Page 20 of Hellish Fae
Two.
A hunched figure steps out from around the corner. My stomach drops. With a sway of my body, I hide my face behind my long red hair that’s curled at the ends.
But the goblin’s black eyes still eat up my features.
“Princess Aries, how very nice to see you again,” he whispers suspiciously as he passes.
My breath catches, but Nille never stops his fast little wobbling pace down the dark corridor to my mother’s bedroom, like a good little spy.
“He fucking knew it was you, too,” Ryke says.
“Goblins can’t see glamours no matter how powerful the fae may be. They’re protected against deceit magic.”
“That little guy someone important?” Ryke asks in the same low tone.
I steady my hands and walk the final steps with the demon stumbling after me. I’m almost there. I can’t stop now.
At the end of the hall, my hand grips the shining handle of his door. Without a sound, I slink into the bedroom. My feet are soundless against the sleek wooden floors. He lies on smooth white bedding within a shining and an ornately designed wooden bed frame.
I gaze upon my dear sweet brother sleeping soundly in his kingly bed.
Nathiale.
He’s the heir to this hateful density. He’s the only one who hasn’t been shunned away.
And he’s the worst of all three of us.
From the open balcony doors, warm early morning sunlight kisses his pale skin. As I watch him, one after the other my fingers close firmly over the hilt of the blade with careful intent. I release the door as well as the leash, and I put my entire focus on the flawless skin of his delicate neck. The sharp line of his jaw carves up into high cheekbones that are so similar to my own. The deep red hair hanging over his forehead is my mother’s.
Too bad he only inherited my father’s personality.
My hand lifts with intent, and the blade feels weightless. It feels like an extension of myself. It feels so damn right.
With my heart drilling and my mind racing, I slash the knife through the air.
But a big hand catches my wrist.
His chest presses to my back, and his grip on me is so tight that it’s the only thing I feel in this consuming moment.
“Are you fucking out of your pretty little fae mind?” he whispers in the harshest growl.
My lips purse as my eyes narrow on him into thin slits.
How dare he!
My palm presses to his scarred chest, and I shove hard. He doesn’t move. He doesn’t even blink at the force I put into that effort. I jerk against him in silent frustration, knife still in hand, both of us looming over my brother’s slumbering body.
The rage inside me hits an all-time high after a few seconds. My palm flings up fast and collides with his nose so hard, he groans and stumbles back from me, pulling me right along with him. We’re several feet away now. Too far away from my dearest brother for me to make my move.
I have to do it. Now!
My foot plants at the center of Ryke’s chest, and I kick off from him. He stumbles with me in tow, nearly falling into the smooth balcony railing, but at the last moment, smoke whisks around, giving me a dissipating sensation—like my cells are scattering inside my body crawls across my skin.
And then the demon and I are back in the rose garden where he lands with a solid thud against the cobble stone and drags me down right along with him. He’s still gripping my wrist as the calming scent of flowers surrounds us.
His hold on me is rough. Our bodies burn everywhere we touch, from hip to chest to hands. Blood as dark as ink smears his face along his lips and beard. I lie in a fuming heap against his hard chest, and his olive-green eyes blaze with accusations. We glare fiery hatred into each other for several seconds until a fine plum dress sweeps across my arm.
“Nille told me there was a trouble-making princess sneaking around the castle. I must confess, I didn’t expect to find you rolling around the garden with a demonalready, Ari.” The smooth melody of her voice stops my heart, emotion crashing over me so fast I’m not prepared for it.
