Page 27 of Whispers of Fate

“You’re finished when I decide you are,” he laughed coldly as he straightened and moved to lean back against the wall. It was as if every shift, step, or adjustment was part of a performance that was precise and plotted.

He safeguarded himself against attack, shielding his blind spots without boxing himself into a corner. The wings that stretched from his spine were dangerous, with barb-like talons that were comparable to Ryder’s. The power transmitting through the air around us was extraordinary and would’ve caused anybody else to pause before pissing the prick off.

“If you think to keep me here, think again. I escaped the prison once before, and I’ll do so again. You think to scare me, but I’ve been through hell at the hands of my enemies, and you? You’re just another name, one I’ll be adding to the pile of assholes who pissed me off and ended up spineless after I’d ripped it out through their mouth.” I responded, settling back against the opposite wall so I could keep him and his companions in view. “I’m waiting,” I hissed, recognizing that my sass was drawing his boiling temper to the surface. “Stage fright? It happens to the best of us, and I won’t judge you too harshly for it, promise.”

His eyes changed from a silverish-blue, to the violet color of lightning. He dropped his stare, lifting it back immediately to reveal the chrome coloring that reflected my profile in their mercurial depths.

“You’re pretty mouthy for something so fragile,” he mused in a scratchy tone, deliberately running his mercurial gaze over my face.

Laughter enveloped me, and his lips trembled before twisting into a devilish grin that caused my hackles to go up. Instead of proceeding toward me, he shifted, which blanketed his face in the shadows. The markings on his wrists and throat pulsed hypnotically. His weren’t like the fae’s, which moved in silence. His markings produced a strange humming sound while they moved in an intricate dance that slithered up his arms and then back down to where they started.

“If I told you to choose between the lives of the children in that office and the life of the child growing in your womb, or Kahleena’s life, which one would you choose to end?”

“None of them, asshole,” I hissed viciously, glaring with hostility even as fear blasted through me.

“If you refuse to choose, I’ll decide for you and murder all of them.” He smirked cruelly and righted his head so I could see his expression. “Don’t look at me like I’m the villain here. Your mother forced us to this spot, and you murdered her before I could return the pain she inflicted on me. Now, you and your people will pay for what she did to us. Then I intend to end the fae and remove their influence from what King Oberon and Queen Titania—the true architects of what you call Faery—built and formally identified as the Etherlands.”

My eyes widened a fraction before I could mask the shock, and I expelled a harsh puff of air from my lungs. I hated being right when the result of it ended with evil pricks presenting lousy choices. I had no doubt that he would end the lives of the children and not think twice about doing so. My gut plunged, and I closed my eyes, drawing courage to mutter the decision he was ordering me to make.

“I wish to see her,” I requested sharply, opening my eyes and slicing a withering look toward him.

“That isn’t how this works—”

“Listen, I’m not stupid. You’re attempting to force me to choose which one to give up, thinking I’ll choose her. I bet you even have her tucked away somewhere close so she hears whatever answer you assume I’ll give. Only, I won’t choose shit without verifying that you actually have her in your possession. I sure as shit won’t do so merely because you’re some dick-swinging Neanderthal who’s beating his chest to make sure the little women in his presence cower.” I smirked as his mouth slashed into a hard, angry line.

“Negotiating one-oh-one, fuck-head, never negotiate without a visual of that in which your adversary holds as leverage,” I clarified since he looked a bit confused by all my big words. “I don’t know you from Adam, but I’ve met plenty of fucktards who simply enjoy pretending they have the big-D energy. Maybe your momma didn’t spank your ass enough growing up, so you continue looking for attention in all the wrong ways.” I chuckled as his teeth ground together in anger. “Either produce Kahleena or send me back so I can prepare for war against you and your little crew of rejects from the Ren Faire. Then we can settle this on a field of battle like real fucking leaders do.”

“Does that mouth of yours ever get tired of running?” he asked in an icy tone.

“Does yours?” I crossed my arms over my breasts, staring him down as my power exploded around me. Silver-blue and purple brands kindled against my tanned flesh, pulsing with staggering intensity. My hair drifted around me, lit by the brilliant radiance of my skin as I let my inner goddess out to play. My glowing lavender-and-electric-blue eyes reflected in his while he took in the transformation.

“Dick-swinging-Neanderthal?” He smiled. “Do you talk to your king with that filthy, insubordinate mouth of yours?”

“My king doesn’t suffer from the same . . . unfortunate insecurity you do, and it’s obvious.”

One man charged at me, and I lifted my palm in his direction, sending him back so hard the wall trembled and fractured when he hit it. Rocks peppered the floor, and the cave rocked from the collision, threatening to cave in on our skulls.

“The next motherfucker who thinks to jump into this parley will be rendered to fucking particles,” I threatened. “If you don’t have her, we’re finished here.” I glided my scrutiny to the wall, which continued rumbling until it crashed to the floor, allowing light to flood in and giving me a view of the outside world.

The music of rushing water floated to me, and the sweet undertones of wild flowers and citrus swept away the heavy scent of mildew and rot. Birds whistled, chirping without concern at being devoured by larger prey. Everything was awash with vivid greenery, and the warmth of the sun blended with the chill in the shady alcove.

The picturesque nature of the scene painted for me in and of itself told me it was an illusion. One which the seelie across from me was projecting.

That confirmed Erie’s theory as to why I was unable to locate this place. Scanning the cave, I discovered what looked like writing, but it was old and not anything I could decipher. On the other wall, exposed by the sunlight, was a symbol that captured my attention and increased my heart rate.

Hope flared and then withered just as swiftly when the bastard chuckled and snapped his fingers. As I watched, the symbol transformed into my name, which had been carved into the wall. He was altering the scene without a single hint of magic fluttering in the air.

“It won’t be that easy, I’m afraid. I’m inside your world now, and I’ve been here since before you failed to protect Kahleena from me. Kahleena has been within your grasp this entire time, and yet, you still fail to locate her. She cries for you at night, pleading and begging for you to find her and bring her home. Your daughter really is gorgeous—a temptation in its purest form. But she’s innocent in ways I hadn’t expected, which means she’ll be easy to manipulate and claim. You should be fearful of me claiming her as my own.”

“Is that why I’m here? You need her to feel rejected by us so she runs into your arms. You think she’s young, which she is, but you won’t get what you want out of this. Let me take her home with me. If you want a fight, then we’ll give you one, but she doesn’t deserve this.”

“You think I care what she deserves or what you want? I am not here to indulge you or Kahleena in any fashion. You’ll do as I say, or I’ll show you that I don’t make idle threats.”

Chapter Sixteen

Hetiltedhishead,sliding his focus to the guys, who were deliberately scooting closer to me. The prick issued orders in an unfamiliar language, causing the hair on my nape to rise. His squad fired enraged glowers toward me, but then they slipped through the doorway I’d made in the wall, vanishing out of sight before they’d fully stepped into the sunlight.

“You have not presented me with your name,” I probed, hoping that would give me a hint as to who I was actually dealing with.

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