Page 22 of My Demon Desire
"You could've killed her."
He bends over, grabbing his gut, but shoots me the human sign of a middle finger.
My knuckles are bleeding and cracked. Blood drips from the wounds on his face onto the floor. All I can think about is how Annalise was out there in the darkness, alone and vulnerable. How I thought I was guarding her, keeping her safe. While she was scared and fighting for her life.
"Go ahead and kill me." He spits out a stream of blood. "You don't have the guts."
I shove him against the wall. "You don't deserve someone like her. You disgust me. You're a coward, a liar, and a fraud."
His eyes flash a moment of panic, but he rasps out a throaty chuckle.
I pound his chest with my fist over and over, slamming him into the wall.
Spent, I step back, chest heaving. He slides down the wall in a bloody pulp, but he'll live.
"If you ever harm her or put her in danger again, I swear by the twisted gods, I will end you. No mercy, no exception."
As I walk away, I feel his eyes on me, burning into my back. I know he won't take kindly to my threats, but I can't let that stop me. I have to protect her, no matter the cost.
My rage slowly dissolves as I step out of the house and let a howl loose. Reis will recognize my call and return home. He'll figure out I found Annalise soon enough. What he won't believe is the truth I found out about her from watching her tend my wounds. How her shirt was torn. How the burn mark on her arm isn't a scar at all.
I make my way through the forest, the trees and foliage growing thicker the deeper I go. I can feel the presence of other fae around me, but I pay them no heed. My focus is solely on the task at hand.
As I reach the edge of the forest, I've no idea how Reis will react to the news and can't quite believe it myself. We'll have to talk with Annalise. Find out how much she knows about herself.
My insides shimmer with rage, but I've control of myself enough not to go back inside and hit Kaden some more. The bastard deserved every strike.
Hell, Reis will want to flay him alive and hang his bleeding corpse from the trees.
As I wait for Reis to confidently stride toward me, I can't help but wonder how Annalise will take the news, of who she is and the danger that comes with it. I hope that with our help, she'll be strong enough to handle it, no matter what. I dread to think of the consequences if she isn't.
But I'm determined to be there for her, so she never has to face danger alone.
I take a deep breath and steel myself for whatever danger will be coming our way when the queen finds out about Annalise. Whatever she throws at us, I'll face it head-on and protect Annalise. It's what I swore to do when I took my oaths. All I can do is hope I'm strong enough.
Either way, one thing's for sure, the fae realm is about to become a very dangerous place.
* * *
Reis
Gliding through the forest, I can't keep my heart from pounding against my ribcage. Thorne must have found Annalise to call me back, but is she okay? I didn't detect any mournfulness in his tone and that's the only reason for me not leveling these trees to get to her.
I don't know why she's affecting me this way. Maybe her innocent eyes or how she said she'd trust me seeing me in my fae form. How I haven't shown her my human one. The one most fae have to lure her kind into our traps.
Silks have their coats that allow them to slip from beautiful females into seals and flee. Changeling and ghouls can appear human like me, Kaden, and Thorne. Though Thorne has three forms, not just two.
I push through the forest, relief easing in my chest as the silhouette of Thorne and his bulky, dark form rise from a fallen log he is sitting at.
"Where is she?" I ask, not stopping.
He strides to me with purpose. His broken horn glimmers in the sunlight.
Behind me, branches rustle, and a bird darts away.
"She's safe. For now." His crimson eyes narrow. "I left Kaden breathing... barely."
I nod, wanting to plow my fists and magic into the bastard too. And I might just do that. Heal him enough to break him again.
