Taken by the Fae Lord by Emma Alisyn Page B

allowed to happen
naturally.
    Liana looked around the grassy lawn, eyeing
the docked boats for a moment before going back to her visual
search. A sea- well, technically, they were on Lake Michigan not
near a sea- of women, but no men. But boy, were these women hot.
Liana didn’t know if this particular Lord was just a lucky winner
of the genetic jackpot, or if over the last ten years since the
arrival of the Fae, these women spent their time hoarding left over
cosmetics and party dresses from before the War. Liana had
overheard many a conversation between pretty girls who didn’t want
to work for a living. A coup for any woman if her DNA meant that
some Fae Lord could produce a strong Fae child with her as
mother.
    Ten years ago, human government, in a
refreshing change of attitude, spent almost as much time
negotiating the standard contract for their sacrificed citizens as
ironing out services Fae would provide in return for what the
citizens dubbed pejoratively, ‘platinum booty.’ So if chosen, Liana
knew her reward for the privilege of fucking a hot stranger and
giving birth included luxury housing, all the chocolate she could
eat and weekly salon appointments. She snorted. The chocolate part
sounded just fine- the rest bored her to dizziness. But still there
were plenty of girls who gossiped and daydreamed, hoarding their
makeup and saving up for a presentation dress, hoping that when
they turned eighteen their DNA testing marked them as eligible for
some Fae-and every girl wanted a Lord. Her own half sister drove
Liana crazy every night with her fantasies.
    “ When I get a letter, I’ll
be ready,” Alexis said as they sat on her sister's bed one
afternoon, a treasure trove of old lipstick, eye shadow and
blushers spread on the threadbare quilt. The blonde girl eyed
Liana, doubt in her sidelong glance. “These aren’t really your
colors, though. The Fae like long legs and blue eyes. Even if you
get a letter, I wouldn’t worry about it. Better concentrate on
being smart.”
    To this day Liana fumed. As if being smart
meant being unattractive. As if not being blonde and blue eyed
meant occupying some second tier of prettiness. But in a society
where the arrival of the skinny, Nordic looking Fae brought back
the whole Scandinavian standard of beauty with a vengeance, Liana
didn’t stand a chance. Short, curvy and shades of brown, any half
Fae baby with her as a mother wouldn’t be a blonde. So far, it
seemed as if the regular rules of genetics applied when having
offspring with the Fae- dark dominant, light recessive. It made for
some exotic looking mixes, and that first batch of babies wasn’t
even out of fifth grade yet. Proof-which women seemed to ignore, as
it didn't fit their view of things- that there were at least a few
Fae men who liked darker women.
    Everyone else mingled, the sound of feminine
laughter and some type of cocktail party music wafting in the warm
summer air. A sherbet colored sky graced the party, the view of the
remnants of downtown after years of cleanup still a Magnificent
Mile. Liana found a white, new looking beach chair and settled
gingerly, making sure not to flash anything as she tucked her skirt
under her legs and sat back. Not that anyone noticed, and now that
all the other matches were higher than her, Liana knew when the
Lord arrived, he wouldn’t see her anyway. She decided to enjoy the
champagne, enjoy the music, shrug her shoulders and enjoy having an
unexpected evening off. Not worry about eating next week.
    “ You don’t like the
party?” A smooth, male voice asked behind her. Liana jumped,
cursing when the champagne sloshed over her hand. She looked up,
blowing out a quick breath to say something scathing. Relaxed when
her eyes took in dark slacks and a light shirt. Event personnel,
probably on break. She sympathized, and hoped he was wearing
comfortable shoes.
    “ It’s fine, just not my
thing,” she replied, shrugging a shoulder. “I don’t belong