’d be lost without her. She did everything from organizing drivers, to making sure there was food in