Page 190 of Wrath of the Fae

The black markings are spreading. Swirls of jet black and marks twist and curve across my flesh, claiming more and more of me.

Then I feel something through the Bond.

The guys are panicked.

And when a dozen machines change direction and all head to one place, I know they’re after them.

I speed towards them, searching for my Mates in the smoke and chaos of the burning city.

In the streets, I weave and dodge collapsing buildings, calling their names.

I’m so distracted and desperate that I don’t see Ezra until he hits me, knocking me to the ground. We roll over the cobbled streets and land a few meters away from each other.

I’m on my feet, dagger in hand.

‘One word from me, and someone you love will die.’ He holds up a device. I recognise it.

It’s a controller for a Fae collar. The ones we wore around our necks in the human world.

The ones that held explosives.

Truth.

He has someone I love in a collar.

‘What the fuck are you doing?’ I demand. ‘Why are you helping them?’

‘Instead of helping you, you mean?’ he scoffs. ‘Maybe you shouldn’t have put me in a cell beside your ex. Maybe you shouldn’t have let me watch my brother and his friend torture Jonah and laugh at how my turn will soon come.’ He sneers at me. ‘I helped you escape the cells. I would have gladly helped you kill Jonah. You thank me by arresting me? By handing me over to torture and death?’

‘Do you think I would let you go after what you did to Tessa?’ I reply. ‘What you have done to this entire realm?’

‘I didn’t know my father wasn’t my father. I thought I was doing what was best-’

‘Best for you. Same as you always do,Stick. You sided with your father to improve your pathetic life and hurt Reid. You turned on the King as soon as you realised he meant only for you to die. You helped me, knowing it was your best shot at not being killed. But what you have done to my niece is something youwillpay for. One way or another.’

He holds up the device again, reminding me of his threat.

‘I’ll press this button, and their heads with explode, Raven.’

I stop.

‘You know. I have tried to mimic your gifts. If I could wield your powers, the things I would do…’ He wriggles his fingers, but nothing happens. ‘I can’t summon it, no matter how hard I try. I don’t think you are quite the same creature you were when we first put you in that portal. Something else came out, didn’t it?’ He looks at the markings on my skin. ‘You are something so old and powerful, and you don’t even know what it is. What you are truly capable of. Such a waste.’ He tuts, shaking his head. ‘All that strength wasted on you.’

‘I know what I am,’ I sneer. ‘And I know precisely what I am capable of.’

‘Come with me now.’

‘Go with you where?’

‘Back to your father.’

‘If that machine is activated, everyone here will be taken to the human world. They’ll become-’

‘I don’t care.’ He shrugs and laughs like a deranged maniac. ‘Iwon’t change. I have your blood in my system, remember? I do.’ He licks his lips. ‘Kissing you. Sucking your blood from your hand. It was delicious. Not you, of course. I tolerated you with your scars and sense of authority that you simply never had. But that anger in Reid when he knew I had touched you? Oh… I enjoyed that. Immensely.’

‘You’ll join them to spite Reid? You’re not even on his radar, Ezra. He doesn’t give a shit what you do. You’re just an annoyance. If that. One of many, believe me.’

‘I’ve made a deal with Jonah. And he agreed to let me join in as we play with you one last time. In front of Reid, of course. I have always wanted to see him beg. See him cry. See him desperate and lost. If he sees me with my cock up your arse, he might just give me what I want.’

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