Page 27 of A Fate of Ice and Lies
“Nalari,”the Elder growled, “if your ward speaks out of turn once more, I will incinerate him. That goes for all you lesser fae.”His voice clapped in our ears like thunder.
Anger rose at his words. Lesser fae. We were beneath no one. Even the commoners of our village were greater than every creature in this realm or any other realm.
While I raged, I felt my thoughts close in, like they were being shoved in a cage. For a fearful moment, I thought the Elder had heard my thoughts, but Nalari’s exasperated glare let me know it was her shielding my thoughts from the others.
“We Guardians are here to protect and lead you. Your purpose is to serve us. Obey us. Or have you forgotten?”the Elder continued.
“Stay quiet,”Nalari hissed.
From the way my parents and uncle kept their gazes on the ground, I assumed their Guardians warned them to do the same.
Frustrated and hurt, I unclenched my jaw and worked it back and forth. I wondered if the Elder enjoyed the smell of my seared skin. If he would make me leave the wounds unhealed to fester and poison my blood.
But no, that went against everything the Guardians stood for. What history told us they’d done for us.
“Because of your impertinence, your human female may not live to see another sunrise.”
Fury thrummed deep in my veins. The sudden shift heightened my senses when my primal instincts took over.
“Are you threatening her?” I inched forward, ready to rip the Elder’s heart from his chest.
The Elder narrowed his reptilian eyes while he breathed white puffs of smoke from his nostrils.“I will not warn your ward again,”he told Nalari with a calmness I knew he didn’t feel.
Nalari’s magic swirled in a fiery green haze. It gripped my hands and pulled me to my knees. I sucked in a breath when itswam through my mouth and nostrils and closed around my throat.
I fought against it, feeling heat beat through my veins until my skin felt like it was on fire. Using my own magic, I fought against hers. Pushed it out of me while my body hummed in anger.
Uncle Hudson’s magic slammed against my back, making me fall forward on a wheeze.
Unable to speak, I glared up at Nalari, letting her feel her betrayal.
“I’m doing this for you,”she said.
“If he harms her. . .”I shook in anger, not knowing exactly what I’d do but knowing I’d harm him and anyone who hurt her.
“I do not have to threaten your female, boy,”the Elder’s voice boomed in my head.“Thunderbirds have already crossed the veil, and they’ll find a way to do it again. The nyxx and lirio will eventually breach through the army I’ve put to guard the tear you created. When our creatures cross to their realm, they’ll rip her and every other human apart.”
At his words, bile rose that I gagged on with Nalari’s magic blocking my throat. She released her hold enough to let me vomit, but no matter how much I expelled from my stomach, that sinking feeling of failing Teddy settled heavily in my gut.
“We have to do something,”I pleaded to Nalari.
Because I couldn’t let our burdens go through the veil. None of the humans were equipped to deal with our creatures. As it was, we were barely capable of arming ourselves against them.
Nalari peered down at me with pity in her golden eyes but remained quiet.
If Nalari wouldn’t help me, I’d do it on my own. I let go ofall restraints, allowing my primal instincts to edge closer to the surface. It no longer mattered if I went mad with power since I was already half mad with grief.
“Elias,”Nalari sighed, her voice deep with anguish.“Let us hear what the Elder has to say and know I will help you however I can. But if you continue to summon your instincts, the Elder will kill you before you can do anything of worth. What will become of your mate then?”
Mind swimming, I weighed Nalari’s words as I pulled back my instincts. While my Guardian and I rarely agreed on things, I trusted her.
The Elder eyed me with malice, which I ignored. What he thought of me meant little as long as I could still be of value to Teddy.
Knowing Nalari was right, I bowed my head and tucked my more brutal side away, where I could think more clearly rather than letting my emotions control me.
“Hudson,”the Elder said, “speak on behalf of your family, but do not waste any more of my time on stupid pleas.”
Alarmed, I shifted my attention to my uncle but felt the weight of Nalari’s magic pushing my head down.
