Page 19 of Hellish Fae
“Good,” he says flatly with a nod.
He is so fucking cocky it makes me crazy.
With too much force, I jerk one of the dozens of leashes down from the hook near the door. I wrap the leather around his neck and snap the shiny metal clip in place, and then I turn to lead my new pet inside.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” he whispers under his breath.
I smirk mischievously.
I can’t lie, I really like how fast he follows when I pull on the short leash. He’s a good boy indeed.
Down the dark hall we walk in silence. A guard bows low when I pass by without offering him a glance. I don’t linger. I have a target, and I’m not going to pause on old family portraits or smile at the rushing staff. The smell of warm eggs wafts through the empty dining room.
My father will be awake soon. The morning bell tower will signal our time has run out, but it seems we have just a bit more time.
I lead Ryke toward the curving staircase. My hand glides over the carved roses that adorn the railing, but I barely spare a moment for memories to sneak into my mind as I take the steps quickly.
We’re almost there. On the second floor, a line of shining knights still stands as a display outside my father’s military office. It’s just as I recall. And just as I had hoped, I’m able to swipe a dagger off a knight’s belt and keep on walking, my dress sweeping across the fine red rug as if I’m dancing instead of plotting murder.
Everything is running smoothly. In less than fifteen seconds, I’ll be down the hall and at my brother’s door.
From out of the shadows, two fae step in front of me.
Glittering colors of gold and silver glint the air around the two fae, and even though I can’t see the quick moving creatures, I know they’re pixies. Pixies are the greatest spies of all.
And no one loves pixies more than the Shadow Guard.
The girl has long purple hair that’s pulled back to show her sharp pointed ears. She doesn’t smile as she stares hard at me. The man at her side, his smile is slashing and knowing, and I’ve spent too many years in the Shadow Guard with them to act like they didn’t just see what I did.
“Aries,” the man whispers with a slight bow of his head.
The two spies pass one another a look before stepping around either side of me and continuing on to seep into the shadows of the hall.
My racing heart calms. We’re on the same side. They know exactly who I am and why I’m here. As members of the Shadow Guard, we’re working toward the same goal: to make our realm safe for all. Especially demons.
And killing the Prince gets us one step closer to achieving that goal. But I can’t associate with them until I’ve finished what I started all that time ago.
I can’t risk them getting thrown out of the kingdom like I was.
“Who the fuck was that?” Ryke snaps.
I shake my head and lead him farther down the corridor.
“No one to worry about,” I whisper.
Less than ten steps and I’ll be there. In the next two minutes, I’ll have done what I should have done three years ago when my brother first caught me trying to steal the demon land’s token from the castle’s necropolis.
Catherine’s tomb was enormous and elaborate for such a small pile of ashes. And back then, I knew if I didn’t take them, my brother would. He’d send her back to the demon land and the demons my father loves to torment so much, they’d never be allowed to step foot in our realm ever again.
And I refused be a Princess of a land where fae see themselves as gods. So far above demons and humans that only more darkness can taint our hearts.
With time, we’ll only become worse and worse.
Unless the Shadow Guard succeeds in their endeavors.
Another five feet and it’ll be done.
Three feet.
