Page 126 of Wrath of the Fae

‘It’s not important.’ I don’t want to talk about what he did. Ever. ‘Where… where is he now?’

‘Not sure. But he’s sent soldiers beyond the Kingdom. We think he’s marching on the Thirteenth. We think he knows it’s been taken.’

‘Reid? Cyrus? Where are they?’

‘They’ve been taken as prisoners to the Thirteenth,’ Ezra says. ‘To trigger others so their powers can be stolen. We saw them leave with the small army that left a couple of hours ago.’ He shrugs. ‘It makes no sense why Jonah would keep them alive. He should just take their powers for himself and be done with them. That’s what I would do.’

Lucca snarls at his words, as do I.

‘Well, hecan’ttake their powers. That’s one of the main reasons they’re still alive.’

‘The main reason?’

‘Jonah is a sadist,’ I snipe. ‘He gets pleasure from others' pain. Killing them is too easy. It’s no fun. He’s in this for pleasure. Pain. Humiliation. Suffering. That’s all he wants. It’s worth more than all the gold, power and women he could ever have.’ I look back at Lucca’s beast form. ‘Why didn’t you stop them?’ I ask. ‘Why didn’t you get Reid and Cyrus back?’

‘Take on an army alone or wait until they leave and come for you? Is that supposed to be a trick question?’

He pulls back. Six golden eyes look down at me.

‘The King has been injured. Jonah, I mean. The soldiers are in an uproar.’

‘I kinda ate his eye.’

‘Sorry... you what? Why?’

‘When the effects of the iron wear off, I’ll be able to see his truth through his own eyes. I’ll see what he’s doing with Ivan.’ I sway, and he catches me with his snout. His fangs brush against me, and I shudder. ‘You’re terrifying,’ I sigh, running my hand down his face.

‘Me? I’m not the one eating eyeballs.’

‘How did you get past the soldiers to get in here?’

‘What part of “we need to go now!” are you struggling with?!’ Ezra barks. ‘The King will come down here soon to make her pay for eating his eye, and I have no intention of being caught in the crossfire. The missing guards will be noticed soon, so if you could make a portal and get us out of here, that would be great. The three of us can’t fight them all. Even with you as… whatever the hell you are.’ He waves a hand at Lucca’s form, ‘With me mimicking and you making shields and breaking bones. We won’t win. It’s impossible.’

‘It’s not just the three of us. Let everyone out,’ I order, seeing the keys in his hand. ‘Unlock all the doors.’

‘No. Portal!’ he says through gritted teeth. ‘Fuck the others. We need to save ourselves.’

‘Let them out, or I will break every bone in your body.’

‘Lucca swore-’

‘I won’t kill you. But you will wish I would unless you unlock the fucking cell doors, Stick.’

He grunts as he storms into the hall. I hear the keys turn over and over as the hustle and bustle in the hall grows with every passing second.

I close my eyes and let out a breath as my powers begin to return, and the effect of the iron fades.

I curl my fist in Lucca’s fur.

I feel something else. Something primal inside me. Something beyond rage and hate. I feel thirst and hunger for vengeance as a real, visceral need. A craving so fierce, I fear nothing will stop my hunting for it.

It’s what has been behind every snarl. Every growl.

The Leviathan’s power lurks too close to my surface.

My eyes glow, and another low growl emanates inside my chest.

Blood trickles down my cheek from my scratches, and oddly, I relish in it. It’s a familiar pain. One that reminds me of who I am. Where I came from. What I’ve survived.

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