Page 138 of Wrath of the Fae

Maybe that’s what I deserve. Did I leave them behind? Have they abandoned me? I attacked him. What if I killed him?

An arm wraps around my back, and a hand secures the base of my head before swooping upwards.

I hear the strong beats of wings, and I’m pinned to a chest.

‘I’ve got you, Princess,’ Cyrus says, holding me close.

‘W-where’s Reid?’ I whimper. I can still feel his blood in my teeth. ‘Is he… is…’

There’s a screech as something lunges for us. Cyrus darts left and flies with all his skill and strength to escape it.

‘What is that?’ I ask.

‘Half breeds,’ he replies, dodging and darting everywhere. ‘Stay quiet!’

The air fills with their hideous screeching and the beating of wings when suddenly we get yanked. One of them has Cyrus and he struggles to kick it away.

There’s a blast of power before it screams and releases us.

‘She alive?’ Reid yells over the storm raging around us.

‘Alive!’ Cyrus calls back. ‘She’s alive. Keep her that way. I can’t protect her and fight.’

He’s alive. Thank the Fates!

Cyrus dodges and darts all over, holding me with all his might and focusing hard on avoiding the creatures that swoop and dive around us. Reid fights. I hear him grunting with effort and anger as he throws his light at them.

I can do nothing. It’s a challenge to stay awake.

I hear the raging sea. The boys. The half breeds.

Soon, it gets a little quieter. After a while, there’s nothing except for the storm, the sea, and the steady beat of wings.

‘Stay with me, Princess,’ Cyrus whispers in my ear. ‘Stay with me.’

Finally, Cyrus’s feet meet shingle, and he kneels, resting me on the ground.

My entire body trembles from the wet and cold, and I still can’t move. My head lolls forwards, and he has to keep me sat up so I don’t fall.

‘Is she okay? Is she breathing?’ Reid asks in a panic, landing beside us and falling to his knees at my side. He takes hold of my head and guides me against a rock. The sound of waves crashing on a shore fills my ears, along with my chattering teeth.

‘Can you hear me?’ Reid asks, taking my face in his hands. ‘Please be okay,’ he whispers to himself, shaking me ever so slightly. ‘Answer me. Can you hear-’

‘I’m sorry,’ I whisper. My fingers twitch to reach for him, but I can’t gather the strength. ‘I hurt you.’

‘I’m fine,’ he says. ‘Don’t worry about it.’

There’s another screech in the distance.

‘We have to go. She’s bleeding. Dark Fae will smell her.’ Cyrus scoops me up once more. ‘I know where we can go. Somewhere safe.’

‘No,’ I cry, trying to push him away. A pathetic attempt because I can barely move. ‘I can’t do this anymore. I can’t…’ I shake my head and sob. ‘Please. Just stop.’

‘You can do this. You must.’ Cyrus tightens his hold on me. ‘We’ll get you somewhere safe and sort this out.’

‘How the fuck are we going to sort this out?!’ I cry. ‘We’re stuck in the human world, and I’m becoming a monster! Put me out of my misery. I beg you.’ Cyrus holds me closer, and I feel Reid lean in close, his nose on mine. ‘Don’t. Don’t look at me.’ I bury my face in Cyrus’s chest.

Reid’s fingers knot in my hair as he pulls my head back. I feel his breath on my face as he snarls his words.

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