Page 146 of Wrath of the Fae

I feel Reid’s hot breath land on me as he sighs at Cyrus’s words. And I lean into Reid, wrapping my arms around his middle and sinking into his embrace.

‘Ivan means to bring the Fae realm to him,’ I tell them both. Reid goes rigid. ‘His machine isn’t to remake portals or steal a single Kingdom. It’s for all of us. Every soul. Not just the Fae but the land. The wealth. The creatures. The magic.’

‘How do you know that?’ he asks.

‘Jonah told me.’

‘He told you that?’ Cyrus asks, a little unbelieving. ‘Just told you?’

‘Oh. You don’t know, do you?’ Reid replies, running his hands up and down my back. ‘Our beautiful girl ate Jonah’s eye to see his truth.’

‘You ate… Hold on.’ Cyrus stands and walks towards us. ‘Youatehis eye?’

‘Popped it like a grape and swallowed it right in front of him,’ I tell him, unable to stop my smile.

I enjoy the proud yet stunned laughter he lets out.

‘The cracks in the sky are his machine breaking down whatever wall separates us,’ I continue. ‘Ivan latches onto my power whenever I use it. Only my shield, though. Not when I use the runes. I think it’s because it’s a different kind of power. The old magic doesn’t work for him. But my shield does. He steals some to charge his machine and creates the cracks.’

‘Did the eyeball tell you how many cracks he needs to make?’

‘He doesn’t know. It will be enough when it’s enough.’

Cyrus kisses the top of my head and rests his hands on my hips.

‘What the hell are we going to do?’ I whisper, encased between them both.

‘Fight. Win.’

‘You should sound more concerned, Cyrus.’

‘I know it doesn’t sound great, Princess. But controlling the Dark creatures may not be a bad thing. You won the battle with them.’

I shake my head at Cyrus’s words.

‘The more I control them, the more I become like them, Cyrus. I’ll crave Fae blood.’

‘You have ours to keep you right.’

‘I’ll be full of anger and hate.’

‘I mean… aren’t you pretty pissed off now?’

‘These markings will cover my body.’

‘I love a girl covered in ink.’

I frown. ‘Cyrus. I’ll be linked to these creatures forever. I’ll be responsible for them. For keeping the Leviathans asleep. For the dark creatures that are growing. If I’m not strong enough to stay myself, I’ll go Dark and have an even darker army at my command. They’re coming out of hibernation because of the war. The upset in the balance. They thrive on despair and pain and crave Fae's blood. They’re coming, whether we like it or not. They obey me for now. But soon, I don’t think I’ll have enough of myself left to control… well, me. We have to end this war. Stop Ivan for good before he collides our worlds together. If we restore peace, maybe it will drive them back to sleep. If we don’t, the Fae realm will have a monster queen, and Ivan will have an endless dark army. Nothing will survive a war like that.’

Their silence fills the cave.

‘So,’ I scoff. ‘Knowing all that. Do you still think I’m worth it? Do you still want me? A monster in the making.’

‘You’re forgetting something,’ Cyrus says smoothly, guiding my face to his. ‘The Monster King fell in love, and that love changed him. He fought for us. You’ll fight for us too.’

‘Will I?’

His lips meet mine, slow and soft, and I feel him smile. ‘Yes. Because you are loved, and you love in return.’

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