Page 24 of Faeling
“Who are you?” he demanded, shaking her violently.
“Ulrich!” Eydis cried.
“Enough!” Vallek demanded.
But Ulrich was too lost to his rage, snarling up at the soothsayer.
He shook her again, her small hands clawing at his forearm as she dangled helplessly. Vallek stepped forward to stop—
Her faceflickered. There and gone again. Leaving Vallek’s eyes with only the impression of the palest purple and stopping him short in surprise.
“I knew it!” Ulrich crowed. “Reveal your true face, snake!”
He shook her again, his fist clamping tighter around her neck.
Feet wheeling uselessly and her clawing hands ineffectual, the soothsayer’s bulging eyes clenched shut. From one moment to the next, her face changed.
Gone was the older human woman with lines around her eyes and graying hair.
In her place, Ulrich held a beautiful young woman by the throat. Skin a pale lilac, hair a dark, lustrous black. Eyes like violets snapped open, sparkling with rage, and her rosebud lips pulled back to reveal a set of little fangs.
Eydis cursed under her breath and Vallek—
Mate!
Vallek’s beast roared to life.
His own rage closed its jaws around him, and he was across the room, knocking Ulrich away. His second staggered back with a heavyoof, letting the woman fall from his grip.
Vallek caught her in his own grasp, his hands looking so huge against her slim shoulders. His lungs worked like great bellows, and yet he felt lightheaded, all his blood rushing past his ears. With every breath, her scent punched through him—incense and nighttime, jasmine and cloves. Sweetness and spice andfemale.
Big violet eyes stared up at him, rimmed in white and terrified.
No, no that wouldn’t do.
He needed her away from others. He needed her to himself.
Without word or warning, he ducked down to catch her middle with his shoulder. Throwing her over his back, he caught her behind the knees and turned for the door.
Vallek ripped open the lock, his hands shaking with haste, as Ulrich and Eydis tried to reason with him.
“My king, she’s dangerous!”
“Vallek, wait!”
But they and their concerns didn’t matter. Not when he’d foundher. Not when he finally hadherwithin his grasp.
Heart thundering, he could hardly discern between its pounding and how her little fists and feet beat against him. She was a wild thing, thrashing and spitting, her will to survive obvious and thrilling.
A strong mate. Good, very good.
He took the stairs up to his quarters three at a time, not slowing for anything—not the angry woman in his arms, not his sister and friend jogging behind him, not the startled looks of the servants they passed.
Vallek made his door long before any others and kicked it open—then shut it behind them. Flipping the lock, his beast rumbled with pleasure.
Alone with our mate.
Hands beat at the other side of the door, and he bellowed, “Leave us!”
