Page 23 of A Sword of Ice
And Teg.
Dana had been the closest kingdom to them, but something had urged Shula to choose Teg instead. A nudge from Mana, perhaps? The line leading to Teg had burned brightly and Shula couldn’t ignore it.
They had to go to Teg first and find the Elemental there. A feeling of urgency burned at the back of her neck.
“Where to, Fire Dancer?” Clay came beside her, throwing his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. He smelt like roses and wine and something else. Something fancy. If richness had a scent, it would ooze from Clay’s pores in bubbly texture.
His head bumped hers as he looked down at the map. He couldn’t see the line like she could, because he wasn’t an Elemental. Even though all Fae were tethered by the magical bonds of Mana, only the Elementals could sense one another, and only they had a direct connection to that powerful life force.
“A city called Porir,” she answered.
Clay’s fingers brushed along her hair, grazing her ears. Shula flinched, an instinctual reaction that had a growl behind them ripping through the chilly air.
A moment later, Ryker ripped Clay away from her, his pupils blown wide with anger. “Don’t fucking touch her,” he growled.
Clay stumbled and held his hands up. A smirk touched his mouth, showing the dimple on his cheek, like he knew it only made him look prettier.
And he was so, so pretty. One of the most beautiful Fae Shula had ever seen. He had soft, feminine features; plump lips, bright eyes, smooth skin, and lush hair. Everything about him was rich and he knew it.
It was how many females had found their way into his bed. Or so Shula had been told.
Ryker’s sudden possessive growling surprised her, but it didn’t seem to surprise her Fae companions.
The men all looked at one another with amusement, except for Weylyn, the golden Fae who stayed further from the group like always. He watched like he was waiting for something dark to unfold, secrets he could keep and break apart, all while his eyes gleamed.
“Aw, what’s wrong, Ryker? Afraid I’ll get my scent all over your pretty little mate?” Clay taunted.
Shula noticed he widened his stance, pressing his feet firmly into the ground to strengthen his core.
“Watch it,” Ryker warned, pointing an accusing finger at Clay.
“Afraid she’ll see your more animalistic side?” Clay snapped his canines. “Maybe she’ll want to fuck a real man instead—”
The words were barely out of his mouth before Ryker roared and attacked. The impact of his body colliding against Clay’s echoed throughout the open space of where they stood, making Shula wince. They crashed to the ground in a tangle of limbs and snarling sounds.
Valerio sighed and rolled his eyes. “We’re going to be here a while,” he murmured, turning to Weylyn. “We’re too close to the Arcana for comfort. Scope out the perimeter, report back.” His words were clipped, slightly cruel, but they only made Weylyn nod and swagger away.
Shula had questioned the way they’d all treated Weylyn at first, not understanding why exactly they were so indifferent and cruel. She’d soon discovered it was because of his eerie power.
Weylyn had the ability to read the thoughts of others. Around him, nothing was secret, and the sly smirk that constantly marred his face let them all know it. Which meant the Seelie Prince tried to get rid of him as much as he possibly could.
“We need to leave,” Shula urged, turning to the prince. “These shores are always busy with travelers.”
Teg was already sparse in trees and forestation. Traveling without the cover of the woods was going to make her nervous enough.
“They’re going to be a while.” Valerio tilted his chin towards Ryker and Clay.
Shula saw blood fly between the two grappling men.
“Break them up!”
Valerio ignored her outburst, and Julius snorted his laughter. She narrowed her eyes at him, and he smirked. “Don’t look at me like that, Fire Dancer. The first rule of a mating bond is toneverget between a Fae male and his mate. It just might be the last thing you ever do.”
Shula’s eyes rolled.
“It’s true, Shula,” Valerio said, and she swore she heard a wistful note in his voice. “Fae males are possessive of their mates. Let them fight it out.”
She didn’t want to admit that the thought of Ryker fighting for her made her stomach coil with a sort of pleasantry. No one had ever fought for her before, save for her parents, so she decided the prince was right, and it was better if they didn’t interfere.
