The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance

him.
    Lilin’s musk was strong as she rubbed herself against him, bracing her arms to either side of his head. “Do you want me, Archer?” she asked, her accent stronger.
    Irish? What the hell. He didn’t care who she was or where she came from. He just wanted to be inside her.
    But they needed protection.
    She gave a cry of surprise as he rolled her over so he was on top. God, she was beautiful. Her silver eyes were filled with desire. Her skin was so fair but pink wherever his hands touched her. Silvery-blonde hair surrounded her like a halo against the forest-green rug they were lying on.
    Archer pressed himself against her - he was dying to be inside her. “Condom,” he barely managed to get out as he pushed himself onto his haunches.
    For a second, Lilin looked panicked, but the expression faded as she gave him a smile. “I am protected.” She held her arms out to him. “I won’t get pregnant.”
    Some of the haze in his mind started to wear off. “I don’t have sex with a woman without a condom. Period.”
    “Come.” She reached up to draw him to her but he pulled away.
    Something wasn’t right. Something about all of this was off. He blinked and shook his head. “What am I doing?”
    She looked irritated. “You were about to make love to me.”
    “Like hell.” He got to his feet and she stood too. “I don’t trust a woman who argues against using condoms.”
    Lilin sounded sad as she said, “Goodbye, Archer.”
    She faded away.
    “Shit.” Archer pushed his hand through his hair.
    His clothing was scattered across the hardwood floor. The bottle of whiskey lay on its side, a puddle of liquid surrounding it.
    He swore he could smell her, and he was still moist where her mouth had touched him. And he was buck-naked.
    He was losing his goddamned mind.
    For the first time in longer than she could remember, Lilin was in tears. She hadn’t remembered what it felt like to cry until this very moment.
    She wiped her eyes before she passed through the doors into Queen Rusalka’s chamber. Lilin found it difficult to walk under the Queen’s disapproving glare.
    The moment Lilin knelt before Rusalka, the Queen’s harsh voice cut through her like a blade. “You failed, Lilin of the Succubae. You were given three opportunities, and you are found lacking.”
    Lilin hated the tears in her voice. “Please give me another chance, my Queen.”
    “My word is law.” The Unseelie Queen’s voice echoed in the chamber. “You are now mortal, Lilin, formerly of the air Succubae. Once you are on Earth, you shall have little time to arrange your affairs before I strip you of all memories of your former life. I will provide you with what humans require to live in their world — what they refer to as identification and the paper they use to trade for goods. I will give you new memories of living your life as a human.”
    Lilin looked at the Queen, fear punching her belly. “Please, my Queen. I will not fail if you give me another chance.”
    Rusalka scowled. “Do you dare contradict me? I demanded that you bleed Archer of his soul. As an Incubus he once disappointed me as you have. I will not tolerate such failures.”
    Lilin’s eyes widened. Archer had been Incubae?
    The Queen’s face grew darker. “After giving him opportunity to adjust to his new mortal life, I stripped his memories. He remembers naught of being Incubae.” Her lips twisted into a scowl. “Rise, Lilin, mortal.”
    All Lilin felt was numb as she obeyed. She didn’t feel changed. Yet. But she was a mortal. A mere human now.
    “I will send you to Archer.” The Queen’s expression became amused. “He may do with you what he will. Throw you out. Fuck you. It matters not.” She gave a slight nod to her guards who stood to either side of Lilin. “Go.”
    Still stunned, Lilin stared at the Queen. She didn’t move until the guards forced her to turn and walk out of the chamber and into the Hall of the Lost.
Four
    So tired he could hardly see straight, Archer entered his sprawling mountainside home. He’d spent the day on a construction site and he was hungry and in need of a long hot shower.
    He’d also spent the day thinking of the woman - whoever she was, whatever she was - who’d kept appearing and disappearing in and out of his life. What happened on his living room rug had been real. But the way she’d just faded away . . . He was going out of his freaking mind.
    He tossed his keys on the entryway table then strode into the