Page 164 of A Fate of Ice and Lies
Where I’d first thought Brenton’s and my tattoos were identical, we later saw that while mine was the moon, his was the sun. Where I loved to star gaze, Brenton loved to feel the warmth of the sun on his skin. Something he didn’t get to doall that often with the endless winter that affected both our realms, but I’d learn that for three glorious months every year, the snow stopped and allowed the fae to play in the sun. I only hoped the same would happen here so we’d all get a break from the cold and snow.
“I’d rather you not stay for this,” Elias said, his voice both soft and hard.
I wrinkled my nose that he pinched. “It’s a shame I don’t listen.”
His brows drew together as he cupped both his hands on my neck. “What I have to do now. . . what I have to be. . .”
I got up on my tiptoes and gave his nose a quick kiss. “Be whoever you need to be so that no one threatens our family again,” I said. “I know who you are, Elias, and you don’t scare me.”
He gathered me in his arms, and I pressed the side of my face where his heart thundered. He rested his chin on my head and squeezed me tighter.
“You’re ruining my tough fae act.”
I huffed out a laugh. “Just start stomping around and yelling,” I suggested. “If that doesn’t work, toss some bones into the crowd. That should do it.”
From where he stood at the center of our downtown, Donnie looked back at Elias.
“Looks like you’re on,” I said, making sure to hide the tremor in my voice.
I was nervous for him. I was worried this meeting and the people he worked hard to take care of would hurt him. Scared of him going deeper into his primal instincts without fully being in control.
He swept a soft kiss across my hair, a contradiction to the way he held himself tighter, held his hands in unforgivingfists. I grabbed his wrist and tugged. He leaned down, and I inched closer to him so that my lips brushed the shell of his ear.
“I’m going to be disappointed if you don’t make at least one person wet themselves.”
The sides of his eyes crinkled in amusement. It was enough to give me hope that Eiran was right, and I’d be able to bring him back if he were to submit entirely to his primal instincts. Still, I didn’t like that he’d have to sacrifice who he was to save my realm.
“Throw around some bones and make them urinate themselves.” He winked. “Are there any other orders my lady has for me?”
Come back to me. Always, always come back to me.
I was certain he saw the words on my expression when he brushed his lips across my temple and whisperedalways.
As I watched him stalk to the center, both bags in his clenched hands, Brenton sidled beside me with Everly and George standing on my other side.
“Want to take bets on how long it’ll take until someone pisses themselves again?” This from Everly, who months ago would’ve balked at such a crude word.
I smiled, wanting the people gathered to see it. To know if they were part of the plan to break me, break us, they hadn’t succeeded. If anything, they’d brought my group of human and fae friends closer so that I’d gained a family.
“Five minutes, tops,” I answered.
“I say three,” she replied.
Brenton tugged on my hair, mouthing the wordbehavebefore we turned our attention to Elias.
Suddenly, a ruthless power surged from Elias. It emanated from every fiber of who he was although nothingabout Elias had physically changed. It was in him—an instinctual power that lived beneath the surface of his skin. It was both ruthless and dominating. A shiver ran down my spine as my heart spiked. This was Elias, fae heir to the throne of Niev, whose power called others into submission.
Elias dug through the first bag, and when he pulled out a skull, he held it in his palm. The butchered skull still had remnants of blood and flesh on it. Although I was sure baring it for all to see had the intended effect, I barely noticed anyone’s reaction—my attention solely on that magnificent male whose power seemed to thrum through his veins to mine. He stalked the circle of people who surrounded him. Seemed to make eye contact with every person in attendance. His fangs lengthened, and he took his time running his tongue over his teeth.
When he spoke, his words came out calm.
“Yesterday,” he said slowly, drawing out that single word, “there was an attack on my family. On my Guardian, on my mate”—his smile was equal parts beautiful and cruel—“and on my best friends. To think you could kill or hurt a dragon with your guns. . .” With a dark chuckle, he shook his head. “Whoever this was”—he angled the skull to face him—“learned what happens when you anger a dragon. As did his companions.” He kicked one of the bags so that it fell on its side, spilling several other bones out. “What angers me, though . . .” He paused, clenching the skull harder in his hand until a thick crack appeared.
“What angers me isn’t that you came after my dragon or me. Like other dragons, Nalari doesn’t simplyhavemagic, butismagic.” As if the skull meant nothing to him, he let it drop from his hand and didn’t bother watching it sink into the snow. “What angers me is that there were children in Teddy’shome when someone thought to make it explode. What angers me is that someone hates us, those who have ensured your survival, enough to try to kill us.” He kicked the other bag, and two more bloodied skulls rolled out of it. “You will find we are hard to kill.” He strode closer to the crowd, his mighty legs eating the distance between them. “You’ll find us hard in forgiving this transgression. I have been lenient with the people of my region. Merciful, even.” A few steps separated him from the crowd now. He tilted his head back, and with his eyes narrowed, he took in a deep inhale. “I find I like the scent of your fear.” He licked his lips. “The taste of it.”
He took another menacing step forward and grabbed a man who stared at Elias through hateful eyes. With his arm, Elias encircled the man’s neck and gripped him in a vise-like hold, putting the man’s back flush against Elias’s wide chest. George stepped toward them and angled the man’s head to the side so that his neck was bared for Elias. My mate ran his fangs across the man’s throat, and I couldn’t stop the ridiculous jealousy that flared deep in my belly. When Elias’s eyes met mine, I could’ve sworn a promise swam behind those black eyes. I jutted out my chin in challenge. His grin built slowly, but he kept an edge of savagery to it.
“I wonder,” Elias said, keeping his face close to the man’s neck, “were you part of the group who came to harm us yesterday?”
