Page 58 of Wrath of the Fae

‘I’m ready to listen,’ I reply with sarcasm dripping from every word.

‘I remember you talking about the kids taken yesterday.’ She scratches her head. ‘And then me suggesting we come to get them.’

‘I don’t remember that.’

Her face scrunches as she remembers more. ‘We got into the wine cellar.’ She looks at me. ‘And we drank it.’

‘That explains the headache and overwhelming urge to throw up.’

‘I’m personally amazed you’re not dead. Fae wine takes getting used to. I can’t remember anything else. You?’

I shake my head.

She holds out her hand. ‘Fancy taking a look?’

I grab her hand.

And yep. Just as she said.

Looking through her memories makes my uneasy stomach even worse. Everything shifts in and out of focus, and words become slurred.

When I let her go, I pray that the world will stop spinning.

‘We snuck out and went looking for the kids,’ I agree. ‘Drunk as fuck and giggling like prats.’

‘We better get back.’ She starts to clamber down but stops suddenly, slapping my arm.

‘Ouch. Why do you keep hitting me?!’

She’s still hitting me, staring at the ground below us with wide eyes. I follow her gaze.

I can’t help the sharp bout of nervous laughter. ‘Well… I guess we found the kids.’

Huddled together behind a boulder, at least thirteen kids are sleeping. They’re filthy and look exhausted as they all cuddle up to one another in a slumbering mess. The youngest looks four. The eldest maybe fifteen.

I scan the area and see no one else.

‘Raven,’ Tessa whispers. She’s looking at our clothes and skin. ‘We’re splattered in blood.’

‘How can we not remember sneaking out, killing soldiers and stealing kids?’ I whisper. Her mouth is still agape, and she’s completely in shock. We both look down at the kids. ‘I’m never drinking again.’

‘Right there with you.’

We both yell as something leaps over our heads from the ridge behind us and lands between us and the kids.

As Tessa screams, I sprint forwards, placing myself firmly between it and the now very awake and screaming children, who all cower away from the creature.

‘RAVEN!’ Tessa screams, watching as I stare down whatever the fuck this thing is. ‘Get away from it!’

It's a giant wolf with long, thick, black fur. Its head is the size of my body, and from its wide mouth, with layers of razor-sharp teeth, emanates a growl. I look up and focus on its eyes. Six of them. All glowing a brilliant gold.

It starts barking like a demon at me, spit flying and teeth bared in a warning.

Then it lunges, pouncing on top of me and pinning me down.

‘What the fuck do you think you’re playing at?! Were you born suicidal, or is this just something you enjoy doing to give me a fucking panic attack!’

I frown and look deeper into the beast’s many eyes.

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