Page 9 of Wrath of the Fae

Iliana runs to Jakob, falling into his desperate arms as they both sob and kiss one another. Their fingers intertwine. Their markings match as they sink into one another.

The grin on Lucca’s face falters. And my heart feels like lead.

Mates. Love. One soul, made for the other. Something Lucca and I have both lost.

Lucca takes a double take on my body before focusing hard on my face.

‘You’re naked, Pup,’ he says quietly, trying not to laugh. ‘Not that I mind, of course.’

‘Am I?’ I look down. Yep. Naked and soaked. ‘Huh.’

‘Take my coat. You’ll get cold.’ Lucca starts pulling off his long jacket.

But a coat is not what I want.

‘Where are you from?’ I demand of the two.

Jakob pulls his Mate closer to his chest.

‘They were Sixth Kingdom,’ Lucca answers, cleaning the blade of his dagger with the hem of his coat. ‘Been together for years. One of the King's new Lords placed in that Kingdom saw the girl in the market and decided to claim her as his bride.’

‘H-how did you know that?!’ stammers Jakob, wrapping his arms firmer around his lover.

Lucca taps his head with his blood-stained blade and winks.

‘You think your thoughts loudly, my friend. Too loudly.’

‘You… you’re a mind reader? Are you with the rebellion?’ Iliana gasps, staring between the two of us.

‘There is no rebellion,’ Jakob insists. ‘Just lost souls hiding until they are found. No one is coming to help. No one can.’

He flinches as I take the slightest step towards him.

‘Then why bother running?’ I ask. He swallows hard as he tries to hold his ground. ‘If nothing is worth running to, why run in the first place?’ I nod to the girl. ‘Do you run for her? Or do you run to prove to your new Lord that she is still yours? It’s an embarrassment, right? To have another man plough your Mate without your permission. To have her taken from you.’

I’ve seen enough men, both here and in the human world, who believe they can own anyone and anything. As long as no one stands up to them, they’ll do whatever the fuck they want.

‘Better dead than another man’s, am I right?’ I scoff.

‘I’d speak the truth if I were you,’ Lucca adds. ‘She’ll know if you lie, and she hates liars.’

‘Iliana belongs to no one but herself,’ Jakob spits back, glorious anger shining in his eyes. ‘If she wanted to go with the Lord, I would have let her. But I felt her fear and desperation to escape through our Bond every second of the day. I would rather die saving her than have her feel that for another moment.’

‘And I would rather die than be without my Mate,’ Iliana insists, fisting his filthy clothes tightly.

‘Is that what you want?’ I ask, stepping closer still. ‘To die?’

‘We want to be free,’ she hisses back, although through trembling lips. ‘Failing that, then yes. We would rather die. Now tell me. Are you with the rebellion or not?!’

Below, down at the lake's edge, several men charge through the tree line and long grass. Their weapons are raised. Their raging yells are enough to make the ground itself shake. With a series of thuds, Fae after Fae land on the ledge with us, their wings outstretched and weapons poised without a flicker of fear or hesitation. Jakob wraps himself around his lover as she screams at their sudden appearance.

‘My Queen?’ calls up a rough, gruff voice. ‘You need rescuing up there? Or what?’

‘No, thank you, Wolf,’ I reply, still gazing at the two before me. ‘We’re all good up here.’

Wolf. The great commander who once trained warriors for my mother. He is renowned for slamming the skulls of his enemies with that enormous hammer he currently has slung over his shoulder or tearing out throats with his teeth. That was until his daughter was murdered ten years ago in an alley at the hands of the First Kingdom scum that took control after my mother and her kingdom disappeared. And before his home was blown from the sky, along with most of the Winged warriors that lived and trained there. Punishment for refusing the new king.

‘General Wolf…’ Iliana whispers, looking down at him. She looks at the winged men and women surrounding us all. ‘And his Valker warriors.’ She looks at me. ‘Youarewith the rebellion…’ She runs to the edge of the cliffs and calls down. ‘Please, General Wolf. I beg of you. We both beg of you. Let us stay! We want to help!’

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