Page 17 of Hellish Fae
I nod at that incredibly accurate description.
But there seems to be a vital part of that story that my sweet conniving sister left out.
“I’m going to speak to the King because he’s my father, Ryke.”
It’s his turn to lose the weight of the wind. He staggers back and nearly drops right out of the sky. It takes him a few seconds to catch up.
“You’re—you’re a princess?” he asks, and I feel his burning gaze against my face.
“I am.”
“And . . . do you share the same views as your father?”
I glide through the breeze and with a little help of my magic, I slip beneath him, upside down as he flies, and I drift along with him. My wings don’t even move as I lie suspended beneath his flight. My body is inches from his, and I have to admit I like this angle. I could get used to this spot underneath him. I study him the entire time; the strong angle of his jaw, the scruff of his beard, the smooth curves of his muscles that are hidden beneath scaring lines of runes.
I’ve been warned away from demons and their destruction my entire life. And the demons whodolinger around me, they die fairly fast . . .
It took years. It takes life and experience to realize that not everything your parents say is a fact.
Some of it is flat out racist and inaccurate.
“No. My father and I are nothing alike. Which is part of the reason why I was exiled.”
He peers down at me, wind blowing his short dark hair. A little smile carves his lips, and I think he likes being above me like this. I like it, too.
Too much.
I swoop away as he reaches out to me. I soar faster and faster, and I don’t look back at that demon who’s too alluring for my own good.
Over the thick tree, jagged rooftops like broken glass slip into sight, and my stomach drops at the thought of stepping foot in that castle again after three long years. I swallow the uneasiness clawing up my chest, and I take a single deep breath before I lower myself to the ground. My bare feet settle on the soft grass as though I am a delicate angel.
Heavy boots slam down next to me like demon shit hailing down vengefully from the sky.
My neck turns to glare over at my handsome stalker.
“Thought you might want some company.” Ryke’s smile is distracting, but I’m not falling for it.
“You thought wrong. Go back to the house. I’ll be there soon.” I take a step, and he mirrors my pace.
“Well, I’d love to, Crow, but on the off chance that you ditch us, I’m not going to spend my Fridays searching for a whining baby sister again.”
I am not whining! Why are they all so damn rude?
“Well, I don’t need a demonic babysitter today. I’ll meet you back at the house.”
“You’re sneaking into the castle at dawn before anyone’s awake, and you expect me to believe you’re coming back?” Ryke grips my arm hard. His scorching heat sears into my skin. My jaw clenches even harder.
I pull inside myself, and I copy down what his magic feels like. I focus on it so intently that he jerks his hand away with a groan. He looks from me to his palm and then back again.
“What the fuck did you just do? Did you burn me?”
“I didn’tdoanything. I’m powerful enough to glamour supernaturals the way most fae glamour mere humans. I just gave you a taste of your own medicine. Hurts, doesn’t it?”
“So you fucked with my mind? Fucking women and their mind games,” he says with a growl.
Huh. And here I thought I liked him.
He points an angry finger in my face.
