Page 127 of Wrath of the Fae

My scars. Mine. I earned those scars. These will heal, but for now, until they do? They are mine.

I let out a long breath, relax my body and mind, and seek out what I stole from Jonah. His eye is still inside me. His flesh. His memories. I reach out and take them for my own.

I gasp as I open my eyes and cling to Lucca with trembling hands.

‘What happened?’he asks.

‘It’s nothing,’ I lie, swallowing down the dread. ‘Nothing…’ I look into those eyes of his. ‘Where is Rhea?’

‘In the tunnels. Safe and with Tessa.’

‘Wolf?’

‘Here too. Coming through the portal in the orchard as we speak, hiding amongst the trees and getting ready to attack. I came for you. To make sure you were okay.’

‘Tessa will cut your balls off for making that deal with Ezra.’

‘Oh. I know.’

We leave the cell.

In the hall, countless Fae gather. All half-starved. Beaten. Traumatised. Many have had their powers taken, if not all of them have. But despite their exhausted bodies and damaged souls, they face me and fall silent.

‘Lady Rhea?’ one of them asks.

‘No.’ My wings emerge. Giant. Black. Lethal. They stretch out, wall to wall and not even half the span they are capable of. Lucca growls as he stands behind me, his chin over my shoulder as he faces them. ‘My name is Raven. I am the daughter of the murdered queen. Tell me. Do you want your realm back?’

twenty-four

Whatfollowsisbeyondbeauty. It’s beyond delicious.

It’s fucking justice!

When the doors open and those held captive spill out into the lobby, I can’t help but smile.

As they run, I walk. As they yell and scream in fiery vengeance, I chuckle.

The freed Fae attack everyone and everything. They swarm the soldiers, destroying them with their bare hands and steal their weapons. They hack and slice and crush anyone in a uniform. High lords with their stolen wives yell and cower as they see us. But even better are their stolen women who see their opportunity, grab their husbands' swords from their hips, and take revenge. Blood spills on the marble floors. It splatters on the walls and soaks into heavy gowns.

The humans join us, taking their chance at freedom. They attack and kill.

It's beautiful.

I suppose it doesn’t matter what we are anymore.

Fae. Human. It’s not important.

Lucca’s beast leaps past me. His enormous frame shooting past me with speed and strength. His mouth is wide. The layers of fangs are already dripping with blood when he lands on a soldier and clamps down on his torso. His jaws slam shut, the soldier’s flesh shreds like wet paper and his bones break like toothpicks. Lucca’s head shakes violently, and two halves of the man fly off in different directions. Then I see how he got into the palace unseen.

He fades into flame and black mist. A swirling vortex of force and fire across the lobby before reforming and attacking once more.

I walk past a body and scoop up a sword, and without missing a beat, I bring it down on a soldier.

My lessons with Lucca take over. His instructions. His tips. His technique.

I kill with grace as Lucca shifts from beast to flame and the freed Fae attack. I stab. I slice. I drive this blade through flesh and organs, twisting and wrenching it free.

Everything falls away.

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