Page 9 of Hunted By the Fae Warden

He grins, revealing more of those pointed white teeth that ought to frighten the stockings off me. Instead, I find them interesting and think they complement his enchantingly handsome features. “Fae can lie just as easily as humans,” he says. “But I swear to you, I swear on the soul of my mother, that I haven’t glamoured you once.”

To my utter shock, he backs me against the house, then leans down to bury his face in my neck.

Oh gods. Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods.

I hold my breath as he takes a deep inhale. He releases a low growl that vibrates my insides and makes me quiver with need.

“Gods, you smell delicious.”

I turn my head quickly to the side, and he takes a step back, albeit a small one. He also releases my hands. I place my palms on the cool surface I’m leaning against and stare at him in wonder.

No glamour? I don’t understand.

There’s no way love or lust at first sight could be this intense. No way I would stand still and allow him to caress me and squeeze my hands and smell me of my own volition.

I feel as though I’ll go mad if he doesn’t kiss me or touch me in an intimate manner soon.

He starts to lean down, bringing his face closer to mine, and I close my eyes in anticipation of his kiss. Oh Gods. It’shappening. It’s happening and I should probably stop it, but fuck if I can think of a single reason to push him away at this moment. His warm breath caresses my face, I hear him inhale deeply, then…

Boom!

An earth-shattering explosion sounds in the distance.

I gasp and my eyes fly open as the house shakes and the windows rattle.

Kaiden’s grip on me tightens. He snarls and glances over his shoulder, peering in the direction of the castle.

A thick cloud of smoke billows in the air. The towers of the castle appear intact, but perhaps one of the outbuildings near it was just destroyed.

I swallow hard and can’t help but tremble.Please don’t let there be more fighting, more war. Please don’t let there be any more deaths.

Kaiden peers at me, his expression dark and forbidding. But there’s also an unmistakable gleam of tenderness in his eyes, a sweetness that seems reserved only for me. He’s clearly agitated by the trouble near the castle, but he’s sparing a look of sweetness for my sake. It makes my head swim the way it does when I drink too much blackberry wine.

“You will stay here in your home until I say otherwise,” he says in a firm tone. “Do not leave until I return and let you know the city is safe.” He pushes me toward the door. “Get inside, little nymph.”

Though his commands both irk and confuse me—who the heck is he to order me around, and why does he seemingly want to keep me safe?—I still can’t help but stare in awe as he backs up and summons his impressive white wings.

He gives me one last look, then shoots into the sky.

CHAPTER 6

KAIDEN

As I flytoward the billowing smoke, I spot a human male holding a lit torch. He’s approaching another building near the destroyed one. After putting an invisibility shield in place, I move closer and tread air above him as I observe his actions. He uses his elbow to break a window, scoops a black powdery substance from a satchel, and tosses a handful through the window and sprinkles some around the outskirts of the building. After casting a quick look around, he starts to lower the torch to a trail of the black powder, but I flash to the scene and snatch the torch away.

I drop the invisibility cloak and tower over the stunned human male. He gapes and stares at me with wide, fearful eyes. I delight in the cold terror that now radiates from the man. Stupid, foolish human. Did he truly think he could attempt an attack on the castle grounds, where many highborn fae, including myself, are currently in residence, and get away with it?

I hurl the torch into a nearby water trough, extinguishing the flames. The acrid stench of urine reaches me, and I wrinkle my nose when I realize the foolish male has pissed himself in fear.

He turns to flee, but I grab him by his hair and start dragging him into the castle. Meanwhile, I notice my people have managed to put out the fire and are using magic to cool the embers quickly. Soldiers rush to the scene and watch as I drag the guilty man into the receiving hall. I nearly crash into General Dalgaard on the way inside, and my friend gives the pleading male a murderous look.

“Found the culprit,” I announce to the hall. “Caught him sprinkling accelerant around a second building. He was about to touch a lit torch to the powder before I intervened.” I briefly tighten my hold on the human male’s hair, then toss him onto the floor.

Prince Lucas walks down from the dais, surrounded by his personal guards. As he stands over the male, he makes a quick flourish with his hand and his eyes turn a brighter shade of blue, making me suspect he’s just glamoured the human. The man remains on the floor, and his expression becomes vacant as he stares up at the prince.

“What is your name?” Prince Lucas asks the man.

“Robert Marlow.” The man’s voice is barely a whisper, and his eyes become more glazed over.

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