Page 103 of Bitten By the Fae
I startled, his tone holding a note of concern, but I knew better. Besides, it was such an absurd thing to ask because obviously I wasn’t all right.
Just the notion of it had me laughing out loud, the urge to cry hitting me square in the gut.
Answering him would be futile, so I ignored him instead, spun around again, and picked up my path again through the trees.
Only, he caught my arm and yanked me back toward him.
I reacted instinctually, my leg sweeping low to knock him off-balance and my fist cutting upward to strike his jaw.
Both were hits that would have made me proud in defense class. His resulting grunt and growl, however, had me instantly regretting my immediate reaction.
I took off at a sprint, needing to escape him.
But his arms ensnared my waist merely two steps later.
“What the actual fuck, Aflora?” he demanded, his lips against my ear. “Is this about Raph?”
“Raph?” I repeated, lost. “Who’s Raph?”
“My tripod snake,” he replied softly, his grip tightening as he pressed his nose to my neck. “Why do you smell like Kols?” A soft question, one I couldn’t stand to answer.
I hadn’t meant for the bond to snap into place.
Hadn’t meant to lose myself in the moment.
Get out.
Fucking get out.
“Let me go,” I begged, the heat building beneath my skin once more. It’d temporarily subsided due to the shock of hisarrival, but it had returned with a vengeance, flooding my veins with liquid fire.
“No.” His tone brooked no argument, yet I needed him to release me, this power inside me threatening my every breath.
“Zeph...” I tried to warn him, my breath coming in pants as sweat beaded across my skin. “It burns,” I whispered, my limbs beginning to shake beneath the onslaught of energy cascading through my spirit.
“What are you doing?” Zeph asked, spinning me in his arms and catching me as my knees buckled.
“She looks ready to explode, and not in an appealing way,” a new voice said as Shade materialized beside us. His palm caught my cheek, his dark gaze searching. “What has you so troubled, little rose? Why do I sense Kols in you?”
“How the hell did you know we were here?” Zeph cut in.
“Her fear called to me,” Shade murmured, his eyes still holding mine. “What did Kols do to you, Aflora? Why is his power pouring through our bond?”
I couldn’t say it even if I wanted to, my throat tight with emotion and fear as the flames threatened to surface. If Zeph didn’t release me, I’d burn him alive. And even if he deserved that after what he did to Clove, I couldn’t hurt him. Not like that.
Swallowing thickly, I pushed the heat down, only to have it skyrocket inside me and spark at my fingertips.
“Her eyes are glowing,” Zeph said. “Cerulean fire.”
“Where’s Kols?” Shade demanded.
“Fuck if I know.”
“Isn’t it his job to keep her powers under control?” He finally released me to focus on the male behind me. “He’s done something to her powers.”
Is that concern in Shade’s voice?I wondered, starting to feel delirious.Can’t be. No.
“I can sense it, too,” Zeph replied, that same note in his tone.
