An Elder Races novellaXanthe is an assassin whose cover gets blown on her last mission so Tiago reassigns her to Queen Niniane's Guard.Chancellor Aubrey Riordan first meets Xanthe during this meeting with Tiago. He's intrigued with her and feels himself coming back from the depression after the loss of his treasonous wife.When Aubrey is attacked, Xanthe is tasked with caring for him during his recovery. She's taken with him, but believes herself to be way below his station so he has to work to convince her that his love is real. Hunter's Season is a novella set in the Elder Races world. I love the series. And these short stories are a small glimpse into areas of that world that are not in the main books. Our two main characters are from two very different worlds. Aubrey is a Chancellor for the Dark Fae, one of their Nobility. Xanthe is also Dark Fae, but she is a guard and an assassin. Both are driven by their duties and completely devoted to their Queen.We first met Aubrey Riordan, in Storm's Heart. He had the unfortunate luck to be married to the woman who was responsible for the assassination attempts on the new Queen. She was doing all of this in his name, and without his knowledge, so that he would be the one to take over and be the new King. His wife was found out, tried and executed. Now Aubrey is not sure if he can ever trust again.Xanthe, showed up toward the end of the last novella, Devils Gate. She was on assignment, working undercover in the wild tent city. As she finished up her task, killing the last remaining member of the group responsible for the attempts on the Queens life. She is found out. Her identity is comprised. She can no longer work undercover. Now she has been offered a position as a personal guard to the Queen. Which brings her into contact with a man she has admired from afar for a long time. Aubrey.When Aubrey is attacked on his way home, and almost killed. It's the Queen who suggests that he be taken to Xanthe's remote cabin home to recover. Which means the two of them are now isolated and spending an awful lot of time together, alone.I loved seeing the Dark Fae Queen Niniane (Tinks) again. She was first introduced to the series in the first book, Dragon Bound, and she was a riot. And She goes nowhere without her mate, the thunderbird Wyr Tiago. This was a fun, very quick read. I liked the characters, and found myself really rooting for them to get together. In the end you can see how much they really needed each other. And the mysterious antique Elder Races tarot cards do play an important part in this story, Just as they have in all of the novellas to date. At the end of the story, the cards are returned to the goddess whom Xanthe believes they belong to. Until they find their way to the next person that needs them.
What do You think about Hunter's Season (2012)?
I love the short stories in the Elder Races world.
—tjohnson
