Page 6 of Bitten By the Fae
“Enough,” his father inserted, his cloak billowing around him with power. Blue eyes—the same color as his son’s—narrowed at Shadow. “You realize you could be excommunicated for this.”
Shadow shrugged. “Saves me from another year at the Academy.”
A low, angry sound rumbled from his father’s chest. “And what about the girl? Interspecies mating is illegal. They might demand her death, or worse,yourdeath.”
Wait, how’s his death worse than mine?“I don’t even want to be here,” I said, furious. “And you can’t kill me. I’m the sole heir to earth. If I die, the element dies with me.” Not exactly true. Someone, maybe Sol, would probably take over my access to the source. But hopefully, they didn’t know that.
His father didn’t even look at me, his smoldering gaze on his son. “Take her to the dungeon and lock yourselves inside. You know the way. I’ll come for you if and when the Council needs a comment.”
“Excuse me, but I’d like to give acommentright now,” I demanded. “Your son bit me against my will, then kidnapped me and brought me into this realm. I shouldn’t be here. Nor can you keep me here. The Elemental Fae Council will not stand for this.”
Well, they might.
Being bitten by a Midnight Fae definitely broke several of the interspecies laws governing fae relations. But it was against my will. Queen Claire would side with me. She knew me well enough to know I would never do something like this.
“I’m the sole Earth Fae heir,” I added. “My people rely on my connection to the source to thrive. Every moment you keep me here is?—”
“Enough,” Shadow’s father bit out, his expression resembling stone. “The Midnight Fae Council operates very differently from your own. If you have something of importance to say, your intended will deliver the information on your behalf, as females are not permitted within the Council Chamber.”
My eyebrows hit my hairline. What kind of backward-thinking realm had I been swept off to?Nope, better question…“Who the hell is my intended?”
Shadow chuckled. “Me, darling.”
“What?” I sputtered. “He assaulted me and you want to let him speak on my behalf?” Un-freakin’-believable. “This is utter wallopberries.”
“Utter what?” Shadow asked.
“Let go of me,” I replied instead. He didn’t deserve an answer to that query or any other.
“Can’t do that, princess. I’ve been ordered to take you downstairs. Council rules.” He gave an unapologetic shrug that had me itching to punch him.
“Now, Shadow,” his father said, the command in his tone sending a shiver down my spine.
What in the pixie dust have I gotten myself into?
Shadow lifted me off the ground as if I weighed nothing at all—which, compared to him, I probably did. He had at least a foot on me, the bastard.
“Put me down.”
“And you questioned my nickname,” he muttered in reply. “Issuing demands left and right just like a goddamn princess.”
“Because you insist on manhandling me,” I snapped, wishing more than ever that I could access my gifts. I’d wrap a vine of my own around his neck and see what he thought of it. Then I’d take a tree root and smash his skull.
The beautiful image behind my eyes dispersed as he kicked open an iron door and began descending the steps.
Every part of me iced over at the very real threat of going underground.
“Shadow,” I whispered. “Please.”
He frowned at me. “Please what? It’s not like I’m going to hurt you. Yet, anyway.” He shook his head. “Seriously, Iexpected a little more fire, princess. Instead, you’re as weak as a youngling.”
My jaw clenched even as my heart began to pound.
Each step brought us deeper underground. My lungs began to seize from my inability to pull in a breath.
Elemental Fae didn’t belong here.
Elemental Fae required sunshine.
