Page 98 of Primal Bonds

Her heart kicked into high gear. She scrambled up against the headboard, the sheet clutched to her chest.

“Who the fuck are you?” And how had he gotten in here? She opened her mouth to scream for Jace.

The man raised a hand. “I wouldn’t, if I were you. Your brother…” He cut his eyes at a corner of the room.

She whipped her head around. Kyler was sitting against the wall, knees hugged to his chest, staring unseeingly in front of him.

His face twisted in horror. “No. No...”

Her stomach bottomed out. “Kyler! What’s wrong?” But he didn’t seem to hear her.

Her gaze swung back to the tall man. Dark eyes regarded her from a pale, incredibly beautiful face. Night fae.

Kyler moaned again and she launched herself at the intruder. Nobody messed with her brother. “Stop it, damn you.” She clawed wildly at his face.

He easily held her off. Those black eyes caught hers and she froze, fingers still curled into claws. The night fae slid a cool finger down her cheek. Fear sliced through her, but she steeled herself to remain calm and bear it. Anything to get his attention off Kyler.

Kyler made an agonized sound. “Evie. I’m sorry. So sorry. I couldn’t help it.” He came to his knees and looked up at her, his gaze stark.

Help what? But that didn’t matter right now. She took a step back and screamed at Kyler, “Run! Get Jace.”

Kyler’s breath scraped in. But instead of trying to escape, he threw himself at the night fae. “Get away from my sister, you prick.”

And ran right past the man. He barely avoided slamming headfirst into the wall. He caught himself with his hands on the stone and glanced around, angry and confused.

Evie blinked. One moment the night fae had been standing in front of her, the next he was gone—and then he reappeared exactly where he’d been, a foot away from her.

Kyler snarled and launched himself at the man again.

“Enough.” The night fae’s arm lashed out. He grabbed Kyler by the throat and squeezed.

Her brother’s eyes bulged. He scrabbled desperately at the man’s long white fingers, but the man held on, a slight smile on his lips.

Fury blinded Evie. With an animalistic growl, she grabbed the night fae’s wrist and tried to drag him away from Kyler, but the fae shook her off like an annoying insect. When she came right back, he slammed an elbow into her solar plexus.

Pain exploded through her. Her breath left her lungs in a whoosh. She stumbled back, her diaphragm seizing up, and dropped to her knees, opening and shutting her mouth like a hooked fish as she tried to catch her breath.

Kyler’s struggles were slacking off. Panic snaked up Evie’s spine. Somehow, she found the strength to crawl toward the night fae and wrap her arms around his lower leg.

He glanced down at her and laughed. “By the dark gods,” he said in a French accent, “you don’t give up.”

And then he swung Kyler into the wall like he was a ragdoll. There was a dull thud and her brother slumped to the floor, unmoving.

Evie’s breath rushed in as her diaphragm finally unlocked. For a few seconds she couldn’t move. She sank onto her forearms, head against the floor, sucking in oxygen.

From the hall came furious shouts and bone-chilling snarls. Jace and the others. Oh, God, they were in trouble, too.

Something cool and oily brushed over her back, teased her breasts. Her skin prickled. Suddenly she was aware she was completely naked with a cold-eyed stranger. She pushed herself up on her knees to face him and covered herself as best she could with her hands.

The tall, black-haired fae crouched next to her. Chilly fingers stroked her nape. Fine hairs stood up all over her body. “You know who I am?”

Evie batted his hand away. Kyler moaned and she shot a frantic look at him.

A hand caught her wrist. Squeezed until the bones ground painfully together. “Answer me.”

“No,” she said between clenched teeth.

“The animals didn’t tell you?”

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